Take the money, prestige, or retake? Forum
- RamTitan
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Take the money, prestige, or retake?
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Last edited by RamTitan on Sun Apr 02, 2017 3:48 pm, edited 11 times in total.
- floatie
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Don't pick DC then (the metro here is beyond atrocious), but I digress...RamTitan wrote:or live in a big city with great public transit like Chicago, NYC, or DC.

I'd pick WashU. Having $0 in debt would mean you wouldn't have to do biglaw, and they're pretty good in Chicago. If you were willing to hustle you could get to some other cities, too. If you want to try out other cities, you can always do a summer internship elsewhere, and Wash U has its own DC program if that's something you're interested in.
Texas for $0 would also be a defensible choice but they're a regional powerhouse, which is great if you want to be in Texas but it doesn't sound like you do.
You could retake if you want, but frankly I think you already have some pretty good options here, given that you're not biglaw or bust.
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I'd choose WashU and aim for Chicago, since you don't want to work in Texas or LA.
- Clemenceau
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Well, having savings with which to finance law school doesn't make COA zero.
I think if you really want biglaw then it's worth retaking. I had pretty much your exact numbers, retook and improved my score. Ended up with a bunch of acceptances from CCN down, and scholarship offers just about everywhere ranging from 60k-105k. Pretty happy about that retake.
I think if you really want biglaw then it's worth retaking. I had pretty much your exact numbers, retook and improved my score. Ended up with a bunch of acceptances from CCN down, and scholarship offers just about everywhere ranging from 60k-105k. Pretty happy about that retake.
- Thomas Hagan, ESQ.
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Read my mind. DC's metro is by far the worst of any first-world country. In fact, i've actually seen third world metro systems that are much better. Once you get past the "oh, it's clean and it looks like Gotham", it's absolute garbage.floatie wrote:Don't pick DC then (the metro here is beyond atrocious), but I digress...RamTitan wrote:or live in a big city with great public transit like Chicago, NYC, or DC.
I'd pick WashU. Having $0 in debt would mean you wouldn't have to do biglaw, and they're pretty good in Chicago. If you were willing to hustle you could get to some other cities, too. If you want to try out other cities, you can always do a summer internship elsewhere, and Wash U has its own DC program if that's something you're interested in.
Texas for $0 would also be a defensible choice but they're a regional powerhouse, which is great if you want to be in Texas but it doesn't sound like you do.
You could retake if you want, but frankly I think you already have some pretty good options here, given that you're not biglaw or bust.
But yes, I too would also pick WashU

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- guynourmin
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I think Texas probably gets you your first stated goal better than WUSTL probably.
WUSTL-> Chicago seems more difficult than
Whereas Texas has 3 metro areas over 2mm (+ Austin!) and gives you a better shot at biglaw. Depends on what the price difference is, though, as you don't say: not taking out loans doesn't mean you aren't paying for it!
You could retake, but you don't have to.
WUSTL-> Chicago seems more difficult than
andgoldenbear2020 wrote:aim for Chicago
make it sound. I may well be wrong about that, but that is just the impression I've received on this board.floatie wrote: they're pretty good in Chicago
Whereas Texas has 3 metro areas over 2mm (+ Austin!) and gives you a better shot at biglaw. Depends on what the price difference is, though, as you don't say: not taking out loans doesn't mean you aren't paying for it!
You could retake, but you don't have to.
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I'm not necessarily opposed to living in Texas; in fact, I like the idea of it. The problem is, I don't know that with certainty and have barely ever been there, and I'm not sure if I'd be able to lateral back to my home market if need be.floatie wrote:Don't pick DC then (the metro here is beyond atrocious), but I digress...RamTitan wrote:or live in a big city with great public transit like Chicago, NYC, or DC.![]()
I'd pick WashU. Having $0 in debt would mean you wouldn't have to do biglaw, and they're pretty good in Chicago. If you were willing to hustle you could get to some other cities, too. If you want to try out other cities, you can always do a summer internship elsewhere, and Wash U has its own DC program if that's something you're interested in.
Texas for $0 would also be a defensible choice but they're a regional powerhouse, which is great if you want to be in Texas but it doesn't sound like you do.
