. Forum

[abduction12]

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[zozin]

I have a 164 LSAT and will definitely be attending law school this fall.

Why the rush?

[tabula rasa]

1. Retake
2. Retake
3. Retake.

...

9001. UIUC

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....

900000000000000000000001. BC

[timbs4339]

I've been planning to attend UIUC and am from Chicago and wouldn't mind working there post-graduation. I just got accepted to BC off the waitlist and have to make a decision by next week. While UIUC seems like the obvious option, I have serious concerns about their dropped ranking and how the school's reputation could suffer as a result. While I'm still leaning towards UIUC, I don't want to take the cheaper option and then end up without a job knowing that another school could've given me a better chance at finding full-time legal employment. What do you all think?

I have a 164 LSAT and will definitely be attending law school this fall.

The ranking drop is not going to have any effect on UIUCs relative rank in the Chicago market for employment purposes. Hiring partners aren't going to boycott the school because the admission dean was a scumbag.

That being said, retake.

[PRgradBYU]

I've been planning to attend UIUC and am from Chicago and wouldn't mind working there post-graduation. I just got accepted to BC off the waitlist and have to make a decision by next week. While UIUC seems like the obvious option, I have serious concerns about their dropped ranking and how the school's reputation could suffer as a result. While I'm still leaning towards UIUC, I don't want to take the cheaper option and then end up without a job knowing that another school could've given me a better chance at finding full-time legal employment. What do you all think?

I have a 164 LSAT and will definitely be attending law school this fall.

RETAKE -- you shouldn't even be thinking about attending law school this fall if these are your only options, as those schools aren't worth those prices. What's your GPA?

[abduction12]

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[sublime]

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[jmls1987]

I have a 164 LSAT and will definitely be attending law school this fall.

Why the rush?

Not so much a rush, I'm just not confident that I could do significantly better on the LSAT, and my GPA is less than stellar; makes me think I couldn't get into a T-14 even if I scored higher.

And PRGrad - You don't think UIUC w/ a 75% scholarship is worth it?

75% scholly is definitely worth it if you plan on working in Chicago. Illinois has solid connections in that market.

[PRgradBYU]

I have a 164 LSAT and will definitely be attending law school this fall.

Why the rush?

Not so much a rush, I'm just not confident that I could do significantly better on the LSAT, and my GPA is less than stellar; makes me think I couldn't get into a T-14 even if I scored higher.

And PRGrad - You don't think UIUC w/ a 75% scholarship is worth it?

No, I don't. What's your total COA?

[abduction12]

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[ManoftheHour]

GPA is 3.0, out of undergrad 4 years with teaching experience.

Total COA will be about $50,000, though tuition is all I'm going to be taking loans out for.

That's not that bad if all you want to do is gun for Chicago and keep expectations realistic.

How many times have you taken the LSAT and how did you prep?

[abduction12]

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[Informative]

If you want biglaw, don't go to UIUC.

[allamerican73]

Not everybody can attend the T-14, so if you want to work in the Midwest (and Chicago in particular), then Illinois is a solid school and, at that price, is a far better option than BC. Congrats and enjoy law school!

[zozin]

Total COA will be about $50,000, though tuition is all I'm going to be taking loans out for.

Hmm, where'd you get the $50K from? UIUC estimated COA is $30K/year after you discount the 75% tuition.

[ManoftheHour]

Total COA will be about $50,000, though tuition is all I'm going to be taking loans out for.

Hmm, where'd you get the $50K from? UIUC estimated COA is $30K/year after you discount the 75% tuition.

Family help? It's possible that the dude lives close by the school and can live at home. He did say he was from the area.

[JCougar]

The ranking drop is not going to have any effect on UIUCs relative rank in the Chicago market for employment purposes. Hiring partners aren't going to boycott the school because the admission dean was a scumbag.

That being said, retake.

If it were only a ranking drop, firms wouldn't care. But the ranking drop is bringing about a dramatic change in quality of the incoming class. It looks like Illinois' LSAT median this year will drop down to 159, if LSN is in any way accurate.

They are essentially recruiting a T2 entering class these days. That has to give legal recruiters pause, especially with so many other mid-T1 schools nearby (ND, Wisconsin, Iowa, WUSTL, Indiana). Sure, some will still be loyal because of the in-state/alumni ties, but try explaining to a client why you are billing top dollar for associates from a T2 class.

It's amazing how fast things are falling apart there. They're dropping like a rock, and I'm not sure the worst is over yet. I can't believe I met Dean Pless and almost went there. I thought it might be possible that the side-effects from that scandal would be quickly forgotten, but it's having a huge effect.

