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Hi all, I need some advice as I am really stressing out... lol

I have a full ride from Brooklyn Law, but I freaked out when I realized I'd still owe about 100K in debt post graduation - to pay living costs in NYC. I am considering retaking the LSAT and applying to higher-ranked schools, which would offer better job outcomes. I am also on the waitlist at Duke, but I doubt I will get in...

What are your thoughts? Thank you so much!

dreamofNYC wrote:Hi all, I need some advice as I am really stressing out... lol

I have a full ride from Brooklyn Law, but I freaked out when I realized I'd still owe about 100K in debt post graduation - to pay living costs in NYC. I am considering retaking the LSAT and applying to higher-ranked schools, which would offer better job outcomes. I am also on the waitlist at Duke, but I doubt I will get in...

What are your thoughts? Thank you so much!

Retake. The debt feels much worse when you start making payments than the prospect of debt does as a 0L.

Not worth it. Retake, or don't go to law school.


I don't understand what deferring would do for you exactly.

papercut wrote:Not worth it. Retake, or don't go to law school.


I don't understand what deferring would do for you exactly.

I will retake and try to get into T14. i think i can do better than 163 on the LSAT.. my GPa is 3.9..

what do you mean "don't go to law school?". You mean Bklyn Law? Thanks so much!

rayiner wrote:

dreamofNYC wrote:Hi all, I need some advice as I am really stressing out... lol

I have a full ride from Brooklyn Law, but I freaked out when I realized I'd still owe about 100K in debt post graduation - to pay living costs in NYC. I am considering retaking the LSAT and applying to higher-ranked schools, which would offer better job outcomes. I am also on the waitlist at Duke, but I doubt I will get in...

What are your thoughts? Thank you so much!

Retake. The debt feels much worse when you start making payments than the prospect of debt does as a 0L.

Yup! Very forward looking advice, thanks. I am imagining myself 3 years from now writing a check for $1,000 and thinking to myself "I'd rather pay this for Columbia than for Bklyn law...

dreamofNYC wrote:

papercut wrote:Not worth it. Retake, or don't go to law school.


I don't understand what deferring would do for you exactly.

I will retake and try to get into T14. i think i can do better than 163 on the LSAT.. my GPa is 3.9..

what do you mean "don't go to law school?". You mean Bklyn Law? Thanks so much!

No don't go to law school at all.

You went to Columbia for grad school and you have a 3.9 GPA. You CAN get 170+ on your LSAT and go to a higher ranked school. Don't sell yourself short.

iliketurtles123 wrote:

dreamofNYC wrote:

papercut wrote:Not worth it. Retake, or don't go to law school.


I don't understand what deferring would do for you exactly.

I will retake and try to get into T14. i think i can do better than 163 on the LSAT.. my GPa is 3.9..

what do you mean "don't go to law school?". You mean Bklyn Law? Thanks so much!

No don't go to law school at all.

You went to Columbia for grad school and you have a 3.9 GPA. You CAN get 170+ on your LSAT and go to a higher ranked school. Don't sell yourself short.

Thank you so much. Appreciate your advice!

Don't go to Brooklyn law school. This is a terrible idea. You can do better.

NYSprague wrote:Don't go to Brooklyn law school. This is a terrible idea. You can do better.

Thank you.. Your advice concurs with the voice in the back of my head over the past several months lol

Sounds like you are leaning in the right direction. What's the alternative if you don't go to law school this year?

JohannDeMann wrote:Sounds like you are leaning in the right direction. What's the alternative if you don't go to law school this year?

Try to get a job in 1) finance (securities compliance) in NYC. OR 2) in alternative investments / social entrepreneurship in San Francisco. Helps getting more experience on my resume! Thanks so much for answering

dreamofNYC wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote:Sounds like you are leaning in the right direction. What's the alternative if you don't go to law school this year?

