San Antonio, St. Mary's and general info

[ESagent]

Just seeing if anyone could give me some general info on the school and San Antonio.  I was recently accepted (fall 08) and am considering between St. Mary's and a couple other schools.

-What is the curve like?
-Are the professors good, bad, mixed?  Are they open and available to talk to?
-How is the San Antonio job market for St. Mary's grads?
-Is housing easy to get, close to the school and affordable?

Thanks in advance if you can answer any of these, I appreciate your help.

[Contract2008]

Which are the other couple of schools?

[ESagent]

Mainly Duquesne, but I am also somewhat considering Florida Coastal.

[Contract2008]

Why only these expensive private schools?  Did you apply to any lower cost state schools? Some state allow instate tuition after one year, you know?  Few even allow after only one semester. 

What are your numbers?  What about Texas Tech? Any chance of getting in? 

[ESagent]

Good point, I didn't even consider that since I am from Virginia and all the good public VA schools are above my range.  I guess it's almost too late now though....

[ESagent]

By the way my numbers are 152/3.22.  These numbers are usually lower than most public state schools that I've seen.

[Contract2008]

By the way my numbers are 152/3.22.  These numbers are usually lower than most public state schools that I've seen.

On the top of my head, I can think of a list of public schools that youc an apply to and most of them are non-tier 4.  Do you have anything unique....such as being a minority, work experience, over come obstacles, etc?  Your numbers are within the median range of most Tier 3 law schools, including the public ones. 

There are at least a handful of public law schools at Tier 3 that you can apply to and have a decent chance of getting in.  Some of them might even have low application fees such as $20 or $30 unlike private schools which usually charge close to $100.  Remember, these are solid schools that you don't have to worry about accredidation unlike some of these private tier 4 schools. 

[ESagent]

I am not a minority, but I have solid work experience/resume and have overcome some obstacles.  I also am considering the part-time route.  What public schools do you have in mind?

Thanks again for your help by the way.

[Contract2008]

Check your messages.  I sent you a PM.

[NATUREBOY]

Just seeing if anyone could give me some general info on the school and San Antonio.  I was recently accepted (fall 08) and am considering between St. Mary's and a couple other schools.

-What is the curve like?
-Are the professors good, bad, mixed?  Are they open and available to talk to?
-How is the San Antonio job market for St. Mary's grads?
-Is housing easy to get, close to the school and affordable?

Thanks in advance if you can answer any of these, I appreciate your help.

The curve is pretty brutal.  My class started with 260 students and we’re down to about 200.  The required median is C+, which translates to a 2.33.  Additionally, at least 10% of the class must get a C- or worse (which is below a 2.0) and only 20% of the class can get a B+ or better.  It’s really difficult to break a 3.0 GPA. 

The professors have an open door policy.  You will rarely need to schedule an appointment.  Most are pretty good.  Some aren’t.

The top 5% have a shot at biglaw.  Of the remaining 95%, the upper half typically take jobs with the DA or JAG, or with a small firm; and the bottom half start up their own firms.

There is pretty cheap housing close to campus.  They also set aside on campus housing for law/graduate students.