Top Law Schools

Hi, I posted this in the lawschooladmissions reddit, figured I'd see what you guys think here:

So I posted in the reddit little while ago asking for advice on where to go, basically the consensus was BU (COA $100k) or Fordham (COA $60k) (here is my LSN: http://lawschoolnumbers.com/2187 )

Looking at LST reports though, the stats of employment/salaries (particularly specific to law firms) BU and Fordham are super similar and it seems that, even though I'd like to move away, it wouldn't be worth the extra debt for the same outcome basically at Fordham.

When I look at Cardozo, where I got a full tuition scholarship, the stats (sorry I don't have them, I'm on mobile. I also had to request salary stats from the school itself) for the top of the class seems to be same for the top of Fordham's class, albeit a smaller percentage of the top. They get the same salary from law firms.
I know it's no guarantee I'll be top of any class, but my LSAT score is a good predictor that at Cardozo I will be one of the top performers if I work hard.

Is it still not worth it, it your opinion, to go to Cardozo if you're at the top of the class? Am I being stupid? Will Fordham really offer me more opportunities? Is Fordham's reputation worth that much money in loans when Cardozo appears to do fine for its top students?

Honestly I don't think that the comments on the reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/lawschooladmis ... s_cardozo/) added anything to the conversation. Cardozo likely sends a bit more students to biglaw firms because they take more people with higher scores. I'm not convinced their bigger percentage means Fordham is really offering their students more than Cardozo is--if it is, if you have any concrete explanations, please let me know. And I know scores are not the perfect indicator of how well someone will do in law school, but they are the best indicator schools/test makers have found.

(i have a 165 LSAT, 3.89 GPA. took it once, there is still time to consider a retake and i know that! just trying to figure things out still. I live in NYC, want to go away but too expensive )

Fordham definitely sends more students to biglaw than Cardozo, not the other way around. Fordham sends about 25-30% to big law while Cardozo is roughly 10%.

Yes Cardozo does fine for the top percent of the class, but what if you aren't in the top of your class? Fordham will definitely give you more opportunities than Cardozo. But is biglaw what you want? If so, go to Fordham since you'll have a better chance. If not, then maybe Cardozo isn't such a bad idea with a full ride but are there any stips?

If you are concerned about money, your best move is to retake the LSAT and reapply.

TheMikey wrote:Fordham definitely sends more students to biglaw than Cardozo, not the other way around. Fordham sends about 25-30% to big law while Cardozo is roughly 10%.

Yes Cardozo does fine for the top percent of the class, but what if you aren't in the top of your class? Fordham will definitely give you more opportunities than Cardozo. But is biglaw what you want? If so, go to Fordham since you'll have a better chance. If not, then maybe Cardozo isn't such a bad idea with a full ride but are there any stips?

Yeah, sorry, I definitely meant Cardozo has the smaller class! And no, no stips on the scholarship.

Definitely a big concern of mine is that being too optimistic about where I'll place will leave me in a bad spot. It does seem like i'd have better chances if i'm not in the top of my class at Fordham (though still in a bad place?)--but I'll also be 60K in debt, so I'm not sure.

fn2187 wrote:

TheMikey wrote:Fordham definitely sends more students to biglaw than Cardozo, not the other way around. Fordham sends about 25-30% to big law while Cardozo is roughly 10%.

Yes Cardozo does fine for the top percent of the class, but what if you aren't in the top of your class? Fordham will definitely give you more opportunities than Cardozo. But is biglaw what you want? If so, go to Fordham since you'll have a better chance. If not, then maybe Cardozo isn't such a bad idea with a full ride but are there any stips?

Yeah, sorry, I definitely meant Cardozo has the smaller class! And no, no stips on the scholarship.

Definitely a big concern of mine is that being too optimistic about where I'll place will leave me in a bad spot. It does seem like i'd have better chances if i'm not in the top of my class at Fordham (though still in a bad place?)--but I'll also be 60K in debt, so I'm not sure.

Being median at Cardozo will most likely leave you without a job (sounds mean but it's only the truth), if you're lucky you may get something but you will definitely not get it straight out of school. I know people who go to/have gone to Cardozo and they all are struggling. One of my friend's who graduated at median 2 years ago JUST got a job at a small firm about a month ago, and she passed the bar the first time as well. At Fordham, being at median can still get you a job, but it's still tough to do from either school because you're competing with not only your classmates but Columbia, NYU, Cornell, and the rest of the T14 grads. I have a friend at Fordham who is at median and he is in 2L with a job lined up at a mid sized firm. He will have about the same amount of debt as you, I think a bit more but paying off 60k isn't much compared to those who are paying sticker at Fordham.

Honestly, I'd choose Fordham if I were in your situation. But if biglaw is what you want, you should think about retaking the LSAT or just go to Fordham and try to kill it. Either way, best of luck to you!

3.89 should not be choosing between Fordham and Cardozo.

You owe it to yourself to retake. Seriously. You're 5 MC questions away from serious money from T14's. Plus you're still in undergrad. Work experience + Retake. Not a single person who's done it has regretted it.

pancakes3 wrote:3.89 should not be choosing between Fordham and Cardozo.

You owe it to yourself to retake. Seriously. You're 5 MC questions away from serious money from T14's. Plus you're still in undergrad. Work experience + Retake. Not a single person who's done it has regretted it.

+1

.

Seems like you want biglaw or another high paying gig. Retake.