Top Law Schools

I am currently committed to attending BU next year and was awarded a scholarship for $43k per year. However, earlier this week I was accepted off the preferred wait list to GULC and received a merit scholarship for $10k per year. I have yet to apply for financial aid (I was told I have to wait five days). If I receive around $25k per year from GULC in need-based aid, which would cancel out my merit scholarship, do you think I should stay committed to attending BU or deposit to GULC instead? (I chose $25k because I think that's as low as I would be willing to go considering the astronomical cost of GULC at sticker. I will be financing any costs after scholarships with loans, so I do not think it is a good idea for me to commit to GULC without at least that much.) Or, should I wait a year and just retake?

I am interested in biglaw (possibly with an opportunity to work abroad) but would also be content working in gov because of GULC's connections. I am originally from CA, but at this point do not mind either staying on the east coast after I graduate or coming back to CA (because I would be able to show ties).

3.9X GPA from a top regional university, 163 LSAT. Still on the WL at UVA and Columbia (although I know it is a long shot this late in the game, especially considering my LSAT score.)

Any advice would be appreciated! I have about $40k in loans from undergrad and am somewhat debt adverse so I have been struggling with whether or not to attend a better school for better employment prospects or take the money.

First, retake the LSAT. A 3.9x is too good to waste on a 163. Literally half a dozen multiple choice questions could change your life.

Second, don't go to BU without any ties to Boston. It's not a national school, and you'll be last in line for jobs if you go there.

Third, don't go to GULC unless you get a huge finaid package. Like, 3/4s tuition or thereabouts. Even 25% tuition at GULC plus COL in DC is a big chunk of change.

My only concern is that I do not know if I would be able to do much better on the LSAT, given that I studied pretty much non-stop for six months. I have a history of poor standardized test performance. Is there any way to overcome that?

Go to the LSAT forums here ... there are loads of advice threads, and "guides" to improving your performance. I'm the wrong person to give advice, as I did worse on my retake, but there are plenty of great test takers and test tutors over in the forum. I don't think everyone can get a 17X, but I'd bet that you can improve.

Wasting 6 months sucks, but wasting a quarter-million dollars and a career sucks worse!

That's a very good point - thank you.

Of course.

If you were FROM Boston and could network in Boston, I'd say that $43k/yr off of tuition in Boston is far from a terrible deal. But BU for a Californian seems like a bad move, as you'll be behind Stanford, Berk, UCLA, USC, etc in CA and behind all of the locals in Mass for jobs. GULC is a reasonable school, but it's soooo expensive to attend and live there that you need a fat scholarship. Which you could get, with about 6-7 more questions on the test. Unless you're really old, like me, there's literally Zero downside to waiting until next year.

Really not close

Imagine this choice:

do 6 months in a minimum security prison or 3 years at Georgetown at that price?


lock me up

Haha, that's what I was afraid of. I don't know why I am so afraid of retaking, probably because I've told everyone that I'm going to law school next year and they all seem happy for me and I would dread having to explain to everyone why I am now deciding not to go, which I know is a STUPID reason to commit to law school when I could wait a year. But I can't help but feel like I'm settling.

I edited the poll to include a retake option, which I am now extremely considering. Waiting a year does not sound too bad, compared to my other options.

OP, I was in a very similar situation to you two years ago except I had maxed out on retakes. I was dreading telling people I wasn't going, too ("Oh, I'm sure you'll pass your LSATS next time if you study hard" was the common response), but once I realized these people wouldn't be the ones hiring me or wouldn't help me out on my loan payments when I was unemployed, it became a lot easier. TLS convinced me to retake, I waited a year, and busted my ass with noodleyone's guide. I went from almost attending USC with $15k a year two years ago to starting at Stanford next month. You owe it to yourself to retake. Best of luck!

you will regret it for years if you don't retake the LSAT. I retook and hit 99th+ %ile and some days I still even regret not retaking a third time for 99.9th %ile to cop additional $.

but between these options, Boston University.

I had a 3.9 and a 162 LSAT and was also committed to going to BU this fall (with a lower scholarship) I retook the test for the third time in June and got a 170. I immediately came off multiple waitlists, and I'm now going to Northwestern with a 150k scholarship. Do yourself the favor and retake!!

Like everyone else has said, retake. I studied hard for six months but didn't feel ready and got a poor score. I then studied for two months and got a better score. Point is, time and effort does not equal success. What materials did you use?

You have the GPA for HYS. Retake.

I used the Powerscore Bibles and did basically every practice test that has been released. I think that this time around I would benefit from guided instruction and am considering taking a prep course. I have heard good things about TestMasters, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Swallow your pride and retake

Yeah retake. Worst case scenario you have the exact same options (preliminary LSAT numbers show a drop from last year, but who knows how much). Tell people that you got into a good school but it's really expensive and you wanted to retake for more money because that's what people with good judgment do. If they don't believe you fuck em'.

Re-take is the credited response. However, GULC is a T14 and a decent option if you can keep your debt down.

Informative wrote:Re-take is the credited response. However, GULC is a T14 and a decent option if you can keep your debt down.

yea but considering he's only getting 30k out of gulc
and has 40k in ug debt
it's a terrible outcome for 3.9x

if i was deadset on not retaking and i wanted boston
i'd go with bu in this scenario

but op should obv retake
there's a better school in boston school he should be aiming for with that 3.9x

OP is a "she," FYI.

Love the retake success stories in this thread. Take the class and retake, OP. Good luck!

Post removed.

ladybug92 wrote:Haha, that's what I was afraid of. I don't know why I am so afraid of retaking, probably because I've told everyone that I'm going to law school next year and they all seem happy for me and I would dread having to explain to everyone why I am now deciding not to go, which I know is a STUPID reason to commit to law school when I could wait a year. But I can't help but feel like I'm settling.

I edited the poll to include a retake option, which I am now extremely considering. Waiting a year does not sound too bad, compared to my other options.

I think all of us retakers hate having to do this, but for you this should be a bit easier. You can mention that you turned down GULC, so it's not like you "failed" this year.

Seriously though, spend the next few months studying for September/December, write another solid PS, and then enjoy the time you have before school. I studied for my first take for around 5 months and ended up with a 165 and GULC at sticker, but another 3-4 months of studying got me a 170 and much, much better options this cycle.

The idea of retaking and reapplying sucks at first, but the time goes fast enough.