You could retake if you want, but frankly I think you already have some pretty good options here, given that you're not biglaw or bust.
WashU does seem like the safe option in this case though. With that said, I worry about their 15% unemployment score and 20% small firm score at graduation.
Last edited by RamTitan on Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
My savings combined with the given scholarships would make my COA zero.Clemenceau wrote:Well, having savings with which to finance law school doesn't make COA zero.
I think if you really want biglaw then it's worth retaking. I had pretty much your exact numbers, retook and improved my score. Ended up with a bunch of acceptances from CCN down, and scholarship offers just about everywhere ranging from 60k-105k. Pretty happy about that retake.
I am extremely tempted to retake after that practice test. Granted, it was a retake, but I hadn't seen that test in 6 months so...
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
My top three options seem to be NU, Texas, and WashU.guybourdin wrote:I think Texas probably gets you your first stated goal better than WUSTL probably.
WUSTL-> Chicago seems more difficult thanandgoldenbear2020 wrote:aim for Chicagomake it sound. I may well be wrong about that, but that is just the impression I've received on this board.floatie wrote: they're pretty good in Chicago
Whereas Texas has 3 metro areas over 2mm (+ Austin!) and gives you a better shot at biglaw. Depends on what the price difference is, though, as you don't say: not taking out loans doesn't mean you aren't paying for it!
You could retake, but you don't have to.
WashU is safe in the sense that I wouldn't have any debt, but the 15% underemployment score and the 20% small firm score scare me.
NU is great and I'd love to live and practice in Chicago, but debt and the possibility of not getting big law would make me an anxious wreck. Hopefully they give me some money.
Texas also seems like a good option, but like I said above, I don't have much experience with the state, and I bet Dallas/Houston traffic would make go insane once I'm out of school. In addition, I've heard it's almost impossible for entry-level lawyers to get big law in Austin, and there are few big law jobs in san antonio.
Please don't quote!
- Ronan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
You should retake then...try to get NU with a big scholly. It's within reach.
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- Posts: 1986
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
No your COA isn't zero. You just won't have loans. Any money you have to pay (that isn't covered by scholarship) counts towards your Cost to Attend the school. That's what Cost of Attendance means.RamTitan wrote:My savings combined with the given scholarships would make my COA zero.Clemenceau wrote:Well, having savings with which to finance law school doesn't make COA zero.
I think if you really want biglaw then it's worth retaking. I had pretty much your exact numbers, retook and improved my score. Ended up with a bunch of acceptances from CCN down, and scholarship offers just about everywhere ranging from 60k-105k. Pretty happy about that retake.
I am extremely tempted to retake after that practice test. Granted, it was a retake, but I hadn't seen that test in 6 months so...
I had no debt when I graduated but I used family money for tuition that wasn't covered by scholarship. The money I spent is my cost of attendance. Law school wasn't free I just had to spend money that had been put aside and saved for my education. (Also tuition was lower then and I lived at home.)
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Ahhh my bad! WashU would be about $55,000 cheaper than Texas.Npret wrote:No your COA isn't zero. You just won't have loans. Any money you have to pay (that isn't covered by scholarship) counts towards your Cost to Attend the school. That's what Cost of Attendance means.RamTitan wrote:My savings combined with the given scholarships would make my COA zero.Clemenceau wrote:Well, having savings with which to finance law school doesn't make COA zero.
I think if you really want biglaw then it's worth retaking. I had pretty much your exact numbers, retook and improved my score. Ended up with a bunch of acceptances from CCN down, and scholarship offers just about everywhere ranging from 60k-105k. Pretty happy about that retake.
I am extremely tempted to retake after that practice test. Granted, it was a retake, but I hadn't seen that test in 6 months so...
I had no debt when I graduated but I used family money for tuition that wasn't covered by scholarship. The money I spent is my cost of attendance. Law school wasn't free I just had to spend money that had been put aside and saved for my education. (Also tuition was lower then and I lived at home.)
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
+1Ronan wrote:You should retake then...try to get NU with a big scholly. It's within reach.
