ED Question Forum

[Nailjohnj]

I have asked this question before in a different forum, but I didn't get any responses so I'll try it here. I am a splitter at 2.88/165 and I am sending out my apps. I am thinking about EDing to George Mason for both FT & PT, I love the idea of a econ/ law focus, I am right leaning, and I want to practice in the SE. With my numbers I won't have a shot at a scholly and might not have a shot at all without EDing, so will it be worth the sticker out of state that I'll get if I get accepted binding? Or should I just regular decision and go from there? Also, is the PT decision binding if I don't get accepted FT?

Thanks

[IAFG]

SE; don't suppose you qualify for in-state tuition at, say, UGA? or another state school in the south?

[Nailjohnj]

My in-state is SC, which means USC if I want to go anywhere in-state. While I will apply, I don't want to hitch my horse to that wagon just yet.

[IAFG]

i don't think GMU's placement power is worth the extra $16k in tuition over south carolina law in-state, frankly.

[Nailjohnj]

I don't know if USC places well outside of the state, and while I love living here in Charleston, I'm not sure I will be here for the rest of my career. Maybe to come back later on to eventually retire here, but that is quite a ways away. Can anyone speak to USC placement?

Irregardless, does that mean you are saying not to ED George Mason so that I can potentially go elsewhere if I'm forced to pay sticker?

[IAFG]

I don't know if USC places well outside of the state, and while I love living here in Charleston, I'm not sure I will be here for the rest of my career. Maybe to come back later on to eventually retire here, but that is quite a ways away. Can anyone speak to USC placement?

Irregardless, does that mean you are saying not to ED George Mason so that I can potentially go elsewhere if I'm forced to pay sticker?

if you ED you will be paying sticker and GMU is not worth sticker. if you want to practice in a secondary market, i am not going to say you should absolutely not go to law school, because you could possibly go to a school that places regionally. you are outside the territory of schools where it makes sense to go to the more "prestigious" school though. you need to pick a market and go to the law school that places well there. if you don't know where you want to live, get a job and figure it out. with your numbers, you would be getting into a school with reach.

[Nailjohnj]

Right, I'm looking now in the SE with schools like Wake, GMU, and UGA as my reach schools. I really like Wake and it is definitely my first option bc is places well in NC, SC, & GA and is a seemingly well-respected name brand in other regions. I like GMU bc I love the DC area and think I would enjoy a career there. Georgia would be my number 1, but I am pretty sure I have no chance there. I would absolutely love living in Athens and could move throughout the region after school.

Should I just not ED and see how the cycle turns out? Is an ED to a second or third option a dumb move?

[IAFG]

I guess I just don't think you should go to a "reach" school because they don't justify the debt load you'd have to take on at out-of-state sticker. UGA at in-state, GMU in-state, both not terrible deals, but limit you in terms of geography. This is all assuming you don't have debt from UG though.

[Jack Smirks]

Is an ED to a second or third option a dumb move?

I definitely think it is. I wouldn't ED at a school unless you're 100% sure you would be happy with attending there (at sticker) over the other schools you applied to. Personally, I think EDing to a school outside of the T14 is a dumb idea. With your numbers I would take the cheapest/best scholarship at a school with strong regional appeal in a market you want to work in.

[Nailjohnj]

Thankfully, I am debt free from undergrad and have a good amount of savings (almost a full year tuition at GMU) to help me survive through law school. So, if I'm hearing you right, getting stuck out of state sticker isn't worth the difference in placement between going to a tier III school like USC in-state (probably with some scholly too) and tier II/ boarder line I schools like GMU or UGA. This sounds like it is translating to a do not ED at GMU response, if we are bringing it back to my original question. Is this an accurate representation of your argument, IAFG?

Also, you mentioned UGA and GMU, what about reaching with Wake? At what point does a reach school become worth the added cost of attendence over a lower ranked one?

[IAFG]

You are right that I don't think you should ED. anywhere.

I think you should spend a little time exploring the sorts of legal jobs you'd like to do, how readily available they are in the market you want to work in, who is getting hired for that job and from what schools, and what they pay. oh, and figure out how much your monthly loan payment will be at various tuition price points, then make the most rational choice. More clearly defined goals and research should guide your school selection, not prestige or rankings.

[Nailjohnj]

Great answer. I guess if I'm writing in my PS that I'm an logical person that I should really put that to use here. This is by far the best advice that I have gotten on this site, thanks.