I don’t see a thing wrong with U. of Miami, as long as the cost is reasonable.
I don’t think she’s interested in NE and I’m not a fan of an unranked school. Miami said any potential scholarship offers would happen in the next 3 weeks, so right now she’s weighing S Carolina and Miami.
I should add we have connections to both - I got my MBA from Miami and my son attended SC on a music scholarship for undergrad. I attended Florida undergrad…not sure why I added that. And I’m not locked in to anything because someone in the family went there, it’s about what is best for her.
What’s best for her is to retake the LSAT and aim for a ‘better’ school. It will provide a degree that is more transferable. (Law can be a prestige profession.)
Thanks but it’s looking like Miami, know some people that attended and they are doing quite well
Nothing wrong with Miami, but don’t pick a law school based on anecdotes from people who are doing well. Look at the full placement statistics.
So I have another question. My D got waitlisted at her top choice school, was already planning to retake the LSAT in June with hopes of boosting her score 3-5 points.
She is going to accept the waitlist offer. Should she also tell them she is retaking the LSAT in June or not? I’m trying to determine if this means they will delay a potential acceptance or keep her on the wait list longer if she’s not towards the top, which we have no way of knowing. Or will it be a negative if she scores lower?
no need to tell WL school that she is retaking as it won’t factor into their decision, which willl most likely be made way before June scores come out,.
OP, you said earlier that D will be financing LS with loans. Be aware that if she does get into WL school, she will most likely be paying full freight. IMO, there are very few law school that are worth paying full freight when you are financing with loans. Also, have you heard anything more about Miami scholarship $?
As I mentioned before, there are tricks to law school scholarships which can differentiate them from the typical undergraduate school scholarship.
OP: Your daughter is doing the right thing by retaking the LSAT.
Do not relay to any school that your daughter is planning on retaking the LSAT; the only relevant thing that law schools want to know is the new LSAT score if higher.
First I do appreciate the objective advice - will advise her not to mention retaking LSAT in June. Regarding loans, this is a public U and thus tuition is much lower vs private as it’s in state. The WL thing happened after the Miami visit so has caused us to reevaluate.
On the Miami scholarship question - met with admissions after tour and discussed. Stated they basically were out of scholarship funds a couple months before she applied, I should note she did apply late to all LS. Told us she would have qualified for at least first tier based on her numbers, and recommended deferring as an option. Also said if score went up just a few points it would be really good.
Would love to hear your opinion on deferring vs reapplying next year, if her scores don’t move up. She really liked Miami and would be first choice assuming WL reach school is a long shot. My debate is, the deferral is a commitment - so yes she’s guaranteed admission, but what motivation does the school have to award $$ if she already signs on the dotted line? Maybe it’s better to just reapply to all, this time as early as possible. Admissions indicated she would get the $$ if she deferred but maybe they tell quality candidates that.
Last but not least, D does understand the loan and debt issues. She has been super-motivated studying for LSAT night and day since that meeting, and she also realizes she made a mistake not applying earlier and missing out on $$. In this situation I think waiting a year is best, just debating the deferral vs the reapply question.
Lots to consider!
@StoneMagic, sorry to post on this thread, but I’d LOVE to talk to you about the USC school of music! I apparently cannot send messages yet, so would you mind sending me a message? Thank you!!!
@StoneMagic: It would help to know your daughter’s actual LSAT score. Important as to recommendation regarding deferral versus reapplying.
Without a firm commitment, Miami offer is unattractive.
My son was in a similar situation several years ago. The law school said all scholarship money depleted for the upcoming year, but would award him a full tuition & fees scholarship with no stips if he waited a year. The law school awarded the scholarship in writing & it was guaranteed.
You mean he committed to attending the following year with a deferral, and they awarded him the scholarship upfront…or did you have to wait until the following year for applications to reopen before getting the scholarship?
I feel like we’re in no (wo)man’s land…waitlisted at top choice in state university; retaking LSAT in June; in at Miami and interested but no scholarship $$ due to late applications; could defer, wait and reapply early, or take the hit and start in August at full tuition.
The school awarded the scholarship based on my phone call to them. I cannot recall whether or not my son actually filled out an application before receiving the guaranteed scholarship letter or not. But he was required to wait a year if he wanted the full tuition, no stipulations scholarship. As he already had Tier One acceptances for that year, he declined the scholarship offer after receiving the scholarship offer letter & visiting the school.
Same thing occurred when he went for a higher law degree. I made a phone call to the law school and he was awarded a partial scholarship (which was the highest scholarship amount awarded by that school). My son applied & he received the partial scholarship.
Odd as it may sound, many decades ago, I too was admitted to law school on the basis of a phone call that I made to the dean of admissions without ever filling out an application. I just had to show up with proof of my LSAT score & certified college transcripts within 48 hours as orientation had already started for new law students.
But the wording of your daughter’s “scholarship offer” from Miami concerns me. A simple statement that she would qualify for a certain scholarship level seems quite different than the firm, absolute offers that were made in my son’s case.
Updated - took many people’s advice and she re-took the LSAT on June 3. She scored a 164 and was a bit disappointed, but this was an improvement. Also decided NOT to enroll this year given she was too late for scholarship $$ and wanted to retake the LSAT. She continues to work as a paralegal and save expenses by living at home.
Now that she has her results, plan is to reapply and add some schools as soon as applications for next year open up.
Any advice here?
Wow - The stars somehow aligned, I swear it’s the truth…2 hours after I posted the above message, my daughter was accepted to UF Law with a 100% Governors Scholarship! We were literally shocked - in a good way - of how her life changed so quickly. She starts in August and we could not be more proud or happy, living proof to stay determined and never give up!
'Grats to her.
(And let this be a lesson to others reading the thread – when it comes to LSAT, higher is always better and can result in the easiest tax-free money you will ever earn in life.)
Agreed - she was looking at a “gap year” and reapplying, UF was top choice as she wants to practice in FL. We are living proof that not only do people on the wait list get in, they can also get scholarship offers in June…the key as @bluebayou stated is boosting you LSAT, but definitely worth taking again if you put the time in.