<p>3.83 gpa (top 20 LAC, poli sci major)
167 lsat</p>
<p>typical community service, religious, and government-related extracurriculars and internships.</p>
<p>I'd like a law school in a city or cool college town, with a good loan repayment program for graduates working for the government or in the non-profit sector. Ideally, this school would be open to deferrals (I'm applying for a Fulbright and maybe for Americorps), have a housing law clinic, and have fall-semester exams BEFORE Christmas break, so I don't have to go crazy and study during vacation.</p>
<p>But I'd love to expand my list and would like advice. Also, what makes a school a reach, a middle, or a safe, ie where should I fall on their LSAT and GPA scales to determine this?</p>
<p>If you want to live in New York, consider Fordham and Corodoza (Yeshiva). Both are excellent schools, and New York law firms hire extensively from these schools (in addition to ivys & nyu). Their degrees don't carry as much weight outside of nyc though.</p>
<p>In addition to the schools mentioned, you may want to check out the University of San Diego (USD). It has a very good reputation, beautiful campus, and an excellent faculty. It would be a safety for you (Last year's incoming class at USD had an average LSAT of 164 and a GPA of 3.4).</p>
<p>A thought... if you are looking for loan repayment, also consider going to a school which will just be less expensive anyway. If your state has a law school, apply there. If not, you might get reciprocity at a law school in a neighbouring state (tuition would be more than in-state but less than out-of-state). Consider rural schools, which tend to be slightly less expensive (that's where the "cool college town" thing comes in).</p>
<p>I've mentioned this before, but, unless you go to a top law school, you'll most likely end up practicing where you go to school. That's where most of the interviewers will come from, where your school is best-known, and where a lot of the alums are. Are you thinking either NYC or DC?</p>
<p>I'm definitely thinking state schools (Michigan, California, Minnesota, Washington, maybe Iowa) but unfortunately my state doesn't have a very good law school...SUNY Buffalo isn't quite what I'm looking for.</p>
<p>But AA, your advice is well-taken. I'm also looking into taking a year off to live and work in a different state in hopes of qualifying for in-state tuition. Do any of you know whether one can defer an acceptance, live someplace, and then qualify for their lower tuition rate?</p>
<p>I don't think that you can defer an acceptance to get in-state rates; however, you can probably live there and then apply to get in-state rates. Might be a two-year deal (live there from now until next year; apply in 2006; start in 2007).</p>
<p>UConn is pretty much automatic with in-state tuition after a year. I think that in-state is about $17k/year.</p>