SMU or FSU Forum

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doliver2016

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SMU or FSU

Post by doliver2016 » Thu May 27, 2021 2:13 pm

SMU or FSU?

Full price at FSU ( 165k after 3 years ) or SMU with some scholly ( 245 k after 3 years)

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cavalier1138

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Re: SMU or FSU

Post by cavalier1138 » Thu May 27, 2021 4:43 pm

These are regional schools in radically different regions of the country. At the current COA, probably neither, but it's impossible to give more specific guidance without knowing more about what you want out of law school.

So what are your career goals, and where do you want to work? What's your current LSAT/GPA?

crazywafflez

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Re: SMU or FSU

Post by crazywafflez » Fri May 28, 2021 12:07 pm

Like Cav said, this'll depend on where you want to work/live. Both are regional schools and don't place outside their respective states. I'd encourage you to retake the LSAT and reapply- or list out your other options. That's just too steep of a price tag for regional schools in my opinion. FSU and SMU for something around 60-90k total cost of attendance for 3 years is perfectly fine. Getting over 100k debt for schools where starting salary that above that isn't guaranteed is a rough bet. These schools place around 15-30% of their class into biglaw jobs, so it isn't a sure bet, and midlaw doesn't pay nearly the salaries that biglaw does, even in Dallas.
If you want to do public interest type work there may be a different conversation- but if a firm job is your goal (or prestigious govt stuff) you'll need a high caliber of schools or a better scholarship from SMU/FSU to hedge your bets.

CanadianWolf

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Re: SMU or FSU

Post by CanadianWolf » Wed Jun 02, 2021 9:59 am

OP: You have received great advice from the above two posters.

In short, while both are solid regional law schools, both are too expensive.

If you are determined to go to law school, then you need to earn a higher LSAT score in an effort to earn a significant scholarship to lower significantly the total cost of attendance.

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