Honestly, is it even worth it to go to a lower tier school? Forum

[MC Southstar]

why on earth would anyone not want the *option* of T-10?

If someone already knows exactly what they're going to do with their degree, and for their purpose there is no added value in the prestige of the T10 degree, and/or there is significant added value (personal and/or professional) in staying local. I'm sure very few people are in this position, but it happens.

There are people out there who want fewer options than more options? What losers.

I know someone who went to Drexel because they already knew what they wanted to do and (presumably) where they wanted to do it. They give out nice scholarships and I'm guessing her parents were lawyers in the area.

[Doritos]

why on earth would anyone not want the *option* of T-10?

If someone already knows exactly what they're going to do with their degree, and for their purpose there is no added value in the prestige of the T10 degree, and/or there is significant added value (personal and/or professional) in staying local. I'm sure very few people are in this position, but it happens.

There are people out there who want fewer options than more options? What losers.

I know someone who went to Drexel because they already knew what they wanted to do and (presumably) where they wanted to do it. They give out nice scholarships and I'm guessing her parents were lawyers in the area.

Got a friend who took full ride at Toledo law cuz had connections in area. No point in going to one of the t14's she got into if all that matters is the fact that she has a JD (so she says).

[Lonagan]

I don't know that anyone has said it is bad to go to a lower ranked school. But turning your back on options is just silly.

[Aeroplane]

It's not silly to turn your back on options you don't want, especially when they come at a cost (financial or personal). Not everyone gets their kicks the same way.

[Aeroplane]

I know someone who went to Drexel because they already knew what they wanted to do and (presumably) where they wanted to do it. They give out nice scholarships and I'm guessing her parents were lawyers in the area.

Got a friend who took full ride at Toledo law cuz had connections in area. No point in going to one of the t14's she got into if all that matters is the fact that she has a JD (so she says).

My boyfriend took a scholarship at a local T2 over two T10's that his parents would've happily paid sticker for. His post-LS plans only required a JD. Could've gone to a T4 and done the exact same thing. Added perks of the local school: a huge local network (which offers some trickle-down benefits for me), substantial experience in his desired field gained working all through the 3 years of LS, the ability to mess around with the curriculum (like creating a whole new course) and major personal happy points (he's one of those people who loves his home city, goes to lots of the sports games, is really active in the community, etc). He's very pleased with his decision and I'm sure he'll remain so pretty much forever. Different strokes, etc.

[awesomepossum]

I know someone who went to Drexel because they already knew what they wanted to do and (presumably) where they wanted to do it. They give out nice scholarships and I'm guessing her parents were lawyers in the area.

Got a friend who took full ride at Toledo law cuz had connections in area. No point in going to one of the t14's she got into if all that matters is the fact that she has a JD (so she says).

My boyfriend took a scholarship at a local T2 over two T10's that his parents would've happily paid sticker for. His post-LS plans only required a JD. Could've gone to a T4 and done the exact same thing. Added perks of the local school: a huge local network (which offers some trickle-down benefits for me), substantial experience in his desired field gained working all through the 3 years of LS, the ability to mess around with the curriculum (like creating a whole new course) and major personal happy points (he's one of those people who loves his home city, goes to lots of the sports games, is really active in the community, etc). He's very pleased with his decision and I'm sure he'll remain so pretty much forever. Different strokes, etc.

what a loser.

[CE2JD]

I know someone who went to Drexel because they already knew what they wanted to do and (presumably) where they wanted to do it. They give out nice scholarships and I'm guessing her parents were lawyers in the area.

Got a friend who took full ride at Toledo law cuz had connections in area. No point in going to one of the t14's she got into if all that matters is the fact that she has a JD (so she says).

My boyfriend took a scholarship at a local T2 over two T10's that his parents would've happily paid sticker for. His post-LS plans only required a JD. Could've gone to a T4 and done the exact same thing. Added perks of the local school: a huge local network (which offers some trickle-down benefits for me), substantial experience in his desired field gained working all through the 3 years of LS, the ability to mess around with the curriculum (like creating a whole new course) and major personal happy points (he's one of those people who loves his home city, goes to lots of the sports games, is really active in the community, etc). He's very pleased with his decision and I'm sure he'll remain so pretty much forever. Different strokes, etc.

Sounds like an underachiever. Dump him.

[Aeroplane]

Eh, I don't care to achieve more than is necessary to reach my desired ends. My bf feels the same way so we get along well.

[Lonagan]

You guys are right. Just trash the shit out of your GPA.

[CE2JD]

Eh, I don't care to achieve more than is necessary to reach my desired ends. My bf feels the same way so we get along well.

Two peas in a pod I see.

[MC Southstar]

Eh, I don't care to achieve more than is necessary to reach my desired ends. My bf feels the same way so we get along well.

Two peas in a pod I see.

You guys are a drain on society.

[Doritos]

The whole second page of this thread is one big LOL

[Ragged]

The quick answer is no.

For a longer answer: http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2009/ ... _ourselves

[jawsthegreat]

The quick answer is no.

For a longer answer: http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2009/ ... _ourselves

The long answer is no.

