Should I ED BU? Please Help! Forum

[neilnb]

My GPA and LSAT are 3.69 and 163. I am thinking about the BU bound early decision(with no scholarship available). My parents are really pessimistic about it, so they think ED BU is a safety choice since the BU median is 166, and I like Boston a lot. However, I am a little bit undecided, because I am thinking maybe I can get some scholarship probability in other T25 schools, and I will certainly apply to BU in regular decisions. However, sometimes I am anxious that maybe all of the T25 schools will not accept me at all, so I am really undecided on my ED choice.

Please help... it is such a difficult decision to make.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Sorry to say that you probably won't get in either way. ED only helps when you're on the bubble to begin with. If you want to go to BC/BU you should focus on getting your LSAT score up so you can get admitted easily - i.e. with a big tuition discount.

[cavalier1138]

In addition to the above (which was all correct), your post raises all kinds of red flags for me. You sound like you're set on going to a law school--any law school--this cycle, no matter the cost or likely job outcomes.

What are your career goals?

[neilnb]

Sorry to say that you probably won't get in either way. ED only helps when you're on the bubble to begin with. If you want to go to BC/BU you should focus on getting your LSAT score up so you can get admitted easily - i.e. with a big tuition discount.

I am surprised about your reply because of GPA and LSAT calculator said there is a 67% chance of getting in BU if I apply through early decision, and 58% if I apply through regular decision. I am not planning on retaking the LSAT since I already took it 5 times. The problem is that I do not want to wait another year, and my family would support me (that's pretty sad too) on the tuition part. By applying to BU in early decision and making it clear that I do not want merit-based scholarship, I thought I have a fair chance of getting in BU... I attend a top 50 liberal art college, and I saved a decent amount of money during undergrad (scholarship) to pay for law school. I am also an international student, but I attend undergrad in the States. Therefore, I am kind of surprised that you said there is almost no chance of me getting into BU by ED, (with all of my respect, and I greatly appreciate your help). I am not sure whether I am being too optimistic about it or not. After taking the LSAT so many time, I do not feel like I can get into a T14 school, since my mock score are always between 164-168, and a 163 makes some sense under exam pressure.

[neilnb]

In addition to the above (which was all correct), your post raises all kinds of red flags for me. You sound like you're set on going to a law school--any law school--this cycle, no matter the cost or likely job outcomes.

What are your career goals?

I am grateful for your reply and help me. I took the LSAT five times and I already waited for an admission circle from last year. I had done all the LSAT prep test currently available for 3 or 4 times maybe (I can kind of remember the answers of the PTs), and I am not sure how much I can improve. I would like to try big law as my career goal, but I would be satisfied if I can get into a regional mid-law too. The problem is that I only have a student visa and I am international. Therefore, I think it is really uncertain for me because I do not know what kind of law firms will sponsor me with H1B (working visa), and I am not sure about my 1L performance. If not, I may have to go back to my home country in Asia with much lower pay (domestic firm) or a large international firm office in Hong Kong or other large cities. I want to work on the capital market or corporate law as my interest. Therefore, my family and I decided to target a high ranking school no matter the cost, and there is almost no chance of me getting into a T14 or T15-T20 for sure, so I am thinking that early decision BU (making it clear I do not want scholarship) could be a pretty solid decision, since BU gives a better employment exposure to international market than Emory, Minnesota, BC, or Alabama. Its just I really do not want to wait another year, and I quit my job to prepare the LSAT full time, and my mock exam sore is around 164-167, and 163 is a solid performance under exam pressure I think.

[cavalier1138]

It sounds like you're looking at the LSAC "calculator," which just isn't accurate. So stop relying on that. Use MyLSN if you're curious about stats.

If you want biglaw (which is what you need for that H1B visa), then you need a T13 school. You aren't getting that with your current LSAT, which is a problem, because you've already taken the test five times. I guess the real question is whether your parents are willing to "invest" $300,000 on a 30% chance that you get an offer in the field you're hoping for.

BU gives a better employment exposure to international market than Emory, Minnesota, BC, or Alabama.

