. Forum

[vdog]

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[BigZuck]

What specific schools are we talking about? And what are your numbers? And why the secrecy?

[MyNameIsFlynn!]

a) GPA/LSAT? How many retakes left?

b) which schools? Big difference between sticker at GULC vs sticker at Penn

[nickb285]

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[vdog]

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[y2zipper]

Take the t-14 and run, lol.

[empyreanrrv]

You should definitely retake--

How are you getting 15-20% desirable gig numbers from UConn? Looks more like 8% to me. Did you apply to BU/BC?

[nickb285]

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[BigZuck]

why the secrecy?

[MyNameIsFlynn!]

GPA: 3.87-3.93

LSAT (highest): 164-166 (PT's 168-172). One of my retakes was absurdly low (150's), which takes me out of the equation for HYS. I would probably need to score 172+ to get significant scholarship at other schools.

The T14, based on the info I gave above, is one of PVBD (lol @ G-town having desirable outcomes of 65%-70%). The state school is UConn.

a) H takes highest LSAT, despite saying they average. Your GPA is right around median. If you scored 173 or above, you'd have a good shot at H. Not familiar with YS treatment of retakes so I won't comment on your chances there.

b) 169 + your GPA would probably get you 50k at UVA. Every additional LSAT point above 169 would get you an additional 50k. 171/3.9 would make you competitive for $$ at P and $$$ at D. Not sure what your T14 preference is, but my point is that breaking 170 would definitely get you big scholarships to multiple T14. With your GPA, you should retake. You're hitting 170s on PTS so you're capable.

[vdog]

How are you getting 15-20% desirable gig numbers from UConn? Looks more like 8% to me. Did you apply to BU/BC?

I have more specific placement data from UConn than the one provided by LST. Good midlaw, gov/PI, and business & industry jobs (including in-house) with solid starting salaries compared to COL are not listed. Whereas for PVBD, I would have to aim for market paying firms, F500 in-house, qualifying PI, or AIII clerkship (hence the 65-70% estimation).

BU/BC lowballed me in terms of scholarship, plus an extra 60K in living cost that I won't get from UConn. Also, their tax offerings kind of suck (so no contingency plan for tax if biglaw doesn't fall through). So I was looking at around a differential of 120K in debt plus inconvenience for a 15-20% improvement in overall desirable jobs, which I didn't think was worth it given my situation. And no, they're not any better than UConn in CT, especially Hartford (the differential comes from their Boston placement, and I'm not that keen on Boston as a city).

And I won't get any outside funding (not insignificant), if I don't go to law school this year. So that would be a total loss of 60K+ plus salary differential of 50K+. Add UConn YP and tuition increases for T14 schools and I would need to get 172+ by next year to make up for that loss. Which isn't worth it, because my highest timed PT was 173, and my average (highly std. dev.) was a 169-170, and the added stress of standardized tests that affecst my scores which makes retaking not a good proposition for me.

[blink]

For all of us splitters out here, please PLEASE retake!! You could literally get a full ride to a T14 if you add 5-7 points on your LSAT. Don't pass that opportunity up unless you use up all your retakes. 5k/year is a drop in the bucket. You're practically going for sticker price.

ETA: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 5&t=144338

[Nova]

My goals:
Biglaw

Obviously not UConn then

[sinfiery]

Don't go to UConn if you don't want to live and work in UConn.

You should either retake or attend the t14. If you can score a 170, it would be worth about $130,000 after tax so like a 245k income for you to score your PT average. Retake the damn LSAT bro.


Also, H does take account of all your LSATs but if your GPA is above their median (stop being uselessly vague please) you will get in regardless.

[untar614]

Don't go to UConn if you don't want to live and work in UConn.

You should either retake or attend the t14. If you can score a 170, it would be worth about $130,000 after tax so like a 245k income for you to score your PT average. Retake the damn LSAT bro.


Also, H does take account of all your LSATs but if your GPA is above their median (stop being uselessly vague please) you will get in regardless.

