<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I've been applying to law schools recently, and though I have spent an immense amount of time trying to objectively research my decision, I'm in a bit of a tough spot (not the worst place in the world, but definitely wanting for information). </p>
<p>I scored a 167 on the LSAT, and have a GPA between 3.2 and 3.5 with very strong "soft factors". I've been admitted to several schools (Notre Dame, W&L, UGA, Alabama, FSU), including a full-ride to Alabama--if I wait around I'll probably get some full-ride offers at other places as well. I also got a $20K/yr. scholarship from ND, so tuition there would be roughly $19K a year (plus CoL).</p>
<p>Here's the thing:
(1) I haven't been admitted to a T14, and I don't know that I will be (my best shot is Cornell, though I've also got apps in at Penn, Georgetown, and Vandy... the latter isn't a T14 but it might as well be).
(2) I have until January 29th to either accept my Notre Dame offer or have it revoked (ED/EA hybrid program).</p>
<p>I think I have a decent shot at Cornell (my LSAT is their median and my GPA is between their 25%tile and their median) and an outside shot at the other aforementioned schools. Also, I'm almost positive I'll get into Emory (and I think I want to work in the southeast, maybe FL), and that school is known for handing out alot of cash.</p>
<p>So those are the facts (well, sort of facts). I need to know what I should do, especially in terms of what threshold needs to be met for me to justifiably pass up the ND acceptance come Jan. 29th (e.g., a T14 acceptance, Emory before scholarship, Emory w/ $x scholarship, etc.). I guess you could break my question down into several components:</p>
<p>(1) Should I really be thinking T14 or bust? Notre Dame seems to have pretty strongly national placement (<a href="http://officialguide.lsac.org/SearchResults/SchoolPage_PDFs/ABA_LawSchoolData/ABA1841.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://officialguide.lsac.org/SearchResults/SchoolPage_PDFs/ABA_LawSchoolData/ABA1841.pdf</a> see the bottom right of the second page--states of bar passage) though it trails the T14 in Biglaw placement (even more so in V100 placement), even in 2005 before the economic downturn (<a href="http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/20080414employment_trends.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/20080414employment_trends.pdf</a>). When people say sub-T14s aren't worth going into debt for, does that include Notre Dame? Even with the half-scholarship?
(2) Is Emory a better fit for what I want to do? Even if it is, should I let the ND offer pass if I don't have an Emory acceptance in hand? What if I have an acceptance in hand, but no guarantee of a scholarship?
(3) If I get into Cornell, should I go there no matter what (assume no scholarship)? It's T14; does that mean it's prospects are infinitely better than ND?</p>
<p>Some thing you should probably know about me:
<em>I don't want Biglaw as a career, but I do find it attractive as a way to pay off loans and build some modest financial security.
*I want to make a career with the federal gov't--ideally via the DoJ Honors program--which still unfortunately takes some diploma prestige.
*I'd like to clerk for a federal judge my first year out of LS (wouldn't everyone).
*I *think</em> I'd like my career to be in the SE, possibly in Florida.</p>
<p>I am strongly Catholic, and love Notre Dame, but I'm trying to make these decisions in the most cool-headed, logical fashion possible. I'm also the type of person that will serve the community regardless of whether I'm around others that do. In searching these fora I've seen some input from some pretty authoritative sources: legal headhunters, long-time attorneys, hiring partners, etc., who have insider insight that no amount of internet research could possibly give me. I could really use your help.</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
</p>