Top Law Schools

Hello friends,

Some facts about my situation:
-I live in Los Angeles, and cost of living is not/will not be as insane as I am currently living here rent free
-I would like to stay in Socal for obvious reasons
-BigLaw in LA is my goal, but certainly not the end all be all
-I will be financing all of my education through loans and no outside help

Here is my predicament as mentioned in the title of the thread:
-USC (Sticker) COA ~ $210k
-IUB (Partial) COA ~ $210-$100k = $110k
-Pepperdine (Full) COA ~ $210k-$160k =$50k

I do have the brilliant, albeit I'm sure not very unique, plan of transferring to a t10 school hopefully. Please lend me some advice
edit: To be clear I will be attending a law school somewhere this fall no matter what. And yes I understand this is like choosing the lesser of 3 completely effed up, debt-filled evils. Which is what makes this a hard choice, hence I am asking all of you brilliant members here at TLS

Since you want LA, IUB is automatically out. That won't be portable back to Southern California. USC at sticker is far too much debt, so that's also out.

Even at a full scholly, Pepperdine is not a desirable option for your goals. Less than 1 out of 10 students make BigLaw. Only half the class gets any kind of lawyer job. Are you willing to gamble on those odds? Are you willing to drop out if you don't crack median or whiff on the scholly stips?

Retake the LSAT for $$ at UCLA or USC.

Thanks for the reply tabula rasa!

You're absolutely right, and I completely understand what you are saying. However waiting another year is not an option at this point. What would be your advice then?

Fckyourecession wrote:Thanks for the reply tabula rasa!

You're absolutely right, and I completely understand what you are saying. However waiting another year is not an option at this point. What would be your advice then?

why waiting another year not an option? I wouldn't consider pepperdine/indiana under any circumstances based on your goals and USC financed entirely by loans would not be wise.

chimp wrote:

Fckyourecession wrote:Thanks for the reply tabula rasa!

You're absolutely right, and I completely understand what you are saying. However waiting another year is not an option at this point. What would be your advice then?

why waiting another year not an option? I wouldn't consider pepperdine/indiana under any circumstances based on your goals and USC financed entirely by loans would not be wise.

For personal reasons. Let's just say I'm aching to make bad decisions

Fckyourecession wrote:

chimp wrote:

Fckyourecession wrote:Thanks for the reply tabula rasa!

You're absolutely right, and I completely understand what you are saying. However waiting another year is not an option at this point. What would be your advice then?

why waiting another year not an option? I wouldn't consider pepperdine/indiana under any circumstances based on your goals and USC financed entirely by loans would not be wise.

For personal reasons. Let's just say I'm aching to make bad decisions

You're presumably an adult. You are making an adult investment. Whatever "personal reasons" you claim to have are not an excuse to make a bad investment.

Take the next year to work, study, retake the LSAT, and set yourself up for success after law school. If you are unwilling to do any of those things, consider a different career path.

Fckyourecession wrote:

chimp wrote:

Fckyourecession wrote:Thanks for the reply tabula rasa!

You're absolutely right, and I completely understand what you are saying. However waiting another year is not an option at this point. What would be your advice then?

why waiting another year not an option? I wouldn't consider pepperdine/indiana under any circumstances based on your goals and USC financed entirely by loans would not be wise.

For personal reasons. Let's just say I'm aching to make bad decisions

i'm assuming you are a troll.

I don't think your "attitude" (honestly, I don't even know how to describe your willingness to admit you are about to make a bad decision) is going to get people to give you bad advice. Seriously, these options blow.

Thank you guys for your thoughts . I see this is not somewhere I'll get coddled or even answers to the questions I asked

Fckyourecession wrote:Thank you guys for your thoughts . I see this is not somewhere I'll get coddled or even answers to the questions I asked

You already received your answers.

nlee10 wrote:

Fckyourecession wrote:Thank you guys for your thoughts . I see this is not somewhere I'll get coddled or even answers to the questions I asked

You already received your answers.

Quite the contrary. I read 1 person telling me to hold off matriculation, which I explained isn't an option. And the 3 of you giving your well-appreciated opinions. Which is all fine. Thank you guys again, I greatly appreciate your input

Pepperdine. At least then your bad decisions will be cheap.

If you MUST go given these options, Pepperdine for free is the only defendable choice. Just understand that biglaw will not happen and that a full-time legal job making 60k would be a very good outcome.

USC at sticker is a bad choice. If you miss the biglaw boat the debt will be crushing and even if you hit the biglaw lottery, you will be chained to your desk for at least a few years.

Retake for money at USC/UCLA is really the best option.

Retake

LittleLaw wrote:you will be chained to your desk for at least a few years.

Try 6-8.

BigZuck wrote:Retake

This. With that GPA, you are in a good position to get $$$ from UCD/UCI, which are at least somewhat respectable. If you won't listen, then:

twenty wrote:Pepperdine. At least then your bad decisions will be cheap.

Pepperdine.