Top Law Schools

I have a full scholarship offer from Ole Miss, and was just admitted to Alabama and while they may offer something, I don't expect it.

Ole Miss will run me approximately $36k total, and Alabama will run me approximately $95k total. Just how low would the cost need to be at Alabama to make it a toss-up decision?

Thoughts, suggestions, etc?

I live in Memphis, with a wife (of 25 years) who works full time and pays our mortgage and covers our insurance needs, so going to Ole Miss results in me needing to get a cheapo apartment (or buy a small 2nd home) for the next three years.

I put it to you...

Oh...
I'm 47 years old.
LSAT 157
GPA 3.84
Very strong LORs
Moderately strong softs.

I will not take the LSAT again, and I'm open to practice anywhere in the southeast when I finish. I have zero legal market contacts in any market.
Thanks,

Bob

bro answer all the questions in the sticky. like stats, goals, retakes left, COA all that good shit

thevuch wrote:bro answer all the questions in the sticky. like stats, goals, retakes left, COA all that good shit

My bad.

Done

honestly man id goto ole miss if i were you with your age and everything. 120k in debt likely to goto bama. and not nearly that much for ole miss. youll just have to ball out and place really high to get a job

Wait, why are we doing this again?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5#p7599655

The other thread was Ole Miss vs. Memphis (ranked 144).
This one is Ole Miss vs. Alabama (ranked 23).

I'm not sure if rankings really mean much, so I threw the new poll out there.

That's why. Please tell me you don't think that a 50% scholarship from Memphis is the same as no scholarship from Alabama. Do you?


My thoughts...Either it's a full ride (not going to happen), or I'm staying with Ole Miss.

Bobnoxious wrote:The other thread was Ole Miss vs. Memphis (ranked 144).
This one is Ole Miss vs. Alabama (ranked 23).

I'm not sure if rankings really mean much, so I threw the new poll out there.

That's why.

Rankings don't. At your age and with a family you should go out of your way to minimize debt

Bobnoxious wrote:The other thread was Ole Miss vs. Memphis (ranked 144).
This one is Ole Miss vs. Alabama (ranked 23).

I'm not sure if rankings really mean much, so I threw the new poll out there.

That's why.

My thoughts...Either it's a full ride (not going to happen), or I'm staying with Ole Miss.

Retake

I'd still go to memphis over either of these options considering age/goals/SO.

thebobs1987 wrote:

Bobnoxious wrote:The other thread was Ole Miss vs. Memphis (ranked 144).
This one is Ole Miss vs. Alabama (ranked 23).

I'm not sure if rankings really mean much, so I threw the new poll out there.

That's why.

Rankings don't. At your age and with a family you should go out of your way to minimize debt

I *think* you're right. I just have no knowledge of how it matters and when it stops mattering, etc.

transferror wrote:I'd still go to memphis over either of these options considering age/goals/SO.

I think that would be a normal person's reaction, but maybe he wants to get away from the SO for a few years? He's also bizarrely not interested in doing everything he can to limit the debt burden on his family.

Bob's gonna Bob I guess.

Bob, why do you want to go to law school?

Bobnoxious wrote:The other thread was Ole Miss vs. Memphis (ranked 144).
This one is Ole Miss vs. Alabama (ranked 23).

You could edit the previous post and bump it to the front page by posting again - you don't need to create a new thread for every change. It would just keep all your info in one place so you don't have to keep answering all the sticky questions.

I don't think for your purposes Alabama is going to be worth the debt. You've got a home (and mortgage) in Memphis and your wife works in Memphis, and you haven't shown any particular interest in working in Alabama. In this context, I don't think the rankings matter - Alabama is highly ranked, but still a regional school (though a very good one). While it probably has some portability in the south beyond Alabama, that portability likely doesn't outweigh the "local school" advantages of Memphis or Ole Miss (I think Ole Miss would travel fairly well to Memphis - based on living in Memphis for a couple of years - or at least, better than Alabama.) Since IIRC you haven't expressed particular interest in biglaw (correct me if I'm wrong on that), and none of those schools give you a great shot at landing biglaw, going for cheap is going to be a bigger thing.

You've also said that you're open to practice anywhere in the southeast, but if all your other ties are in Memphis (I think?), employers will probably wonder why you wanted to up and leave there at this point in your life.

I would calculate how much COL at Ole Miss for 3 years would cost vs. 3 years of 1/2 tuition of Memphis (but no COL), and go with whichever is cheaper.

Thanks, everyone.

Decision made.

Gah. I didn't realize your GPA was that high. Work your butt off, get your lsat ten points higher, then go to Vandy for next to nothing next year, is what I would do.

If you're set on going solo right away, IIRC, then whatever, I guess, but you'll probably get some options that pay money in locations you desire if you go the retake route.