Hofstra v. New York Law Forum

[senunit]

Hi all, this has been a pretty tough cycle for myself as I've hit an enormous amount of wait lists. Although, I intend to wait them out and hope for the best, I am approaching some deposit deadlines and need some assistance as I dont want to pay for both and have already covered that of Hofstra.

Before anything, Id like to kindly ask those only with insightful answers to assist me with this question. I know the issues that normally arise when speaking about the lower end NY schools, but that happens to be the situation I am in for a variety of reasons. I don't have an option to retake the LSAT for personal reasons and if I don't get in off the wait lists at higher ranked schools, Ill be attending one of these.

So please help ASAP:

Hofstra w/ 5k (top 40% requirement)
or
New York Law w/ 15K (3.25 GPA for 15K, 3.1 for 10K, 3.0 for 5K)

Please dont incorporate cost of living as I am from NY and thankfully have housing and COL taken care of.

Thank you all in advance!

[270910]

Career goals?

[senunit]

Well I definitely would like to get into the private sector as a graduate. I understand that a nice paying job in this field would require either a transfer and/or a top 5-10% GPA (both of which are hard to attain and bank on) However, I'll be going into LS with that mindset and hopefully things start rolling my way. Im a very good test taker and student, just can't really master the standardized test format (which explains why I am in this predicament.) To put it into perspective my UGPA was 3.65 and my major GPA was 3.95.

I guess what this all really comes down to me is is the 10K difference justifiable when going to a school like Hofstra which is T2 (#86) v. a T3 school like NYLS that has never even cracked the top 100. Also, NYLS' tuition is around 3K more, so this is really only a difference of roughly 7K in tuition costs. On the other hand, one school is in Manhattan and the other is in LI (which I don't know will make any difference in the long run.)

I don't know how my cycle will end up, I don't know where I'll finish, but I guess what I'm really looking for is an answer to the question in the preceding paragraph to help me get by in the moment.

I hope I've explained my situation as best as I can in order for you to be able to assist me as best as you can. Again, any help is much appreciated.

[rgucsb]

go to nyls, i visited a couple months ago and the location is amazing. you scholarship will hopefully motivate you to do well.

[senunit]

go to nyls, i visited a couple months ago and the location is amazing. you scholarship will hopefully motivate you to do well.

Im naturally motivated going into LS, especially because of my sub par LSAT score. But, what am I looking at is the job potential from either school. Will the ranking difference make up for the 7K lost with Hofstra, or is the location coupled with a larger scholarship the reason why NYLS is the better option here.

Also, based on the stipulations, what looks like the more promising offer?

[KamaalTheAbstract]

Hi all, this has been a pretty tough cycle for myself as I've hit an enormous amount of wait lists. Although, I intend to wait them out and hope for the best, I am approaching some deposit deadlines and need some assistance as I dont want to pay for both and have already covered that of Hofstra.

Before anything, Id like to kindly ask those only with insightful answers to assist me with this question. I know the issues that normally arise when speaking about the lower end NY schools, but that happens to be the situation I am in for a variety of reasons. I don't have an option to retake the LSAT for personal reasons and if I don't get in off the wait lists at higher ranked schools, Ill be attending one of these.

So please help ASAP:

Hofstra w/ 5k (top 40% requirement)
or
New York Law w/ 15K (3.25 GPA for 15K, 3.1 for 10K, 3.0 for 5K)

Please dont incorporate cost of living as I am from NY and thankfully have housing and COL taken care of.

Thank you all in advance!

There are many threads asking this same question. You're going to get the same response because when choosing between these schools the only thing that really matters is how much debt you're going to be in when you graduate. You should look into what a 3.25 really means at NYLS. Its pretty high up in class rank. Most will advise you not to go to either and that is the probably the best advice you're going to get. With that said, i've heard fewer bad things about Hofstra. Again, it was probably never a good idea to go to either of these schools and even less so with the economy. Good luck.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Im naturally motivated going into LS, especially because of my sub par LSAT score.

I suggest you use that motivation to re-take the LSAT, my friend.

[senunit]

Im naturally motivated going into LS, especially because of my sub par LSAT score.

I suggest you use that motivation to re-take the LSAT, my friend.

It'd be helpful if you read my original post first before answering. I specifically wrote that due to personal reasons, I don't have that option. Being that I want to go to law school and become a lawyer, as I wait for my cycle to conclude I'd like to know where to best pay the deposit should enrollment be necessary in order to be able to go to law school.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Im naturally motivated going into LS, especially because of my sub par LSAT score.

I suggest you use that motivation to re-take the LSAT, my friend.

It'd be helpful if you read my original post first before answering. I specifically wrote that due to personal reasons, I don't have that option. Being that I want to go to law school and become a lawyer, as I wait for my cycle to conclude I'd like to know where to best pay the deposit should enrollment be necessary in order to be able to go to law school.

What is this "reading the original post" thing you speak of?

[Columbia Law]

The only good thing about NYLS is that if you go move to a small town in the middle of nowhere and are looking for a job they might confuse it for New York University.

[vanwinkle]

It'd be helpful if you read my original post first before answering. I specifically wrote that due to personal reasons, I don't have that option. Being that I want to go to law school and become a lawyer, as I wait for my cycle to conclude I'd like to know where to best pay the deposit should enrollment be necessary in order to be able to go to law school.

If you want to go to law school, just pick one of these, it doesn't matter which. Going to the one that is cheaper is the wiser option if this is all you want. Either will satisfy your desire to go to law school equally well.

If you want to become a lawyer, ITE, retaking the LSAT and reapplying is probably the best advice, even if you don't want to hear it. There's no guarantee of employment coming out of either of these schools right now. Job prospects are terribly bad even at better schools right now, especially for the "private sector" work you mentioned wanting. Unless you're planning on working for free, you may not get to be a lawyer after you graduate.

