No debt at UW-Madison or lower T14 at sticker? Forum

[Johann]

Havebt read the whole thread but why go to law school with that gpa. Get a real job.

[northwood]

Will you only have no debt if you go to UW? If so, and if you are happy being admitted to Wisconsin, and don't really care what you end up doing 3 + years from now, go to UW. IF you will have no debt wherever you end up going, or the debt you have is minimal, then go to the best school in the area you want to practice.

[sconnielaw13]

OP might not be far off with top 20% getting big law. Typically close to 30 students are placed into 100+ attorney firms from UW. That is not going to change with the reduction in class size. Therefore, rather than 10% getting 100+, about 20% will get 100+. Also keep in mind that there are mid-size firms in WI that still pay quite well. If OP plans on staying in WI and can come out debt free, I do not think that UW is a bad option. However, if after 1L year OP is at or below median, OP should drop out if OP is dead set on biglaw or something close to biglaw.

[BigZuck]

OP might not be far off with top 20% getting big law. Typically close to 30 students are placed into 100+ attorney firms from UW. That is not going to change with the reduction in class size. Therefore, rather than 10% getting 100+, about 20% will get 100+. Also keep in mind that there are mid-size firms in WI that still pay quite well. If OP plans on staying in WI and can come out debt free, I do not think that UW is a bad option. However, if after 1L year OP is at or below median, OP should drop out if OP is dead set on biglaw or something close to biglaw.

How do you know they won't stick to pre-established cutoffs rather than insta-react to one school's shrinking class size? But supply and demand or something, I dunno maybe you're right. I just don't know how you can say that you definitively know that.

Also, there are like barely any mid-size firms in cities like LA that pay well and hire freshly minted grads, are there actually a lot in WI? Do they hire in meaningful numbers? Can you link us to some firm websites? That would be helpful info for the hivemind to have.

[Total Litigator]

Havebt read the whole thread but why go to law school with that gpa. Get a real job.

Perhaps she majored in basket weaving.

[Colonel_funkadunk]

Havebt read the whole thread but why go to law school with that gpa. Get a real job.

Perhaps she majored in basket weaving.

can still get a good job, the liberal arts card is old hat

[Ron Don Volante]

Havebt read the whole thread but why go to law school with that gpa. Get a real job.

Perhaps she majored in basket weaving.

can still get a good job, the liberal arts card is old hat

Madison though; half the cab drivers have PhDs

[sconnielaw13]

I don't know it definitively. However, I doubt that pre-established cutoffs will change anything. The number of grads being placed into 101+ firms has been relatively consistent (2013=28; 2012=28; 2011=25; 2010=34). The 30 or so students that get 101+ firms are typically in the top 30%. The typical cutoff is around top 30%. The smaller class simply means that more students that get interview will get jobs. Rather than 75 students competing for 30 jobs, there will only be 45 students competing.

Also, WI firms are dominated by UW and Marquette grads. There will always be a certain percentage of the class hired from UW and Marquette.

When I say mid-size I am talking about Dewitt Ross; Davis & Kuelthau; Ruder Ware; Axely; O'Neil Cannon; Boardman; Meissner, Tierney, Fisher & Nichols etc. Those firms, and other similar but smaller firms, are not paying what Foley is, but they are still paying a good wage for Wisconsin.

Ultimately, if the class size at UW stays around 160, then the students in the top 50% should be just fine. I can't say that for sure, but it is a hell of a lot better than 250+ graduates each year.

[Ron Don Volante]

most of those firms hire one fresh associate a year, if that. and, worse, they take several more summers than they hire.

[Octavius]

For those who still care/are curious, here is what I've decided:

I am most likely going to take next year off and study for a re-take. LG was my worst section, and I feel like I can make great improvement. However, I still want to send out apps just to see what the possibilities are (I received fee waivers for all the schools I applied to). I submitted applications to NU, Michigan, Cornell, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Notre Dame. I will study for my re-take over winter break, and will probably sit for the June or September exam.

A retake can only help, and I want to do this the right way. Additionally, taking a year off will allow me to apply next cycle with my senior year grades.

TL;DR instead of going to law school with a 164/3.8, I am going to retake and apply next cycle with (hopefully) a score in the high 160s and a 3.85 GPA.

Thanks for all the feedback/advice, regardless of how you approached giving it. I know TLS means well.

[Ron Don Volante]

Good call. Move downtown, get a job, retake, and enjoy a stress-free year in Madison; there are few better things.

[hollaywood]

Did anyone here apply to UW-Madison ED this year?