SMU C/O 2017 (2013-2014 Applicants) Forum

[bound]

Anyone else get that summer program scholarship email?

Yeah I got it, wish I qualified... I'll take the discount though

Haha I thought it was funny that it said "disadvantaged gender" - aka I'm a woman so I guess I qualify

Hey - at least we have that going for us

I'm just wondering how many of these "scholarships" they have to go around. It's probably just one -_-

Haha Yeah I'll only do it if I get the scholarship, otherwise it's enjoy the rest of summer for me

[Afterparty]

Have they posted financial aid info in our SMU portals (forgot the actual name) yet?

[crchildress]

Have they posted financial aid info in our SMU portals (forgot the actual name) yet?

Last I checked there wasn't anything new there

[Mandakay16]

Have they posted financial aid info in our SMU portals (forgot the actual name) yet?

Last I checked there wasn't anything new there

I mean - My scholly and federal aid package was already sitting there a few weeks back. I've already accepted and done counseling...

[Mandakay16]

Haha I thought it was funny that it said "disadvantaged gender" - aka I'm a woman so I guess I qualify [/quote]


Haha Yeah I'll only do it if I get the scholarship, otherwise it's enjoy the rest of summer for me [/quote][/quote]

Have you narrowed down your school choices yet?

[Afterparty]

Have they posted financial aid info in our SMU portals (forgot the actual name) yet?

Last I checked there wasn't anything new there

I mean - My scholly and federal aid package was already sitting there a few weeks back. I've already accepted and done counseling...

I'll check my stuff tonight to see if its there. I think its finally hitting me that I have to pay/finance for this crazy thing we're all deciding to do; and I'm going to be a poor, poor law student LOL.

Just as a poll, how much debt do you guys expect to be in upon graduation? Or how much do you expect to borrow each year?

[Mandakay16]

Have they posted financial aid info in our SMU portals (forgot the actual name) yet?

Last I checked there wasn't anything new there

I mean - My scholly and federal aid package was already sitting there a few weeks back. I've already accepted and done counseling...

I'll check my stuff tonight to see if its there. I think its finally hitting me that I have to pay/finance for this crazy thing we're all deciding to do; and I'm going to be a poor, poor law student LOL.

Just as a poll, how much debt do you guys expect to be in upon graduation? Or how much do you expect to borrow each year?

I don't even want to talk about it ...

[bound]

Haha I thought it was funny that it said "disadvantaged gender" - aka I'm a woman so I guess I qualify

Haha Yeah I'll only do it if I get the scholarship, otherwise it's enjoy the rest of summer for me [/quote][/quote]

Have you narrowed down your school choices yet? [/quote]


I would say I'm like 90% swaying toward SMU TBH, I just love Dallas. I can see myself practicing there my whole life. The only reason I'm considering two other schools are because 1) they're higher ranked; and 2) offering me better scholarships. Obviously the financials are a concern, so it's making the decision way more difficult than it should be.

[Mandakay16]

Haha I thought it was funny that it said "disadvantaged gender" - aka I'm a woman so I guess I qualify

Haha Yeah I'll only do it if I get the scholarship, otherwise it's enjoy the rest of summer for me

[/quote]

Have you narrowed down your school choices yet? [/quote]


I would say I'm like 90% swaying toward SMU TBH, I just love Dallas. I can see myself practicing there my whole life. The only reason I'm considering two other schools are because 1) they're higher ranked; and 2) offering me better scholarships. Obviously the financials are a concern, so it's making the decision way more difficult than it should be.[/quote]

I understand - It's all about the financials haha.

I thought I was set on SMU too, but IDN. There are a couple other schools that have my eye. I just know in the long run Dallas is a relatively good legal market... & I LOVE the area that the school is in.

[El Principe]

I would say I'm like 90% swaying toward SMU TBH, I just love Dallas. I can see myself practicing there my whole life. The only reason I'm considering two other schools are because 1) they're higher ranked; and 2) offering me better scholarships. Obviously the financials are a concern, so it's making the decision way more difficult than it should be.