Just citing "personal reasons" isn't compelling to overcome this fact. If you've got time to spend 3 years going to law school in order to change the next 30 years of your life, you should be able to find 1 year in there to retake the LSAT and reapply, especially since it will make those 30+ years much, much better if you succeed.

[senunit]

Im naturally motivated going into LS, especially because of my sub par LSAT score.

I suggest you use that motivation to re-take the LSAT, my friend.

It'd be helpful if you read my original post first before answering. I specifically wrote that due to personal reasons, I don't have that option. Being that I want to go to law school and become a lawyer, as I wait for my cycle to conclude I'd like to know where to best pay the deposit should enrollment be necessary in order to be able to go to law school.

What is this "reading the original post" thing you speak of?

Wow, man. You're really amusing.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Wow, man. You're really amusing.

I actually didn't intend on being a jerk when I entered this thread, and I apologize. I still think you should seriously reconsider. I can't think of any "personal reasons" that wouldn't allow you to wait a year before jumping into a (possibly poor) $100k investment. Again, not trying to be a jerk. Just trying to make you re-think what you're stepping into.

[D. H2Oman]

Wow, man. You're really amusing.

I actually didn't intend on being a jerk when I entered this thread, and I apologize. I still think you should seriously reconsider. I can't think of any "personal reasons" that wouldn't allow you to wait a year before jumping into a (possibly poor) $100k investment. Again, not trying to be a jerk. Just trying to make you re-think what you're stepping into.

On the other hand, I came here to be a jerk.

Retake
Reapply
/thread

[senunit]

It'd be helpful if you read my original post first before answering. I specifically wrote that due to personal reasons, I don't have that option. Being that I want to go to law school and become a lawyer, as I wait for my cycle to conclude I'd like to know where to best pay the deposit should enrollment be necessary in order to be able to go to law school.

If you want to go to law school, just pick one of these, it doesn't matter which. Going to the one that is cheaper is the wiser option if this is all you want. Either will satisfy your desire to go to law school equally well.

If you want to become a lawyer, ITE, retaking the LSAT and reapplying is probably the best advice, even if you don't want to hear it. There's no guarantee of employment coming out of either of these schools right now. Job prospects are terribly bad even at better schools right now, especially for the "private sector" work you mentioned wanting. Unless you're planning on working for free, you may not get to be a lawyer after you graduate.

Just citing "personal reasons" isn't compelling to overcome this fact. If you've got time to spend 3 years going to law school in order to change the next 30 years of your life, you should be able to find 1 year in there to retake the LSAT and reapply, especially since it will make those 30+ years much, much better if you succeed.

I totally understand the rationale behind everything you've said. I thank you for making the effort to explain yourself.

Basically, the situation is that I come from a very conservative family (although I myself am not), and I have already been 1 year removed from undergrad. Over this one year, I've been working as a paralegal and have been dealing with the LSAT and apps. Anyway, long story short, should I take another year off, its a fact that my family would be strongly against it and would force me to ultimately move out and deal with my "decisions" on my own. Sounds weird, but it is the way it is. That being said, I have to tack on rent and COL for the next 3 years in the form of loans. In NY that can easily add up to 60-70K. I am sure I can get a significantly improved score by dedicating a year to studying, but to bank on that is fairly premature as well. So in the interest of saving big money and staying at home, Im willing to if necessary go to one of these schools and hope to do well enough to open more options down the line while getting a year of LS under the belt. I know that is in itself a wild hope as well, but its the lesser of two evils. I understand that my situation is not enviable and on a site labeled "TLS", I dont expect sympathy nor total agreement. But as the situation rests, I am looking to get an answer geared solely in choosing either/or and why.

That being said, I think you've answered my question indirectly in the first paragraph of your response.

Thanks again for the insight.

[senunit]

Wow, man. You're really amusing.

I actually didn't intend on being a jerk when I entered this thread, and I apologize. I still think you should seriously reconsider. I can't think of any "personal reasons" that wouldn't allow you to wait a year before jumping into a (possibly poor) $100k investment. Again, not trying to be a jerk. Just trying to make you re-think what you're stepping into.

It's cool, I almost expected a post, or two, or a hundred with that kind of approach. In all honesty, deep down I do agree and should my situation be a bit different I wouldn't think twice and retake. My grades aren't even as bad as one can assume through this thread, I just feel that a fairly late app tied with a generally tough all-around cycle has gotten me into all these wait lists. Looking at the 2009 class profiles of at least 2 schools I am currently wait listed in, I am at or close to the 75% range in BOTH LSAT and GPA. Just an overall tough situation to be in.

[vanwinkle]

That being said, I think you've answered my question indirectly in the first paragraph of your response.

All I really strive for is to make sure people are making their own informed decision. The odds are stacked against you, but I wish you luck regardless.

Also, if you're a paralegal, that means you're working for a legal agency of some sort. You might be able to use personal connections to get a job there once you graduate, so make sure you leave on friendly terms and figure out who to maintain contact with there. Try asking them which they think would be better for you, if you have the chance.

[senunit]

That being said, I think you've answered my question indirectly in the first paragraph of your response.

All I really strive for is to make sure people are making their own informed decision. The odds are stacked against you, but I wish you luck regardless.

Also, if you're a paralegal, that means you're working for a legal agency of some sort. You might be able to use personal connections to get a job there once you graduate, so make sure you leave on friendly terms and figure out who to maintain contact with there. Try asking them which they think would be better for you, if you have the chance.

Thanks a lot for the help. It's going to be one heck of a tough decision, if I don't find my way off the other wait lists in a positive way that is.