Dickinson

[pugqueen]

Ok...I'm looking for someone to give me the real scoop on Dickinson Law. I have heard they moved out of the 3rd tier recently. How hard is it to get in? They market themselves as though it would fairly difficult.

Anything anyone knows would be helpful to hear (as long as it's true) 

[pugqueen]

Thanks so much...that is what I thought. I was under the impression they were tier 3 until very recently.  I went to PSU for my undergrad and since their move to University Park, they have been more aggressively marketing their school.

[lawschoolappl7]

Their bar passage rates are terrible, so they need aggressive marketing to get students to go there. 

For two years running, Penn State-Dickinson has had the lowest bar passage rate for first-time takers of all seven law schools in Pennsylvania, including Widener-Harrisburg:

2007 bar passage:
http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examination/Statistics/pdfs/0707stats.pdf
 
2008 bar passage:
http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examination/Statistics/pdfs/0708stats.pdf
 
And the school's reputation score in US News given by judges and lawyers (that is, future employers), has actually gone DOWN.

[SavoyTruffleShuffle]

PSU as a whole is obviously very well-known and has a pretty good reputation, which probably helps the law school a little bit as far as rankings

[JDLLMCPA]

Their bar passage rates are terrible, so they need aggressive marketing to get students to go there. 

For two years running, Penn State-Dickinson has had the lowest bar passage rate for first-time takers of all seven law schools in Pennsylvania, including Widener-Harrisburg:

2007 bar passage:
http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examination/Statistics/pdfs/0707stats.pdf
 
2008 bar passage:
http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examination/Statistics/pdfs/0708stats.pdf


How is 80% terrible when the state rate is 83% and U Penn is 95% which obviously brings the average up?
 

[JDLLMCPA]

My guesss is that it will be a considerably better regarded school in 5 years given the PSU reputation and new facility.

[Ninja1]

Their bar passage rates are terrible, so they need aggressive marketing to get students to go there. 

For two years running, Penn State-Dickinson has had the lowest bar passage rate for first-time takers of all seven law schools in Pennsylvania, including Widener-Harrisburg:

2007 bar passage:
http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examination/Statistics/pdfs/0707stats.pdf
 
2008 bar passage:
http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examination/Statistics/pdfs/0708stats.pdf
 
And the school's reputation score in US News given by judges and lawyers (that is, future employers), has actually gone DOWN.

You need to look further down the page. The first set of numbers is factoring in all people from the various schools that are taking the bar, even repeaters, and the repeaters are dragging down the overall number.

Better bar passage number for first timers (87% v. state average of 83%):

http://officialguide.lsac.org/SearchResults/SchoolPage_PDFs/ABA_LawSchoolData/ABA2187.pdf

My biggest concerns about Penn State at the moment would be they're still doing the relocation thing and it's really expensive for a public school even for instate.

[SavoyTruffleShuffle]

As far as I can tell, there's no difference between tuition for in-state or out-of-state students... which to me makes no sense, since naturally PSU is a state school. Temple and Pitt are much better state school options, as they cost less and offer better job prospects.

[Ninja1]

As far as I can tell, there's no difference between tuition for in-state or out-of-state students... which to me makes no sense, since naturally PSU is a state school. Temple and Pitt are much better state school options, as they cost less and offer better job prospects.

I think Michigan, Michigan State, and maybe Virgina (one of these three, doesn't belong, hey!) have the "state school with private tuition" thing going too.

Maybe the state is making PSU pay for the new building for the law school?

[futurelawyergal]

Dickinson is private so that is why it is the same tuition for in-state and out of state. I've heard rumors that the Carlisle campus is being phased out, so perhaps eventually there will be a price drop for in-state. PSU is not a totally public school, it is consider a "land grant" school and receives less state aid than other state schools. I am a senior at PSU. State College is fun and I've heard that the law school is being quite generous with scholarships. I think the PSU name will help the school out a lot and the new building looks nice.