SMU 2012 Forum

[favrefire4]

I had forgotten all about SMU and decided to check their status checker. Updated 4/16/12 to say waitlisted. HUGE reverse splitter, so I'm pretty surprised to even get this 155/3.8

[sarahmargie]

I got waitlisted too, but I withdrew immediately.

[BVest]

From UH thread:

For those trying to choose between SMU and UH I compiled some numbers from the new 2011 employment data released from http://placementsummary.abaquestionnaire.org/ All percentages are rounded up. Feel free to check my math but for the most part I think it is accurate.

UH
Total employment: 92%
Total employment minus temporary employment: 90%
Total employment minus temporary employment & 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 71%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 17%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 14%
Academia minus temporary work: 1%

SMU
Total employment: 87%
Total employment minus temporary work: 79%
Total employment minus temporary employment and 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 65%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 19%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 10%
Academia minus temporary work: <1%

[swilson215]

From UH thread:

For those trying to choose between SMU and UH I compiled some numbers from the new 2011 employment data released from http://placementsummary.abaquestionnaire.org/ All percentages are rounded up. Feel free to check my math but for the most part I think it is accurate.

UH
Total employment: 92%
Total employment minus temporary employment: 90%
Total employment minus temporary employment & 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 71%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 17%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 14%
Academia minus temporary work: 1%

SMU
Total employment: 87%
Total employment minus temporary work: 79%
Total employment minus temporary employment and 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 65%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 19%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 10%
Academia minus temporary work: <1%

This is interesting, but a lot of those "survey response" data collections are flawed.

[Stevoman]

From UH thread:

For those trying to choose between SMU and UH I compiled some numbers from the new 2011 employment data released from http://placementsummary.abaquestionnaire.org/ All percentages are rounded up. Feel free to check my math but for the most part I think it is accurate.

UH
Total employment: 92%
Total employment minus temporary employment: 90%
Total employment minus temporary employment & 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 71%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 17%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 14%
Academia minus temporary work: 1%

SMU
Total employment: 87%
Total employment minus temporary work: 79%
Total employment minus temporary employment and 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 65%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 19%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 10%
Academia minus temporary work: <1%

Be careful using these kinds of statistics to draw conclusions. Texas Tech has a 93% total employment, and UT is only sitting at 89%...is UT worse than both UH and TTU?

[zanzbar]

From UH thread:

For those trying to choose between SMU and UH I compiled some numbers from the new 2011 employment data released from http://placementsummary.abaquestionnaire.org/ All percentages are rounded up. Feel free to check my math but for the most part I think it is accurate.

UH
Total employment: 92%
Total employment minus temporary employment: 90%
Total employment minus temporary employment & 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 71%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 17%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 14%
Academia minus temporary work: 1%

SMU
Total employment: 87%
Total employment minus temporary work: 79%
Total employment minus temporary employment and 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 65%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 19%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 10%
Academia minus temporary work: <1%

Be careful using these kinds of statistics to draw conclusions. Texas Tech has a 93% total employment, and UT is only sitting at 89%...is UT worse than both UH and TTU?

Well I think this isn't that bad to use as a comparison the source of the number breaks it down better than this by distinguishing by # of attorneys at a firm. Also they are viewed as peer schools where as I don't think anyone considers TTU or UT peers.

[bringyourlunch]

From UH thread:

For those trying to choose between SMU and UH I compiled some numbers from the new 2011 employment data released from http://placementsummary.abaquestionnaire.org/ All percentages are rounded up. Feel free to check my math but for the most part I think it is accurate.

UH
Total employment: 92%
Total employment minus temporary employment: 90%
Total employment minus temporary employment & 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 71%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 17%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 14%
Academia minus temporary work: 1%

SMU
Total employment: 87%
Total employment minus temporary work: 79%
Total employment minus temporary employment and 90% of business (mostly retail gigs etc.): 65%
Firm employment minus temporary employment: 53%
Firm employment minus temporary employment & small firms (solos and 2-10): 31%
Biglaw employment (firms with 50+ attorneys): 19%
Government & public interest employment minus temporary work: 10%
Academia minus temporary work: <1%

Be careful using these kinds of statistics to draw conclusions. Texas Tech has a 93% total employment, and UT is only sitting at 89%...is UT worse than both UH and TTU?

