Looking at 3rd options Forum

[tk421991]

Over the last couple weekends, I've been going around New England looking at law school campuses. I've seen Yale, BU and Harvard and that's the order which I like them. Honestly Harvard didn't impress me.

I'm going to work towards Yale-quality grades and scores and it's by and far my first choice. Then Harvard, then BU.

Since BU has about a 31% admission rate, I'm thinking one last school would be a good option. So it boils down to the VT Law School or UMaine.

Does anyone happen to know how generous these two schools are with scholarships? Any other info would be appreciated. Is it even worth my time and money applying to a fourth law school?

[BasilHallward]

Focus on Yale and Harvard; BU on a full-ride. The other schools. No.

[BigZuck]

Yale is the best school in the country. Maine/Vermont are on the lower end- the job placement isn't very good and they should only be attended for a cheap cost and very specific career and geographic goals. Basically, I can't think of a person who would apply to all of those schools. If you have Yale-type numbers and ambitions then your backup should be a school like, say, Duke because that would be realistic and it would more align with your career goals. If you have the career goals that necessitate going to a school like Maine then going to Yale would likely be overkill and possibly a poor decision depending on how much more it costs.

[Clemenceau]

Is it even worth my time and money applying to a fourth law school?

Yes. Applying to just those three would be foolish. That set is too narrow and not terribly logical. Plus you shouldn't make this decision without an lsat score yet.

[tk421991]

Thanks so far, keep 'em coming!

To be clear I want to stay in New England, so that's why my list looks like it does. Roger Williams seems overpriced and is in Bristol - I used to drive by it every day for work and I'm not a fan of that area of RI. Similar story with UNH - expensive and not a place I want to live in for three years.

The reason why I put Yale and Harvard on the top of the list is because #1, New England area and #2, It's what motivates me to go the extra mile and get as good grades as possible. Same thing with prepping for the LSAT. I find it easier to aim at a target than just working without one.

[BrazilBandit]

what's your story? freshman in college? have you taken a practice LSAT? once you have a GPA and LSAT it becomes much easier to narrow down your schools and pick a target. Just because a school isn't in NE doesn't mean it can't get you there after graduation. You'd be much better off attending Duke in NC than UNH, for example.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Thanks so far, keep 'em coming!

To be clear I want to stay in New England, so that's why my list looks like it does. Roger Williams seems overpriced and is in Bristol - I used to drive by it every day for work and I'm not a fan of that area of RI. Similar story with UNH - expensive and not a place I want to live in for three years.

The reason why I put Yale and Harvard on the top of the list is because #1, New England area and #2, It's what motivates me to go the extra mile and get as good grades as possible. Same thing with prepping for the LSAT. I find it easier to aim at a target than just working without one.

I get that you want to stay in New England, but it is a really weird list. VT/Maine are just not even in the same group as the other schools (and BU obviously isn't in the same group as Yale/Harvard, but it's closer to Yale/Harvard than VT/Maine are to the others). You're leaving out BC (and if you're looking at VT/Maine, you're leaving out Northeastern, though arguably you don't want to go to any of those schools). Also, they're not strictly New England, but you might consider stretching to Cornell and Penn (assuming NYC Is no go for you).

[tk421991]

what's your story? freshman in college? have you taken a practice LSAT? once you have a GPA and LSAT it becomes much easier to narrow down your schools and pick a target. Just because a school isn't in NE doesn't mean it can't get you there after graduation. You'd be much better off attending Duke in NC than UNH, for example.

Currently a junior at a NH state university. Transferred in from community college with about a 3.89 GPA. I want to start LSAT prep in January and take the test in June. Currently getting straight A's. First in family to go after a Bachelor's and first to even consider a JD.

[Mack.Hambleton]

What kind of job do you want

Do you know what kind of jobs these schools place graduates in

[BrazilBandit]

what's your story? freshman in college? have you taken a practice LSAT? once you have a GPA and LSAT it becomes much easier to narrow down your schools and pick a target. Just because a school isn't in NE doesn't mean it can't get you there after graduation. You'd be much better off attending Duke in NC than UNH, for example.

Currently a junior at a NH state university. Transferred in from community college with about a 3.89 GPA. I want to start LSAT prep in January and take the test in June. Currently getting straight A's. First in family to go after a Bachelor's and first to even consider a JD.

Awesome, congrats on that GPA! Take that June LSAT and crush it, and hopefully all you'll have to decide between is Yale, Harvard or (hopefully) a Full-Ride at CCN. DO NOT WASTE THAT GPA ON A SCHOOL LIKE VT,NH OR MAINE.

