Full @ Vandy vs 2/3rds @ Mich vs 1/3rd @ UVA vs Wait Forum

[Future Ex-Engineer]

Eta: A JD is really a sure fire path to becoming a field agent? That's surprising.

To be fair, there are no sure fire paths to agent, but this is one of the best chance routes.

[Future Ex-Engineer]

Can you just apply to the FBI now with a masters degree?

Unfortunately no. The applications process for the job I want is gated behind two things currently. 1) I do not have the full length of work experience required (would plan on clerking for a year after law school, and the time accrued from that would push me past the work experience requirement), and 2) you can't just straight up 'apply' - you have to put your name in a huge 'talent pool' of sorts, where you rate yourself on a whole host of different skills/accomplishments/capabilities. If you pass the initial numbers screening from that, then you might be invited to start the application/interview process. With *just* a tech/engineering background, it is highly unlikely to pass the initial screening, but with a dual background, it becomes much more doable.

[nyu2019maybeplease]

I love Michigan and it seems like the best of the options you've listed (Vandy makes sense too), but I would not pass up the chance to travel if you really have the opportunity and could retake.

Best of luck.

[ponderingmeerkat]

It's refreshing to see someone who has great options and clearly understands the pros/cons of those options. Great thread OP!

I'd choose either Vandy or Michigan. Both are defensible options that'll give you a solid look at your preferred outcomes. I guess if it were me, I'd go Michigan just because everyone's met people who think they know what they want when they go to law school but those interests change once in. You're older and "know thyself" better I gather, but it's still possible you might find some interests during law school you hadn't considered before. Michigan would give you the option to keep more doors open.

All that said, if someone wanted to champion Vandy, I total understand that too. Good luck!

[Npret]

Can you just apply to the FBI now with a masters degree?

Unfortunately no. The applications process for the job I want is gated behind two things currently. 1) I do not have the full length of work experience required (would plan on clerking for a year after law school, and the time accrued from that would push me past the work experience requirement), and 2) you can't just straight up 'apply' - you have to put your name in a huge 'talent pool' of sorts, where you rate yourself on a whole host of different skills/accomplishments/capabilities. If you pass the initial numbers screening from that, then you might be invited to start the application/interview process. With *just* a tech/engineering background, it is highly unlikely to pass the initial screening, but with a dual background, it becomes much more doable.

The time required isn't 2 years with a masters?

If clerking is your goal you should go to Michigan I guess. Though I would retake if you think you can get more options or more money or both.

Did you mention your plan to clerk in the first post because I don't remember it. Could have misread though.

[Future Ex-Engineer]

It's refreshing to see someone who has great options and clearly understands the pros/cons of those options. Great thread OP!

I'd choose either Vandy or Michigan. Both are defensible options that'll give you a solid look at your preferred outcomes. I guess if it were me, I'd go Michigan just because everyone's met people who think they know what they want when they go to law school but those interests change once in. You're older and "know thyself" better I gather, but it's still possible you might find some interests during law school you hadn't considered before. Michigan would give you the option to keep more doors open.

All that said, if someone wanted to champion Vandy, I total understand that too. Good luck!

The bolded is precisely why I'm having such a difficult time with this - the extra portability from a top 10 seems pretty desirable, when the odds are good that I might change my goals once in law school. With that in mind though, I'm sure I can do 170+ on the LSAT, and that would all but guarantee me a full at a T10

[Future Ex-Engineer]

The time required isn't 2 years with a masters?

If clerking is your goal you should go to Michigan I guess. Though I would retake if you think you can get more options or more money or both.

It is 2 years + advanced degree (mine counts), but I don't have the full two years post masters graduation. Unfortunately they don't count full time summer work as part of your time. Technically I would have the full 2 years if I waited and didn't travel, but I still don't like my odds of passing the initial screening with just my tech background.

[Po$eidon]

I don't think retake. Opportunity cost is a real thing and you have 2 good offers currently (Vandy and Mich). Choose one and go.

[Nebby]

Vandy

[Rigo]

Vandy

Yeah I'm strongly on board with Vandy now.
It seems like you just need to check a box and Vandy (for free!) is a pretty strong credential.
If you change your mind, it's not like Vandy grads are a bunch of ambulance chasers. I think the difference between Mich and Vandy in percentage of grads going to prestigious jobs will be negligible* this year.

*michigan posted employment data minutes after I posted. The difference between biglaw+fedclerk for Vandy v. Michigan is about 10% favoring Michigan.

I'd still choose Vandy though.

[existentialcrisis]

I would do Vandy or retake.

I'd also like to throw out, although not particularly meanif to this post, that I've seen "T10" thrown out a lot lately and I don't really think that's a meaningful or helpful distinction.

[grades??]

I would do Vandy or retake.

I'd also like to throw out, although not particularly meanif to this post, that I've seen "T10" thrown out a lot lately and I don't really think that's a meaningful or helpful distinction.

I think the t10 distinction is actually pretty real now with the current data. the t10 all have 70% or higher BL+FC. T11-20 seems to be filled with the 40-60%. That is a pretty big distinction actually.

[Rigo]

I would do Vandy or retake.
I'd also like to throw out, although not particularly meanif to this post, that I've seen "T10" thrown out a lot lately and I don't really think that's a meaningful or helpful distinction.

I think the t10 distinction is actually pretty real now with the current data. the t10 all have 70% or higher BL+FC. T11-20 seems to be filled with the 40-60%. That is a pretty big distinction actually.

Cornell tho

[existentialcrisis]

I would do Vandy or retake.

I'd also like to throw out, although not particularly meanif to this post, that I've seen "T10" thrown out a lot lately and I don't really think that's a meaningful or helpful distinction.

I think the t10 distinction is actually pretty real now with the current data. the t10 all have 70% or higher BL+FC. T11-20 seems to be filled with the 40-60%. That is a pretty big distinction actually.

There is so much noise in one year's statistic though. Historical trends are what matter, also it especially makes no sense because "the top 10" changes all the time in the USNWR rankings. These schools are all peers.

[Npret]

I wouldn't count on one year of increased biglaw hiring that raises employment figures to continue. Firms could easily scale back if they find these classes are too big. Or they could stay at pre employment numbers. We have to wait and see how OCI goes this year.

I would stay and get more job experience for OCI down the road and get retake for better schools or money.

But I'm cautious and maybe that is not how a FBI field agent thinks

[Future Ex-Engineer]

I wouldn't count on one year of increased biglaw hiring that raises employment figures to continue. Firms could easily scale back if they find these classes are too big. Or they could stay at pre employment numbers. We have to wait and see how OCI goes this year.

I would stay and get more job experience for OCI down the road and get retake for better schools or money.

But I'm cautious and maybe that is not how a FBI field agent thinks

Haha, I'm pretty risk/debt-averse, hence why I'm considering the wait/retake in the first place. The nice thing is I have verbal confirmation from deans at multiple schools that even if I don't score better on June/September, they won't look at me any worse than they did this cycle - so, with that in mind, it seems like a pretty 'safe' option to wait. The only downside here being the opportunity cost of waiting a year to get started on what I think I really want to do with life.

Is that worth a potential HYS acceptance or 120k+ in extra scholarship money? Given my current salary, I think the wait is worth it, and that's why I'm pretty sold on option 4.

Pretty pleased to see that there isn't a major joint consensus though - looks like a number of people all like the vandy/mich/wait options.