Would you go to Wake Forest for free? Forum

[jimbojay1990]

-Wake Forest is my top choice. I have some other full scholarships, but the rest are tied with Wake and not significantly statistically better or worse than Wake is on LST.

-The cost of attendance (just living expenses) is probably around $7k per year (conservatively) for a total of $21k. I will be financing all of this with savings and family support. I paid my way through undergrad so they're willing to help me out here. I predict that I won't have any loans.

-I'm from the tristate area. I really liked North Carolina as a state and would like to work in the Research Triangle area after school. I don't have significant, meaningful ties to anywhere.

-I have modest goals. While I'll be shooting for big/midlaw, I'm ok with smaller firms or government work.

3.8X GPA and 165 LSAT. I'm out of retakes, and, unfortunately, this was my highest (scored 165 twice).

[transferror]

Would you go to Wake Forest for free?

Yes

[jimbojay1990]

Would you go to Wake Forest for free?

Yes

I enjoyed your brevity.

[transferror]

Would you go to Wake Forest for free?

Yes

I enjoyed your brevity.

I'm glad

[20170322]

-Wake Forest is my top choice. I have some other full scholarships, but the rest are tied with Wake and not significantly statistically better or worse than Wake is on LST.

-The cost of attendance (just living expenses) is probably around $7k per year (conservatively) for a total of $21k. I will be financing all of this with savings and family support. I paid my way through undergrad so they're willing to help me out here. I predict that I won't have any loans.

-I'm from the tristate area. I really liked North Carolina as a state and would like to work in the Research Triangle area after school. I don't have significant, meaningful ties to anywhere.

-I have modest goals. While I'll be shooting for big/midlaw, I'm ok with smaller firms or government work.

3.8X GPA and 165 LSAT. I'm out of retakes, and, unfortunately, this was my highest (scored 165 twice).

It would probably be helpful to know your alternatives to law. Like, how big your opportunity cost is.

[jimbojay1990]

It would probably be helpful to know your alternatives to law. Like, how big your opportunity cost is.

Not a huge opportunity cost. I don't have a STEM background and the only other thing I'd be doing is small PI or government work. It's not that there aren't other options, just not any that jump out. I'd probably have to work two jobs to be where I'd want.

Edit: I also did an internship at a small firm over a year ago. I enjoyed the type of work and the day to day.

[sublime]

..

[AT9]

Sure, if you have ties to NC and want to work small law there.

I don't know that you need to WANT to do small law in NC, but I'd say you definitely need to be perfectly OK with that result.

OP, I'm doing WF for just about free (so I'd obviously answer yes). What are your other options?

[Moneytrees]

Wake Forest is a good school and going there for free is definitely a solid option. However, are you interested in Biglaw? I was also admitted to Wake Forest on a full ride, and decided to pass up on what was admittedly a great offer because I wanted to have a better chance to go into Biglaw. Unfortunately, Wake Forest just doesn't place that well in that category.

I'm assuming that with a 3.8 and a 165, you were admitted to schools that will give you a much better chance to go into Biglaw than WF. Those schools probably gave you decent scholarships. I personally think that it would be worth it to incur debt in order to have a decent shot at Biglaw (how much debt? I don't know. It depends on the school). Many on these boards are more risk-averse than I am and will disagree me. All in all, I don't really know what your career goals are, so it's tough for me to say what you should do.

tldr; Wake for free is a good option, but if you want go into Biglaw, you might want to incur some debt in order to have a meaningful chance of making that happen.

[Tiago Splitter]

Sounds like you've read around TLS and figured out the buzzwords people expect to see before signing off on anyone going to Wake. Only question I have is how can anyone live off of 21k for three years? Hopefully you have a badass tent.

[northwood]

If I was in your position, and this was my option- and I was okay with the likely job result ( small law), then I would go to Wake Forest. But I would make sure that there was no stipulations to the scholarship first( other than remain in good academic standing).

[jimbojay1990]

My other options for full scholarships were Arizona State, Georgia State, FSU, and Seton Hall. Arizona is the only one on that list I feel I'd actually attend.

For better or worse, I'm extremely debt averse. I visited other schools like William and Mary which would run me about $70k and, while excellent schools and very impressive in their own right, I can't justify such financial burden.

In some way, I'm searching for any evidence that could potentially make Wake Forest not worth attending. This is just so I know I'm making the best and most rational decision out of my current school options.

Sounds like you've read around TLS and figured out the buzzwords people expect to see before signing off on anyone going to Wake. Only question I have is how can anyone live off of 21k for three years? Hopefully you have a badass tent.

It's pretty badass set up right next to a nice berry tree, you'd have to see it. It's like some Into the Wild shit (without the dying).

[northwood]

Where do you want to practice? If its not in any of those states that you have mentioned in your post, then none of those schools are worth going to.

[jimbojay1990]

I'd like to completely relocate to North Carolina. I liked the research triangle area and also how there were multiple cities in the state.

If there were something wrong with going to Wake Forest, even with a full scholarship, I wouldn't mind ending up in Arizona. Living in Arizona would happen if and only if I went to ASU.

[DportIA]

OP I would say do Wake Forest. That's a great price for a decent school and you are okay living in North Carolina. Their % for Biglaw + Fed Clerk is like 19% I think.

I would also like to ask: Have you applied to Illinois? You could probably come up with close to free and have a slightly better chance at BigLaw (albeit in Chicago or St Louis) for the same cost if that is something you are remotely interested in.

[jimbojay1990]

OP I would say do Wake Forest. That's a great price for a decent school and you are okay living in North Carolina. Their % for Biglaw + Fed Clerk is like 19% I think.

I would also like to ask: Have you applied to Illinois? You could probably come up with close to free and have a slightly better chance at BigLaw (albeit in Chicago or St Louis) for the same cost if that is something you are remotely interested in.

I'm ok with living in North Carolina, though I'm kinda worried about my lack of ties. I enjoy the weather, culture, and cost of living.

I didn't apply to Illinois or many places out of the south. It would be tough to consider anywhere that gets super cold during the winter. I can't stand the cold.