SMU v UH v Baylor Forum

[HP15]

Prefacing this with the statement that big law is not my goal.

Due to my scores (157, 3.48) sticker is looking like the price option on all three. It doesn't take a genius to see what most think about Baylor, but it is one of my top choices. From these three what would be the best option? ***non TX resident applying to TX schools because soon to be fiance took an offer at UT Pharmacy and moved to Austin, but will be doing her rotations wherever I go for law school***

Also, don't go is not option, but retake is on my list of possible options. It is my last option though. I know many of you will vote the retake option, but if you had to pick from the three what would you pick?

[BasilHallward]

You already know the answer: It is a resounding RETAKE!
Baylor is suicide without a full ride. SMU is justifiable starting with a half scholly.

[rnoodles]

RETAKE!

I did red last time, so I'm switching it up with purple this time.

[HP15]

RETAKE!

I did red last time, so I'm switching it up with purple this time.

Appreciate the change of pace. I've had bad luck with the LSAT first time around PTs were in the 160-162 range and scored a 157. Second time Pts were in the 165-167 and again got a 157.

[HP15]

You already know the answer: It is a resounding RETAKE!
Baylor is suicide without a full ride. SMU is justifiable starting with a half scholly.

Opinion on UH?

[rnoodles]

RETAKE!

I did red last time, so I'm switching it up with purple this time.

Appreciate the change of pace. I've had bad luck with the LSAT first time around PTs were in the 160-162 range and scored a 157. Second time Pts were in the 165-167 and again got a 157.

I still wouldn't waste that last opportunity. See what caused you to underperform, and fix it. Totally doable. When you're raking in money from higher ranked schools, or better schollys at SMU/UH, then you'll be happy.

Best of luck, OP!

[HP15]

RETAKE!

I did red last time, so I'm switching it up with purple this time.

Appreciate the change of pace. I've had bad luck with the LSAT first time around PTs were in the 160-162 range and scored a 157. Second time Pts were in the 165-167 and again got a 157.

I still wouldn't waste that last opportunity. See what caused you to underperform, and fix it. Totally doable. When you're raking in money from higher ranked schools, or better schollys at SMU/UH, then you'll be happy.

Best of luck, OP!

Suggestions on prep materials. I was given all of the kaplan materials, and they are all I've ever used. I have seen a lot of negative towards kaplan so maybe changing will be a help.

[rnoodles]

RETAKE!

I did red last time, so I'm switching it up with purple this time.

Appreciate the change of pace. I've had bad luck with the LSAT first time around PTs were in the 160-162 range and scored a 157. Second time Pts were in the 165-167 and again got a 157.

I still wouldn't waste that last opportunity. See what caused you to underperform, and fix it. Totally doable. When you're raking in money from higher ranked schools, or better schollys at SMU/UH, then you'll be happy.

Best of luck, OP!

Suggestions on prep materials. I was given all of the kaplan materials, and they are all I've ever used. I have seen a lot of negative towards kaplan so maybe changing will be a help.

Yeah, I highly recommend switching it up. There's undoubtedly other people on here that can provide a much better answer to this question than I can, but I used Powerscore and the LSAT Trainer. The bibles and their exercises + lessons from the trainer + LSAC PTs helped me a lot. I'd definitely look into those.

[BVest]

Prefacing this with the statement that big law is not my goal.

Due to my scores (157, 3.48) sticker is looking like the price option on all three. It doesn't take a genius to see what most think about Baylor, but it is one of my top choices. From these three what would be the best option? ***non TX resident applying to TX schools because soon to be fiance took an offer at UT Pharmacy and moved to Austin, but will be doing her rotations wherever I go for law school***

Also, don't go is not option, but retake is on my list of possible options. It is my last option though. I know many of you will vote the retake option, but if you had to pick from the three what would you pick?