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- floatie
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I'd just caution you to think very carefully about Texas if you choose to go that route. Liking the "idea" of living somewhere and actually living there (possibly for a substantial amount of time) are two very, very different things. I hope you're planning on visiting these places?
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I don't think you'll get nada at NU or Georgetown with those stats, especially with the negotiating leverage you have.
- proteinshake
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
agreed. you're 75th LSAT for NU and your GPA isn't low.Rigo wrote:I don't think you'll get nada at NU or Georgetown with those stats, especially with the negotiating leverage you have.
Isn't Duke your top choice? I would send them a LOCI stating that they are (if they are). I think you have a good chance of coming off the WL with those stats.
- BlendedUnicorn
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I would retake unless you get significant dollars at NU. Worst case scenario is that you don't go to law school for a year, which honestly is a best case scenario.
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- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Completely agree, which is why I'm not super comfortable about going to Texas Law. I'm almost more tempted to visit Dallas or Houston since in all likelihood that's where I'd end up living if I graduated from Texas Law.floatie wrote:I'd just caution you to think very carefully about Texas if you choose to go that route. Liking the "idea" of living somewhere and actually living there (possibly for a substantial amount of time) are two very, very different things. I hope you're planning on visiting these places?
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Awesome, that's great to hear! I definitely hope so....Rigo wrote:I don't think you'll get nada at NU or Georgetown with those stats, especially with the negotiating leverage you have.
Have a friend with a 3.85 and a 169 get nothing from Gtown though. Maybe they just didn't think she'd go there in the first place?
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I just want to be able to afford to attend the best school I get into (so what everyone else wants I guess lol).proteinshake wrote:agreed. you're 75th LSAT for NU and your GPA isn't low.Rigo wrote:I don't think you'll get nada at NU or Georgetown with those stats, especially with the negotiating leverage you have.
Isn't Duke your top choice? I would send them a LOCI stating that they are (if they are). I think you have a good chance of coming off the WL with those stats.
But yes, I have sent a few LOCIs.
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Definitely thinking more and more about this. If admissions officers are reading this, they can save me a lot of anguish and just increase my scholarshipHuntedUnicorn wrote:I would retake unless you get significant dollars at NU. Worst case scenario is that you don't go to law school for a year, which honestly is a best case scenario.

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- PrezRand
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I feel like this decision would be a lot easier if you decide where you want to work.
- lymenheimer
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
And if you don't know, then you shouldn't make law school that adventure. Move around a bit before you decide to go. There are plenty of 30k-40k jobs for recent grads in many cities. Slum it if you need to. Then you'll have a better idea of goals- geographic and otherwise.PrezRand wrote:I feel like this decision would be a lot easier if you decide where you want to work.
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
I agree. Move to Houston or whatever for a year and retake.lymenheimer wrote:And if you don't know, then you shouldn't make law school that adventure. Move around a bit before you decide to go. There are plenty of 30k-40k jobs for recent grads in many cities. Slum it if you need to. Then you'll have a better idea of goals- geographic and otherwise.PrezRand wrote:I feel like this decision would be a lot easier if you decide where you want to work.
If you go the UT then the only realistic markets are Houston and Dallas, especially for big law. San Antonio doesn't really have a legal market and I would proceed as if Austin doesn't either. Also am I reading between the lines here that you don't drive? If so I'd probably avoid the state of Texas altogether. You could make it work without driving but that's an uphill battle IMO.
- RamTitan
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Re: Take the money, prestige, or retake?
Part of the reason why I'd like to go to a t-13 is so that way I won't have to be locked in geographicallylymenheimer wrote:And if you don't know, then you shouldn't make law school that adventure. Move around a bit before you decide to go. There are plenty of 30k-40k jobs for recent grads in many cities. Slum it if you need to. Then you'll have a better idea of goals- geographic and otherwise.PrezRand wrote:I feel like this decision would be a lot easier if you decide where you want to work.

I think right now, my preference is live in a big city with a great metro system while having the ability to go back home if need be. I do like the desert and southwest US a lot, but it doesn't seem like there are schools which place there that would also allow me the option of going back home.
Last edited by RamTitan on Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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