Top Law Schools

Thank you all for your help (and for not quoting). My situation changed quite a bit after creating this thread with increased scholarships at 2 of the 4 schools. Definitely have a much clearer picture of what to do thanks to your posts and PMs.

Going to UT from out of state with no ties is a risky proposition.* At the same time, it's far and away your best offer.

It's odd you got that UT scholarship and still were waitlisted by USC. If it were me, I'd try to get off that USC waitlist and get some money, as UT won't do you any favors in betting back to California. It'll possible, of course, but you're probably going to have to really hustle.

If working in California is your highest priority, get off USC's waitlist or get a lot more money from UCI. If you're fine with bouncing around outside of California for a while, definitely UT.

*Disclaimer: I'm a 0L going to UT from out of state with no ties.

Going to any of these schools with big law as the goal is dicey, with CA big law as the goal they are all pretty much non-starters. None of this even factors in that you have a free ride to any school that will accept you.

Retake/reapply if you can't somehow find your way into UCLA/USC this cycle

Thank you both for your help.

I have already sat out a year. Last year I applied only in CA and wasn't happy with my options. Retook and thought I did well enough to get into UCLA/USC (with declining apps, unique W.E., alumnus of one of them, significant other and family in LA, etc.).

I guess nothing else to do but keep in touch with USC/UCLA and hope for an acceptance.

I would highly recommend visiting Houston (I'm from there) and seeing of you can Stomach it. Getting biglaw there is your best case scenario out of UT (Dallas is hard to break with no ties) and you want to make sure you can stomach 3-5 years there. Also, if I'm not mistaken, you'll have to retake the bar. That sucks.

If you enjoyed LA, you'll probably like Houston. They're both the very definition of urban sprawl, pretty dirty, & have horrible traffic. If you can get over the lack of a beach and state income taxes, you'll feel right at home.

bizzike wrote:I would highly recommend visiting Houston (I'm from there) and seeing of you can Stomach it. Getting biglaw there is your best case scenario out of UT (Dallas is hard to break with no ties) and you want to make sure you can stomach 3-5 years there. Also, if I'm not mistaken, you'll have to retake the bar. That sucks.

What do you mean retake the bar? As in once for Texas and again for California if I decide to move back?

eaad91 wrote:

bizzike wrote:I would highly recommend visiting Houston (I'm from there) and seeing of you can Stomach it. Getting biglaw there is your best case scenario out of UT (Dallas is hard to break with no ties) and you want to make sure you can stomach 3-5 years there. Also, if I'm not mistaken, you'll have to retake the bar. That sucks.

What do you mean retake the bar? As in once for Texas and again for California if I decide to move back?

Yes. Neither state has reciprocity (well, Texas does to an extent, but since this is talking about just a few years and you would be going TX to CA and not the other way, it wouldn't apply -- you can't waive into Texas simply by passing another state's bar). Technically, you could take the Texas bar in February before you graduate and then be able to squeeze in CA before your employment typically would start.

How do you figure your opportunity costs are zero?

jenesaislaw wrote:How do you figure your opportunity costs are zero?

Working in a family business so my paycheck would stay with the family (and probably just go towards law school). I know opportunity cost would include me getting a job elsewhere, but frankly I'm better off staying with the family business than doing many other things.

I think your cycle went pretty well for your numbers (especially considering the scholarship amounts), so I'd be hesitant to wait and reapply next cycle as some have suggested. Pray to the waitlist gods, my friend.

As long as Dallas/Houston isn't "the middle of nowhere," UT seems like your best choice. As others have indicated, UT doesn't place well in California (see http://www.utexas.edu/law/career/prospective/stats.html).

I normally wouldn't advise this, but in your unique situation UT is definitely your best option IMO. If you have a family business fallback and won't incur any debt, I think UT is an alright choice. Yeah UT doesn't place well in CA, but that obviously involves a huge amount of self selection. I'd bet just about anything that (with ties) it places better than any of those other schools in CA. 135k for a UT degree is high, but not so unreasonable that your parents would be throwing their money away or anything. Of course this all assumes that you are absolutely positive that you want to attend law school.