<p>So what would be the better choice for a student planning to go to law school? I've heard the gpa/lsat is all that matters. So am i better to go to a public university, save money, and be a part of the honors program OR go to higher ranked LAC/Private university and pile on the debt? This is relative to law school admissions NOT a comparison of which is "better".
Btw my specific case is Florida publics vs. the likes of emory, vandy, etc. (Also my family falls in that lovely class where we are too rich to get need aid and too poor to pay my way through college. AKA student loans will be my source to pay for college)</p>
<p>New College of Florida or the University of Florida would both be perfectly acceptable for pre-law. If you can maintain a high GPA (over 3.7) at the University of Florida, or excel at the New College (they don’t give out GPAs), along with a solid LSAT score, you should be able to get into a good Law school. Large debts are seldom worth it.</p>
<p>No, you shouldn’t pile on debt. You will regret it later.</p>
<p>I am against debt in almost every circumstance, but I think the decision rests on how much debt you’d accumulate ($200k is unacceptable no matter what and it is amazing that students take this load on), what type of law you want to practice and if you need a big named school to get there, and then can you get into a big named law school from whatever public institution you’re looking at. But at this point, from what I have read on CC, a lot of law school grads are unemployed, so I personally would pick the no debt option.</p>
<p>It sounds like the most important factor for you should be whether you take on a lot of debt, especially because law school will add even MORE debt. Probably a state school would be cheapest, but it is possible that you could get merit aid or even financial aid (even if you don’t think you qualify). Good luck sorting it out!</p>
<p>Much is made of “fit,” but you can get an excellent education at all these schools.</p>
<p>don’t pick a school based on what will get you into law school. In four years you’ll likely be wanting to do something else. pick the school where you feel like you fit in.</p>
<p>what grumpster and lynx said, x10</p>
<p>So am i better to go to a public university, save money, and be a part of the honors program OR go to higher ranked LAC/Private university and pile on the debt? This is relative to law school admissions NOT a comparison of which is “better”.
Btw my specific case is Florida publics vs. the likes of emory, vandy, etc.</p>
<p>If you’re going to need to borrow for law school, then minimize debt for undergrad. Yes, you may end up changing your mind about law school, but for now that is your goal, so don’t undermine it by piling on debt now.</p>
<p>The Stafford limits for undergrad + law school is about $138k. That may sound like a lot, but it’s not. Many law schools will cost more than that. Plus, that total includes whatever you borrow from Stafford for undergrad…hence the need to minimize undergrad debt. </p>
<p>BTW…the monthly payments for that debt would be…$1600 a month for 10 LONG years. Many attorneys (especially newer ones) would find that amount very hard to pay off. You would need an income of $190,500 per year to comfortably make those payments. It is doubtful that you would be earning that kind of money during the early years that you’d be paying back that debt. </p>
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<p>UF, FSU, New College, etc, will be fine for a pre-law program… See below…</p>
<p>Potential law students should choose courses that will enhance their abilities in the areas of critical thinking, oral and written expression, and logical and analytical reasoning. Applicants considering law school are encouraged to enroll in a broad range of courses that will help develop these skills.</p>
<p>Are you a junior or senior? What are your stats? Would you qualify to go OOS with merit scholarships that would be the same as instate rates? How much will your parents contribute each year? If you “save” them money, will they help a bit with law school?</p>
<p>Im a junior right now. Ive taken the ACT once and got a 30 and im taking the SAT on the 13th. Im hopin to pull that ACT to a 32 or 33 to get full paid OOS at 'Bama or Auburn possibly. 4.2W GPA. And my parents will contribute little to none. Theyre helpin pay for my brother right now at college and theyre quite behind in their own savings.</p>