woopig2017 wrote:SMU is my top choice right now, however I have a few questions that I was hoping some of the people who are going to or have gone there could answer:
1) In the context of your ability to reach your career goals, are you happy that you chose SMU?
2) If you were to be in the top 1/3 of your class, how confident would you be about getting a job making $70k+?
3) Did you enjoy your time as a student?
4) Was attending school here worth it? (do you feel like it was the right decision for you all things considered?)
I really really want to go to law school here, and I currently have the $30k/year scholarship to attend. However, I've also received some other offers (from Baylor, Alabama) that make me question whether I want to take out the necessary loans. My dream is to work in Dallas, preferably in a larger law firm for some time and to eventually move in house. Any answers/advice would be greatly appreciated!
With $30k/year, I would go to SMU with those goals unless UT is an option. Unless you are dead set on litigation (and it sounds as though you're not, if you want to go in house), do not go to Baylor. You could probably get back to Dallas from Bama if you have ties, but I don't know enough about Bama or your situation to really know. You'll need to be in the top 10-15% to get big law at SMU though - don't come in with unrealistic expectations.
1. It'll get me where I want to be, so in that sense it was worth it. I wanted to be in Dallas, and wasn't willing to wait a year or two to get my LSAT to the 170's, so this was a good choice for me.
2. I'm just outside the top 1/3 and haven't been asked about grades. I've not gotten interview opportunities at OCI because I didn't kill it 1L, but I don't think I would've enjoyed big law anyway. Again, I'm going to do IP, so YMMV. Outside of the top 10-15%, it's all about networking.
3. I enjoyed it as much as I would have any other school. The people are smart and friendly, with (I think, based on what I've read here) a relatively low proportion of gunners. I've enjoyed a lot of my professors, with a couple exceptions.
4. Overall, yeah. A big advantage is that there are a ton of small and medium sized firms/courts/government positions/corporations in Dallas that will take clerks during the school year, which lets you pad your resume and make some extra cash if that's your thing. I know a lot of people who have done this and would not have had the opportunity to do so at other schools. Definitely not at Baylor or Bama. Maybe UT (not sure) and UH would probably have a similar advantage.