Well, just remember, rank doesn't mean much outside of the top 14/18/20 or so schools.

Figure out where you want to practice and choose the best schools for that area. If it's Dallas, than SMU or UT are the obvious choices. It's also worth noting that SMU has better employment statistics that quite a few schools ranked ahead of it.

I mean, I'm probably telling you nothing you didn't know before.

[Mandakay16]

Am I stupid for even considering American at this point?

I love DC - & I would love to work in gov't...

[Afterparty]

Am I stupid for even considering American at this point?

I love DC - & I would love to work in gov't...

Are you getting a decent scholarship? I wouldn't if you are not. It is def not worth the amount at sticker. Georgetown and GW obviously stump American, so you would need to graduate pretty high to get the jobs that usually go to people from those schools. Best thing about American would be the networking and just being in DC.. but its a hefty price to pay!

[crchildress]

Have they posted financial aid info in our SMU portals (forgot the actual name) yet?

Last I checked there wasn't anything new there

I mean - My scholly and federal aid package was already sitting there a few weeks back. I've already accepted and done counseling...

I'll check my stuff tonight to see if its there. I think its finally hitting me that I have to pay/finance for this crazy thing we're all deciding to do; and I'm going to be a poor, poor law student LOL.

Just as a poll, how much debt do you guys expect to be in upon graduation? Or how much do you expect to borrow each year?

Waiting to hear back from them... Using the G.I. Bill so not quite sure how much is going to be left over.

[Doctolaw]

Popping in to say hi and bye to everyone.

I've decided I won't be attending law school. Considering the fact that I would be 50 at graduation at which point I would have to start paying for my son's college and my daughter's the following year, I can't justify the cost. Since I don't have the desire to pursue big law high dollar jobs (and my age would probably keep me out anyway), I can't forgo 3 years of income, pay $25K per year for school, and then end up in a job making less than I am now. In the end it just doesn't make sense.

I'm going to continue writing and satisfy my public service itch in some other way.

Anyway, good luck to all of you. It was fun getting to "know" you a little. I wish you all great success!

[BVest]

Am I stupid for even considering American at this point?

I love DC - & I would love to work in gov't...

Not the words I would use, but American is unlikely to do you as much good as SMU. You might also benefit significantly by sitting out a cycle to retake, at least in terms of money.

[BVest]

I would say I'm like 90% swaying toward SMU TBH, I just love Dallas. I can see myself practicing there my whole life. The only reason I'm considering two other schools are because 1) they're higher ranked; and 2) offering me better scholarships. Obviously the financials are a concern, so it's making the decision way more difficult than it should be.

If Dallas is your goal, I don't think you can go wrong with either SMU or the other school, especially if the other is offering better money. If you're targeting biglaw, be sure to have your cover letters/resume ready to go on December 1; the other school might even get you interviews at some of the firms prior to having grades.

And it's still worth dropping an LOCI to the school to the south.

[Mandakay16]

Am I stupid for even considering American at this point?

I love DC - & I would love to work in gov't...

Not the words I would use, but American is unlikely to do you as much good as SMU. You might also benefit significantly by sitting out a cycle to retake, at least in terms of money.

Do you think SMU carries any weight in DC or govt in general?

[sg213]

Am I stupid for even considering American at this point?

I love DC - & I would love to work in gov't...

Being from DC unless American gives you a hefty scholarship (almost full) I would recommend staying away. They don't place all that well in the area and it is one of the most expensive school in the nation. It is in a beautiful part of town, but it is very expensive to live near there.

Government hiring is really down right now and they are cutting salaries; I wouldn't recommend going to American, taking on a lot of debt, and then trying to get a Gov job.

If they give you a full ride, then that's definitely doable, however.

Students with degrees from DC schools have a hard enough time competing with GW/GULC that an SMU degree doesn't carry very much clout in the area. You're competing with GULC, GW, Mason, Howard, UMD, Richmond, who all have ties there; not to mention every top 14 student who wants to work in the area. There are a lot of jobs, but lots of competition.

