I think the last two posts, in conjunction, answer my query.

So, lots of schools are accused of being LSAT whores, which means that they offer admissions for high LSAT scores, just as regular whores offer sex for money.

Most whores have pimps in some form, and can rarely succeed without one (from "American Pimp").  Let's assume for now that law schools have a pimp.

Again, from the movie "American Pimp," we can learn the valuable lesson that "b!tch get no cut!"  That is, the pimp pays for the whore's expenses, helps ensure a steady flow of customers, and receives all of the whore's earnings. 

In the case of law school LSAT whores, the pimp would receive the high LSAT score while the school would offer admission.  But who plays this role of LS Pimp?  One is inclined to propose USNews.  For schools report the LSAT scores to USNews, much as a whore gives a pimp earned income.  But USNews does not take care of the school's expenses.  It only provides the school with more applicants, based on assigned ranking.  This is very pimplike, of course, but it's not enough.  Schools' geographic location will play easily as significant a role (overall).  Same with street corners.  A great pimp will get little business if his whore is on a suburban street corner near a flower shop (think Iowa). 

I am not proposing a tight analysis here, but I am uncertain as to whether "whore" is the appropriate metaphoric title for these schools.  I suspect that "slut" is a better fit.   Can anyone think of a (in my view, much needed) pimp for these LSAT whores?  Otherwise, NYU, for example, begins to look like a bit of a crack-addict.   

SGY:

I agree with virtually every one of your sentiments regarding Pittsburgh.  But you might do well to notice what your first sentence does. It condescends.  It sets forth a view of the good life as, by mere coincidence, that sort of life which you prefer.  Again, I am pretty much in agreement with you that Pittsburgh is a great place to live, and provides for wonderful quality of life for many people.  But those broadway plays, and those basketball games and those hipster clubs of NYC, or the powerful government hobknobbing and whatnot of DC, and painfully self-conscious coolness of SF are things which, in fact,  many people desire.  Perhaps they might change their mind later on after they "grow out of that phase."  But your suggestion is that, until such a maturing process takes place, they are incorrectly pursuing the wrong lifestyle, or are motivated too much by image, or don't understand what really makes them happy, etc. Virtually anyone who has it explained to them that their preference set is incorrect with react defensively.   


I understand that you are an advocate for a city you've recently come to love, and I applaud your enthusiasm.  Pittsburgh needs it. But your advocacy would be much more successful with suggestive comments and not proofs of Pittsburgh's relative superiority.  In other words, I recommend easing up on the slightly combative attitude and simply repeating one thing we both know.  Pittsburgh is a city virtually nothing like what most people think of it.  It's worth a visit. 

Nonetheless, I also recommend Pitt, but more strongly recommend not trusting the outcome of this pole. 

The law school isn't with the rest of the campus?  Wups.

Quote from: VivaLaMuerte on May 19, 2005, 03:34:36 PM

For what it's worth, I would have recommended Northwestern.  You've expressed inumberable times on this board how much you like State College but want to get away from that atmosphere.  Ann Arbor is a flatter, more expensive SC. Ann Arbor is a short car or bus from Detroit.  Northwestern is an even shorter train to Chicago.  There's a big difference there. 

But now that you've made your decision, have you considered playing it to your advantage with financial aid?  I imagine this has been recommended 10-15 times, but just in case . . .

just fyi, the Law School is in downtown Chicago.

For what it's worth, I would have recommended Northwestern.  You've expressed inumberable times on this board how much you like State College but want to get away from that atmosphere.  Ann Arbor is a flatter, more expensive SC. Ann Arbor is a short car or bus from Detroit.  Northwestern is an even shorter train to Chicago.  There's a big difference there. 

But now that you've made your decision, have you considered playing it to your advantage with financial aid?  I imagine this has been recommended 10-15 times, but just in case . . .