[Informative]

If you want a shot at biglaw, I would take BC. You won't have a shot from UIUC.

[09042014]

The ranking drop is not going to have any effect on UIUCs relative rank in the Chicago market for employment purposes. Hiring partners aren't going to boycott the school because the admission dean was a scumbag.

That being said, retake.

If it were only a ranking drop, firms wouldn't care. But the ranking drop is bringing about a dramatic change in quality of the incoming class. It looks like Illinois' LSAT median this year will drop down to 159, if LSN is in any way accurate.

They are essentially recruiting a T2 entering class these days. That has to give legal recruiters pause, especially with so many other mid-T1 schools nearby (ND, Wisconsin, Iowa, WUSTL, Indiana). Sure, some will still be loyal because of the in-state/alumni ties, but try explaining to a client why you are billing top dollar for associates from a T2 class.

It's amazing how fast things are falling apart there. They're dropping like a rock, and I'm not sure the worst is over yet. I can't believe I met Dean Pless and almost went there. I thought it might be possible that the side-effects from that scandal would be quickly forgotten, but it's having a huge effect.

It's a bit premature to claim that it's going to fall apart without better information. If student quality is on a terminal decline, yes, eventually the schools placement will crash and burn. But it will take a pretty long time for firms to pick up on it and internalize it. You can see the opposite of this going on at schools that shoot up in selectivity and ranking without really doing better at job placement. Though, I bet it's easier to lose cache than gain it.

Illinois as a university is respected in Chicago. An admissions scandal isn't going to change it this fast. And clients aren't screaming SECOND PAGE, SECOND PAGE. Nobody is giving Jenner Block shit for having associates from Illinois. He'll I bet 25% of partners, clients and the children of either, went to Illinois for UG or law school.

I'm not saying it won't happen, but you cannot tell, now, that it will.

[09042014]

If you want a shot at biglaw, I would take BC. You won't have a shot from UIUC.

These schools were 3% different at NLJ250 placement last year. Literally next to each other on the list. You are done here.

[Ti Malice]

If you want a shot at biglaw, I would take BC. You won't have a shot from UIUC.

Please change your username. Your posts are consistently worthless.

[hephaestus]

BC simply doesn't make any sense here. Go to UIUC or retake.

[Snowboarder1588]

50k total coa is a good deal if you want to stay in IL

[BigZuck]

If its really 50K total with interest and everything and you're cool with working at a small firm in IL then go for it.

If you want a shot at big law or the like then retake and enjoy Northwestern

[danquayle]

The ranking drop is not going to have any effect on UIUCs relative rank in the Chicago market for employment purposes. Hiring partners aren't going to boycott the school because the admission dean was a scumbag.

That being said, retake.

If it were only a ranking drop, firms wouldn't care. But the ranking drop is bringing about a dramatic change in quality of the incoming class. It looks like Illinois' LSAT median this year will drop down to 159, if LSN is in any way accurate.

They are essentially recruiting a T2 entering class these days. That has to give legal recruiters pause, especially with so many other mid-T1 schools nearby (ND, Wisconsin, Iowa, WUSTL, Indiana). Sure, some will still be loyal because of the in-state/alumni ties, but try explaining to a client why you are billing top dollar for associates from a T2 class.

It's amazing how fast things are falling apart there. They're dropping like a rock, and I'm not sure the worst is over yet. I can't believe I met Dean Pless and almost went there. I thought it might be possible that the side-effects from that scandal would be quickly forgotten, but it's having a huge effect.

It's a bit premature to claim that it's going to fall apart without better information. If student quality is on a terminal decline, yes, eventually the schools placement will crash and burn. But it will take a pretty long time for firms to pick up on it and internalize it. You can see the opposite of this going on at schools that shoot up in selectivity and ranking without really doing better at job placement. Though, I bet it's easier to lose cache than gain it.

Illinois as a university is respected in Chicago. An admissions scandal isn't going to change it this fast. And clients aren't screaming SECOND PAGE, SECOND PAGE. Nobody is giving Jenner Block shit for having associates from Illinois. He'll I bet 25% of partners, clients and the children of either, went to Illinois for UG or law school.

I'm not saying it won't happen, but you cannot tell, now, that it will.

I have to agree with this. This is an unprecedented situation and any speculation at this point is just that. Will legal employers penalize Illinois? Maybe? Then again, the legion of Illinois alumni at Chicago firms might also rally around their shared brand to go out of their way to hire from Illinois grads.

If you want to avoid Illinois because of uncertainty, I think that's fair. But that really points to your level of risk aversion. A risk taker might see this as a prime time to buy low in attending a school they wouldn't have access to in ordinary times.