So to circle back around to everyone and put closure on this discussion....

After visiting both Rutgers-Camden and UNLV, UNLV came out on top. I mean, the biggest drawback was the fear that I might like living out there too much to want to move back east!  So my seat deposit was submitted to UNLV...

...and then I withdrew the seat deposit when I was accepted to Temple! (UNLV really is wonderful, they were great and agreed not to deposit my check).  So in the end, I'm starting at Temple Univ Beasley School of Law in August. Funny how things work out!

It's all about where you want to live - Sacramento or New Jersey. The good thing about Rutgers-Camden is that it carries well throughout NJ so you aren't stuck in Camden, by any means. And, by the way, if you aren't familiar with Camden the surrounding areas are actually nice. Supposedly R-C also places OK in Philly (which is across the river), but you're dealing with a LOT of competition there. But going to R-C can get you a GREAT judicial clerkship.

I visited both schools, and applied only to Rutgers-Camden. But I'm an east coast girl, so that choice was easy. Also, when I visited Pacific-McGeorge during July of last summer, I chatted with a recent graduate who was there studying for the bar. He seemed rather obviously disgruntled. Seemed like he chose to go there over "better" schools because of a scholarship, but now can't find a job. Remember that California is a big market for people to move to so there is not necessarily any local loyalty. People from the T-14 will relocate to CA for jobs, so employers can be picky.  And, well, Jersey is Jersey.

Good luck if you haven't decided yet!

Thanks for all the opinions. This discussion has turned into the discussion that's been going on in my head for weeks now.   

LSU seems great, but I think I'm at a point to pass on it. It would be a lot of fun and offers great opportunities with the common/civil law aspect, but I don't want to be in Louisiana forever.

So now it's really just between UNLV and Rutgers. I'm visiting each (again) over the next two weekends for their respective accepted students days.... hopefully that will make the decision for me!

My husband and I are in a similar situation. Not that the pre-existing condition is excluded, but that the yearly pharmacy coverage is not even what one month of his prescription costs. We were told to look into private healthcare   We're contacting the non-profit group for his disease to see if the have suggestions.

Basically, the student health insurance coverage is bare bones, emergency medical only. No good for someone who has a hefty monthly prescription.

Let's share whatever info we find.

Best of luck to you.

I'll be honest, I did not read the entire original post, and I did not read any of the responses so if what I'm about to say has already been said... well, sorry.

Retake the LSAT.  For non-trads, the LSAT definitely outweighs GPA. I say this from my own experience.

Here's the quick stats for others like me who don't want to read the whole post: 2.85 UG GPA, LSAT (Feb 08)= 157, LSAT (June 08) = 162

Although not to the same extent as you, I am also quite a few years removed from school. What you are doing right now is almost exactly where I was one year ago. I studied during the month of January and took the early Feb LSAT, debating whether to jump into the application ring so late in the game. I'm a married female who wants to start a family, so each year that school takes is a year in waiting to start a family - obviously starting early was very important to me. I scored a very disappointing 157 (I was devastated). I knew I had the potential to do much better than that. Add into it that applying so late in the game to schools not only limits where you can potentially get in, but also wipes out almost any chance of getting scholarship monies, and I begrudingly decided to re-take the LSAT and apply early in the cycle this year for the best opportunity for acceptances and scholarship.

The extra time with the LSAT paid off. Practice test scores were in the mid to high 160's (so I, unfortunately, was absolutely distraught when I got my 162 score - but I digress). I did not get my applications out early like intended, but with December/January apps and the better LSAT, I've been accepted to multiple top 100 schools, all with nice scholarships.

And the person who told you 1 year out and the school no longer matters is lying. They clearly did not go to a good school. Obviously HOW you do at the school and the connections you make matter significantly for wherever you go, but the name of that school is with you forever. I thank my stars everyday that I did not apply last year. Last year I was looking at schools like Dayton and Roger William and doubting if I would get in. Now I'm deciding between schools ranked in the 80's to 70's with respectable names and the scholarships they've given me. (ok other LSD'ers, i know you would rather die than go to a school ranked 77, but we didn't all choose studying over fun in college)   

The reputation of the school and the scholarships I've gotten are going to help get me out of (less) debt a whole lot faster than if I went through and applied last year. It sucks to wait a year, but do it. You'll be better off in the long run....especially when your long-run isn't as long as everybody elses. You don't have the luxury of taking 5 years to work your way up to making the big bucks. You need to go somewhere that can qualify you for a great money-making job right away.

So that's my opinion. Best of luck to you, whatever it is you choose.