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If I drop out now, I would have to pay back one year's tuition.

What the fuck.

Drop out ASAP

twenty wrote:

If I drop out now, I would have to pay back one year's tuition.

What the fuck.

wait wut

I must be horribly misunderstanding something, because OP says:

It’s worth noting that I have a scholarship.

But then says:

If I drop out now, I would have to pay back one year's tuition.

Am I understanding that American is TTT enough to make you pay back scholarship if you drop out?

twenty wrote:I must be horribly misunderstanding something, because OP says:

It’s worth noting that I have a scholarship.

But then says:

If I drop out now, I would have to pay back one year's tuition.

Am I understanding that American is TTT enough to make you pay back scholarship if you drop out?

Srsly dafuq?

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bubble223 wrote:Yup, to clarify, the "free ride" I got is contingent on finishing school. I would have to pay it back if I don't finish.

I know. It was stupid. I'm here now, #lawschoolregret much?

what the fucking fuck. American you piece of shit.

bubble223 wrote:Yup, to clarify, the "free ride" I got is contingent on finishing school. I would have to pay it back if I don't finish.

I know. It was stupid. I'm here now, #lawschoolregret much?

So from an economic pov, it might make sense to stay???

Holy shit. That is TTT.

Anyway. Obviously stay in, but adjust what you're doing and going for. I wouldn't be so fast to write off direct legal services. It's a ridiculously tough field to break into, true, but it will be a lot easier if you have no debt (which it sounds like will be the case if you stay in). Top 15% with no debt is pretty commendable, and if anyone has a shot at a good outcome from American, it's you.

Do as much clinical/extern work as you can representing indigent clients or some other practical thing you actually want to be doing to make the time pass quicker. I don't think you're really as screwed as you think you are - you're "in jail" for another two years, but with your background, you probably won't have too much trouble getting back into a field you legitimately want to be in, even with a JD. Make the best of the time you have.

Also, you should consider taking your story to Above The Law. They'd probably dig it.

twenty wrote:Holy shit. That is TTT.

Anyway. Obviously stay in, but adjust what you're doing and going for. I wouldn't be so fast to write off direct legal services. It's a ridiculously tough field to break into, true, but it will be a lot easier if you have no debt (which it sounds like will be the case if you stay in). Top 15% with no debt is pretty commendable, and if anyone has a shot at a good outcome from American, it's you.

Do as much clinical/extern work as you can representing indigent clients or some other practical thing you actually want to be doing to make the time pass quicker. I don't think you're really as screwed as you think you are - you're "in jail" for another two years, but with your background, you probably won't have too much trouble getting back into a field you legitimately want to be in, even with a JD. Make the best of the time you have.

This. Definitely do as much clinical/extern work as you can.

ETA: Don't contact ATL. Your story would be good for ATL (and the amusement of its readers), but it would likely turn out badly for you. Having your name associated with an ATL story--even when you're the "good guy/gal"--generally isn't good for one's career.

As someone who transferred out of American the very second I had a chance, and it was the best decision of my life, DROP OUT NOW! Your graduation plan to move to the Bay Area with your degree wouldn't work anyway since American is more of a DMV regional brand as opposed to a more national school.

Also, as I'm sure you're figuring out now, the entire top 1/4-1/3 of American usually transfers out. Many to GW and Georgetown. I know at least 16 people personally who were screwed by American forcing them to pay back their 1L merit scholarships if they went to a school in the local area. Lawyers I've talked to about this question the legality of the practice.

Sounds like after the transfers leave you might have a shot to be pretty high up in the class rankings. Grind out some strong grades 2L year and see if any clerkship opportunities open up. I don't know if grades matter all that much for what you want to do but you might as well see what can happen.

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Maybe you can talk to them about the possibility of granting you relief from this clause? You could rewrite the contract with them before you drop out.

PepperJack wrote:Maybe you can talk to them about the possibility of granting you relief from this clause? You could rewrite the contract with them before you drop out.

I haven't considered this before. Unfort., I think the chances are slim to none because transfers with similar financial scholarship situations have had to pay back their $.

I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I think you should stay. You are in the tiny fraction of rising 2Ls where not dropping out seems to make sense.

Although AU's ranking and reputation are dropping precipitously, it's still relatively respected in the DMV region (emphasis on relatively). It's obviously not Gtown, but it's also far from Catholic/BU. Being in the top 10-15% with no debt is not the worst place to be. Just keep padding that GPA with easy classes so it keeps up or goes higher.

If you want to do public interest-type work, you will be able to do so financially, which is the biggest barrier for most new grads. It will be an uphill battle, but if you network like nuts and do as many clinics/externships as possible, you will find something. In the absolute worst case scenario (assuming your grades don't plummet), you still end up debt-free. That leaves volunteering/low paying jobs on the table, which is a huge consideration.

Why is no one advising him to transfer to UDC and pay next to nothing for law school? All he needs is a law degree, not a fancy-pants job from a "legal services" organization that only hires poseurs from Harvard and Yale

Danteshek wrote:Why is no one advising him to transfer to UDC and pay next to nothing for law school? All he needs is a law degree, not a fancy-pants job from a "legal services" organization that only hires poseurs from Harvard and Yale

Lol. Come on bro.

1. It's August. He's begun his 2L year. Way too late to transfer.

2. He's already paying nothing for law school.

3. Even if he could transfer, he would probably have to pay back his scholarship.

bubble223 wrote:

PepperJack wrote:Maybe you can talk to them about the possibility of granting you relief from this clause? You could rewrite the contract with them before you drop out.

I haven't considered this before. Unfort., I think the chances are slim to none because transfers with similar financial scholarship situations have had to pay back their $.

Ok, so I was thinking about this again, and I could potentially only have to pay back half the tuition because of a different merit scholarship that I got. Before I got this full-tuition scholarship with the "complete school and do PI work for a few years -- or pay us back" clause, I had a $20,000 merit scholarship offer. The former wiped out the need for the latter once I accepted the former.

Anyways...for those who advocated staying in, would your opinion change if I "only" had to pay back half tuition?

this is a very unfortunate situation to be in, OP. Honestly, I would just stick it out. Schools that have such clauses to begin w/ aren't the type that I would expect to let you out of them--but I guess you could try. Wouldn't hurt any. It doesn't sound like you have a clear way forward, so sticking it out for another two years and figuring it out, w/o the debt, seems like the better option here, although both suck.

bubble223 wrote:

bubble223 wrote:

PepperJack wrote:Maybe you can talk to them about the possibility of granting you relief from this clause? You could rewrite the contract with them before you drop out.

I haven't considered this before. Unfort., I think the chances are slim to none because transfers with similar financial scholarship situations have had to pay back their $.

Ok, so I was thinking about this again, and I could potentially only have to pay back half the tuition because of a different merit scholarship that I got. Before I got this full-tuition scholarship with the "complete school and do PI work for a few years -- or pay us back" clause, I had a $20,000 merit scholarship offer. The former wiped out the need for the latter once I accepted the former.

Anyways...for those who advocated staying in, would your opinion change if I "only" had to pay back half tuition?

Wait, what is "do PI work for a few years?"

EDIT: OP asked me to delete my comment for privacy concerns.

I doubt American would take you to court to get its money back if you dropped out. If you played your cards right and raised a huge stink, they would back off