Help Forum

[Toure2016]

I need help deciding where to go. I've been admitted to American University with $ 45,000 for the three years, Loyola New Orleans gave me a $27500 conditional scholarship that I will be able to keep as long as I maintain a 2.5 gpa. I got accepted to two other schools on the west coast, and I already decided that I will not be going to either of them. I've been waitlisted at University of Miami and University of Florida, which is where I really want to go since a part of me would like to practice immigration law there. What do you guys think, and please don't be rude.

[fliptrip]

Help us help you...

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=206299

Generally, it doesn't look like you have a good option at all. But share more...

[emkay625]

A little bit more information would be helpful. What are your stats? (LSAT/GPA/URM). How attached to immigration law/Florida are you? And how will you be financing the remaining cost of attendance? (loans, savings, help from family, etc.)

[Nammertat]

I need help deciding where to go. I've been admitted to American University with $ 45,000 for the three years, Loyola New Orleans gave me a $27500 conditional scholarship that I will be able to keep as long as I maintain a 2.5 gpa. I got accepted to two other schools on the west coast, and I already decided that I will not be going to either of them. I've been waitlisted at University of Miami and University of Florida, which is where I really want to go since a part of me would like to practice immigration law there. What do you guys think, and please don't be rude.

Debt on graduation? This seems like a very scary road to go down if you're going to be saddled with crippling debt.

[Toure2016]

I am an URM,I took the LSAT three times and my highest score was a 153 and I went through some personal stuff during an undergrad so couldn't really focus much on school and ended up graduating with a 2.8 gpa. I am graduating this May with a master's degree in public administration. I applied to some outside scholarships and applying to a couple more. I would be financing the remaining with loans if I don't receive the outside scholarships. And i plan to spend about 800-850 for cost of living since I'll be living with my fiancee.

[Toure2016]

Also, I wouldn't mind working for a government agency for some years as long as they'd repay my loans for me. Also, I speak three languages including English and gonna try to learn Spanish while in law school.

[Mullens]

I don't think governmental agencies repay law school loans. Do you have a source for that belief? I do not advise attending either of these schools because you're gonna have more than $100,000 in debt and you will struggle greatly to find legal employment in Florida, much less any legal employment.

[deadpanic]

Why all the American U threads lately? And they always seemed paired with Miami as another expensive, absurd choice.

American is not worth it, even for free. You are more likely to be working in a non-law job making peanuts while living in one of the most expensive cities in the country.

[Toure2016]

No, I don't and what about the loan repayment programs that most schools have for people that choose to work for a government agency or something like that?

I didn't apply to that many schools.

[Nagster5]

No, I don't and what about the loan repayment programs that most schools have for people that choose to work for a government agency or something like that?

I didn't apply to that many schools.

In general, better schools have better LRAP programs. You are applying to bad schools, and they have bad LRAP programs. LNO has a ceiling of 62k/year, and requires a committee approval process for an award. You could make 25k/year and have them say tough luck. I wouldn't count on a school like LNO having your back after you graduate.

To be blunt: my advice to someone with your numbers would be to not go to law school. Your GPA and unretakable LSAT put you in the position of having to pay to go to schools that are a bad deal even at no cost. Over half of LNO's grads aren't working as lawyers. About 20% of people receiving conditional scholarships have them revoked at the end of the first year. About a quarter of grads are unemployed. If you don't get a job as a lawyer, you can't apply for their LRAP. Attending either school is a really bad idea. Paying for them is even worse. Please go do something else and if you absolutely insist on becoming a lawyer, see if you can't up your LSAT when you are eligible and reapply to decent schools. Law school will always be there.

[fliptrip]

To be blunt: my advice to someone with your numbers would be to not go to law school. ... Please go do something else and if you absolutely insist on becoming a lawyer, see if you can't up your LSAT when you are eligible and reapply to decent schools. Law school will always be there.

This. You don't want to play this hand.

[Toure2016]

Thank you guys and I understand. And what would be considered to be decent schools? Those that are ranked 50s or below?

[deadpanic]

Thank you guys and I understand. And what would be considered to be decent schools? Those that are ranked 50s or below?

You should basically ignore the rankings. Outside of the T-14 (maybe T17?), they are meaningless.

A decent school would be your state flagship school where you want to practice for free or T-14 where you do not go into significant debt.

[ManoftheHour]

A decent school would be your state flagship school where you want to practice for free or T-14 where you do not go into significant debt.

[Toure2016]

Thank you guys ... I appreaciate it.