Try to get a job in 1) finance (securities compliance) in NYC. OR 2) in alternative investments / social entrepreneurship in San Francisco. Helps getting more experience on my resume! Thanks so much for answering

I'd try to get one of those jobs - those are good alternatives. If it ends up you are doing something you hate that does not pay the bills next year, law school will still on the table.

dreamofNYC wrote:

papercut wrote:Not worth it. Retake, or don't go to law school.


I don't understand what deferring would do for you exactly.

I will retake and try to get into T14. i think i can do better than 163 on the LSAT.. my GPa is 3.9..

what do you mean "don't go to law school?". You mean Bklyn Law? Thanks so much!

Why on earth are you thinking even considering going to Brooklyn Law with that GPA and graduate degree from a school that is a leader (or even the leader, sorry John Hopkins and Georgetown) in its field?!? With enough study and maybe a LSAT study class (Power Score, Velocity, or some other reputable LSAT prep program), you could totally get at least a 170. Don't waste your potential at a place like Brooklyn Law.

JohannDeMann wrote:

dreamofNYC wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote:Sounds like you are leaning in the right direction. What's the alternative if you don't go to law school this year?

Try to get a job in 1) finance (securities compliance) in NYC. OR 2) in alternative investments / social entrepreneurship in San Francisco. Helps getting more experience on my resume! Thanks so much for answering

I'd try to get one of those jobs - those are good alternatives. If it ends up you are doing something you hate that does not pay the bills next year, law school will still on the table.

Thank you! Yeah that's what I figured. Thank you so so much.

Ohiobumpkin wrote:

dreamofNYC wrote:

papercut wrote:Not worth it. Retake, or don't go to law school.


I don't understand what deferring would do for you exactly.

I will retake and try to get into T14. i think i can do better than 163 on the LSAT.. my GPa is 3.9..

what do you mean "don't go to law school?". You mean Bklyn Law? Thanks so much!

Why on earth are you thinking even considering going to Brooklyn Law with that GPA and graduate degree from a school that is a leader (or even the leader, sorry John Hopkins and Georgetown) in its field?!? With enough study and maybe a LSAT study class (Power Score, Velocity, or some other reputable LSAT prep program), you could totally get at least a 170. Don't waste your potential at a place like Brooklyn Law.

I get a job to cover bills and will retake. That's for sure. Thank you for bringing some clear skies!

Definitely retake--especially having a 3.9.

"163 on the LSAT.. my GPa is 3.9.."

With these stats alone, you can be a candidate for a 100% paid 1843 Scholly at SLU Law, at least 50% at UIUC, and approx. 70% at Kent.

If you get 164 or 165+ (<--- superb) you are golden in many locations.

Speaking from experience.

Philipsssssss wrote:"163 on the LSAT.. my GPa is 3.9.."

With these stats alone, you can be a candidate for a 100% paid 1843 Scholly at SLU Law, at least 50% at UIUC, and approx. 70% at Kent.

If you get 164 or 165+ (<--- superb) you are golden in many locations.

Speaking from experience.

Thanks, really good to know. Thank you so much!

Get a full ride to a school that doesn't have an insane cost of living if you're that concerned.

If you think you can do better than a 163 you absolutely have to retake.

100k debt for Brooklyn is not good. I would only recommend that for someone who absolutely has a true desire to be a lawyer and knows for sure they would be totally happy pulling in 50k at a small firm doing divorces, criminal defense, or personal injury.

I have never met that person that meets this criteria.

Nomo wrote:If you think you can do better than a 163 you absolutely have to retake.

100k debt for Brooklyn is not good. I would only recommend that for someone who absolutely has a true desire to be a lawyer and knows for sure they would be totally happy pulling in 50k at a small firm doing divorces, criminal defense, or personal injury.

I have never met that person that meets this criteria.

Hmm great advice. Thank you. I have gotten consistent "retake" responses. Thanks all, this has been extremely clarifying for me

lol