Fordham (15k), GW (15k), UNLV (Full-tuition)? Forum

[amberlv]

Are either Fordham or George Washington good enough to justify giving up the full-tuition scholarship? They're both offering $15k/year (I'm waiting to hear back on need based scholarships, but for the moment I'm assuming I'm not getting any more). I live in Las Vegas currently and my cost of living is very low - it's definitely the most convenient and cheapest option. But I've always wanted to live in NYC and I love DC so I'm not opposed to moving. My only question is if it's worth it? Any opinions would be great!

[jac101689]

It depends on your goals.

Public interest or "BigLaw" seem to be the best ways to go from GW or Fordham at the COA numbers you're looking at. With public interest, there's the possibility of Income-Based Repayment and Federal Loan Forgiveness. The common wisdom is that with "BigLaw," your salary will be high enough to manage the debt without a significantly compromised quality of life.

I just deposited at Fordham with the same deal, but I'm committed 100% to a career in public interest so I'm not too worried about the debt.

Oh, and UNLV will probably give you a 0% chance at NYC or DC.

[transferror]

Need this info: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=206299

[BigZuck]

It depends on your goals.

Public interest or "BigLaw" seem to be the best ways to go from GW or Fordham at the COA numbers you're looking at. With public interest, there's the possibility of Income-Based Repayment and Federal Loan Forgiveness. The common wisdom is that with "BigLaw," your salary will be high enough to manage the debt without a significantly compromised quality of life.

I just deposited at Fordham with the same deal, but I'm committed 100% to a career in public interest so I'm not too worried about the debt.

Oh, and UNLV will probably give you a 0% chance at NYC or DC.

Needing big law from Fordham and GW is a fools errand. There's a reason they are called trap schools.

OP- if you want to work at a small firm/government in NV, definitely go to UNLV. If you want large firm work anywhere, retake and reapply to different schools. Definitely don't go to Fordham or GW at those prices.

[amberlv]

Thanks for the heads up transferror

~According to the calculator from the link you shared, I'm looking at about $240k in debt from Fordham, $235k from GW, and $73k from UNLV.

~This will all be coming from loans - the only assistance I'll receive are scholarships ($15k from Fordham & GW; full-tuition from UNLV).

~All of my immediate family lives in Vegas - that is a big draw for me. However, as I said, I've always wanted to live in NYC and I love DC (although I've heard most people end up hating it after a couple years of living there). I'm kind of thinking that if I go to Fordham or GW & absolutely hate either city I'll have an easier time finding work elsewhere with a degree from either of those than I will moving from Vegas with a UNLV degree.

~I'm really not sure what I want to do after school (if I did this might be easier ). I've considered everything from a solo practice to biglaw. I know that UNLV won't get me biglaw, and is unlikely to get me into big government work. But since I'm not sure I want to do either of those, that might not be a problem. Of course, if I decide I DO want to do one of those, UNLV will be a disappointment. Likewise, I know that I have a better chance at biglaw/govt from Fordham or GW, but is the chance good enough that it is worth the risk that I won't get into one of those?

~I appreciate the retake advice, but my GPA is only 3.3. LSAT is 165 & 166. I just don't see myself getting into a better school with my GPA, regardless of how well I may do on a future LSAT. If only younger me had realized this would be a concern

Thanks for all of the advice! Keep it coming please!

[francesfarmer]

You can definitely get into a better school with a higher LSAT and a 3.3.

Law school is not the time to move cross-country to a big city because you feel like exploring the world (especially if the schools you're considering moving cross-country for don't have great placement in their markets and don't have name recognition in your home market). Can you live at home while you go to UNLV to save money?

[jac101689]

"~I appreciate the retake advice, but my GPA is only 3.3. LSAT is 165 & 166. I just don't see myself getting into a better school with my GPA, regardless of how well I may do on a future LSAT. If only younger me had realized this would be a concern "

The bolded portion just isn't true.

Don't get me wrong, I went with Fordham; but that's because it has exactly the bizarre combination of public-interest programs I want.

If you cracked the 170s, you would get into a "better" school.

[Clearly]

Sticking with retake... 171 or better gets you at least one T14 with a 3.3

[03152016]

Dude, you can absolutely have better options with a 3.3. Off the top of my head I can name several TLSers who got T14 with sub-3.4.

How did you study and for how long?

[francesfarmer]

Dude, you can absolutely have better options with a 3.3. Off the top of my head I can name several TLSers who got T14 with sub-3.4.

How did you study and for how long?

Tons. And by that I mean myself. These days a 3.3 will take you much farther than it used to.

[TheSpanishMain]

3.3 GPA. 168 LSAT. Not a URM.

In at Northwestern, Virginia, and Georgetown, plus a bunch of strong regionals like Texas, Emory, Vanderbilt, and WUSTL.

[BigZuck]

If you want to live in DC or NY, go do that now. Nothing is stopping you. But don't pay 240K for the privilege. That would be insane.

Law school is a vocational school, not a study abroad (or study across the other side of the country) program

[amberlv]

Thanks for all of the feedback It sounds like attending Fordham or GW at the current COA is not really worth it. It is good to know that my GPA doesn't automatically disqualify me from higher ranked schools; I'll have to look into that a bit more.