Top Law Schools

Hello everyone,

I'm deciding between 3 Florida schools and I'm really torn as to what decision I should make.

My numbers are 3.06/159 lsat (taken 3 times)

I was offered $5k/yr at FIU - with an additional $5k/yr grant of financial aid. Stip'd on the condition I stay in top half of class. Tuition is about $20k/yr at FIU.

UM offered me $20k/yr, no grants. Stip'd on the condition I stay in the top half of class. Tuition is $44k/yr at UM.

These local schools have an advantage in my situation because there will be virtually 0 COL included, as I will be living with parents. Furthermore, I do intend to practice locally in S. Florida and I understand these are regional schools.

FSU is at the moment not offering any scholarships. The tuition is right around $20k/yr. Factoring in COL, I should expect to spend about $40k/yr - not to mention the fact that I'll most likely have to purchase a new car going to tally. Let's just say my car is not suited for the terrain in Tallahassee (too low).

Make your best arguments for each school as I have hit a roadblock in my decision.

Can't in good faith recommend any. Statistically your best bet at a good career from these is to use all the loan money to finance a Vegas getaway, and bet it all on black. You have a 40 percent shot of turning 100k into 200k. Then pay off your loans, and start a dog grooming business.

From these FSU at least makes it 50-50 you get a job but for 120k debt plus interest I would urge you not to laugh off the Vegas option. Most would say that's a much more rational choice.

Noted - using gov loan $ to finance a betting spree is dishonest and not condoned. I am spaking from the odds of turning a profit, not giving actual behavioral advice.

.

Post the total cost of attendance for each school (with tuition increases, accumulated interest, etc.).

Miami

FIU's total cost of attending will be $37,283.
UM's total cost of attending will be $93,611.
FSU'S total cost of attending will be $128,003.

I'm going with UM, let me tell you why.

Firstly, UM gave me 30k. Which actually makes UM much more affordable. Still, it's possibly the most expensive among the three.

I like the Miami market. Since I like it here, I'm going to UM over FIU because well, both cost the same for me. (FIU actually costs about 5k less, but that's not a deal maker) So financially they're equal. But UM has a much stronger alumni base here in Miami and has much wider name recognition outside of Miami. Though there may not be alumni in Chicago, they at least know the University of Miami.

FSU is great and all... but it would have been more expensive for me to go there. Also, they have 65% employment, but it's lower paying jobs. It's also a lot of government and public interest do-gooder stuff. And It'd place me in tampa or jacksonville or orlando... not necessarily Miami. So, I'm gonna go to UM since I also already live in an awesome place just down the street from UM so, my life will be as least upset as possible by the begining of law school. no moving, no adjusting to a new environment etc.

Going to UM and FSU at those costs would be cray cray. I guess go to FIU if you don't particularly like money.

Personally, I would retake or not go.

Agentsoapbox wrote:I'm going with UM, let me tell you why.

Firstly, UM gave me 30k. Which actually makes UM much more affordable. Still, it's possibly the most expensive among the three.

I like the Miami market. Since I like it here, I'm going to UM over FIU because well, both cost the same for me. (FIU actually costs about 5k less, but that's not a deal maker) So financially they're equal. But UM has a much stronger alumni base here in Miami and has much wider name recognition outside of Miami. Though there may not be alumni in Chicago, they at least know the University of Miami.

FSU is great and all... but it would have been more expensive for me to go there. Also, they have 65% employment, but it's lower paying jobs. It's also a lot of government and public interest do-gooder stuff. And It'd place me in tampa or jacksonville or orlando... not necessarily Miami. So, I'm gonna go to UM since I also already live in an awesome place just down the street from UM so, my life will be as least upset as possible by the begining of law school. no moving, no adjusting to a new environment etc.

UM isn't good at placing people into high paying jobs, nor do their alumni or their bases particularly matter, especially not outside of the state of Florida.

Hypothetically speaking, is it preferable to be in the top 10% at FIU rather than being top 40% at FSU or UM?

@MisterGabriel,

How do you factor that FSU will be $128k yet UM will only be 93K?

Are you living at home with your parents in Miami?