Well I think this isn't that bad to use as a comparison the source of the number breaks it down better than this by distinguishing by # of attorneys at a firm. Also they are viewed as peer schools where as I don't think anyone considers TTU or UT peers.

That's it. I'm withdrawing and going to UH

[bringyourlunch]

Since we are talking about employment outlooks, I'm going bounce a hypothetical off of y'all. Say you just started a construction management job that started you off at 52,000. The salary ceiling is probably somewhere around 100,000 and would take 10-15 years to reach. SMU offered you 26,000/yr, you have enough money saved to at least pay rent for the first 2 years of school. Would you guys keep the job, or take the scholarship?

[fathergoose]

Since we are talking about employment outlooks, I'm going bounce a hypothetical off of y'all. Say you just started a construction management job that started you off at 52,000. The salary ceiling is probably somewhere around 100,000 and would take 10-15 years to reach. SMU offered you 26,000/yr, you have enough money saved to at least pay rent for the first 2 years of school. Would you guys keep the job, or take the scholarship?

It depends on whether you want to be a lawyer or you want to be in construction management. Don't go to law school, SMU or any other for that matter, if you are even remotely wishy-washy about wanting to be a lawyer.

[AgLaw]

My application status just changed with part time being the only option... I know this happened to some people right before they were accepted to the part time program, has anyone had their status change and then they weren't admitted?

[Oftranch]

withdrew $15,000/yr going back to y'all

[mxmatt137]

Despite the comments on here saying that SMU doesn't negotiate scholarships I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately I had the same luck as the rest of the people who tried. I hate to turn down such a generous offer, but I will very likely be withdrawing this week. Congrats to those that have chosen SMU, and good luck to everyone still waiting on a response!

[futurejdgirl]

I applied mid-Feb and haven't heard a peep.
3.09/162.

Should I just assume I'm not in?

[Titleist]

I applied mid-Feb and haven't heard a peep.
3.09/162.

Should I just assume I'm not in?

FT looks bleak for you. My numbers were better an I got dinged FT and accepted PT.

[StarLightSpectre]

My status updated to Complete again on 4/25. I was originally held for further review in late Jan/early Feb.

IDK what that means.

[bringyourlunch]

Any current students ever hear of SMU grads practicing construction law?

[fathergoose]

Any current students ever hear of SMU grads practicing construction law?

Yes. Actually a couple firms who do just construction law interviewed at one of the OCI sessions. Also a course here on it.

[bringyourlunch]

Any current students ever hear of SMU grads practicing construction law?

Yes. Actually a couple firms who do just construction law interviewed at one of the OCI sessions. Also a course here on it.

Good to hear

[zx92027xz]

Was held before. Now "Application Completed _ 4/25/2012" with nothing else visible at all (nothing in mailings, fees or requirements.) Bad news coming, or do they blank out everyone when a decision letter is in the mail?

[mxmatt137]

Was held before. Now "Application Completed _ 4/25/2012" with nothing else visible at all (nothing in mailings, fees or requirements.) Bad news coming, or do they blank out everyone when a decision letter is in the mail?

I'm not sure in your case, but I was accepted and never had anything in mailings, fees, or requirements. I would expect a response soon.

[StarLightSpectre]

Was held before. Now "Application Completed _ 4/25/2012" with nothing else visible at all (nothing in mailings, fees or requirements.) Bad news coming, or do they blank out everyone when a decision letter is in the mail?

Same thing happened to me.

[zanzbar]

I have been sitting at 4/10 complete, should I call them to see what's going on?

[Archoholic]

I have been sitting at 4/10 complete, should I call them to see what's going on?

I've got the same status, and while it's killing me to wait, I don't believe calling them will result in my learning anything worthwhile.

[zanzbar]

I gave in to temptation, decisions are going to be mailed out next week.

[Archoholic]

I gave in to temptation, decisions are going to be mailed out next week.

They told you that the "4/10 Application completed" status people's decision letters will be mailed next week? Or that yours will be, specifically?