Top Law Schools

I need some advice...

My numbers aren't great (156, 3.8 GPA), but I got a full ride offer from Charlotte School of Law (I realize its unranked, but my parents in Charlotte so living and school would be covered) and I am still waiting to hear back on most of my other applications. Should I even be considering a T4 school? I did receive a 30,000 scholly from South Carolina as well (T3). I have applications out at T2 and T1 schools no Top14. The seat deposit for Charlotte is due next week and I doubt I will hear back by all of the other schools by then. So should I pay the deposit and accept a debt free legal education or pass on it?

Any advice is appreciated, but I do not want to retake and wait to go to law school, I realize I should've taken the LSAT again and increased my score but I am determined to enroll this fall.

Thanks!

Please, for the love of God, wait and retake! Avoid Charlotte at all costs. First, they probably have harsh stipulations to retain the scholarship. It's a buyer's market right now, and you could get a full-ride to a much better school just by raising your LSAT 4-5 points. If you hit a 156, you'd definitely be able to crack into the low or mid 160s with a few more months practice. Try to retake in June or October, and you'll have much better offers coming in next year. Don't let that GPA go to waste.

What are your career aspirations? I think only 38% of Charlotte graduates became lawyers last year. So probably don't consider going there unless you have something like strong connections to a family-owned/small firm going for you. You should try negotiating with South Carolina to get a scholarship increase to full tuition. That at least gives you a solid shot at being a lawyer.

With your GPA, you really should be shooting for Duke or at least UNC if you want to stay within a few hours of home. 10 LSAT points and you'd be in at UNC with a good shot at Duke. So try dropping your retake disclaimer because that's the only great advice we have for you here other than just don't go to law school.

Also, you can email and ask for extensions on your deadline deposits so you can field all your offers before jumping into a commitment. You can also deposit while you continue waiting and then withdraw your deposit when a better option presents itself or when you come around to the idea that going to law school this year is probably a bad idea for you.

So going to school debt free at Charlotte isn't worth it to everyone here?

Your GPA is too high.

do not make that mistake. Retake

Knp wrote:So going to school debt free at Charlotte isn't worth it to everyone here?

NO. Avoid this school at all costs.

Knp wrote:So going to school debt free at Charlotte isn't worth it to everyone here?

Not to anyone, ever.

Knp wrote:So going to school debt free at Charlotte isn't worth it to everyone here?

Probably only worth it in one scenario. If you have a family member/friend who owns/works in a small law firm who is GUARANTEED to hire you regardless of grades or where you went to school. If that's the ONLY thing you want to do then it could be worth it.

If you need to actually search for a job or have any kind of aspirations beyond what's listed above then it's not worth it. Especially with a 3.8 GPA. Raise your LSAT and you could get into some amazing schools.

Charlotte law is a trap

snagglepuss wrote:What are your career aspirations? I think only 38% of Charlotte graduates became lawyers last year. So probably don't consider going there unless you have something like strong connections to a family-owned/small firm going for you. You should try negotiating with South Carolina to get a scholarship increase to full tuition. That at least gives you a solid shot at being a lawyer.

With your GPA, you really should be shooting for Duke or at least UNC if you want to stay within a few hours of home. 10 LSAT points and you'd be in at UNC with a good shot at Duke. So try dropping your retake disclaimer because that's the only great advice we have for you here other than just don't go to law school.

Also, you can email and ask for extensions on your deadline deposits so you can field all your offers before jumping into a commitment. You can also deposit while you continue waiting and then withdraw your deposit when a better option presents itself or when you come around to the idea that going to law school this year is probably a bad idea for you.

I do have family firm ties to lawyers, but it has never been my goal to work with/for them. I will definitely ask for deposit extensions. Duke was actually my top choice but after getting my score i didn't even apply, still waiting to hear on UNC. I don't know that I can negotiation my scholarship with SC without any comparable offers, but it certainly won't hurt to try.

I would consider retaking in June/October, but then I need to do something with myself for an entire year and then reapply. I fear it would be a waste if my score doesn't increase dramatically.

Knp wrote:

snagglepuss wrote:What are your career aspirations? I think only 38% of Charlotte graduates became lawyers last year. So probably don't consider going there unless you have something like strong connections to a family-owned/small firm going for you. You should try negotiating with South Carolina to get a scholarship increase to full tuition. That at least gives you a solid shot at being a lawyer.

With your GPA, you really should be shooting for Duke or at least UNC if you want to stay within a few hours of home. 10 LSAT points and you'd be in at UNC with a good shot at Duke. So try dropping your retake disclaimer because that's the only great advice we have for you here other than just don't go to law school.

Also, you can email and ask for extensions on your deadline deposits so you can field all your offers before jumping into a commitment. You can also deposit while you continue waiting and then withdraw your deposit when a better option presents itself or when you come around to the idea that going to law school this year is probably a bad idea for you.

