Law School
Just thought I'd let y'all know my decision.
I'm going to Tulane.
It will be a little more expensive because LSU gave me a scholarship, but we're not talking about a whole lot in the long run because LSU requires you to go an extra semester, and I probably would have gone to the LSU France program.
In the end, the opportunity to be in New Orleans was pretty much the biggest factor, especially after Katrina with all of the opportunities for public service through the law school. It's also a huge judicial center, with every court save the US Supreme Court.
My ability to place highly in my class probably won't differ at either LSU or Tulane, since my problem tends to be laziness rather than being outperformed.
Another factor was the professionalism I saw at Tulane. Their career development office was really impressive, and the opportunity to work (paid) during my first summer was enticing.
Finally, Tulane beat LSU handily this year in the La. bar passage rate (by 8 points I think). I'm not really concerned about the bar, or rather concerned enough to make my decision based on bar passage rates, but apparently there is a big rivalry. Take that, LSU.
In the end, it came down to quality of life for me. LSU is a great school and I was all set to go there, but I just think there are more opportunities (even for someone who wants to practice in Louisiana, specifically Lafayette) at Tulane.
Congratulations, SaintsFan11. Tulane's got a great program and I'm sure you'll be happy with your choice in the long run.
If you don't mind a few bits of advice from someone who's finishing up the three years you're about to start:
1) Don't read One-L. Everyone tells you to read it during the summer before you go to law school so you know what you're in for. Don't. Law school these days isn't very similar to the experience Turow describes. The book will just make you worry needlessly.
2) Read "The Brethren." It's not exceptionally helpful in exam-prep or anything like that, but it's a very interesting book and it really put a lot of Con Law into context for me when I read it.
3) Download old exams and do them. Start really doing them 2-3 weeks before your exams. Getting to Maybe, prep books, nutshells all pale in comparison to the advantage you gain practicing on old tests,
especially 1L year. Try to mimic the methods of argument that you see in your cases -- I think this is the fastest way to learn how to take law school exams. Also -- and this'll save you the $100 I spent on law school guides -- the only important piece of information contained in all of those law school prep books is this: the argument is way, way,
way more important than the answer.
4) Try to identify the core material of the course and learn it cold. In my experience, it's better to know 60% of the material stone cold than have a "decent" grasp of all of it. Don't start trying to narrow it down until you've caught your breath during your first semester.
5) Make friends with 2Ls, especially if they're on law review. They'll hand over their outlines pretty willingly, and those are a fantastic resource. If you have a class that you don't have a 2L's outline for, find someone who does. They'll almost always be willing to trade.
6) Don't talk to 3Ls. We're not nice people.
7) Don't date anyone in your section first year. 1Ls are like high schoolers; it's a weird phenomenon.
and
8) Make as many nerdy law jokes as possible 1L year. This is the first and last time they'll be funny. Bonus points for cringe-worthy puns.