Brooklyn ($$$$) vs. GW ($) Forum

[moshei24]

I'm posting this for a friend.

Her stats are 3.85/164. She has two offers right now.

Brooklyn offered her $50k/yr, with the only stipulation being staying in the top 80% of the class. She'd live at home if she went there, and would graduate with no debt.

GW offered her $12k/yr and she'd have to pay the living expenses of DC. GW has no stipulations to keep her scholarship.

She's set on going to GW, and going into $250k+ debt, if not more. She doesn't want to retake the LSAT and reapply, though. I believe that Brooklyn is the better choice in this situation.

Which should she choose and why?

[nickb285]

.

[moshei24]

She doesn't want to retake the LSAT and reapply

Would she rather be almost definitely unemployed and debt free, or possibly unemployed and massively indebted?

Tell your friend to be patient instead of stupid.

Oh, I left out she that she already took the LSAT twice. She happens to be an extremely good student and I wouldn't be surprised if she end up on Law Review at Brooklyn, which would mean she'd find a job. Though, she stood study over the Summer, retake, and reapply.

[untar614]

She should only go to GW if she's willing to accept being on IBR/PAYE for the next 20-something years, as less than a third of GW grads are going to get the high paying jobs that can service that kind of debt. Since it would entail zero debt, Brooklyn wouldn't be ruinous, but there's also a good chance it could end up being a wasted 3 years. Even if it isn't, she won't get any lofty position, so if she has any decently high aspirations, then retaking would be necessary. With that good of a GPA, retaking would be incredibly beneficial if she could really apply herself to getting well-prepared for the LSAT, so I'd say do your best to encourage her to retake, and warn her what GW with little scholarship means.

[jbagelboy]

For a second there I thought you had made another thread for yourself with a major downgrade, and I was going to lawl.

GWU for $200K+ debt is definitely a bad call. Servicing that debt won't be easy out of that school. While there's no way to guarantee a legal job from Brooklyn, it won't screw your friend over. What are her goals? If she wants biglaw or anything like it, a third retake is the only correct answer.

[hephaestus]

Retake or Brooklyn. But Brooklyn is a distant second.

[BarbellDreams]

I'd retake but Brooklyn with literally zero debt isn't the worst option to have. If your friend is anywhere close to biglaw or bust (or hell, law firm or bust) I'd suggest retaking though.

[timbs4339]

If she desires a high paying or prestigious job - retake >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brooklyn > GW
If she just wants to be a lawyer - retake > Brooklyn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> GW

[rad lulz]

Retake or Brooklyn. But Brooklyn is a distant second.

[Presidentjlh]

Brooklyn isn't a horrifyingly bad choice if she really doesn't want to retake.

But if she really wants to be a successful lawyer, she should retake.

[nickb285]

.

[moshei24]

Oh, I left out she that she already took the LSAT twice. She happens to be an extremely good student and I wouldn't be surprised if she end up on Law Review at Brooklyn, which would mean she'd find a job. Though, she stood study over the Summer, retake, and reapply.

So she's a good enough student to guarantee law review and a job from a school where less than half of the students even get the latter, but not good enough to study a few more months and take the LSAT a third time?

Retake or Brooklyn. But Brooklyn is a distant second.

School and the LSAT are two different things...

[Presidentjlh]

Oh, I left out she that she already took the LSAT twice. She happens to be an extremely good student and I wouldn't be surprised if she end up on Law Review at Brooklyn, which would mean she'd find a job. Though, she stood study over the Summer, retake, and reapply.

So she's a good enough student to guarantee law review and a job from a school where less than half of the students even get the latter, but not good enough to study a few more months and take the LSAT a third time?

Retake or Brooklyn. But Brooklyn is a distant second.

School and the LSAT are two different things...

Yeah.

School's way, way more difficult.

If she's cool with Brooklyn's odds, that's her choice, but she should retake.

[moshei24]

Unless you're bad at standardized tests.

[Presidentjlh]

Unless you're bad at standardized tests.

If you're bad at standardized tests, then law school won't be too fun, since your entire grade is dependent on one, comprehensive final in the spring.

[timbs4339]

Unless you're bad at standardized tests.

The LSAT is learnable. She needs to study. Those same skills that made her good at school can help her crack 170.

Also, law school is extremely different than undergrad or high school. Everyone is within a very narrow range of intelligence and are generally very good at the skills that go into law school specifically.

[moshei24]

Unless you're bad at standardized tests.

The LSAT is learnable. She needs to study. Those same skills that made her good at school can help her crack 170.

Also, law school is extremely different than undergrad or high school. Everyone is within a very narrow range of intelligence and are generally very good at the skills that go into law school specifically.

True. I'm gonna encourage her to retake it. She has ability to improve. I think some of her study techniques were a little faulty.

[Myself]

.

[Clearly]

Crooklyn has STIPS and is rumored to section stack. Retake.

[romothesavior]

Oh, I left out she that she already took the LSAT twice. She happens to be an extremely good student and I wouldn't be surprised if she end up on Law Review at Brooklyn, which would mean she'd find a job. Though, she stood study over the Summer, retake, and reapply.

So she's a good enough student to guarantee law review and a job from a school where less than half of the students even get the latter, but not good enough to study a few more months and take the LSAT a third time?

Retake or Brooklyn. But Brooklyn is a distant second.

Big +1 to this.