[Doritos]

The quick answer is no.

For a longer answer: http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2009/ ... _ourselves

In the link Anna Ivey links to an article of a BU grad who says her JD is worthless. She also says top 15 is where the job security is at. So it seems it's T15 or you need to be top of the class to keep fromworking for peanuts chasing ambulances. Over 90% of law schools are a bad investment unless you are at the top? Is she right? You be the judge my friend

[jawsthegreat]

The quick answer is no.

For a longer answer: http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2009/ ... _ourselves

In the link Anna Ivey links to an article of a BU grad who says her JD is worthless. She also says top 15 is where the job security is at. So it seems it's T15 or you need to be top of the class to keep fromworking for peanuts chasing ambulances. Over 90% of law schools are a bad investment unless you are at the top? Is she right? You be the judge my friend

Wait are you arguing that T15 is the only good investment or that Anna Ivey is wrong?

[Aeroplane]

Didn't someone on TLS (Helmholtz?) make a ranking of "best value" schools? Personally, I don't think I'd take on $200K+ of debt for anything but HY.

[Doritos]

The quick answer is no.

For a longer answer: http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2009/ ... _ourselves

In the link Anna Ivey links to an article of a BU grad who says her JD is worthless. She also says top 15 is where the job security is at. So it seems it's T15 or you need to be top of the class to keep fromworking for peanuts chasing ambulances. Over 90% of law schools are a bad investment unless you are at the top? Is she right? You be the judge my friend

Wait are you arguing that T15 is the only good investment or that Anna Ivey is wrong?

I am stating that is what Anna Ivey is saying. Directly from her blog...

"The top fifteen [law schools] also offer a level of job security that other law schools can't. People at the top schools who find themselves in the middle of the pack or even below still do just fine on the job market, even at the highest levels of the job market. The further down the food chain you go, though, the less of a safety net you have. Once you get to the second tier and below, you need to be at or near the top of your class to end up at a top firm in your region or with a top judge in your region (the national market is a much more difficult proposition), and people in the bottom half of the class often face grim hiring prospects.

Law school applicants fight me on this all the time, but I stick to my guns. Most ABA-approved law schools are not worth the investment. It's painful for people to hear, and most insist on learning this truth the hard way."

She then links to the BU grad story about how her JD is worthless. BU is ranked 20. So these two things together seem to say that its T15 or you better be top of the class to make LS worth it. Seems kinda extreme to me. Is Notre Dame, Ohio State, Boston College, Fordham, Illinois, etc. all bad ideas unless you can get to the top of the class? Depends what your goals are methinks. Then again I'm just an internet trolling 0L so I can't speak w/ authority but it just seems a wee bit sensationalistic.

[PoliticalJunkie]

Of course not, Harvard and Yale are the only law schools worth attending!

[Doritos]

Of course not, Harvard and Yale are the only law schools worth attending!

Blatant anti-Stanford trolling.

[jawsthegreat]

If you are thinking about going to a tier 2 or lower law school I suggest you read this

--LinkRemoved--

[09042014]

Didn't someone on TLS (Helmholtz?) make a ranking of "best value" schools? Personally, I don't think I'd take on $200K+ of debt for anything but HY.

I could see the case for taking a full ride at DNCG over CCN at full price, but I think turning down DNCG for half price at the lower T20's is a bad idea. You still end up with 100K+ debt but with considerably worse job placement.

[reidki]

I took a full scholarship to attend a low-ranked school over full price at a T-14. I worked hard my first year, ended up in the top of the class, and was offered an SA position at the top firm in my regional market. If I am fortunate to get an offer for post-graduation, I will be making $85,000/year in the practice area of my choice, in a geographic area with 1/3 the cost of living of NYC, and with NO law school debt. I recognize it would be absurd to suggest that my path was the "right" choice for everyone. But it would be equally absurd to suggest that going to a lower tier law school is NEVER the right choice when faced with an acceptance from a T-14.

[awesomepossum]

I took a full scholarship to attend a low-ranked school over full price at a T-14. I worked hard my first year, ended up in the top of the class, and was offered an SA position at the top firm in my regional market. If I am fortunate to get an offer for post-graduation, I will be making $85,000/year in the practice area of my choice, in a geographic area with 1/3 the cost of living of NYC, and with NO law school debt. I recognize it would be absurd to suggest that my path was the "right" choice for everyone. But it would be equally absurd to suggest that going to a lower tier law school is NEVER the right choice when faced with an acceptance from a T-14.

how low is "low-ranked?"

[jawsthegreat]

I took a full scholarship to attend a low-ranked school over full price at a T-14. I worked hard my first year, ended up in the top of the class, and was offered an SA position at the top firm in my regional market. If I am fortunate to get an offer for post-graduation, I will be making $85,000/year in the practice area of my choice, in a geographic area with 1/3 the cost of living of NYC, and with NO law school debt. I recognize it would be absurd to suggest that my path was the "right" choice for everyone. But it would be equally absurd to suggest that going to a lower tier law school is NEVER the right choice when faced with an acceptance from a T-14.

Just because you beat the odds doesn't mean it was a good decision.