FSU in-state vs. Nova Southeastern $$ Forum

[Young Marino]

Nova COA for three years would be $60k-$70k. FSU COA for three yeats would be $120k-$135k. My scholarship stip at Nova is to remain in the top 60% and I would be commuting from home. I get instate tuition at FSU. Nova has a near 60% employment score on LST and FSU has a near 70% score. I want to be a prosecutor in the area where Nova is located and currently work in that office where 85% of the office is Nova grads with a few FSU, UF and Stetson grads sprinkled in there. However, FSU does present the opportunity to take advantage of multiple government agency positions and I do want to work in the public sector. What does TLS suggest?

[transferror]

Need LSAT score and number of takes. TLS will suggest you retake and hold out to attend UF or FSU on big scholarship. This is TCR.

That said, Nova with scholly is the better of your current options, especially since you already have connections to a DA's office in that market. It's still not a good idea to attend, but you'll probably do it anyway. You should also be prepared to drop out after 1L, although you'll probably ignore that too.

[Nucky]

Nova COA for three years would be $60k-$70k. FSU COA for three yeats would be $120k-$135k. My scholarship stip at Nova is to remain in the top 60% and I would be commuting from home. I get instate tuition at FSU. Nova has a near 60% employment score on LST and FSU has a near 70% score. I want to be a prosecutor in the area where Nova is located and currently work in that office where 85% of the office is Nova grads with a few FSU, UF and Stetson grads sprinkled in there. However, FSU does present the opportunity to take advantage of multiple government agency positions and I do want to work in the public sector. What does TLS suggest?

FSU is your best bet for the public sector, but keep in mind that the public sector pays poorly. You need to minimize your debt further to make a sound decision. Retake.

Edit: I agree with transferror. If you're going to ignore good advice, and you MUST go then go Nova.

[TheSpanishMain]

Obvious answer is retake. You already know that. Let the retarded dance begin.

If you won't retake for some inane reason you made up, go to Nova. You have a decent shot at your goals, although you'll obviously be way overpaying for no good reason. FSU is the better school but not at that price.

[Young Marino]

Thanks for the responses guys. I was at a Nova networking event last month with a few prosecutors I work with and made some decent connections with a few guys that work in private practice. I am convinced that Nova is decent option for me because I want to stay in the FTL/WPB market and have ties to the area. However, FSU is enticing because of the opportunities in the public sector it presents. Nucky stated that I should keep my debt down as much as possible because these kind of jobs don't pay much but what about programs like IBR and PSLF? I know pslf has been under attack recently but it doesn't look like anything will change anytime soon. With the problems millenials are facing regarding student loans, one would almost have to think that some sort of forgiveness option has to be available especially because borrowers continue to take out loans at alarming rates.

[TheSpanishMain]

My tentative endorsement of Nova was based on the idea that you won't retake. I still think it's dumb to pay 70k to go to Nova when you could go for free with a retake, but it's your life.

[unodostres]

What about a study program to reduce the amount that you would have to pay back with the LSAT?

[toshiroh]

How is FSU instate near that much? Tallahassee COL is dirt cheap.

[Young Marino]

How is FSU instate near that much? Tallahassee COL is dirt cheap.

Tuition is about $20k a year and COL in Talley is between $17k-$20k a year. According to their website, total COA I near $40k a year for FL residents

[heavoldgotjuice]

Go to FSU if you want to work in FL. Don't go to Nova

[alexrodriguez]

Retake and go to Miami. Break 160 and you'll get some money

[TheSpanishMain]

Ok, rather than yelling at you, I'll try to say something productive.

It's true that local government offices are generally less concerned with school prestige than they are with commitment and genuine interest. Going to Nova with money to work as an ADA in the local area is not the absolute worst plan in existence. However, you're depending a LOT on factors that are totally outside of your control. What if you do everything right: you network at the DA's office you want to work at, you spend your summers interning there, and you convince them you'd be a great fit for the office...and then there's a hiring freeze. This happens routinely with government jobs. They may want to hire you, but be unable to because of budgetary constraints. Sure, you can start looking for ADA jobs farther from the immediate area, but the value of your degree is going to plummet as it goes from being the local school to just another TTTT.

Meanwhile, FSU and UF have statewide name recognition, and are generally respected throughout Florida. If FSU with $$ was on the table, you'd be competitive for jobs in a wider geographic range and not be staking everything on the hiring situation of a few ADA offices when you're looking for your first job.

Don't be an idiot. Don't screw yourself over for decades because you don't want to study for and retake a stupid test.

[Young Marino]

Ok, rather than yelling at you, I'll try to say something productive.

