UF/FSU vs. Pepperdine/Loyola Forum

[Finnick]

I'm coming up on deposit deadlines next week and I'm trying to narrow down my options.

-GPA/LSAT: 3.2/160
-Will be paying with loans (have $15K in savings)
-Florida resident

Considering:
UF: Tuition 11K (good academic standing stip), LST Employment 55.6%
FSU: Tuition 18K (hoping they will match UF's $11K scholly offer), LST Employment 65.4%
Pepperdine: Tuition 31K (top half of class stip), LST Employment 45.5%
Loyola: Tuition 28K (top 75% stip), LST Emplyoment 41%

Waitlisted at: UNC, Wake, UC-Hastings. Also just through in a late app at Penn State.

My top choices as of right now are UF and Pepperdine. I prefer UF>FSU and Pepperdine>Loyola (particularly with the huge drop in the last rankings). If I get into any of the waitlist options, I would probably have to pay sticker...and not sure that would be a good idea. I'm also hoping to transfer up to a T14 (I'm well aware that I need to go to a school that I would be comfortable staying at all three years and that the chances are slim).

I'm not deadset on any particular geographic location or area of law. In fantasy world, I would like to live in California practicing Sports and Entertainment law, but I'm aware that it's difficult to get into. I would prefer living in the Northeast or California. I really don't want to live in Florida permanently, but it would obviously be much cheaper to start...and I'd probably have a better chance of getting a job. Staying on the east coast would be much easier, particularly with the possibility of transferring to Georgetown/BC/BU. I'm most interested in S&E, Academia/Clerkships, and business/corporate law.

[thebobs1987]

I'm coming up on deposit deadlines next week and I'm trying to narrow down my options.

-GPA/LSAT: 3.2/160
-Will be paying with loans (have $15K in savings)
-Florida resident

Considering:
UF: Tuition 11K (good academic standing stip), LST Employment 55.6%
FSU: Tuition 18K (hoping they will match UF's $11K scholly offer), LST Employment 65.4%
Pepperdine: Tuition 31K (top half of class stip), LST Employment 45.5%
Loyola: Tuition 28K (top 75% stip), LST Emplyoment 41%

Waitlisted at: UNC, Wake, UC-Hastings. Also just through in a late app at Penn State.

My top choices as of right now are UF and Pepperdine. I prefer UF>FSU and Pepperdine>Loyola (particularly with the huge drop in the last rankings). If I get into any of the waitlist options, I would probably have to pay sticker...and not sure that would be a good idea. I'm also hoping to transfer up to a T14 (I'm well aware that I need to go to a school that I would be comfortable staying at all three years and that the chances are slim).

I'm not deadset on any particular geographic location or area of law. In fantasy world, I would like to live in California practicing Sports and Entertainment law, but I'm aware that it's difficult to get into. I would prefer living in the Northeast or California. I really don't want to live in Florida permanently, but it would obviously be much cheaper to start...and I'd probably have a better chance of getting a job. Staying on the east coast would be much easier, particularly with the possibility of transferring to Georgetown/BC/BU. I'm most interested in S&E, Academia/Clerkships, and business/corporate law.

For what you want to do and where you want to do it, you will need to retake.

If you are ok with doing small law and living in Florida, go to the cheaper of UF/FSU

[BigZuck]

Forget the CA schools, both are dumps and you don't have the ties

Total cost of attendance at the FL schools?

Retake/reapply if you want a shot at fulfilling those career goals.

[Finnick]

Since I have a low GPA, I don't think a reasonable (few points) increase in my LSAT is going to accomplish much. And it would require me to sit out a year, which I really don't want to do. I studied quite a bit, took a prep course, etc....and actually scored a couple points higher than my best PT. So I think 160 is about as good as it's going to get.

I would anticipate my COA being around $70k for tuition and living expenses at UF.

[BigZuck]

Since I have a low GPA, I don't think a reasonable (few points) increase in my LSAT is going to accomplish much. And it would require me to sit out a year, which I really don't want to do. I studied quite a bit, took a prep course, etc....and actually scored a couple points higher than my best PT. So I think 160 is about as good as it's going to get.

I would anticipate my COA being around $70k for tuition and living expenses at UF.

If you have a burning desire to work at a small firm/local government then go wherever you prefer of FSU/UF.

If those jobs aren't acceptable and you don't want to put in the time and effort to retake then don't go to law school.

Your numbers are limiting you. If you don't improve them, then you can't get what you want career wise.

[MisterGabriel]

What is the stipulation requirement for UF?

[timbs4339]

I think you realize that your goals of sports/entertainment law (and, for that matter, biglaw/corporate law and academia/clerkships) are pie in the sky. Really think if you'd want to be a lawyer before you pull the trigger on UF at what seems like a reasonable debt total. There are a lot of downsides to the profession (like mental illness, depression, anxiety problems) beyond just the massive law school debt, and if you think you'd only be happy in two very unlikely practice areas you might want to rethink the career path.

FN: Folks who liked my previous posts might want to keep an eye on this thread...

[Finnick]

The UF stip is just a 2.0 GPA. I think I'm leaning towards UF out of the current options, particularly if I'm able to negotiate my scholarship up a little more.

