Top Law Schools

Hey! I know I'm going to get inundated with the cookie-cutter "Retake, reapply" response, but here're a few things to note about me:
- 2.97 GPA
- 157 LSAT
- Not going to be searching for a job after graduation; Already have a job lined up and it is basically as secure as a job can get
since it's at my family's real estate law firm.
- Will come back to Eastern PA (just north of Philly)
- It's about two hours from my home to both NYC and Baltimore
- I feel especially torn because I've heard fewer negative things about UB, but I've also heard that NYLS is a great school for real
estate law, which is what I'm really interested in.

Financial info:
NYLS- $20,000/yr with stipulation of 3.2 GPA (approx. top 30%). Scholarship renewable over all 3 years with flexibility of award
amount (both higher and lower) based on future performance (class rank). This brings the tuition and fees rate from $47K down
to $27 K. Also, my family already has an apartment across the bridge in Jersey City that they've offered me rent-free.

Baltimore- Scholarship info yet to be released. However, total tuition and fees for me would be approx. $19K. I would have
to find an apartment at Baltimore.

I'm not taking on any loans. I'm solely using savings to fund my law school education.

The overall cost of attendance will likely be about the same given my situation.


These are the two schools I've narrowed it down to. I'm having a hard time deciding between the two though.
If you were me, which one would you attend? Why would you pick that one?

Any helpful comments and advice are much appreciated!

Thanks!

You wait until you get the $$ at UB then go with the cheaper option. I know its the common advice but retake and apply to part time at Temple and work for your family while in school may be the best option.

whatever is cheaper

If you are 100% certain there will be a job for you when you graduate, just go to the cheapest option. In this case, I'd say go to Baltimore since there's a 70% chance you'll lose your NYLS scholly.

Baltimore is better. It is unlikely that you will keep your scholarship at NYLS if your previous GPA is any indication of future performance. I am assuming you can find a cheap-ish apartment in Baltimore as well (rents there are pretty low, right?)

Also Jersey City isn't exactly that close to NYLS. I would expect probably a 45-60 minute commute each way via Path/Subway. That and since you won't be living in the area its harder to meet people/have the full law school experience.

Generally the problem with these schools is that they have poor reputations (and so people may not employ you) not that the legal education you get is any better/worse at these schools compared to any others. So if you already have a job lined up afterwards, which one has more positive/negative things said about it may not really matter that much.

NYCLSATTutor wrote:Also Jersey City isn't exactly that close to NYLS. I would expect probably a 45-60 minute commute each way via Path/Subway. That and since you won't be living in the area its harder to meet people/have the full law school experience.

It's closer to a half hour, but the second point is a valid concern.

UB by far. NYLS is the closest thing to a scam without the name "University of Phoenix".

2LT_CPG wrote:UB by far. NYLS is the closest thing to a scam without the name "University of Phoenix".

I work for a place that examines judges and judicial staff. UB has great placement and representation in the MD court system (both Federal and State), I haven't seen a single person with NYLS.

justicefishy wrote:

2LT_CPG wrote:UB by far. NYLS is the closest thing to a scam without the name "University of Phoenix".

I work for a place that examines judges and judicial staff. UB has great placement and representation in the MD court system (both Federal and State), I haven't seen a single person with NYLS.

You haven't seen a single person in the Maryland court system from New York Law School? Shocking.

InGoodFaith wrote:

justicefishy wrote:

2LT_CPG wrote:UB by far. NYLS is the closest thing to a scam without the name "University of Phoenix".

I work for a place that examines judges and judicial staff. UB has great placement and representation in the MD court system (both Federal and State), I haven't seen a single person with NYLS.

You haven't seen a single person in the Maryland court system from New York Law School? Shocking.

Nationally.

That was too easy.

But seriously. UB.

Chiming in to vote for UB. FYI- rent in Baltimore is exceedingly cheap.

NYLS is not worth the money and that scholarship offer is far from secured for your three years of law school.

IMHO, Baltimore is the best of the two and cheapest option.
NOT TO MENTION, all those crabcakes.

ok more serious: why no NYLS:
1. expensive as hell
2. school's reputation is on decline recently (students suing the school?)
3. NYC area is expensive (even if you live on the other side)
4. Reputation of law fields (such as real estate) is really what you make of it. (work experience > school experience)

I'm going with UB, for all of the reasons above.

Baltimore is cheaper, COL is lower, and it doesn't have the stigma of NYLS.

Nyls does have a lot of hot dumb blondes though, which is worth something.