3.46 / 172 split with a job locked down post undergrad. Forum

[rationalhound]

As the title said, I'm sitting at a 172 LSAT and a 3.46 GPA in electrical engineering. I have a job offer all but in hand from a power company paying $65-70k right out of undergrad. The various admission calculators put me as somewhere from sure-thing to 50/50 for the lower half of the t14, 75-20% for CCN and 25-0% for HYS. Given my split and the numbers, I'm guessing it's not worth it to apply T3, probably worth CCN and I should expect some $$$ from lower t14.

I guess what I'm looking for is some validation. Is throwing the yale-mary worth it with my EE background? The chances I found for CCN are non-predictive given their range; what are realistic expectations? And how much money is "$$$"? Should I take my $65k and run for the hills, forgetting I ever heard the words 'law school'?

My softs are nothing special, greek and non-greek leadership along with co-ops with power company that has heavily insinuated a job awaits me. I'd like to do biglaw patent litigation and prosecution, with my backup being litigation, and a third choice of criminal law.

[Crowing]

HYSB are out. Good odds at UVA on down. Penn is kinda a bitch to RD traditional splitters so chances there are probably a bit lower. To the extent that CCN means anything (spoilers: it doesn't) you have a good chance at NYU and a not so good but plausible chance at CLS/UChi.

You'll probably get like in the 50k range for $ from much of the T14. It's possible you might get a lot more from some places (I'm thinking NU) but you may also get some sticker offers.

Whether or not LS is worth it to you is going to be largely dependent on how much you want to be a lawyer and why you would want to be a lawyer, so nobody can really answer that for you based on the limited information in the OP.

[rationalhound]

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Seems I'll be putting most of my effort into Michigan, Northwestern and Chicago, as I'm planing to stick around the midwest. I might apply to at least one of HYS anyways, if only to have the rejection letter to show off.

You'll probably get like in the 50k range for $ from much of the T14. It's possible you might get a lot more from some places (I'm thinking NU) but you may also get some sticker offers.

Does sticker translate to full ride or no ride?

Whether or not LS is worth it to you is going to be largely dependent on how much you want to be a lawyer and why you would want to be a lawyer, so nobody can really answer that for you based on the limited information in the OP.

I'm still working on that one. I know a fair number of lawyers, and have spent enough time shadowing and talking with lawyers to know I'd be happier as a lawyer than as an engineer. If that translates to being worth $300,000+ and a worse job market isn't a question I expect the internet to be able to answer for me; it's a decision I'll make next spring.

[malleus discentium]

Sticker price. As in, with no discounts.

[rationalhound]

An admit that might as well be a reject. Gotcha.

[Mullens]

If you want to stay in the midwest, consider applying Early Decision to Northwestern. People with your numbers got it this cycle and it comes with a $150,000 scholarship. Just make sure they renew the scholarship program for next cycle before committing. I had numbers in the same ballpark as you and after doing research into scholarship numbers, I decided I would probably max out my money by EDing NU.

[SFSpartan]

If you want to do patent prosecution, having some actual WE makes you a more attractive candidate for a big firm, as your WE makes you more marketable to clients. Get of year of WE, see how you like it, and then apply to LS.

[twenty]

Almost regardless of what you end up with, sit it out at least a year, possibly two years.* If you realize you have a ton of upward mobility and will be making 120k by the time you're 30, stay where you're at. If you love your job, stay where you're at. If, after 1-2 years of work, you decide you still want to go to law school, then go.

The difference being you'll have some substantial work experience in hand for on campus interviewing, hopefully a whole bunch of savings built up so you limit your debt numbers, and a way better idea of the career you'd be leaving behind to do law school.

Good luck.

*unless you get a full ride to a T14, because that's going to be hit and miss with your numbers. Maybe consider taking that.

[Nomo]

Almost regardless of what you end up with, sit it out at least a year, possibly two years.* If you realize you have a ton of upward mobility and will be making 120k by the time you're 30, stay where you're at. If you love your job, stay where you're at. If, after 1-2 years of work, you decide you still want to go to law school, then go.

The difference being you'll have some substantial work experience in hand for on campus interviewing, hopefully a whole bunch of savings built up so you limit your debt numbers, and a way better idea of the career you'd be leaving behind to do law school.

Good luck.

*unless you get a full ride to a T14, because that's going to be hit and miss with your numbers. Maybe consider taking that.

THIS! Working a few more years will help you in the IP market and it also gives you way more flexibility. You're not making biglaw money now, but you're at least making money instead of borrowing it. If you find that you like your job and your salary is increasing it might make the most sense to stay in it. If you're not happy in your job law school will still be there.