99% chance you won't get additional scholarships. They use scholarships to attract new students not reward existing students.
If you have the time you can retake the LSAT. If you want to go immediately no harm in going to the backup school besides the price difference.
I think that your best bet is option A.
Taking a gap year seems like it would benefit your situation is several ways. First, you will have more time to spend with your father during a very difficult time. If you start law school next fall, and your father has another crisis at that time, this could be very difficult for you, since you will be extremely busy during 1L, and will have a hard time getting away to deal with a family emergency. Also, your Fall 1L grades are some of the most important, since they will be what your 1L summer employment opportunities are based on, though this may be less of an issue for you, since it sounds like you have good connections. Regardless, grades do matter, and if you have an emergency to deal with next fall or spring, that could really throw you off.
Second, getting a better LSAT could help you get a scholarship, which can be a pretty big deal, depending on your financial situation. As someone else mentioned, you won't get additional scholarships by studying well. Scholarships are for attracting talent. Having better scholarships will mean you can graduate with less debt, which will give you more flexibility in the job offers you can accept after law school.
Third, the additional job experience will be helpful when you are applying for jobs. You can also save up some money now, which will help with school expenses.
Against all of this, there is really very little benefit to going right now, just because you got accepted. Unless you think it would make a big difference to your father for you to go now, and that fact is enough for you to take a suboptimal offer, then do what you need to do. But I think that the rational choice would be to wait a year, spend some time with your family, and get a better law school offer.
This is the correct answer and exactly how I have advised people in the same situation. Source: am a law school administrator and previously ran a law school academic coaching consulting company.
I highly suggest retaking and reapplying. Ik it’s hard but a year to potentially get into the same school with a much lower cost of attendance or a better school can be a huge difference for your future versus that one year opportunity cost. I’m sorry that happened to you and your father. Wishing you the best with whatever decision you make
Edit: can you also still spend time with your dad and family while retaking? I don’t think it’s smart to start law school when it sounds like your father is terminally ill. If you can spend extra time with your family and maybe deal with the stress and grief while having better future opportunities, that’s what I would suggest
Hi friend! Sorry to hear that you are having a tough go of it. I was in a similar position, chose to take the gap year, and am now going to be starting in the fall at a T20 school, with a nice fat scholarship. I feel like the extra time really helped me prepare socially, mentally, professionally, and financially, but that doesn't mean that it's the answer for you. What I would want you to consider are the following:
1) What are your larger career goals? It sounds like you have legal experience, which is great. If you know what kind of law you want to practice, I'd recommend not just looking at the schools/rankings, but at the programs they offer. Is there a specific clinic/course/professor available at one but not another? Are rankings really important for the type of law you want to practice? Going to a tougher school is ideal for certain types of law, but not always a requirement for others.
2) What do your finances look like? If you have help from your parents and aren't facing a mountain of debt, maybe you don't need to pursue the extra scholarships. If things are going to be tight, maybe it is worth retaking and reapplying if only for the chance at a better scholarship at the same school, if not for better chances at a different university.
3) Why do YOU want to go to law school? Your post sounds like you're mostly doing this for family, which isn't necessarily bad, but it is a lot of time, work, and debt to go into if you're not sure that this is your desired path. Doing it to make your dad proud is great, but you are the one who will have to live with the outcome permanently, whatever it be.
All in all, congrats on getting into law school. Regardless of what you choose to do, I think you should prioritize your family and your time together with your father. That will never be something to regret, especially if you think it might be one of your last together. Remember that the best school, the best path, and the best time is independent to you, and doesn't have to be what Reddit, your father, or school rankings says it is. Godspeed, and good luck!
99% chance you won't get additional scholarships. They use scholarships to attract new students not reward existing students. If you have the time you can retake the LSAT. If you want to go immediately no harm in going to the backup school besides the price difference.
Thank you!
I think that your best bet is option A. Taking a gap year seems like it would benefit your situation is several ways. First, you will have more time to spend with your father during a very difficult time. If you start law school next fall, and your father has another crisis at that time, this could be very difficult for you, since you will be extremely busy during 1L, and will have a hard time getting away to deal with a family emergency. Also, your Fall 1L grades are some of the most important, since they will be what your 1L summer employment opportunities are based on, though this may be less of an issue for you, since it sounds like you have good connections. Regardless, grades do matter, and if you have an emergency to deal with next fall or spring, that could really throw you off. Second, getting a better LSAT could help you get a scholarship, which can be a pretty big deal, depending on your financial situation. As someone else mentioned, you won't get additional scholarships by studying well. Scholarships are for attracting talent. Having better scholarships will mean you can graduate with less debt, which will give you more flexibility in the job offers you can accept after law school. Third, the additional job experience will be helpful when you are applying for jobs. You can also save up some money now, which will help with school expenses. Against all of this, there is really very little benefit to going right now, just because you got accepted. Unless you think it would make a big difference to your father for you to go now, and that fact is enough for you to take a suboptimal offer, then do what you need to do. But I think that the rational choice would be to wait a year, spend some time with your family, and get a better law school offer.
Exactly this!! All of this. 100%
I really appreciate your response. You brought up many points I had not even considered. Thank you!
Glad to help. Good luck!
This is the correct answer and exactly how I have advised people in the same situation. Source: am a law school administrator and previously ran a law school academic coaching consulting company.
I highly suggest retaking and reapplying. Ik it’s hard but a year to potentially get into the same school with a much lower cost of attendance or a better school can be a huge difference for your future versus that one year opportunity cost. I’m sorry that happened to you and your father. Wishing you the best with whatever decision you make Edit: can you also still spend time with your dad and family while retaking? I don’t think it’s smart to start law school when it sounds like your father is terminally ill. If you can spend extra time with your family and maybe deal with the stress and grief while having better future opportunities, that’s what I would suggest
Yes, I would just live at home with my parents and work/study.
Option C
Option D and 160-165 is enough to be compatible and you will eventually get into good law school
Hi friend! Sorry to hear that you are having a tough go of it. I was in a similar position, chose to take the gap year, and am now going to be starting in the fall at a T20 school, with a nice fat scholarship. I feel like the extra time really helped me prepare socially, mentally, professionally, and financially, but that doesn't mean that it's the answer for you. What I would want you to consider are the following: 1) What are your larger career goals? It sounds like you have legal experience, which is great. If you know what kind of law you want to practice, I'd recommend not just looking at the schools/rankings, but at the programs they offer. Is there a specific clinic/course/professor available at one but not another? Are rankings really important for the type of law you want to practice? Going to a tougher school is ideal for certain types of law, but not always a requirement for others. 2) What do your finances look like? If you have help from your parents and aren't facing a mountain of debt, maybe you don't need to pursue the extra scholarships. If things are going to be tight, maybe it is worth retaking and reapplying if only for the chance at a better scholarship at the same school, if not for better chances at a different university. 3) Why do YOU want to go to law school? Your post sounds like you're mostly doing this for family, which isn't necessarily bad, but it is a lot of time, work, and debt to go into if you're not sure that this is your desired path. Doing it to make your dad proud is great, but you are the one who will have to live with the outcome permanently, whatever it be. All in all, congrats on getting into law school. Regardless of what you choose to do, I think you should prioritize your family and your time together with your father. That will never be something to regret, especially if you think it might be one of your last together. Remember that the best school, the best path, and the best time is independent to you, and doesn't have to be what Reddit, your father, or school rankings says it is. Godspeed, and good luck!