[totesTheGoat]

What kind of job do you want

Do you know what kind of jobs these schools place graduates in

[tk421991]

What kind of job do you want

Do you know what kind of jobs these schools place graduates in

Good question. Working in an office where I'm one of a few hundred or thousand employees doesn't fit with my personality. I wouldn't mind specializing in criminal defense or real property, since I've had exposure to both from work/interning. I would need something that pays well so I can pay off my debts and make headway, but honestly going to law school isn't about the money to me. It's more like something I want to accomplish - a mission.

[pancakes3]

It'd be a shame if your LSAT/GPA ends falling just a smidge lower than Harvard/Yale but does qualify you for very good scholarships at very elite schools with amazing job placement but you choose to settle for BU. More likely, your first pass at the LSAT lands you in the 160's which paired up with your GPA would make BU an easy call but practically the better option would be to take time off and retake.

There are a lot of factors of law school admissions and legal employment that you don't seem to have a grasp on. I strongly urge you to browse these forums and take a look at http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ for their costs and job placement, and then realize that this:

is the salary distribution of the legal field, and really assess what you want out of a law degree. Not just what's of primary focus (your mission or whatever), but everything. Paying off loans et. al.

[A. Nony Mouse]

What kind of job do you want

Do you know what kind of jobs these schools place graduates in

Good question. Working in an office where I'm one of a few hundred or thousand employees doesn't fit with my personality. I wouldn't mind specializing in criminal defense or real property, since I've had exposure to both from work/interning. I would need something that pays well so I can pay off my debts and make headway, but honestly going to law school isn't about the money to me. It's more like something I want to accomplish - a mission.

It's an expensive accomplishment if you don't have a relatively clear idea of what you want to do with it and what the results are likely to be. "Pays well" in law is generally being part of an office with a lot of employees.

[tk421991]

It'd be a shame if your LSAT/GPA ends falling just a smidge lower than Harvard/Yale but does qualify you for very good scholarships at very elite schools with amazing job placement but you choose to settle for BU. More likely, your first pass at the LSAT lands you in the 160's which paired up with your GPA would make BU an easy call but practically the better option would be to take time off and retake.

There are a lot of factors of law school admissions and legal employment that you don't seem to have a grasp on. I strongly urge you to browse these forums and take a look at http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ for their costs and job placement, and then realize that this:

is the salary distribution of the legal field, and really assess what you want out of a law degree. Not just what's of primary focus (your mission or whatever), but everything. Paying off loans et. al.

Like I said I'm the first person in my family to go after this level of education, so I don't know a good amount about the admissions process for law schools.

If you don't mind me asking, what would be a very good law school that tends to give out scholarships? I saw Virginia on the link and they seem like a good candidate.

[TheSpanishMain]

First get the absolute best score you can on the LSAT. Then go get some professional work experience for a few years and make sure you want to be a lawyer.

You're at least 3-4 years away from needing to worry about what law school to apply to

[tk421991]

First get the absolute best score you can on the LSAT. Then go get some professional work experience for a few years and make sure you want to be a lawyer.

You're at least 3-4 years away from needing to worry about what law school to apply to

Already ahead of you. I graduated community college with a degree in Paralegal Studies and while I was there, I interned at the RI Attorney General. I work full time as a title searcher now and I work with people who are lawyers for the company and parent company.

[unsweetened]

First get the absolute best score you can on the LSAT.

[Zero99]

It'd be a shame if your LSAT/GPA ends falling just a smidge lower than Harvard/Yale but does qualify you for very good scholarships at very elite schools with amazing job placement but you choose to settle for BU. More likely, your first pass at the LSAT lands you in the 160's which paired up with your GPA would make BU an easy call but practically the better option would be to take time off and retake.

There are a lot of factors of law school admissions and legal employment that you don't seem to have a grasp on. I strongly urge you to browse these forums and take a look at http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ for their costs and job placement, and then realize that this:

is the salary distribution of the legal field, and really assess what you want out of a law degree. Not just what's of primary focus (your mission or whatever), but everything. Paying off loans et. al.

Like I said I'm the first person in my family to go after this level of education, so I don't know a good amount about the admissions process for law schools.

If you don't mind me asking, what would be a very good law school that tends to give out scholarships? I saw Virginia on the link and they seem like a good candidate.

Every school gives out scholarships (exception that Y and H are need-based). Get above a school's median LSAT and GPA and you will likely get some money. Above both 75%s and you are looking at a near-full or full ride.

When you say you want to stay in New England, do you mean you want to work there eventually, or that you HAVE to go to school there? (Spouse is there, sick family, etc?). If it is just the former, there are lots of schools that can get you back there.

[sarwanov]

yes of course it quite worth of your money