Top Law Schools

(if this is in the wrong forum, please move it.)

My status as an extreme splitter means that all conventional wisdom was thrown out the window during my cycle.

I was accepted at W&L in March, and they offered 5K/year about a week later. It was by far my best option at the time, and I paid the 4/15 deposit. As June grew closer, I withdrew from a few 2/3/4 tiers and took myself off other T25 waiting lists. I wrote LOCI to SMU and NWestern, both of whom kept me on the waiting list.

A week or so later, SMU called and offered me a place, PLUS 20K/year. Because I would be absolutely happy living/practicing in Dallas and would much rather be there than in VA, I accepted it. I then withdrew from W&L, thanked them for their consideration and offer. A few days later, they emailed back asking what it might take if I had withdrawn for financial reasons. I emailed them back thanking them again for their offer and consideration, but that the other offer was such that I probably wouldn't go to W&L for any reason. Got an email back offering 30K/year at W&L. That's an incredibly hard offer to turn down, no matter how much I'd rather live in Dallas. A T25 school for 90K off the sticker price?

I have considered calling SMU just to let them know, but my pre-law advisor said not to do so; it would just piss them off and they might tell me to shove it and take the offer from W&L.

What say you, folks? I would like to decide by tomorrow. I'm going to sleep on it, but I'm after all the input I can get.

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Strange, I couldn't negotiate an extra penny from W&L (I tried both Admissions people) and I had offers from Fordham/BU. I guess I should have just withdrawn and hoped for a better offer haha.

SMU has very good placement in TX biglaw. W&L has a good studying environment and a strong academic program. But I would go with SMU if you don't mind living in TX. If you are interested in W&L mainly for the ranking, that's not a good enough reason to attend W&L over SMU. Outside of the T10/T14, the rankings do not matter as much.

bwv812 wrote:

bigpoppanate wrote: I have considered calling SMU just to let them know, but my pre-law advisor said not to do so; it would just piss them off and they might tell me to shove it and take the offer from W&L.

Call SMU and be tactful. They aren't going to rescind their offer, and they'l probably pony up a few extra bucks. At any rate, it sounds like being in Dallas is worth the 10k price difference (actually, I don't know the tuition/COL, but assuming similar figures for both) to you. Unless you're sure you can do well at W&L, I'm not sure if it has enough national reach if you don't want to be in Va.

that's odd advice from a pre law adviser. I cannot see why they would rescind a acceptance / scholarship offer just because you asked for more.