I'd recommend sitting out or trying to transfer to GW from SMU. GW is still ridiculously expensive, but there are a lot of good outcomes you can get from there.

[BVest]

Nothing special in DC, but it's well respected and those that seek to go govt from it do fairly well (though usually not DC). Most importantly, at least it gives you a reasonable shot at a job.

As for my latter comment, get up to a 158 or better and you've got a decent shot at GW with your GPA. 159 would put you at 25th/75th for GW's LSAT/GPA.

[downinDtown]

Am I stupid for even considering American at this point?

I love DC - & I would love to work in gov't...

Not the words I would use, but American is unlikely to do you as much good as SMU. You might also benefit significantly by sitting out a cycle to retake, at least in terms of money.

Do you think SMU carries any weight in DC or govt in general?

Sent you a PM.

[bound]

I would say I'm like 90% swaying toward SMU TBH, I just love Dallas. I can see myself practicing there my whole life. The only reason I'm considering two other schools are because 1) they're higher ranked; and 2) offering me better scholarships. Obviously the financials are a concern, so it's making the decision way more difficult than it should be.

If Dallas is your goal, I don't think you can go wrong with either SMU or the other school, especially if the other is offering better money. If you're targeting biglaw, be sure to have your cover letters/resume ready to go on December 1; the other school might even get you interviews at some of the firms prior to having grades.

And it's still worth dropping an LOCI to the school to the south.

You are at UT now correct? I'm debating with sitting out a cycle while working in Dallas to establish in state residency for UT. ugh way too many thoughts about this crap right now haha.

[Mandakay16]

I would say I'm like 90% swaying toward SMU TBH, I just love Dallas. I can see myself practicing there my whole life. The only reason I'm considering two other schools are because 1) they're higher ranked; and 2) offering me better scholarships. Obviously the financials are a concern, so it's making the decision way more difficult than it should be.

If Dallas is your goal, I don't think you can go wrong with either SMU or the other school, especially if the other is offering better money. If you're targeting biglaw, be sure to have your cover letters/resume ready to go on December 1; the other school might even get you interviews at some of the firms prior to having grades.

And it's still worth dropping an LOCI to the school to the south.

You are at UT now correct? I'm debating with sitting out a cycle while working in Dallas to establish in state residency for UT. ugh way too many thoughts about this crap right now haha.

Tell me about it - It's finals week for me and I'm about to have a breakdown haha

[Mandakay16]

Nothing special in DC, but it's well respected and those that seek to go govt from it do fairly well (though usually not DC). Most importantly, at least it gives you a reasonable shot at a job.

As for my latter comment, get up to a 158 or better and you've got a decent shot at GW with your GPA. 159 would put you at 25th/75th for GW's LSAT/GPA.

I withdrew from pretty much everywhere else so, I'll most definitely be at SMU this fall

[bound]

Nothing special in DC, but it's well respected and those that seek to go govt from it do fairly well (though usually not DC). Most importantly, at least it gives you a reasonable shot at a job.

As for my latter comment, get up to a 158 or better and you've got a decent shot at GW with your GPA. 159 would put you at 25th/75th for GW's LSAT/GPA.

I withdrew from pretty much everywhere else so, I'll most definitely be at SMU this fall

congrats!

[bound]

Popping in to say hi and bye to everyone.

I've decided I won't be attending law school. Considering the fact that I would be 50 at graduation at which point I would have to start paying for my son's college and my daughter's the following year, I can't justify the cost. Since I don't have the desire to pursue big law high dollar jobs (and my age would probably keep me out anyway), I can't forgo 3 years of income, pay $25K per year for school, and then end up in a job making less than I am now. In the end it just doesn't make sense.

I'm going to continue writing and satisfy my public service itch in some other way.

Anyway, good luck to all of you. It was fun getting to "know" you a little. I wish you all great success!

Good luck to you!!