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OK, so it seems as though I have found myself lucky enough to get accepted into two very respectable schools, albeit in different regions. On the one hand, I have been awarded 23K per year at UIUC, and on the other, I was taken off the wait list at UGA, where I will pay sticker. All told, I've estimated that UIUC will cost an estimated 116K total, vs. 110K at UGA. I am really at a loss for deciding between the two. Numbers-wise, they're pretty comparable, with the obvious difference being UIUC's access to the Chicago legal market. As of now, I live in Florida, but my family is moving to Tennessee within the next year, thus, I really have no real home to hang my head or preference to where I'd like to practice after all's said and done. While many may say that the sensible option may be to retake/reapply, I have spent the past two cycles trying to get the LSAC to grant my request for accommodated testing (as I am a learning disabled student, with a long history of documentation), a process that culminated in my having to retain an attorney from a disability rights advocacy group to mediate on my behalf. Let's just say I'd rather not give those people any more of my time or money as a matter of principle. I do also like the fact that UGA is at a good midway point between my hometown of Miami, and Knoxville, where my family will be moving. I am, however, entirely willing to sacrifice that comfort to pursue the best opportunity that presents itself. Either way, I would appreciate any input that would help decide between these two great schools (and hopefully more, as I remain on 10 wait lists, including first choice WUSTL).

You need to post your total Cost of Attendance figures. UGA's sticker COA is more like $160k. That being said, don't pay sticker for UGA. And that amount of debt is too much for UIUC.

As far as "a matter of principle" - don't seriously harm your future by not retaking. LSAC is already hemoraging test-takers, so your $180 is pretty meaningless in their revenue stream.

HRomanus wrote:You need to post your total Cost of Attendance figures. UGA's sticker COA is more like $160k. That being said, don't pay sticker for UGA. And that amount of debt is too much for UIUC.

As far as "a matter of principle" - don't seriously harm your future by not retaking. LSAC is already hemoraging test-takers, so your $180 is pretty meaningless in their revenue stream.

Actually, I found that after the first year of study at UGA, most students typically qualify for residency classification, thus cutting the cost of tuition in half. And it is a matter of principle in the sense that I provided them with years worth of documentation, testing, corroborating statements, etc, they said no. Then I redid my psychoeducational evaluations at great personal expense (a couple grand), and they still tried to deny me accommodations. These people are being investigated by the DOJ for their violations of the ADA. I would much rather not deal with them in any capacity again. Also, I found my ceiling on the exam to be in the very low 160s, and I only did that on a handful of practice exams. I would rather focus on bettering myself then trying to master a test that by its very nature is designed to weed people such as myself out.

At those prices, neither, especially with no prexisting ties to GA or IL

retake or don't go

In this case, then, I think the best option is to not go to law school.

HRomanus wrote:In this case, then, I think the best option is to not go to law school.

Thanks. I will make a mental note of that.

It seems like a bad idea in this market to go to random regional schools in which you have no ties to the region. Miami or Tennessee, at lowlow costs, would actually make some sense. I probably wouldn't go to UIUC/UGA for free, let alone 6-figures in debt, if I had zero connection to those states.

I have considered both of those as options, in addition to FSU, and I am still pending at two of those. But Miami is not exactly a low-low cost option, and I know people personally who are drowning in 200k debt with no job out of there.

I'm saying: if you had massive schollies to Miami, FSU, or UT, it might make sense to attend. If you don't, then it won't make sense.

I don't think UIUC/UGA make sense regardless.

cron1834 wrote:I'm saying: if you had massive schollies to Miami, FSU, or UT, it might make sense to attend. If you don't, then it won't make sense.

I don't think UIUC/UGA make sense regardless.

I agree in that regard. I guess it's a wait and see sort of situation where that's concerned.

GL to you. Just don't get into big debt in places you have no connections.

You have no connection to either place and will have to take out six figure debt.

I wouldn't go to law school with either option. If you must go to one of the two, go to Georgia, as it is at least in the same region as where you are from, and the weather is nicer. But in all honesty, don't go.

