Wake Law (sticker) or Rutgers Newark (sticker)?? Forum

[Mich_Guy]

I need your advice...I just found out that I got off the respective waitlists at both of these schools, but neither has offered any scholly ($$). I am prepared to pay sticker for a quality law school, and my aspirations are to pratice either IP Law OR to go the corporate route (possibly i-banking). I am a bit of a non-trad:

UGPA = 2.9 (Electrical Engineering)
LSAT = 153
3 yrs WE in banking and 6 yrs WE in engineering
MBA in Finance from a top 30 program
URM
Private tuition at Wake/Non-resident at Rutgers
I wouldn't mind practicing in either the southeast or the northeast. I just wanna know what you would do if you were in my shoes.

Any feedback??

PS - My only other choice was a 50% scholly at Michigan State, but I turned them down.

[jackalope11]

I honestly don't know much about the other two programs, but may I ask what made you decide against MSU?

No offense meant, I am just curious... I also applied there, and was really impressed with many facets of the school. I think that they may be on the rise, though I would certainly not claim to be an expert.

Was it the location, or did you see a red flag?

Again, just curiosity!

[dukivich10]

If you really did get into wake then I don't see the difficulty of this decision.

Wake...

[inSouthAmerica]

you will probably get residency at rutgers if you sign a lease in new jersey before july 1. you will definitely get residency for your 2nd and third years if you sign a year lease.

im going to rutgers newark so i love it and all, but everyones going to tell you to go to the school in the region that you want to work in with these 2 schools. and some people will tell you not to pay sticker for either.

[dukelawguy144]

both choices are truly mediocre, I would re-take and apply.

If you must go, wake forest is the better option IMO

[inSouthAmerica]

with OPs stats, he/she should be thrilled to go to Rutgers or Wake. a retake to 160 or even 165 isnt going to get them into the t14 with a 2.9 UGPA. therefore rather than pan OP for his/her "mediocre" choices, it would be nicer/friendlier to actually help them make a decision, which after trolling for a year on this site, common wisdom is that the decision comes down to where they would want to work and or limiting debt. rutgers will be cheaper, but it may not be where OP wants to work. you gotta make that decision, OP.

unless URM is the magic bullet and 165, 2.9 works, in which case i am wrong. thats a 12 point jump though, and a year away.

[Mich_Guy]

I honestly don't know much about the other two programs, but may I ask what made you decide against MSU?

No offense meant, I am just curious... I also applied there, and was really impressed with many facets of the school. I think that they may be on the rise, though I would certainly not claim to be an expert.

Was it the location, or did you see a red flag?

Again, just curiosity!

Actually, I decided against MSU on these grounds:

(1) I got both my undergraduate degree & my MBA from MSU

(2) I only received a 50% scholly offer (perhaps 100% would have been a game changer)

(3) I am from Michigan originally, and I wanted to diversify my education options (going to law school at MSU would mean 7 years at the same institution)

(4) MSU Law school is only ranked Tier-3/Tier 4 whereas in Wake Forest's case, they are top 40 nationally.

(5) The economy in Michigan sucks, and I wasn't sure what my career prospects would be if I decided to attend.

[jackalope11]

(1) I got both my undergraduate degree & my MBA from MSU

(2) I only received a 50% scholly offer (perhaps 100% would have been a game changer)

(3) I am from Michigan originally, and I wanted to diversify my education options (going to law school at MSU would mean 7 years at the same institution)

(4) MSU Law school is only ranked Tier-3/Tier 4 whereas in Wake Forest's case, they are top 40 nationally.

(5) The economy in Michigan sucks, and I wasn't sure what my career prospects would be if I decided to attend.

Sounds like all of these are very valid...

If the in-state tuition is really as easy to obtain in NJ as the above poster says, I might have to say Rutgers... However, I am VERY debt averse, so the ability to get in-state tuition would factor heavily in my decision.

Good luck with your decision!

[Mich_Guy]

both choices are truly mediocre, I would re-take and apply.

If you must go, wake forest is the better option IMO

I think I am going to go ahead with my decision to attend Wake. I really like the idea of settling and jumpstarting my career in NC after graduation anyway, and from what I hear, Wake still has a pretty good reputation in NC next to UNC and course Duke Law.

Thanks for the advice!