Where did this idea come from?

[neilnb]

It sounds like you're looking at the LSAC "calculator," which just isn't accurate. So stop relying on that. Use MyLSN if you're curious about stats.

If you want biglaw (which is what you need for that H1B visa), then you need a T13 school. You aren't getting that with your current LSAT, which is a problem, because you've already taken the test five times. I guess the real question is whether your parents are willing to "invest" $300,000 on a 30% chance that you get an offer in the field you're hoping for.

BU gives a better employment exposure to international market than Emory, Minnesota, BC, or Alabama.

Where did this idea come from?

I talked with several international students in BU and Emory, but that sample may not be representational. However, I certainly believe that the legal job market for Alabama and Minnesota are more limited and regional than BU or GW... I look at MyLSN too, and I think that gives an above 55% for getting into BU. I don't know, but maybe I am just pretty optimistic about those outcomes. I do care about money, but I saved a decent amount by going to an undergrad with a scholarship. What really matter is whether I can perform great at 1L... Thank you so much again! I just need more perspectives on it.

[cavalier1138]

I talked with several international students in BU and Emory, but that sample may not be representational. However, I certainly believe that the legal job market for Alabama and Minnesota are more limited and regional than BU or GW

I think that Alabama and Minnesota are going to have more limited reach within the US, but I'm not at all convinced that BU and Emory have greater international reach. I don't think any of these schools have "international reach" in any real sense of the word.

What really matter is whether I can perform great at 1L

That's true. So what are you going to do if you perform at or below median?

[neilnb]

I talked with several international students in BU and Emory, but that sample may not be representational. However, I certainly believe that the legal job market for Alabama and Minnesota are more limited and regional than BU or GW

I think that Alabama and Minnesota are going to have more limited reach within the US, but I'm not at all convinced that BU and Emory have greater international reach. I don't think any of these schools have "international reach" in any real sense of the word.

What really matter is whether I can perform great at 1L

That's true. So what are you going to do if you perform at or below median?

I thought that employers in China, at least, heard of BU and Emory more frequently than the other two schools, even though they have similar rankings. After all, I would accept enrolling in an Inhouse position at a corporation if I strike out during 1L and OCI, no matter in the States or not, that is the worst-case scenario. Well, I am just striving for the best case and prepared for the worst case.

[cavalier1138]

After all, I would accept enrolling in an Inhouse position at a corporation if I strike out during 1L and OCI, no matter in the States or not, that is the worst-case scenario. Well, I am just striving for the best case and prepared for the worst case.

What gave you the impression that in-house was a backup for people who failed to snag a biglaw position at OCI?

[trebekismyhero]

After all, I would accept enrolling in an Inhouse position at a corporation if I strike out during 1L and OCI, no matter in the States or not, that is the worst-case scenario. Well, I am just striving for the best case and prepared for the worst case.

What gave you the impression that in-house was a backup for people who failed to snag a biglaw position at OCI?

I will say that I went to law school with a good number of students from China and Korea. Most wanted to stay in the U.S. and I'd say it was 50/50 at best, but it seems like most of those that did not were able to get jobs at companies in Asia. I don't know anything about pay or their responsibilities, but at least anecdotally it seems like in-house out of law school is more common in Asia than U.S.

[The Lsat Airbender]

OP will know much better than any of us what the job market is like in their home country. Hard to imagine that the cost of attending BC would be worth it unless mom and dad are very well-connected and can hook OP up with something special (and/or are offering to pay tuition themselves). Honestly sounds like "international reach" means "my parents have heard of the school and could pitch me to their friends at home with a straight face".

[neilnb]

After all, I would accept enrolling in an Inhouse position at a corporation if I strike out during 1L and OCI, no matter in the States or not, that is the worst-case scenario. Well, I am just striving for the best case and prepared for the worst case.

What gave you the impression that in-house was a backup for people who failed to snag a biglaw position at OCI?

I won't say it is a backup but rather a decision I have to make if I cannot obtain H1B visa, and I thought having a JD gives decent placement outcomes in transnational corporations (divisions in my country).