Visiting Student Advice Forum

[kaynooch]

I'm looking for some advice about whether or not I should apply to be a visiting student for my 3L year.

When I applied to law school, I wasn't sure that I wanted to live in Michigan, where I lived. So when I was applying, I was trying to go to a decent school but with a lot of scholarship money. I ended up halfway across the country in a top 40 school with a significant scholarship, and was relatively happy for the first year.

Over the summer, I stayed in the area near my school, thinking that is where I would end up wanting to establish my practice. But I had a terrible experience with my internship. Meanwhile, I started realizing more and more that I wanted to work in Michigan, and that I knew the next summer I would be applying to work back home.

My boyfriend has a job lined up back in Michigan. Back in September, I also secured a summer associate position at the firm of my dreams back home. It is a mid-size firm (which is what I want to eventually work in), so while there is a possibility of hire upon graduation, they can't guarantee it. I start working in May, and the offer extends through my 3L year (which I would be doing remotely from current law school, but could do in person if I become a visiting student, which would probably mean more hours).

Since the summer, my mental health has declined. I have always been a kind-of anxious person, but it has escalated into almost daily anxiety/panic attacks. I feel isolated, and am extremely unhappy with where I am at school. I definitely no longer want to work in my current school's area.

I want to apply to be a visiting student in my home state for my 3L year, and I wanted to hear your opinions. There are not GREAT options as far as law schools go in Michigan. There is obviously UMich (which is where I went to college), but I would be on the fence about being admitted I think, and is much more expensive since I am giving up my scholarship. There are not many law schools in Michigan, and the next best one would be Wayne State University. Many of the practicing lawyers in the area went to Wayne. I think this is ideally where I would end up being a visiting student, because it is less expensive and I would just about break even with what I am paying at my current school. However, it is a law school in the top 100 range, whereas my current is top 40. Do you guys think this would be a bad thing?

My top priorities right now are my mental health, and securing a job after graduation (like everyone).

[RaceJudicata]

Apply to Wayne State as a visiting student and don't think twice. It will help you personally (SO mother, personal health, etc). It will also help you professionally -- you'll be closer to the mid law firm and can work in the office rather than remotely (further solidifying your offer chances); and if that gig falls through, you are now local in MI and can network to secure another role. Also, from an employer perspective, "Top 40" school in market X is significantly less desired than "Top 100 school" in market Y when you are trying to practice in Y market.

[kaynooch]

Apply to Wayne State as a visiting student and don't think twice. It will help you personally (SO mother, personal health, etc). It will also help you professionally -- you'll be closer to the mid law firm and can work in the office rather than remotely (further solidifying your offer chances); and if that gig falls through, you are now local in MI and can network to secure another role. Also, from an employer perspective, "Top 40" school in market X is significantly less desired than "Top 100 school" in market Y when you are trying to practice in Y market.

Thanks so much for the advice! That it what I am thinking, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't biased by what I personally want.

Also Note: I edited my post down a bit, to make it shorter, in case anyone gets confused by parts of your reply.

Thanks again. Really appreciate you taking the time to give advice.

[Nebby]

I think this is one of the rare instances where visiting makes sense

[blueapple]

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