Texas $ vs. Retake/Reapply in 2016 Forum

[kobayashi]

Currently committed to Texas, receiving $15k in scholarships with in-state tuition. Total cost of attending is approx $125k, with financing generously coming from the parentals as well as personal savings.

Also riding out the CN and Duke waitlists, but losing faith that they're going to budge between now and August.

Career goals:
Looking to do BigLaw energy/environmental regulatory or corporate work in either Houston or DC. Originally from the DC area, but I've spent my professional life in Houston working in energy consulting, so have developed somewhat substantial Texas ties. While I'd be open to staying in Houston after graduation, I would like the option of going back to DC and working in the federal regulatory space before heading to a firm. I chose UT over GW, primarily due to the cost burden plus the strength of UT's placement in Texas relative to GW's placement in DC.

Stats:
- Non-URM super-splitter (3.77 GPA and 162), fully aware that I over-performed my numbers substantially in even getting into UT plus receiving money
- Substantial softs including environmental preservation volunteer work in Texas

Concerns:
Really disappointed about my LSAT performance, considering that I spent most of last year studying and was consistently scoring 169-173 in practices. I don't think I can make an excuse for the performance on test days except that unavoidable work commitments came up in the weeks prior to the test and that I experienced LSAT anxiety when taking the real thing. I've taken the LSAT three times, and I know I could do better than a 162.

I know the CW here is to retake, but I won't be able to retake the LSAT until Feb '16, so I can't reapply until the fall of next year. I don't really want to stay in my job for another two years, and I'm concerned that it would just distract me from studying again if I were to retake. So I've been preparing to head to UT, but I'm concerned about their lower ratio of student placement in BigLaw and especially that the prospect of going to D.C. afterward wouldn't be an option. Would appreciate any insight from UT TLSers on UT's connections to D.C. as well as advice on the above.

[terrier27]

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[BigZuck]

I go to UT.

I think it would be very, very, very hard to get the grades necessary to work in DC. And from what I understand, if there is anything UT does particularly poorly it is placing into federal government positions. I wouldn't go to UT with DC goals.

Energy transactional work would certainly be an uphill battle in and of itself.

[kobayashi]

I guess my issue with retaking is that I have no idea what will happen on test day, or even how I would prepare differently. I thought I had drilled my weaknesses out by the December test, but I still ended up getting stuck on a game and slipping up on an RC passage. I also don't know if I'd end up cracking again on test day. I did take a course in my test prep; maybe a tutor would be better? I honestly don't know.

A good part of me feels like I need to take the opportunity at UT since it was the best school I got into and because of its close ties to the energy sector. I was also admitted in April off the waitlist, and I don't know what would happen if I tried to apply again to UT during my second cycle after having withdrawn from their class in July.

On timing of a potential next cycle: another factor is that I'm in my late 20s, and I never really wanted to head back to school in my 30s. In the long run this probably shouldn't matter, but it is a concern. Also if I waited, a job change would likely be in order, since I just don't know if I could stick it out in my current role.

[kobayashi]

Re: UT placement in DC, is it common for the major Texas-based firms to recruit UT students for their DC offices? Or are those jobs only viable options for the <5% of the class due to the inherent competitiveness of the DC market?

[BigZuck]

Re: UT placement in DC, is it common for the major Texas-based firms to recruit UT students for their DC offices? Or are those jobs only viable options for the <5% of the class due to the inherent competitiveness of the DC market?

I'd say probably the latter

Only people I know working in DC this summer are Law Reviewers. No mere mortals are there as far as I know (but obviously I don't know the whole class)

[BigZuck]

Btw, I had very similar numbers (like, shockingly similar) and was in my late 20s when I decided to retake/reapply. And I was working a crappy job (although one I could easily keep, so I didn't have to deal with the job change thing). It's definitely doable. I ended up going from low 160s to high 160s and got half rides to places like Duke and UVA, which I think would be much better for your stated goals. Your chances in both DC and TX would likely be a lot better if you went to one of those two schools.

[kobayashi]

Re: UT placement in DC, is it common for the major Texas-based firms to recruit UT students for their DC offices? Or are those jobs only viable options for the <5% of the class due to the inherent competitiveness of the DC market?

I'd say probably the latter

Only people I know working in DC this summer are Law Reviewers. No mere mortals are there as far as I know (but obviously I don't know the whole class)

Got it. Just for reference, is it just as rare for a UT student to head to NY for a summer?

Again, given my interests, I'd be perfectly happy heading back to Houston for work after school, but it would be truly great to have the added flexibility of locations outside of Texas for post-LS employment. While I understand 1L grades are what matters most, would personal ties to the DC area and the government/regulatory space (which I have through my consulting job) count for anything during OCI for DC firms?

[BigZuck]

Re: UT placement in DC, is it common for the major Texas-based firms to recruit UT students for their DC offices? Or are those jobs only viable options for the <5% of the class due to the inherent competitiveness of the DC market?

I'd say probably the latter

Only people I know working in DC this summer are Law Reviewers. No mere mortals are there as far as I know (but obviously I don't know the whole class)

Got it. Just for reference, is it just as rare for a UT student to head to NY for a summer?

Again, given my interests, I'd be perfectly happy heading back to Houston for work after school, but it would be truly great to have the added flexibility of locations outside of Texas for post-LS employment. While I understand 1L grades are what matters most, would personal ties to the DC area and the government/regulatory space (which I have through my consulting job) count for anything during OCI for DC firms?

I know more people in NY than DC but again, you need good grades to get a job in NY. This is painting in really broad strokes but generally if you want TX big law you want to be in the top 3rd or so and if you want big law out of state you want to be in the top 15% or so. Again, broad strokes, but I think that's a good rough guide. Houston's definitely easier than NY/DC but still tough, Houston big law certainly isn't a fallback/backup.

I don't think DC ties matter all that much, that market is generally just really grade sensitive, probably more than any other large market.

[kobayashi]

Thanks for all of the insight, BigZuck. Bumping this thread, since any other advice would be much appreciated!

Approximately how far above median would you need to be at UT to have a realistic shot at energy transactional work with big firms in Houston? Top 30%?

Also, my current job isn't necessarily the pits. It's a consulting job that pays well ($80k) with a pretty good work-life balance; it's just in an area of consulting (designing operational controls and processes to comply with federal/state regulations) that I don't find particularly stimulating. I wasn't thinking of leaving for law school just because I had no better options, but I would eventually like to do something that is broadly in line with energy policy, and a background in law and regulatory work seemed like important prerequisites to entering this arena.

[AnonMoose]

FWIW, I have a friend who went to UT Law and after graduation worked for NTTA in Dallas for a few years and just recently moved to Raleigh, NC to start a boutique construction law firm

[kobayashi]

Just wanted to provide folks with an update on my decision. After much consideration on my part and a couple of chats with UT TLSers and UT grads in Houston, I opted to withdraw from UT Law earlier this month. For now, it looks like I'll be retaking the LSAT in 2016 and re-applying next year, though that could certainly change.

I really appreciate the feedback and advice from everyone on TLS as I made this decision. Looks like it will be back to studying in the near future!