No argument necessary as you already made it...

You want to work in So. Florida and your cost of living is "0" there. FIU is not an appropriate choice at this point in their evolution as a law school. Miami Law is a robust institution with great faculty scholarship and terrific externships -- in addition to their alumni network both in Miami and abroad.

FSU will not yield entree into Miami as well as Miami. The difference in ranking is not substantive. Doesn't make sense for you, in particular, to go there.

MisterGabriel wrote:Hypothetically speaking, is it preferable to be in the top 10% at FIU rather than being top 40% at FSU or UM?

Actually, I think FIU would be more academically rigorous that UM. UM is a party school. Kids come down to Miami expecting to go to law school where they can have fun in the sun. A lot of rich trust fund brats that chose the school just because it's respectable and in an amazing location. I was there all day the other day, I swear, it was like a huge kegger. Their big selling point when I went on a tour is that they give out free beer at the rat for law students.

Being at FIU for undergrad... I can tell you that the atmosphere at FIU is completely different than UM. People at FIU just show up for school and to get shit done. Students there are less involved in the social scene and are actually looking to get a law degree. Much more sober minded and serious students. And I don't know about the law school, but the undergrad has one of the toughest grading curves in the country. So, all that to say I think you'd have an easier time getting to the top at UM than at FIU.

FSU gives you a reasonable chance of finding a law job, but not one where you can comfortably pay off that amount of debt.

FIU is a reasonable enough cost that you would probably be able to pay back on any decent wage, which is good, because you'll probably be working the same job that you would had you not gone to law school in the first place.

Miami is both too expensive and not likely enough to lead to employment to justify.

Of the 3, I think FSU is your best bet, but it sounds like you would be better off not going at all / retaking in the future.

Agentsoapbox wrote:@MisterGabriel,

How do you factor that FSU will be $128k yet UM will only be 93K?

Are you living at home with your parents in Miami?

I used this calculator: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/admission ... geid=61621

I calculated about $36k/yr as my total COA with a 3.5% yearly tuition increase. This amount is also calculating interest as I'm attending. I'm not 100% sure if this is accurate, so if you're showing a different amount please share.

And yes, I will be living at home with parents in Miami.

raininthedesert wrote:No argument necessary as you already made it...

You want to work in So. Florida and your cost of living is "0" there. FIU is not an appropriate choice at this point in their evolution as a law school. Miami Law is a robust institution with great faculty scholarship and terrific externships -- in addition to their alumni network both in Miami and abroad.

FSU will not yield entree into Miami as well as Miami. The difference in ranking is not substantive. Doesn't make sense for you, in particular, to go there.

I've seen your posts in other threads; are you personally familiar with employment opportunities in the S. Fla legal market? I recall you mentioning something about that in other posts.

Agentsoapbox wrote:

MisterGabriel wrote:Hypothetically speaking, is it preferable to be in the top 10% at FIU rather than being top 40% at FSU or UM?

Actually, I think FIU would be more academically rigorous that UM. UM is a party school. Kids come down to Miami expecting to go to law school where they can have fun in the sun. A lot of rich trust fund brats that chose the school just because it's respectable and in an amazing location. I was there all day the other day, I swear, it was like a huge kegger. Their big selling point when I went on a tour is that they give out free beer at the rat for law students.

Being at FIU for undergrad... I can tell you that the atmosphere at FIU is completely different than UM. People at FIU just show up for school and to get shit done. Students there are less involved in the social scene and are actually looking to get a law degree. Much more sober minded and serious students. And I don't know about the law school, but the undergrad has one of the toughest grading curves in the country. So, all that to say I think you'd have an easier time getting to the top at UM than at FIU.

I could see this as a strong possibility. I also went to FIU in my undergrad, and I loved it but it is very much a commuter school. I can imagine law school there would be about the same - get in, get your work done, and get out.

Academically rigorous? Robust institution? WTF is going on in this thread?

Just look at employment outcomes and cost. That's it, that's all that matters once you have narrowed down the geographic area. None of these schools offer particularly "good" employment outcomes, so just limit your debt and make sure your goals align with where the school can get you.