I do have family firm ties to lawyers, but it has never been my goal to work with/for them. I will definitely ask for deposit extensions. Duke was actually my top choice but after getting my score i didn't even apply, still waiting to hear on UNC. I don't know that I can negotiation my scholarship with SC without any comparable offers, but it certainly won't hurt to try.

I would consider retaking in June/October, but then I need to do something with myself for an entire year and then reapply. I fear it would be a waste if my score doesn't increase dramatically.

Definitely don't advise going then. Even if you do nothing for a year to raise your score it'd be better than mediocre (aka non-existent) job prospects, especially if you want to do something with your life. Study hard and it's more than possible.

If I get into my T1/2/3 schools should I still retake?

.

Knp wrote:If I get into my T1/2/3 schools should I still retake?

Yes. If you get in to a T1 you will certainly be paying for it.

Knp wrote:If I get into my T1/2/3 schools should I still retake?

You're putting too much emphasis on this whole "Tier 1/2/3" nonsense. Schools basically fall into the category of T14 (for NC that would be Duke) decent regionals (UNC and Wake) and then shit (Charlotte, NCCU, Elon or whatever). Look at LST for employment rates, not US News to see what "tier" they've arbitrarily placed a school.

Retake regardless. Even if you got into UNC or Wake, you shouldn't pay sticker there.

Knp wrote:If I get into my T1/2/3 schools should I still retake?

Yes

you are leaving way too much on the table with a 156

Wish I would've asked for advice when I got my score instead of wasting the past 6 months.

KNP,

Update this thread when you hear more from the higher ranked schools, but I'd advise exploring job and internship options at the same time. Securing something for a year with a 3.8 GPA shouldn't be terribly hard. A great part of taking a year off (aside from the obvious opportunity to retake and apply early to better options) is you can save money that will allow you a more comfortable standard of living in law school, get valuable experience for your resume/law school interviews, and take time to affirm that law school is the right choice for you instead of a rushed one.

A lot of us are barking "retake" at you, but know we're all just hoping you make a wise decisions and seek the best and most economical law school option for attaining your career goals. Your receptivity to the advice here is admirable. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Knp wrote:Wish I would've asked for advice when I got my score instead of wasting the past 6 months.

How old are you? Are you just graduating from college? If so, do not buy into the idea that you MUST go straight from undergrad to law school. In fact, it's better if you don't. Taking a year off to work and retake the LSAT is not going to hurt you in any way, and will potentially save you an assload of money while simultaneously giving you much better career prospects.

I tutored the LSAT off and on before law school. I saw plenty of 15x people retake with tremendous success. It pretty much transforms your career and quality of life.

I will update you all as I hear back from schools, part of the reason it could be taking so long is my mediocre LSAT score paired with my GPA, and underrepresented minority status.

I graduate from South Carolina undergrad in May and my plan was to attend law school in the fall, but now I guess there are more options for me before law school. I do see the value in a legal internship before legal education, but haven't been able to land one (i have been trying to get one for this summer).

I will wait to withdraw my apps, I still have faith in my GPA, LORs and PS. I may just surprise you all (yay for dropping LSAT medians)

banjo wrote:I tutored the LSAT off and on before law school. I saw plenty of 15x people retake with tremendous success. It pretty much transforms your career and quality of life.

Did you see people have the same or a drop in score? Does that tend to hurt them drastically?

Knp wrote:
I will wait to withdraw my apps, I still have faith in my GPA, LORs and PS. I may just surprise you all (yay for dropping LSAT medians)

Keep in mind, you should still retake and go next year. Your GPA is rock solid. The LSAT is the only thing holding you back.

Even if you get in somewhere decent, like UNC, wouldn't you rather wait for a year and go with a fat scholarship, with the added bonus of some professional experience to put on your resume? A 156 isn't a bad score, overall. It shows you at least understand the basic concepts. With some proper studying and drilling, you could really transform your professional life. Don't go now. Don't be impatient. Waiting and putting yourself in a better position with less debt is the mature, responsible thing to do.

Knp wrote:I will update you all as I hear back from schools, part of the reason it could be taking so long is my mediocre LSAT score paired with my GPA, and underrepresented minority status.

I graduate from South Carolina undergrad in May and my plan was to attend law school in the fall, but now I guess there are more options for me before law school. I do see the value in a legal internship before legal education, but haven't been able to land one (i have been trying to get one for this summer).

I will wait to withdraw my apps, I still have faith in my GPA, LORs and PS. I may just surprise you all (yay for dropping LSAT medians)

WOAH! You didn't even say that you were a URM. Seriously man, retake is the only option here. With your GPA and URM status, if you get into the mid-160s (which you should definitely be able to pull off, just work at it) there are literally no schools that aren't options and you will certainly get money at some T14s. Please don't waste all that just for one year, it's not worth it