Apply Full or Part Time Forum

[drmguy]

I was wondering if I should apply part or full time to schools. I know I have a greater chance applying part time but I would much rather do full. If I apply as full will they automatically offer part-time if I am ineligible for full?

Is there some way to get around this?

[bk1]

Numbers?

[drmguy]

Borderline for most of the schools.

[bk1]

Borderline for most of the schools.

It would be more helpful with your exact numbers and the school you are referring to.

[drmguy]

Well what I am not wondering specific chances. I just want to know if I apply full time and get rejected can I appeal for part time. If so would that be less likely than getting accepted part time from the get go.

[txadv11]

I'd redirect you to think about money. Part time (generally) offers less money than full time programs. You are going to be paying for at least an extra year of living expenses (and in a sense would have one less year of income, assuming you don't work). Don't forget many loans still earn interest while you are in school.

If I apply as full will they automatically offer part-time if I am ineligible for full?

Depends on the school... most of the schools that I applied to had either separate applications OR you had to check ONE box --either full, part, or alternate program (example: "sunset")
I believe one out of around the 25ish that I applied to had a check-box for, "If I'm not admitted to full time, please reconsider me for part time"

[CanadianWolf]

@texadv11: Could you identify the law school which offers consideration for part-time if not admitted to the full-time program?

[txadv11]

Sure, IUPUI (Indiana University Indianapolis), basically Purdue law (without actually being purdue law lol)

and again, that wasn't the normal procedure, you'd have to check a box to indicate you wanted to go that route if things didn't workout for FT.

[nygrrrl]

Well what I am not wondering specific chances. I just want to know if I apply full time and get rejected can I appeal for part time. If so would that be less likely than getting accepted part time from the get go.

There is no general rule. It depends on the school, your numbers, many factors.

[LSATclincher]

I still think a part-time program with in-state tuition is the way to go. You're looking at 4yrs at a rate of say, 17-20K per year. Assuming you can get a semi-decent entry level paralegal job paying 35K, that should cover your living expenses and allow you some money for savings. After your time in school is up, you have the possibility of your firm retaining you as an attorney. Or, you'll be applying for attorney positions with 4 full years of work experience vs. your peers who generally only have a few internships or clinics.

[bk1]

I still think a part-time program with in-state tuition is the way to go. You're looking at 4yrs at a rate of say, 17-20K per year. Assuming you can get a semi-decent entry level paralegal job paying 35K, that should cover your living expenses and allow you some money for savings. After your time in school is up, you have the possibility of your firm retaining you as an attorney. Or, you'll be applying for attorney positions with 4 full years of work experience vs. your peers who generally only have a few internships or clinics.

Yes but you have to choose a part time program which are fairly rare and at not very prestigious schools. You have 4 years of paralegaling experience which may jive with employers but they may also not see as that great a plus, which I'm sure many part time law students also already have. Plus there is no guarantee that your firm, if you get a job as a paralegal, would be willing to hire you on as attorney.

Basically, if you can't get anywhere better then I guess this isn't a bad idea. For part time programs, the non-state schools (American, NYLS, Loyola, etc) are still horrifyingly expensive and the state schools are rare (Rutgers, UNLV, UMD, etc). I guess if you want to work in New Jersey, Nevada, or Maryland then sure, but that is a very small set of the applicant pool who wants to work there.