GW ($) vs. ND vs. UF ($$$) Forum

[JeffBunBun]

So I've narrowed my decision down to these three schools. I have no undergrad debt, but will be financing law school through loans. My numbers are 167 LSAT and 3.6 GPA. The 167 was kind of flukey...the highest practice test score I ever got was 165, so I am hesitant to retake, because I think I peaked. I'm going straight from UG to law school.

GW is offering me 15k a year
Notre Dame thus far hasn't offered me anything. Should I try to leverage? How do I go about doing that, um, logistically?
Florida offered me a full ride.

Thanks all.

EDIT - My GPA is actually 3.6

[ManoftheHour]

Do you have C&F issues? There's no way these can be your only offers.

You should get at least $30,000 per year at ND with those numbers. I would contact them right now. Use other offers.

Right now, Florida is the only choice that's decent...if you're okay with practicing in Florida.

[envisciguy]

Are you from Florida and is that where you'd like to spend the rest of your life, or at the very least, the foreseeable future? If so, then Florida is the right answer.

ND is nowhere near worth it at sticker and GW isn't worth what you'd be paying there either.

[starry eyed]

the most important info we need is where you want to work, where you have ties to, and what kind of lawyer job you are seeking

but of those three, the only defensible option is UF

[adil91]

I had only a slightly lower GPA and same LSAT than OP and I got waitlisted at ND. OP did you apply to WUSTL? I got a ton of money from them

[ManoftheHour]

I had only a slightly lower GPA and same LSAT than OP and I got waitlisted at ND. OP did you apply to WUSTL? I got a ton of money from them

Did you guys write the "Why ND?" I got in first cycle with lower numbers (and when ND's medians were higher). Ended up retaking and ended up with numbers similar to OP.

[smiles123]

TBH it seems like you underperformed your numbers. Any application issues? Are we missing something? If the answer is no to both of these, I'd sit out a cycle and reapply.

[hearsay77]

TBH it seems like you underperformed your numbers. Any application issues? Are we missing something? If the answer is no to both of these, I'd sit out a cycle and reapply.

^+1 I have similar stats and got $90k from GW and $75k from ND (before any negotiation), as well as $$ to several higher ranked schools. Did you apply very late?

[Wingtip88]

I had $126k offered from ND with a lower LSAT and slightly higher GPA. You'll get something good with those numbers, I'm sure. Just wait until you hear from them.

[adil91]

I had only a slightly lower GPA and same LSAT than OP and I got waitlisted at ND. OP did you apply to WUSTL? I got a ton of money from them

Did you guys write the "Why ND?" I got in first cycle with lower numbers (and when ND's medians were higher). Ended up retaking and ended up with numbers similar to OP.

I did but I applied pretty late. It didn't really matter to me though, it isn't in my top 3 choices.

[CanadianWolf]

Florida, if you want to practice in Florida.

[jbagelboy]

Florida, if you want to practice in Florida.

is the "UF is okay if you want to work in Florida" advise even credited in this case? All the major cities are very desirable markets with small summer class sizes, at least in the private sector. It's not like going to UF is a guarantee of a good job in Florida. I think in almost any circumstance -- except for guaranteed job in the region after graduation or specific, modest goals -- it's better to take a 167 elsewhere.

[CanadianWolf]

OP doesn't need biglaw because he/she has a full tuition scholarship. Depends upon OP's career goals as to whether or not Florida is good enough. But, among the current choices & with no stated career objective, Florida is the best choice, in my opinion.

[The Dark Shepard]

I had much higher offers from GW and ND with same LSAT and much lower GPA (though WUSTL hated me for some reason). At the vey least you need to re-apply next cycle

[Rigo]

GW and ND, at this point, aren't defensible.
Where else did you apply, OP? If you didn't hit WUSTL at least, your application strategy wasn't focused. Also, echoing the questions about why you could be underperforming your numbers.