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Texas at sticker or Emory with a scholarship?

Texas estimates their non-resident COA at $71,436 for first years. I'm assuming they're similar to other public schools and would allow me to become an in-state student for 2L and 3L, which would be a COA of $54,600.

Emory gave me a scholarship that knocks my COA down to $38,000 (presumably tuition will go up and it'll be a little more for 2L and 3L). I'm also carrying about $50,000 of undergraduate debt, so this is an important consideration.

I'm interested in a public interest career in human rights/civil rights (I am aware that human rights is a lofty goal, but that's what I'm shooting for and we'll see). I'm not especially picky about where I end up, but I'm originally from the South, and DC seems like a good option careerwise. I have family in Atlanta, so a slight advantage to networking there (not sure how much this matters).

LSAT: 171 (2 attempts)
GPA: 3.76

Texas is a higher-ranked school and has way more clinic opportunities, but Emory seems to have really great externship options, and a lot of NGOs that I'd be interested in working for have headquarters in Atlanta. Based on my visit to Emory, it also seems like they're working really hard on improving their public interest programs, which could be cool to be part of.

I've been knocking this around in my head for ages. Advice?

Something is not adding up here. You should have way better options with those states. Sit out and re-apply start of next year

I feel like you should have much better options than either of these, either better schools or way more scholly.

edit: scoop

Re-apply is TCR.

You should definitely not be going to law school this year if these are your best options. People with much worse numbers, myself included, have gotten full rides to several lower t14 schools. I urge you to sit out and reapply, especially if you are still in undergrad.

Perhaps the poor showing was due to not having much on your resume in terms of work or soft factors, in which case a year off working would considerably boost your odds for the next cycle!

Yeah, something went horribly wrong with your cycle, you need to figure out what that is and correct it

Seconding zuck

lnlia707 wrote:Perhaps the poor showing was due to not having much on your resume in terms of work or soft factors, in which case a year off working would considerably boost your odds for the next cycle!

Lack of work experience doesn't even come close to explaining a 171 and 3.7 getting no money from Texas.

Yeah, your stats and these offers are ridiculous. The only explanation I can think of is that you majorly fucked up your PS. And by fucked up, I mean borderline illiterate babble on a page. But I doubt this was the case. Sit out and reapply if you want to go to law school. You have earned considerably better offers than these.

You should have a full ride to both. UT maybe not, but much better than nothing. You're an ED candidate for NU and should get solid $$ from lower T14s. Fix whatever went wrong. Seriously

BasilHallward wrote:You should have a full ride to both. UT maybe not, but much better than nothing. You're an ED candidate for NU and should get solid $$ from lower T14s. Fix whatever went wrong. Seriously

OP, I would not ED to NU with your numbers. Just reapply next year and blanket the T14 + UT/Emory/Vanderbilt (since you seem like you targeted the South) and go from there. Absolutely sit this cycle out.