Law School Discussion

Are you more excited about spending the rest of your life in Cleveland or Philadelphia?  I'd choose Cleveland, personally.  But if you prefer Philly, go 'Nova.

I do not plan to spend the rest of my life at either city, but I could happily start a career at either. Honestly I am a little worried about the prospect of a decade in Cleveland ... Been there a few times and I'm from a city with a similar feel (Pittsburgh; therefore, I was trained to dislike Cleveland at an early age). Philadelphia is a nice place to live and things have been on the upswing for it since the early 90s.

Actually, Here's a new question from the OP:
How many years of legal experience does a T2 grad need before he can effectively search for employment outside their law school's home market?

From one PA resident to another: Duquesne

find a job instead of taking on more debt to live.

Wow, you have just given me much to think about with one very succinct statement.

The way I see it, you are going to law school to put off paying your debt.

You are correct in that I would prefer paying off my debts following the completion of my education, but I am going to law school because I want to practice law. So for me debt is determining the time I go to law school, not the reason.

If you go to law school this fall, and graduate in 3 years with another $100,000 in debt, will you be able to pay the bills?

I don't know. Like everyone else I harbor the "nose to the grindstone" / "can do" mentality so that really depends on my class rank.

But:

Will I be happier struggling in a profession that I sincerely want to work in than working whatever job I could muster with my liberal arts education (BAs in History in Anthropology from a state school)? Yeah.

GetUpGetDown's Situation:

Villanova @ Cost or Case Western w/ $13,000 per year? ... Tuition @ both schools is absurd.

I plan on practicing in either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. Will a Case Western degree carry to Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh for that matter? Additionally, will a Villanova degree carry to Pittsburgh?

I have yet to hear back from PITT and am assuming that is a sign of being waitlisted ... So we'll leave that school out of the equation for this post.

I am very interested in international law and will attempt to transfer to Georgetown, my ideal school, after 1L if I manage to get into the top of either school's class. Which school would give me a better shot at a transfer to Georgetown?

I know what you all are thinking: "Take a year off. Study hard for the LSAT to raise your score because you simply cannot count on transferring." Well I am unsure if a year off is a viable option at this point. I have a poor family situation and am practically homeless ... that is a sad term ... "domicile challenged" after I graduate next week. Thus, I am attending law school without any family backing/support. A break in my education will cause me to  start paying on my student loans (because I waived my grace period to consolidate them) and with the job market in my area I'm not sure I could support myself for the year. I don't know, perhaps I'm just being negative about the year off option. Do any of you feel that is the best option?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

My first practice was a 149 as well. I was shocked, but able to raise it to a 159 in time for the first test by cutting back on some deviant behaviors and taking the practice tests seriously (ie. silent environs with a desk and timer). Not a huge increase, but good enough for the schools I'm interested in ...