Top Law Schools

Thanks for the help, guys.

Why are you even considering W&L? Serious question.

Honestly, at this point I am considering UVA and W&M almost exclusively. I just added W&L because a few lawyers at a firm I visited told me that I should keep it in the running.

Stats? Why didn't you apply to more of the T-14 if you wanted biglaw? UVA at sticker is too much, and the other options don't give you a real chance at biglaw. I would say none.

Winston1984 wrote:Stats? Why didn't you apply to more of the T-14 if you wanted biglaw? UVA at sticker is too much, and the other options don't give you a real chance at biglaw. I would say none.

Due to some interesting circumstances, I have actually been waitlisted/rejected from almost the entire t-14 and will probably be rejected from the rest. I also got in to Gtown, but the debt would be absurd without any aid scholly.

eta: I would post stats, but I don't really feel comfortable doing so. All I will say is that any other applicant would have gotten into much more of the t-14 than I did.

noobishned wrote:

Winston1984 wrote:Stats? Why didn't you apply to more of the T-14 if you wanted biglaw? UVA at sticker is too much, and the other options don't give you a real chance at biglaw. I would say none.

Due to some interesting circumstances, I have actually been waitlisted/rejected from almost the entire t-14 and will probably be rejected from the rest. I also got in to Gtown, but the debt would be absurd without any aid scholly.

eta: I would post stats, but I don't really feel comfortable doing so. All I will say is that any other applicant would have gotten into much more of the t-14 than I did.

C&F issue or something? You don't have to go into detail, but basically you are saying that your numbers are solid and retaking won't matter? Can a better app help next cycle?

You are on the right track. I have even sat out a year and applied as early as possible for better results.

Tough call. If you have to have biglaw then UVA. If you are cool doing local government/small firm work then I'd take W&M. W&L is out. I'd probably take UVA if I was you to be honest (although I would be freaking out about that debt).

Winston1984 wrote:Tough call. If you have to have biglaw then UVA. If you are cool doing local government/small firm work then I'd take W&M. W&L is out. I'd probably take UVA if I was you to be honest (although I would be freaking out about that debt).

That is exactly where I'm at right now! Thanks for the added perspective!

Tough call. I would probably do UVA, as it has far more realistic upside than the other two. For biglaw/business, i think you have to go to UVA and bust your ass

Do you have any other debt to factor in?

I'd choose Wm. and Mary, because regardless of what you do after graduation, you will have an easily-manageable level of debt.

"Wanting" X shouldn't factor into anyone's advice.

W&L student here. I voted for UVA.
Also, UVA > W&M for your goals and COA factored in.

I'm confused as to why W&L is even an option provided? W&M is far better law school option at every level and apparently less expensive in terms of COA. Just don't understand why that school continues to persist in everyone's calculus -- even with a full ride.

Having said that, UVA is the only strong feeder school on your list and the gap in COA would certainly give initial pause so the question is do you value the better employment prospects and accompanying prestige at $150K? $150K is $1,000 per month at 6.8% interest for 30 years before compounding interest during your time at school. My answer is yes based on your options...had a third choice been full ride at a top feeder urban school then I would have answered differently.

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UVA at sticker is pretty scary. Keep in mind nearly 20% of the class works for the school and you pretty much have to get big law to pay off sticker.

raininthedesert wrote:I'm confused as to why W&L is even an option provided? W&M is far better law school option at every level and apparently less expensive in terms of COA. Just don't understand why that school continues to persist in everyone's calculus -- even with a full ride.

Having said that, UVA is the only strong feeder school on your list and the gap in COA would certainly give initial pause so the question is do you value the better employment prospects and accompanying prestige at $150K? $150K is $1,000 per month at 6.8% interest for 30 years before compounding interest during your time at school. My answer is yes based on your options...had a third choice been full ride at a top feeder urban school then I would have answered differently.

Didn't you call me out for (supposedly) baselessly denigrating W&L awhile back? Was it just the drop in USNWR rankings that changed your mind? You suddenly seem to be all about dumping on W&L.

Anyway, OP, I'd probably go to W&M. W&M with VA ties isn't bad, although Big Law is unlikely. That's just way too expensive for UVA in my opinion.

UVA at sticker is too much. You don't want a 20% chance of being in debt for literally the rest of your life with zero retirement savings.

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lecsa wrote:

Biglaw_Associate_V20 wrote:UVA at sticker is too much. You don't want a 20% chance of being in debt for literally the rest of your life with zero retirement savings.

Waiting for the UVA trolls to tell us that the 20% school funded fellowships are desirable outcomes...

Did someone with a school funded fellowship beat you up and sleep with your girlfriend or something? We get it, you don't think those count. Chill.