They only have 1% school-funded job rate, and I doubt they house all those people.

just messin', i know know what you meant.

The range thing is annoying, but H's GPA mean is 3.88, so if he did roughly center those ranges around his actual numbers, he should be above their gpa mean.

[vdog]

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[sinfiery]

Tax or Tax law? Chances of.getting such a job from UConn?

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Retake or local school. T14 at this price is insane unless you are independently wealthy. I think retake is the way to given uconn outcomes.

[vdog]

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[sinfiery]

Tax or Tax law? Chances of.getting such a job from UConn?

Either. And I don't think it'll be difficult for me to get a job in tax (or tax law for that matter), especially since I know Excel pretty well and will qualify for CPA exam by 2L year. Biglaw tax may be hard to get, but Big4 and smaller CPA firm tax shouldn't be too difficult to land.

So, like, why are you going to law school if you are fine living the rest of your life doing non law tax related work?

The law market is pretty terrible right now and the accounting market isn't.

[Nova]

Sorry, Im confused. Does the 15-20% from Uconn include the CPA route?

[jbagelboy]

Sounds like you have some family support incoming if you attend a T14. Retake is TCR but you are very aware of your circumstances and you've retaken several times, so I'll venture a legitimate response.

I would go to Penn or Cal for $200K debt. I would not go to UVA or Duke for that much debt. This is my personal preference, everyone else can bitch and be butthurt all they want. I don't agree with the assumption that you can group the schools and just say parallel outcomes. The T14 distinction itself is fallacious.

Given your lofty goals, UConn is not a good plan for you. IF you wanted to do a state clerkship in new england or had a secure job lined up after graduation, I'd say take the $$ and go to the local school. Again, since you want biglaw/corporate inhouse/SEC type preftige stuff, you need a preftige school. I think you know this already.

Give your T14 and I'll give you my answer. Feel free to PM if you want.

[jbagelboy]

Tax or Tax law? Chances of.getting such a job from UConn?

Either. And I don't think it'll be difficult for me to get a job in tax (or tax law for that matter), especially since I know Excel pretty well and will qualify for CPA exam by 2L year. Biglaw tax may be hard to get, but Big4 and smaller CPA firm tax shouldn't be too difficult to land.

So, like, why are you going to law school if you are fine living the rest of your life doing non law tax related work?

The law market is pretty terrible right now and the accounting market isn't.

yea I just saw this. I'm good at excel too (consulting background) and could pass a CPA exam easily but I have no interest in being an accountant. It's a fucking lame profession that would make me miserable. Still, if this is what you are interested in, why spend 3 yrs + six figures on law school?

[timbs4339]

I think what OP is saying is that he wants to roll the dice on getting a 160K outcome, but has that safety net of the 80K accounting job although it's not his first choice. Assuming OP has a 100% guaranteed big 4 accounting position, the question is whether the risk of striking out at T14 is too high given the enormous debt.

I'm not sure what alternative information OP has about the local school or whether it is reliable or not (if it's law school provided be wary), but I would lean T14. OP, do you have finance, accounting, or similar WE? How certain are you the money will not be there in a year? Like others have said, a few points could bump you into "almost certain to get a 160K job" territory. And a year's relevant WE would come in handy in the job hunt.

[sinfiery]

I think what OP is saying is that he wants to roll the dice on getting a 160K outcome, but has that safety net of the 80K accounting job although it's not his first choice. Assuming OP has a 100% guaranteed big 4 accounting position, the question is whether the risk of striking out at T14 is too high given the enormous debt.

I'm not sure what alternative information OP has about the local school or whether it is reliable or not (if it's law school provided be wary), but I would lean T14. OP, do you have finance, accounting, or similar WE? How certain are you the money will not be there in a year? Like others have said, a few points could bump you into "almost certain to get a 160K job" territory. And a year's relevant WE would come in handy in the job hunt.

Yeah, if this is the motive the course of action should almost definitely be to work towards studying for the CPA/LSAT while gaining WE