It's true that local government offices are generally less concerned with school prestige than they are with commitment and genuine interest. Going to Nova with money to work as an ADA in the local area is not the absolute worst plan in existence. However, you're depending a LOT on factors that are totally outside of your control. What if you do everything right: you network at the DA's office you want to work at, you spend your summers interning there, and you convince them you'd be a great fit for the office...and then there's a hiring freeze. This happens routinely with government jobs. They may want to hire you, but be unable to because of budgetary constraints. Sure, you can start looking for ADA jobs farther from the immediate area, but the value of your degree is going to plummet as it goes from being the local school to just another TTTT.

Meanwhile, FSU and UF have statewide name recognition, and are generally respected throughout Florida. If FSU with $$ was on the table, you'd be competitive for jobs in a wider geographic range and not be staking everything on the hiring situation of a few ADA offices when you're looking for your first job.

Don't be an idiot. Don't screw yourself over for decades because you don't want to study for and retake a stupid test.

I think you're being overly pessimistic about the situation. I believe the connections I've made thus far and will make over the next three years both in the private and public sector will be to my benefit. Fact of the matter is, I don't want to practice anywhere but in the surrounding areas Nova is located so even if I don't get an ADA position, I would rather work in the private sector or another government agency than be an ADA in a different county because I just don't want to leave the area. The market in this area is dominated by Nova alums. However, what you said about the opportunities FSU presents is why I'm considering that school also. FSU does have a decent presence in my area and if I really had to leave town, FSU provides better options than Nova. I appreciate your insight Spanish Man. But, I am comfortable with the options I have now so no retake.

[BigZuck]

Retake is the only sensible choice. It's an easy thing to do, plus you're relying on way too many factors well outside of your control, and considering attending a TTTT that isn't going to have a lot of pull if you actually have to engage in a job search.

Also:

Alright this is stupid. Most of you are following a model built for what I'm not looking for. I've spoken to plenty of attorneys and judges in the area and so long as I'm looking to stay in South Florida, all I'm hearing is that I should have no problem securing a decent job after graduating from either school (the job won't be big law and im not looking for big law). I think I'd rather put more stock into what they say over a bunch of internet prestige whores. I'm over the whole TLS big law or die bullshit. My activity on this forum will now decrease significantly

If you already have it figured out then why are you asking TLS for advice yet again? Just do Nova bro. It's what you want plus YOLO.

[sublime]

..

[HRomanus]

I think you're being overly pessimistic about the situation. I believe the connections I've made thus far and will make over the next three years both in the private and public sector will be to my benefit. Fact of the matter is, I don't want to practice anywhere but in the surrounding areas Nova is located so even if I don't get an ADA position, I would rather work in the private sector or another government agency than be an ADA in a different county because I just don't want to leave the area. The market in this area is dominated by Nova alums. However, what you said about the opportunities FSU presents is why I'm considering that school also. FSU does have a decent presence in my area and if I really had to leave town, FSU provides better options than Nova. I appreciate your insight Spanish Man. But, I am comfortable with the options I have now so no retake.

You're definitely being overly-optimistic though. Employment numbers from both FSU and Nova show that they're both serious gambles as investments of time and money. Your COA doesn't include the three years of lost salary and experiences, which increases both school's costs past the point of absurdity. 75% of graduates make $60,000 or under! I am not familiar with the Florida legal employment environment, but there are so many law schools I would bet the market is very oversaturated. That would also explain why Nova dominates your area. That's not a good market to enter into with a TTTT degree because your flexibility is non-existent.

At these costs, both schools are a bad choice. Retaking really is the best option. Between these two, however, I would go with Nova simply because the cost is lower. If you're going to take the gamble, the less risk you have in capital the better.

It is fine to rely on anecdotal evidence from local attorneys, but temper it with TLS advice. TLS can be sanctimonious, but its advice is ultimately driven by objective facts. You want to go to law school this fall, but none of us that emotional entanglement. The most rational course is to retake.

[Nucky]

If you're going to be hard-headed and pick one of these two, why not take the LSAT in June and see what happens? A worse score isn't going to hurt you and a better score could save you tens of thousands of dollars at FSU, or better.

[TheSpanishMain]

But, I am comfortable with the options I have now so no retake.

I understand that you're comfortable with your current options. My point is that you shouldn't be. But you're gonna do what you're gonna do, so best of luck.

[phireblast]

Total COL at FSU seems really high. Their website offers a high-end estimation of what your cost of living will be, if you take a closer look, you can scrape thousands of dollars from it by applying your current situation. For example they include a few grand for a computer during year 1, if you already have a computer, that doesn't account into your projected COL.

[Young Marino]

Total COL at FSU seems really high. Their website offers a high-end estimation of what your cost of living will be, if you take a closer look, you can scrape thousands of dollars from it by applying your current situation. For example they include a few grand for a computer during year 1, if you already have a computer, that doesn't account into your projected COL.

Yeah it's pretty much $3000 less a year with all the unnecessary stuff.