Yeah, I'm definitely aware of my limits. I'm not deadset on any particular career area, those are just a few favorites. I'd be fine with mid-law, I'm not gunning for a V5. UF does have a lot of prestige throughout the state, and I think top grades could land a state clerkship or (probably dreaming..) counsel for one of the sports teams. I do have a judge in the family and connections at the SAO, if nothing else.

[BigZuck]

The UF stip is just a 2.0 GPA. I think I'm leaning towards UF out of the current options, particularly if I'm able to negotiate my scholarship up a little more.

Yeah, I'm definitely aware of my limits. I'm not deadset on any particular career area, those are just a few favorites. I'd be fine with mid-law, I'm not gunning for a V5. UF does have a lot of prestige throughout the state, and I think top grades could land a state clerkship or (probably dreaming..) counsel for one of the sports teams. I do have a judge in the family and connections at the SAO, if nothing else.

What do you mean by midlaw? How big are these firms? What do they pay? What kind of work do they do? Do they hire fresh grads?

[rad lulz]

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[Finnick]

The UF stip is just a 2.0 GPA. I think I'm leaning towards UF out of the current options, particularly if I'm able to negotiate my scholarship up a little more.

Yeah, I'm definitely aware of my limits. I'm not deadset on any particular career area, those are just a few favorites. I'd be fine with mid-law, I'm not gunning for a V5. UF does have a lot of prestige throughout the state, and I think top grades could land a state clerkship or (probably dreaming..) counsel for one of the sports teams. I do have a judge in the family and connections at the SAO, if nothing else.

What do you mean by midlaw? How big are these firms? What do they pay? What kind of work do they do? Do they hire fresh grads?

I'll probably be looking at firms with 40-50 lawyers or less, $50-75K at most, general litigation, family law, etc. Again, I'm not gunning for big law or any specific area. I know a lot of people's interests change in law school, and that could easily happen to me. Everything would depend on grades and class rank. With reasonable debt, I think UF is a solid choice. I know plenty of UF grads that have had great careers and live a comfortable life.

[BigZuck]

The UF stip is just a 2.0 GPA. I think I'm leaning towards UF out of the current options, particularly if I'm able to negotiate my scholarship up a little more.

Yeah, I'm definitely aware of my limits. I'm not deadset on any particular career area, those are just a few favorites. I'd be fine with mid-law, I'm not gunning for a V5. UF does have a lot of prestige throughout the state, and I think top grades could land a state clerkship or (probably dreaming..) counsel for one of the sports teams. I do have a judge in the family and connections at the SAO, if nothing else.

What do you mean by midlaw? How big are these firms? What do they pay? What kind of work do they do? Do they hire fresh grads?

I'll probably be looking at firms with 40-50 lawyers or less, $50-75K at most, general litigation, family law, etc. Again, I'm not gunning for big law or any specific area. I know a lot of people's interests change in law school, and that could easily happen to me. Everything would depend on grades and class rank. With reasonable debt, I think UF is a solid choice. I know plenty of UF grads that have had great careers and live a comfortable life.

These are actual firms? Like, you know the names of firms that fit this profile? And they hire fresh grads?

Anyway, if you're cool with a 50K job UF seems fine. Keep in mind though that just because you know successful grads means literally nothing. I know successful Hastings grads and that school should be shut down its so terrible. Just because some are successful doesn't mean most or even a sufficient number are successful.

If you're cool with a modest job outcome then enjoy UF. Your debt is reasonable.

[Finnick]

The UF stip is just a 2.0 GPA. I think I'm leaning towards UF out of the current options, particularly if I'm able to negotiate my scholarship up a little more.

Yeah, I'm definitely aware of my limits. I'm not deadset on any particular career area, those are just a few favorites. I'd be fine with mid-law, I'm not gunning for a V5. UF does have a lot of prestige throughout the state, and I think top grades could land a state clerkship or (probably dreaming..) counsel for one of the sports teams. I do have a judge in the family and connections at the SAO, if nothing else.

What do you mean by midlaw? How big are these firms? What do they pay? What kind of work do they do? Do they hire fresh grads?

I'll probably be looking at firms with 40-50 lawyers or less, $50-75K at most, general litigation, family law, etc. Again, I'm not gunning for big law or any specific area. I know a lot of people's interests change in law school, and that could easily happen to me. Everything would depend on grades and class rank. With reasonable debt, I think UF is a solid choice. I know plenty of UF grads that have had great careers and live a comfortable life.

These are actual firms? Like, you know the names of firms that fit this profile? And they hire fresh grads?

Anyway, if you're cool with a 50K job UF seems fine. Keep in mind though that just because you know successful grads means literally nothing. I know successful Hastings grads and that school should be shut down its so terrible. Just because some are successful doesn't mean most or even a sufficient number are successful.

If you're cool with a modest job outcome then enjoy UF. Your debt is reasonable.

Yes. I won't base a decision off knowing a few people. I know someone that went to a T4 and landed a clerkship and a job with one of the best big law farms in the southeast. But the other 99% of that school is using their degree to flip burgers.