When do rotations start? Is it over a year away from August 2017? Move to Austin with her, be supportive of her schooling while you find a job doing something (anything) for a year and establish residency. And use that year to retake. This simple solution solves several problems (a) it gets you $14,000 off OOS sticker at UH; (b) it saves you from unnecessary long-distance time; (c) it saves both of you rent; (d) it gives you an outside shot at UT (at in-state tuition) if you get your LSAT up; (e) it puts you in competition for a UT slot with in-staters rather that the more limited OOS slots (both are difficult though, just to be clear, and impossible without improvement); and (f) it sets you up so that you're not looking at sticker for UH or SMU.

It doesn't take a genius to see what most think about Baylor, but it is one of my top choices.

This statement though makes me wonder the extent to which you actually want advice. "Everybody here says X is a bad idea, but I'd like someone to tell me what a good idea X is."

[viz-luv]

^ bvest has excellent advice.

But do you want to work in Dallas or Houston eventually? In general, Smu has Dallas market and uh has Houston market. Remember that along with coa after your retake.

Retake = something I never regret doing. Just do it.

[Shib26]

You stated biglaw wasn't your goal, which is fine, but what is your goal? Are you planning on staying in Texas? Because all three can get you Texas midlaw. SMU to land in Dallas, UH for Houston obviously, and Baylor.... well I don't like Baylor but I'm biased.

But as others have said retake. Any of these choices are scary without $.

[wiz]

1. Retake.

2. Establish TX residency (and study LSAT while establishing residence).

3. Do not go to Baylor. It's in the middle of nowhere, is private, has crappy job placement. Go to UH if Houston makes more sense for you and your fiancée; go to SMU if you want Dallas. But you should really be shooting for UT + small scholly or UH/SMU + big scholly.

[thetravelinglawyer]

Five more points will get you in the ballpark of a half scholarship. You can easily do that with some more work. The advice to move to Austin and work for a year while studying is golden. That's a win win all around really - save money for school, resume boost, maybe a school prestige boost, in-state residency, and potentially saving you literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and interest. It's not the fun option but it's the smart one. I will add that you should try to work for a year in something legal-related, or at least something where you interact with lawyers a lot. You never know what kind of connections you could make, and if you're going to school outside of the T14 then connections are invaluable. If you can't get something legal related, just live super cheaply and make as much money as you possibly can. Toss the Kaplan stuff, get the Bibles and get on 7sage or Manhattan Prep. After every practice test, go through and figure out why you got each question wrong (LSAT Hacks or elsewhere), if you still don't get why you missed it then post in a forum asking for help until it clicks. Make sure your practice tests are in real testing conditions. Don't take breaks you wouldn't get, do a fifth 'experimental' section, etc. 7sage has a great app that allows you to simulate testing conditions with background noise, proctor warnings, etc - that was really helpful for me.

Don't make a huge life decision based on impatience. Go through and read the thread about debt repayment numbers for a reality check - lots of people paying upwards of $2000 a month and only making about $60-100k - that's almost half of their take home. Don't be that guy. One year of studying can get you at least a half scholarship and save up enough money for a year's (half) tuition, maybe more. That's nearly $100k you would be saving right there. Really think about how much $100k is worth to you.

[BVest]

Five more points will get you in the ballpark of a half scholarship. You can easily do that with some more work. The advice to move to Austin and work for a year while studying is golden. That's a win win all around really - save money for school, resume boost, maybe a school prestige boost, in-state residency, and potentially saving you literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and interest. It's not the fun option but it's the smart one.

What? It's Austin. Of course it's the fun option.

[thetravelinglawyer]

It shows how far I've sunk into the abyss that I just referred to going to law school at sticker as the "fun option"

[Stevoman]

Do what bvest said.

I went to SMU, love the school and would recommend it to anyone. But you're looking at sticker. Somehow you need to lower your costs. Retaking and working for a year will lower your costs and put some money in your savings. If you go to UT/UH, residency will also make thing a lot cheaper.

Where in Texas do you want to work? UT is always going to be the best option. If you can't get into UT, then go SMU for Dallas, UH for Houston. Austin is a fun party/vacation city but I'd never work a career and raise a family there.

[p1921]

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