Top Law Schools

First time poster, long time forum stalker. So I'm on this struggle. I am currently in a joke school T4 in South Florida and finished w/ 3.15 / 25-20%. I applied to both FIU and Um as a transfer and got into both. Now I'm stuck in between the two. No scholarship at either
Thoughts?

FIU is half the price of UM. UM is a "better school" due to its history and higher ranking, FIU has the best bar pass rate in Florida and is becoming recognized state wide. FIU technically has better employment % because they have less students, UM is nearly 3 times the student body of FIU. UM grads get more big firm jobs/federal clerkships, FIU is starting to breach that field. UM has better classes and clinics, FIU is a "friendlier" law school in the sense that administration and dean are A+. What kills me about UM is the price and whether or not it's worth it without any scholarship, 100% out of pocket. Just tuition because I'd live at home in both cases.

That's where I am. Any advice before I argue myself to death?

The obvious first question is what are your goals?

FIU may be a good choice for your goals and the cost, but don't go there under the impression that it is an "up and coming" state wide school, whatecver that even means.

I wouldn't mind doing big law firm which UM would be the choice but Fiu is puttin grads in those jobs too and have a few OCI from big law firms. Not as many as UM but still, they have some. But it's like someone said, Fiu is an up and coming state school that is starting to get recognition and stealing students from UM. It's the recognition and I guess ranking of UM vs the potential and continuing growth of FIU.

I would rid yourself of any biglaw aspirations--at least for right now. Honestly, just go wherever is cheapest.

Hey! Im from Miami so feel that I could help.

Why didn't you apply to UF? You still have a chance because the application period is not over. If you want to do big law, UM is better because more firms recruit there. FIU will also get you there but FIU does not send a lot of students to big law. Needless to say, you will have to hustle at either one of them because, as you probably know, the Miami market is very small. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

P.S. I transfered from a T4 to Emory.

You're not likely to land a biglaw job or a federal clerkship from either school at this point (you'd need to be in the top 5% from either one of those schools to have a good shot at it). BUT both schools will give you a better alumni base to tap into and a better local rep among practitioners than your current school, which should significantly improve your chances of landing a job in Miami. I don't think UM is worth paying double, so I would heavily favor going to FIU, getting the best grades you can, and networking as much as possible while there. Also, Dean Acosta seems like someone who goes to bat for his students, so forge a relationship with him and other faculty, which should significantly help your odds of landing a job locally.