Top Law Schools

Options + Cost:
Boston College 110k (200,000-90,000 scholarship)
Emory: 128k (200,000-72,000 scholarship)
Minnesota: 100k (177,000-77,000 scholarship)
UNC Chapel Hill (with joint degree masters of public policy from Duke) 90k (144,000-54,000 scholarship
GW: 200k
Indiana: 90k (180k-90,000 scholarship)

Where I am From:
Midwest, strong ties to East Coast however. Father is former judge and lawyer. University of Michigan graduate, worked in DC and NYC for political/legal internships. Very comfortable in DC/NYC

What I want to do:
Get involved in politics eventually, but hopefully Big Law. I know my options aren't the best for that, but hopefully if I work hard and graduate towards the top of my class at these schools, I will have a shot. Would actually love to be a divorce attorney, but very interested in property law (family owns a land development company)

How I will be financing:
Parents paying full tuition and living expenses, I am extremely thankful for this and do not want to waste their $ on a bad option or a school that needlessly costs an exorbitant amount. Want the best possible education and chance for big law goals. I will not have debt no matter what school I choose.

Please let me know what you think, thanks very much for your help, and with 2 weeks to go before i lock down a choice (May 1 is my self proclaimed deadline) this will be my last thread!

I am not retaking (only 1 LSAT take) very happy with choices.

You want big law? None of the above, retake.

there is dissonance between your likelihood of getting biglaw and/or politics from these schools and you being "very happy" with your options.

if you scored under 170 retake.

Ngoblue2014 wrote: How I will be financing:
Parents paying full tuition and living expenses, I am extremely thankful for this and do not want to waste their $ on a bad option or a school that needlessly costs an exorbitant amount. Want the best possible education and chance for big law goals. I will not have debt no matter what school I choose.

Please let me know what you think, thanks very much for your help, and with 2 weeks to go before i lock down a choice (May 1 is my self proclaimed deadline) this will be my last thread!

I am not retaking (only 1 LSAT take) very happy with choices.

You're a fool if you don't retake. Suck it up, quit being a brat, and take the test again.

Considering all of your statements as absolutes, I would do either BC or Emory in your shoes. Emory would be my top choice if it was the same price as BC. Given the price difference though, I prefer BC here. I'm surprised GW hasn't given you anything or matched any of them. I bet if you contacted them, that would change. Retake remains tcr if you do change your mind, but I don't know what your GPA looks like so I can't comment on just how beneficial it could be. If it's above a 3.5, please, please, do retake.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:I know my options aren't the best for that, but hopefully if I work hard and graduate towards the top of my class at these schools, I will have a shot.

Knows options aren't best, relies on hope. Smart plan. Especially given how small the risk is. Oh, wait.

EDIT: I guess, if you don't care about a very good chance of pissing away your parents' money, go ham.

you're not gonna be top of class with that work ethic

retake

srs

very low gpa (3.3) but from U of M so i guess not terrible. I am a "reverse splitter"

Ngoblue2014 wrote:very low gpa (3.3) but from U of M so i guess not terrible. I am a "reverse splitter"

you're a normal splitter. Reverse splitter is high GPA low LSAT.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:very low gpa (3.3) but from U of M so i guess not terrible. I am a "reverse splitter"

lsat score?

but given your options your lsat is under 170 im guessing, so still good idea to retake

Don't make your parents waste their money on these schools. Retake.

ZGr88n wrote:

Ngoblue2014 wrote:very low gpa (3.3) but from U of M so i guess not terrible. I am a "reverse splitter"

lsat score?

The fact that you missed 7 on LG definitely means that you need to retake.

Retake, no question.

my parents are very against a retake, it's been a nervous situation which i am sure you guys can understand. just want to get it over with and make the best choice i can! Obviously a lot of you guys are in better positions than I am, but i am still pretty pleased with my cycle. Btw my numbers: major gap 3.5 overall 3.3.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:make the best choice i can!

So make the best choice you can and retake the fucking test.

GW all the way cuz fuck it, you like DC and gonna make it rain with daddy's $$$

I personally can't understand. Why don't they want you to put yourself in the best possible position to succeed and get the job that you want? That's pretty messed up on their parts.

my dad is a really anxious guy. I got accepted to every school i applied to between 18 and 33 (except USC which I haven't heard from) but he just feels i had a really good cycle and need to decide instead of delaying.

Why does BC keep moving down in the US News rankings? Their employment numbers seem to be much much better than a lot of higher ranked schools, including BU

Your dad doesn't understand admissions or job prospects apparently and that is unfortunate, but seriously do whatever you need to in order to retake. I know it sounds difficult and frustrating and that it will be both, but it will also be worth it. In this case the hard choice is also the right one.

Show some LST score reports to your dad. He sounds like a successful guy from a past generation. It will take time for him to understand how hard it is these days.

yea very true regarding my dad, he went to Detroit College of Law and ended up a federal judge. I do not think that happens too often these days, but when he hears schools like BC, Emory, etc. he just thinks wow that's great don't take a chance

This has to be trolling...

If your interested in state politics UNC Law grads run North Carolina and Duke Public Policy could add some great connections as well also considering its the least expensive of the options i'd go with that for sure