LSAT Advice

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by Flow

Good luck

Fellowship Interview went great. I should know whether or not I got it in the next few days but judging by their comments I think I did.

[raven1231]

Already heard back and I was offered the position with the Ohio Innocence Project if I go to UC of course. So, now I just need to work on a pro con list between UC and OSU in regard to my goals.

[raven1231]

I attended UC's admitted students day and was honestly very impressed. I think one advantage UC has over IU or OSU is their size. Their student to faculty ratio is much lower with approximately 300 students attending as apposed to 600-700 from OSU and IU.

Additionally, they seem to work with students throughout their entire time at the school making sure they not only find jobs but actually end up where they want to be when they graduate. This is largely made possible by their very large network, consisting of about three times the number of externships/internships as they have students.

On a random side note I noticed the DOJ has a honors program which seems to essentially line students up with jobs right out of school. All three of the schools I have narrowed it down to were schools that students from last year were selected from.

https://www.justice.gov/legal-career...evel-attorneys

Anyway, my fiancé and I are attending OSU's admitted students day this upcoming weekend and I hope to be able to make a decision after that. I will also attempt to negotiate my scholarship with OSU this week as well just incase I decided to go there.

[kch]

Originally Posted by raven1231

words words lol

Good to hear. The DOJ honors program is definitely something I wish I would've known about during LS (that or the SEC program). By the time I found out about it, it was too late. It sounds like a great option for sure.

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by kch

Good to hear. The DOJ honors program is definitely something I wish I would've known about during LS (that or the SEC program). By the time I found out about it, it was too late. It sounds like a great option for sure.

They definitely do sound like great options. I'm going to go into law school doing what I can to best position myself to get into the DOJ honors program. It is right inline with what I want to do.

I also sent my scholarship reconsideration email to OSU yesterday. From the sounds of it though they are being very stingy this year with scholarship money. There's a thread on the TLS forums that is nothing but people bitching about it. In fact several have gotten in T-20 and up schools with higher scholarships than they are getting offered from OSU. Some guy even said during their first admitted students week they essentially said they won't negotiate, and that "there are other things to consider when choosing a law school other than costs"....Like they are all of the sudden a T-14 school or something...Oh well though I figured it can't hurt to try.

I was also wait listed at Boston University which I really only applied to because of the fee waiver and as a way to negotiate scholarships but that doesn't look like it's going to work out ha ha.

[raven1231]

OSU is "reconsidering" who knew lol. I guess they do in some situations. Now watch it will be another 1,000 a year haha ! WOOOT!

[raven1231]

OSU bumped my scholarship money up $15,000 for a total of $55,500 bringing tuition to $30,000 If I go there. Definitely makes it more attractive but would still be a good chunk after living expenses.

[kch]

Originally Posted by raven1231

OSU bumped my scholarship money up $15,000 for a total of $55,500 bringing tuition to $30,000 If I go there. Definitely makes it more attractive but would still be a good chunk after living expenses.

tough decision. that money sure will be nice to have, though. i had such a crappy undergrad GPA (long story) that I didn't get any. $90k in the hole now. so don't expect much sympathy here

i'd be tempted to pick OSU based solely on the rankings, but if you're not shooting for biglaw or a clerkship, the rankings don't matter so much.

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by kch

tough decision. that money sure will be nice to have, though. i had such a crappy undergrad GPA (long story) that I didn't get any. $90k in the hole now. so don't expect much sympathy here

i'd be tempted to pick OSU based solely on the rankings, but if you're not shooting for biglaw or a clerkship, the rankings don't matter so much.

I think the biggest thing OSU has over UC is being know nationally and a much larger alumni network. I'm not interested in big law but honestly UC placed just as many people in top firms as OSU and IU-B (none of which were great, all were around 11% with UC being higher than IU). They also have a slightly higher job placement in JD required positions, which is definitely important, but both are fairly high.

I really don't know at this point, and hope the ASW might help me make a decision. If I lived by OSU it would be a no brainer, but unfortunately it's far enough away that I would need to get housing too.

[raven1231]

Ironically according to US NEWS UC places a higher percentage of graduates in 251-500, and 500+ size law firms than OSU. Not that either are high, just found it interesting.

251-500: 14% OSU, 18% UC
500+: 12% OSU, 14% UC

Also, OSU's higher job placement at 10 months out has to do more with their school funded positions which accounts for 18% of their employment, whereas UC has 0% school funded positions (Not that it is something you necessarily want).

[raven1231]

Well OSU's admitted students weekend was rather unimpressive. The students seemed like those I encountered at CWRU, which is to say they didn't come off as if they were very intelligent or really sure of anything. Another thing that turned me off was their arrogance and need to shit on schools that were quite frankly much better schools than OSU.

With that said I see myself leaning more and more towards UC. Their 2015 employment numbers were just submitted to the ABA and they continue to climb. Positioning themselves inline with OSU with an 88% employment at 10 months out, whereas OSU's is 89% but 18% of those are school funded positions whereas UC's are all non school funded long term jobs. Additionally, of those 88%-91% were employed in full-time bar passage JD required jobs compared to OSU's 80% ranking in this category.

Both schools seem to be very regional so I think OSU wouldn't necessarily give me a leg up in that regard either.

I just don't see OSU being worth the cost of housing, when I have a full-ride at UC and can live at home.

[kch]

Originally Posted by raven1231

I just don't see OSU being worth the cost of housing, when I have a full-ride at UC and can live at home.

Agreed. I think that's your answer.

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by kch

Agreed. I think that's your answer.

I think so too. I really wish ND would have gotten back to me at least, it still says it's going to be reviewed....Oh well I probably wouldn't have gotten much aid if any anyway.

[raven1231]

Well shit... My mind might change again. My fiance is going to hate me lol. I just go this email from IU, so we'll see what happens.

Email Image
Dear Jeffrey,

Greetings from Indiana Law! I hope this missive finds you well.

Our records indicate that you did not submit the enrollment confirmation form by the required date to secure your seat at Indiana law this fall. Before we withdraw your seat from the incoming class, however, we want to let you know that we have received additional scholarship money that we are to use to encourage excellent applicants like you to reconsider your decision to join Indiana Law this fall.

If you would like to be considered for additional aid as a way to encourage to join us this fall, please contact the Admissions office promptly at lawadmis@indiana.edu or at 812- 855- 4765. If, on the on the other hand, you are set on attending another law school this fall, please accept our best wishes to you on your educational and professional journey.

All the best,


Greg Canada
Assistant Dean of Admissions
Indiana University Maurer School of Law