Amanda
What is the best way to finance a law degree?
if I decide to go to Law School.
#law #law-school #law-practice
3 answers
Mitch Chupack
Mitch’s Answer
I took on a job while in school,which helped tremendously and also allowed me to budget my time and focus when I had to study.
I found that the outside job also gave me perspective on the priorities in life. Many of my peers spent every moment at the school studying and were burned out all the time. My outside work also slowed me to bring real situations I experienced into the classroom during class.
Rachael Aminu
Rachael’s Answer
If you do not have the savings (most people don't), you can apply for scholarships. Focus on getting a high GPA and high LSAT score. Also, financial aid (federal student loans) are available. Your last resort should be private loans because of the high interest rate.
Jason de Barros
Jason’s Answer
On the subject of scholarships:
In my experience, the dollar amount of a school's academic scholarship offer and the school's number ranking were inversely proportionate; the lower the school's ranking, the more money they offered me.
I could have paid sticker price at the best schools I got into, but I was offered full-tuition academic scholarships at slightly lower-ranked schools, and those were the only schools I seriously considered. (A high LSAT score and, to a lesser extent, a high GPA are, of course, pre-requisites to unlocking these kinds of offers, but they are definitely attainable for any dedicated student).
I ultimately settled on a dean's fellowship at a middle-of-the-pack top 100 school. This meant I got a free education, but there would be no cocktail party prestige associated with my alma mater. I chose the debt-free route, and I have absolutely no regrets about that choice. I know law school students are hyper-focused on their school's ranking, but, if the schools you are considering aren't top 10 or top 16 schools, then I'd give serious consideration to graduating debt-free by disregarding rank altogether and attending a good school that gives you a great financial offer.