William and Mary v. BU/BC v. Seton Hall. Help! Forum

[lunchmeat]

BU: Total COA 125k (17K scholarship)
BC: Total COA 125k (14K scholarship)
William & Mary: Total COA 110K (13K scholarship)
Seton Hall: Total COA 35K (Full-tuition, no stipulations)

Waitlisted at:
Uchicago
Penn
UVA
Northwestern (Held)


Parents will be helping with some of my cost of living, but i will be taking out loans for the rest. I'm from New England, have lived in Boston, and currently live in NYC. Staying in New York would be my ideal outcome, but im comfortable with other cities as well (BOS, DC). I want Biglaw, but realize how unlikely this is given my options. I Would be happy working at a government agency, but I am afraid I will have too much debt. Is Seton Hall really such a terrible option? No i do not want to do "shit law" at some random firm in New Jersey, but it seems possible to go there, get a clerkship and get back to New York. Their employment numbers are solid (better than the other schools when you subtract school funded positions) and they place more people in New York than the other schools i'm considering, but what I can't quantify is just how undesirable the Jobs are that Seton Hall grads get.

I have taken the LSAT twice, (160, 162). I got extremely nervous for each test, I was prep testesting in the 168-172 range. I will be re-taking in June. If i get a much better score I will reapply, obviously. but a few point jump is probably not going to do much for me, so I'm really seeking advice for where to go this fall. I have a 3.9 GPA.

Thanks!

[hopefulapplicant2]

Get a private tutor and retake. A reputable tutor can diagnose your specific issues and convert your score to a successful venture.

[ZGr88n]

I think you're underestimating the power of a "few point jump" + another year of W.E.

[Ramius]

You're textbook retake. Just imagine you hit your median PT on the LSAT (170) with a 3.9. You're looking at t14 with lots of money. It's be colossally stupid not to retake.

[lunchmeat]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to re-take in June.

However, I am going to deposit this year and wait for my score from the June test. I am not going re-take later than June, because in all liklihood I will only do modestly better. I would be too nervous to forgo my offers this cycle and put all of the pressure on an October test. Basically I view re-taking in June as a no-brainer, a risk free decision. But for purposes of depositing this week, I would like to hear what schools people think I should go to based on my current scores.

Thanks!

[Ramius]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to re-take in June.

However, I am going to deposit this year and wait for my score from the June test. I am not going re-take later than June, because in all liklihood I will only do modestly better. I would be too nervous to forgo my offers this cycle and put all of the pressure on an October test. Basically I view re-taking in June as a no-brainer, a risk free decision. But for purposes of depositing this week, I would like to hear what schools people think I should go to based on my current scores.

Thanks!

Respectfully, none of them. That's too much money to spend on any of these institutions, especially given your current retake circumstance. I'm all for the June retake, and commend you on being okay with that, but you're viewing it through the lens of attending next year. Is attending starting in the fall worth potentially $100k? What about at a lesser school than you should be attending? In both the long-term and short-term, working to get the right LSAT is worth infinitely more than attending next year.

You have the opportunity to maximize your chances at a great outcome, why would you pass that up? Take it in June, and if it works out and you hit your 170, wait and reapply for next cycle and get a T14 at a great discount. Don't do yourself a disservice.

[lunchmeat]

If i get a 170 in June, then I will absolutely reapply in the fall.

If i dont get a 170 then I will be attending one of these schools, or in the unlikely event i get off a waitlist ill go there. So anyone want to make the case for one school over the others?

[ZGr88n]

If i get a 170 in June, then I will absolutely reapply in the fall.

If i dont get a 170 then I will be attending one of these schools, or in the unlikely event i get off a waitlist ill go there. So anyone want to make the case for one school over the others?

You can't be serious? 170 or go? So you're telling me that you wouldn't consider reapplying with a +165-169?

[Ramius]

If i get a 170 in June, then I will absolutely reapply in the fall.

If i dont get a 170 then I will be attending one of these schools, or in the unlikely event i get off a waitlist ill go there. So anyone want to make the case for one school over the others?

If you must, pick the better of BU/BC in your personal opinion. It's not great, but they're the best for your goal.

[lunchmeat]

If i get a 170 in June, then I will absolutely reapply in the fall.

If i dont get a 170 then I will be attending one of these schools, or in the unlikely event i get off a waitlist ill go there. So anyone want to make the case for one school over the others?

You can't be serious? 170 or go? So you're telling me that you wouldn't consider reapplying with a +165-169?

No I didnt mean to imply such a strict cutoff. obviously something in the 166-69 would signifigantly improve my offers. But knowing myself, I'm really skeptical I will make even that much of a jump on the June test.

I appreciate all the responses so far.

[awoodard]

I don't usually ever give advice on here since I don't know near as much as other advice-givers on TLS, but I just had to weigh in and say you should give it your all to get that score up into the 170+ range, even if that means waiting and taking in October and doing prep over the summer. Take this with a grain of salt, obviously, but you'd be looking at serious money from t14--and potential full rides from NU and GULC.

[eljefe1]

Moody's rating agent here.

These are all clear AAa options. Go ahead.

[donewithannarbor]

I think a 2-3 point jump in LSAT is good for thousands of dollars at places like BC and BU. I think either is quite worth it if you can bring your total cost down a bit more, though you've certainly done good so far. I know of grads from each here in the NY/NJ market.

I think Seton is a good school but just too chancy for your goals. If you conveyed a different disposition towards non-BigLaw opportunities in your post, I might even recommend Seton given your award there, but I don't recommend it for you because you are so BigLaw focused, and I want you to have the best chance for happiness as you've defined it. The North Jersey schools generally generate 10-15 Big law summer associate opportunities per year. And remember, you interview for these, by and large, at OCI in the August following 1L. You need all good (with some great) 1L grades plus journal, preferably law review, to get the interviews. There are may be other solid opportunities, but again, it sounds like you want to be among the BigLaw chosen at Seton. Getting on law review will entail a combination of effort and good fortune that you can't bank on.