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Choosing the Right Law School / 0L looking for some advice
« on: April 22, 2009, 07:22:05 PM »
Alright, here's my situation: I'm finishing up my first two years of college in about seven weeks or so at a community college. I've applied to two schools for transfer admission beginning in the fall: University of South Florida, which I'm in at, and George Washington University, which I'm still waiting to hear back from. Obviously, my preference is to end up at GWU, especially considering I am majoring in International Affairs and they have one of the top programs in the country. However, GWU is insanely expensive, and I'll end up in considerable debt if I go. On the flip side of that, USF will virtually be free. The Pell Grant and a $4,000 scholarship I've received will cover all tuition and books. At the moment, my plan is to pursue law school after I finish college rather than a career in International Affairs. Of course GWU is an insanely better and more respected school than USF in every way. However, if I am intent on getting into a top law school (top 14), do I need to go to GWU or is USF a good enough school to get me into a top 14 assuming I end up with a high enough GPA and LSAT? I know law school will burden me with huge debt, so I would prefer to go into law school with no undergrad debt. But if GWU will actually increase my chances of hitting a top 14 just by virtue of the brand name over USF, it might be worth it. Let me know what you think.