Yeah, definitely leaning toward UGA should a more cost-effective option not present itself. I hear that the job prospects for UTK are such that the graduates there have to go to Atlanta, Chattanooga, etc, anyhow. Oh, and the Miami market...Let's not talk about that. You can go to Cooley and still be raking in the cash, so long as you're sucking on the right penis, metaphorically speaking, of course (well, maybe).

Jmart082 wrote:Yeah, definitely leaning toward UGA should a more cost-effective option not present itself. I hear that the job prospects for UTK are such that the graduates there have to go to Atlanta, Chattanooga, etc, anyhow. Oh, and the Miami market...Let's not talk about that. You can go to Cooley and still be raking in the cash, so long as you're sucking on the right penis, metaphorically speaking, of course (well, maybe).

No.

Last year, the amount of Cooley grads, out of a class of 1100, who had high paying jobs was around 10. The amount who were straight up unemployed was close to 400. Only 308 students had jobs of the long time, full term jd required variety.

metroidbum wrote:

Jmart082 wrote:Yeah, definitely leaning toward UGA should a more cost-effective option not present itself. I hear that the job prospects for UTK are such that the graduates there have to go to Atlanta, Chattanooga, etc, anyhow. Oh, and the Miami market...Let's not talk about that. You can go to Cooley and still be raking in the cash, so long as you're sucking on the right penis, metaphorically speaking, of course (well, maybe).

No.

Last year, the amount of Cooley grads, out of a class of 1100, who had high paying jobs was around 10. The amount who were straight up unemployed was close to 400. Only 308 students had jobs of the long time, full term jd required variety.

I did not mean it in a literal sense, I just meant to illustrate that there are plenty of very successful attorneys here who graduated from the local tier 3/4, but have connections or are well-monied. Although I imagine that to be the case most everywhere, it is definitely EXTREMELY rampant here in Miami, and if you speaky el espanol, all the better.

PS: Damn, looking at Cooley's stats makes me realize that shit could be far, far worse for me, though that doesn't seem to resonate with me at the moment.

Jmart082 wrote:

metroidbum wrote:

Jmart082 wrote:Yeah, definitely leaning toward UGA should a more cost-effective option not present itself. I hear that the job prospects for UTK are such that the graduates there have to go to Atlanta, Chattanooga, etc, anyhow. Oh, and the Miami market...Let's not talk about that. You can go to Cooley and still be raking in the cash, so long as you're sucking on the right penis, metaphorically speaking, of course (well, maybe).

No.

Last year, the amount of Cooley grads, out of a class of 1100, who had high paying jobs was around 10. The amount who were straight up unemployed was close to 400. Only 308 students had jobs of the long time, full term jd required variety.

I did not mean it in a literal sense, I just meant to illustrate that there are plenty of very successful attorneys here who graduated from the local tier 3/4, but have connections or are well-monied. Although I imagine that to be the case most everywhere, it is definitely EXTREMELY rampant here in Miami, and if you speaky el espanol, all the better.

PS: Damn, looking at Cooley's stats makes me realize that shit could be far, far worse for me, though that doesn't seem to resonate with me at the moment.

Yeah and they all graduated from law school before the recession.

Nepotism can help you get a job you don't deserve, but it can't get you a job that doesn't exist.

Both schools are too expensive

Also not to be insensitive but will your learning disability prevent you from doing well on law school exams? You seem like a good writer but you have to remember that ultimately you're being judged against your non-disabled peers.

rickgrimes69 wrote:Both schools are too expensive

Also not to be insensitive but will your learning disability prevent you from doing well on law school exams? You seem like a good writer but you have to remember that ultimately you're being judged against your non-disabled peers.

I've been judged against them my whole life and have come this far. I don't plan on stopping now. If anything, it inspires me to work harder and to devote myself more wholly to my work. But yeah, I do agree that pricing is a major issue and I may hold out for the best offer.

151/3.7? Wait a year, retake the LSAT, enjoy less debt.