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Thanks for all of the advice!

This seems anything but self-explanatory...You have a family in NOLA and would move away for school but commute back on weekends? That sounds awful. I think Tulane is the most practical option here, I guess.

Also, you should retake bc of your gpa.

working part time might kill your GPA during 1L. Clerking and Fed Honors are pretty GPA sensitive.
I'd take NU and move your family to Chicago. Commuting that much is not pleasant. I'm doing it right now it takes a big toll on your body.

You didn't apply to any other T14s? That seems like a strange choice...

But assuming that you don't have any other offers, I think NU is the strongest school in the group. The upside for GULC here is that it can potentially be better for placing you in DC or in PI.

And that might actually be a consideration for you. I know nothing about Indian law, but assuming that you're talking about Native Americans and not about practicing in India, then I'd see where they're based and/or if they strongly favor one of these schools for hiring. I doubt that many firms have much in the way of Indian law work, because that seems more PI-oriented to me, so that may also be a point in GULC's favor.

As for Tulane: no. It would only be worth it if you specifically wanted to stay in Louisiana. And if that's the case, negotiate them up. There's no way they won't give you a full scholarship to match Northwestern or Georgetown.

4-6 more points and you've got a shot at HYS and $$$$ from the rest of the T-14.


Is there any way your family could temporarily relocate? I don't know the situation and it could be out of the question, but it just seems like such a waste to leave these opportunities on the table for Tulane...

My children will eventually be meeting me once I get settled in wherever. The commuting is only for the first semester. I applied to all of the top 20 and these are my best offers. I received no scholarships from any of the other schools above NU.

Nolachicken wrote:My children will eventually be meeting me once I get settled in wherever. The commuting is only for the first semester. I applied to all of the top 20 and these are my best offers. I received no scholarships from any of the other schools above NU.

I have seen URMs this cycle with around 3.7-3.9/166-169 in at one or two or all of HYS. Why not retake for one of those?

If you are set on going this year then both NU and GULC are great options.

NU is your best option, in a vacuum. But traveling every weekend during first semester 1L year is a terrible idea. Going to Tulane without a full scholly while you have full rides at NU and GULC also seems to be a terrible idea, especially when you have fed gov desires.

Edit: idk why I thought you said you wanted to corporate law.

I'd cross Tulane off given your goals and only a $40k cost difference.
I'd go NU for the better employment prospects.

I am not dead set on any job. I am sure that I'll find something that interests me while I'm in school. I would love to work in public interest, but I have four children to raise. I wouldn't go back every weekend. Just every long break and another three day weekend here and there. If I were to go into big law, I would prefer it to be in an Indian Law field (which is the slightly non-pc term for Native American Law.)

If you want to go into the field, why are you purposely using the non-pc term?

If you dont care about debt and really want to give yourself the best shot at your goals..it might be worth retaking for HYS. Youd get harvard with a 166+. If you wouldnt take Harvard over a t14 full then a NW full is probably as good as it gets(t6 fulls would require low 170s). In which case you might want to look into deferring for a year so you dont have to commute when you start.

Rigo wrote:If you want to go into the field, why are you purposely using the non-pc term?

That is the term used in the field and the term we use. To most people it would seem non-pc.

Are there any biglaw firms that actually practice Indian Law?

cavalier1138 wrote:You didn't apply to any other T14s? That seems like a strange choice...
I
But assuming that you don't have any other offers, I think NU is the strongest school in the group. The upside for GULC here is that it can potentially be better for placing you in DC or in PI.

And that might actually be a consideration for you. I know nothing about Indian law, but assuming that you're talking about Native Americans and not about practicing in India, then I'd see where they're based and/or if they strongly favor one of these schools for hiring. I doubt that many firms have much in the way of Indian law work, because that seems more PI-oriented to me, so that may also be a point in GULC's favor

As for Tulane: no. It would only be worth it if you specifically wanted to stay in Louisiana. And if that's the case, negotiate them up. There's no way they won't give you a full scholarship to match Northwestern or Georgetown.

I did negotiate up with Tulane and they will not match Big law firms do have Indian Law departments dealing with their casinos and other federal issues.

Nolachicken wrote:

Rigo wrote:If you want to go into the field, why are you purposely using the non-pc term?

That is the term used in the field and the term we use. To most people it would seem non-pc.

Ah okay. I had no idea and was just curious.