Texas @ ~Sticker vs. SMU Full Ride Forum

[Marlin88]

If I'm wanting to live in the Dallas area following law school (hopefully doing business/corporate law) what do you think would be the better choice? I haven't heard back from either school yet so the "~sticker vs. full ride" isn't absolute, just a guess based on last year's LSN applicants. My numbers: 168, 4.0, White Male, Non-TX Resident

My dilemma is that I really want to go to a top school, but I don't want to be saddled down with debt for 10+ years after law school. I have no debt from undergrad so I don't really know what it is like to have loads of debt after graduation, but I have heard horror stories about how awful it is paying off student loans. I've talked to some people who have taken out huge loans to go to top schools who say that it was worth it, and others who say that it wasn't worth the money. Can anyone speak to this, maybe from experience paying for undergrad or if there are some post-law school lurkers on here that have experience paying back loans from law school, in hindsight do you think it was a good or bad decision?

Right now I'm leaning towards UT if I'm accepted. Last year most people with 168, 3.8+'s got $21,000 from UT, but that would still mean I'd have to pay $130,000 to go there and because of the budget crisis they are having this year I might not even get any money at all.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[emkay625]

I would choose Texas if it were me.

[IAFG]

If you don't do well at SMU and miss a six figure job, cost of attendance loans alone may well take 10 years to pay off anyway.

[Transferthrowaway]

I hate to ask this, but possibility of a retake?

[Marlin88]

No possibility of a retake, I'm out of the country until after the December LSAT and I have too much going on before the February test and I definitely want to start law school next fall.

[holdencaulfield]

I had almost this exact choice. Went to SMU and loved it.

[johansantana21]

I would choose Texas if it were me.

[FryBreadPower]

I would choose Texas if it were me.

[Gail]

[waits for people to jump in and tell you to retake]

Anyways. You won't be getting a full-ride to SMU, I don't think that SMU really does full-rides. You're a shoe in for $76k though. That's still going to put you in the hole at over 30k a year, however.


And you won't be paying sticker at Texas either. You'll get $7k a year at UT.

Overrall. I say that you can go to UT and feel confident about it.

[decaf735]

Texas!!

[top30man]

I would choose Texas if it were me.

[DoubleChecks]

Could one get in-state tuition at TX after the first year?

[005618502]

Could one get in-state tuition at TX after the first year?

People seem to think you cannot, but yes you can after one year if you go about it correctly.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Could one get in-state tuition at TX after the first year?

People seem to think you cannot, but yes you can after one year if you go about it correctly.

Really? Legislature closed the "buy land" loophole. I'm really not sure if there is another loophole available. (And I say loophole, bc Texas doesn't treat oos students who come to Texas to study as being eligible for later instate rates.)

[005618502]

Could one get in-state tuition at TX after the first year?

People seem to think you cannot, but yes you can after one year if you go about it correctly.

Really? Legislature closed the "buy land" loophole. I'm really not sure if there is another loophole available. (And I say loophole, bc Texas doesn't treat oos students who come to Texas to study as being eligible for later instate rates.)

haha yea there are multiple things that need to be done. Unless something has changed in the last 6 months. If you are interested in knowing PM me. But I would rather not get into detail unless it was for someone oos at Texas

I went to UT as oos (UG) and got in state after 1 year. Also assisted a friend in gaining in state before his 2L (he obtained it, given in state over the summer after his 1L). It took some work and money but he got it

[de5igual]

UT typically couples their scholarship with an in-state waiver, so 21K is really 66K+

[kalvano]

Current SMU student. Happy to provide more in-depth thoughts if desired, but go to Texas.