Class Rankings/ Employment when choosing a school Forum

[MattM]

Hello,

I currently live in TX, and shooting for CCN , UT Austin, and Penn as my goal schools with the goals of practicing in either TX or PA

Would i be better off attending a lower ranked regional such as SMU, Baylor, or U of H instead form a grades perspective?

My academic history has been decent but not great.....I take it with a grain of salt that I went to competitive private schools so while I had good grades, never at the top of the class mix of A's and B's with more A;s than B's....same thing in college decent but not outstanding gpa (3.55)

Given my history is it worth attending a T14 school if accepted where there will be stiff competition for the grades.....or am I better off attending a less competitive school where i would have a better chance of having a higher class rank.

[MattM]

I would like to attend a T14 / UT Austin if accepted but was wondering if that would be a mistake.

Working hard to get that LSAT to open up those doors, apply and reassess after I get responses back from schools

[stellina]

You would do marginally better gradewise at the lower ranked school. The effect isn't even close to enough to offset the massive employment difference, though.

You have no idea how you'll do in school. Going to a lower ranked school and thinking you'll have better outcomes is a fool's errand.

The only reason you should go to SMU instead of Penn is in the context of full-ride vs sticker. And in that case, you should really just go to UT with a discount.

[Rigo]

Given my history is it worth attending a T14 school if accepted where there will be stiff competition for the grades.....or am I better off attending a less competitive school where i would have a better chance of having a higher class rank.

You should assume median grades/class rank when choosing....no matter the caliber/rank of the school.

[BigZuck]

What kind of job are you hoping to get after you graduate law school?