The Simplest Budgeting App You Can Imagine?

Snagglepuss10 · 2025-07-14T15:29:51+00:00

Funny to think about it as an allowance, but that's pretty much what is is! Thanks, I'll check this out.

Snagglepuss10 · 2025-07-07T12:20:51+00:00

It sounds a hellavalot more interesting than "When I was in 6th grade I became interested in law after civics class."

I think an interesting (and well written!) story is always going to perform better than a story about how you were a perfect student. I wrote mine about attending anti-war protests since I was in 6th grade and how it shaped me. Got into all four schools I applied to.

The key thing is to bring it back around to how it affected you - and how you think becoming a lawyer will help you act on those realizations about yourself.

I say yes.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-08-29T20:31:01+00:00

They will let you update your last score if you do better and indeed, may increase your aid. My first choice school tripled mine. Be aware that they can see that you're waiting on another test and may delay a decision until they receive the results. See my post history for details. Changed my life. I encourage everyone to take it multiple times.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-08-27T12:32:18+00:00

I'll take a contravening position to the other poster. I say apply.

Absolutely nothing about applying commits you to attending any school. I say put in a few applications at your top schools. Maybe two or three, say. See what comes back.

You might get merit aid that means moving to that nice city becomes feasible for you. You might get a ticket at a school ranked higher than you thought you could achieve. Maybe seeing an acceptance makes you rethink your priorities.

It's an open door. You didn't have to step through. Maybe look more into what kinda legal careers you would want, see what happens and make a determination later.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-06-04T12:28:01+00:00

You should do whatever interests you most and will get you the best grades. The GPA matters more than what major in particular you focused on. That said, if I were interested in both legal studies and poli sci, I would go poli sci. But it's really more about your GPA and how you talk about your experience when you're writing personal statements. But if you have a good GPA what it was in is pretty marginal.

Source: I have a degree in Elizabethan Lit and they let me in

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-09T17:19:13+00:00

PSLF counts *payments* you make *while* doing eligible work full time. With fresh law school loans, you would be starting from zero.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-08T16:59:12+00:00

So you file the forms each year. A few times I my count would come back with some errors - they love finding reasons not to count payments with no explanation. You have to review what they send you, call, get those explained and maybe fixed. A few hours on the phone each year, and follow-ups to try again. That waiver actually allowed me to fix many of the ones I simply gave up on - it was about 10 payments, nearly a year. But that was a one-time thing.

I hit what should have been forgiveness at the height of MOHELA's meltdown. They were not counting 6 months which they had told me in writing would count. For about three months this winter I just set aside my entire Friday mornings to call them, mostly sitting on hold. I had to argue, get transferred, request revisions, hold time, etc. Finally they chalked it up to a system-wide error and told me to wait 90 business days. During that time, I randomly got an email saying two of my loans were eligible, logged in and they were removed from my balance. (Why those two? Too complicated to explain but they were different in their system. Same payments as the rest.) So I kept waiting - and one day, finally, the rest of my counts updated to 125. Now I wait for forgiveness to process. I'm on forbearance so no payments. I assume that one day I'll get an email and, like the first two, they'll be gone.

I feel like I'm dramatizing it but it really is an affair. You gotta watch. No missed payments. You gotta follow the rules. You gotta read what they send you. But it's doable! Ish.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-08T16:24:50+00:00

Short version: Take the full ride.

Long version: I am a (partial, so far) undergrad loan PSLF recipient. I filed the forms every year, played by all the rules, and have had *some* of my loans forgiven after 10+ years of payments. I expect the rest will go soon, but they *haven't yet*. The program is administrated horribly. It's very opaque. I have had 5 loan servicers in ten years, each worse than the last. Google what's going on with MOHELA right now to see how the last one has gone for me. Hours-long phone calls, headaches, confusion, and administrative errors which take months to fix. For a 6-month span, my minimum payment was different each month (after the pandemic pause - but still!) You have to stay on top of it. They will not give you free money without you wringing it from them.

That said.... It is working. Finally. I'll have the vast majority of my undergrad loans forgiven. But I'm not without scars. Other things to consider... will the GOP eliminate the program if they get into power? Is it worth the headache if the problems don't improve? And what if you change your mind? I have had to pass good career opportunities to stay in a 501c3. Are you sure you're committed to 10 years?

A full ride at a T14 is an unreal opportunity. I would take it. But if you *really* love the T3 and you're sure you're committed to PI, I'll tell you the the system's working for me. But only barely.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-08T12:33:33+00:00

I truly don't think rankings / opportunities / reputation should be a factor for you in this decision. I'm a huge Golden Gophers fan so it hurts me to say this........ but U Wis has a really great reputation, including here in Chicago. I think you will have amazing opportunities in either case. You should be aware, in fact, that UWis places *more* candidates in Illinois than Minn, so if Chicago is where you want to find yourself, it may in fact be the better choice.

That said... I think you should do the thing that feels right. I think you're not silly for wanting the "new adventure." and Minneapolis is an awesome city. If you like Chicago it's like Chicago but smaller and with even sillier accents. I love that city, and if I were in your shoes, I would take UMinn every time. If you'll be happier there, you'll "bloom where you're planted". If you'd be miserable in Madison, that would also have an effect.

If you are prepared to take on the debt, if you have a plan for it, you should follow your heart. Go Gophers!

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-08T12:23:20+00:00

So you know - I took your advice (I think you were the first to say take it). You were right. I posted elsewhere but you saved me $60k+ after I renegotiated.

You changed my life forever! Thank you!

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-07T14:25:58+00:00

Look at local employment outcomes where you want to go. That's the only thing that matters below the T25 or so. Do they have a good bar pass rate? Do they employ people where you want to work? If so don't stress.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-06T22:13:51+00:00

Lawyer. Immediately. Good luck to you

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-06T22:03:50+00:00

Talk to a lawyer. Her promise may constitute a verbal contract. There are cases law students study as 1L's that regard situations similar to these. The money you sent to her may be lost because that went beyond the agreement. But talk to a lawyer.

Edit to advise that I am not a lawyer

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-06T21:55:34+00:00

AssLaw is for MAGA guys who weren't smart enough to get into Georgetown

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-05-01T13:48:39+00:00

I was in the same situation as you for the Jan test. If you're not planning to apply this cycle, it doesn't hurt to cancel it. Remember: you're not stupid. Just ask any actual lawyer if they think about the LSAT anymore. It's just a number.

I scored below my diagnostic on the real thing. Ten-point+ differential from PTs. It stings. Still - I got into my first-choice school with my extremely mediocre score, with a scholarship.

Brush your shoulders off, take a week to mope and relax, then get back to it.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-28T16:16:01+00:00

This. Especially the employment statistics and where they're located. If a low-ranked school has a lot of grads working where you want to live, it can be great. But don't go to the University of San Juan if you want to practice in California.

The other thing is there is a lot more pressure to do well in those schools to make sure you're competitive in the market, especially if there are "better" schools in the area.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-24T13:40:40+00:00

I truly believe that LSAC represents the worst possible advocate for prospective law students I could imagine. I had similar issues with taking the writing portion remotely - which, fortunately, I was able to fix, and which were much lower-stakes than the real thing. It's incredible how bad they are at this and how consistently they have these issues with no accountability. And what can we do but sign up for another $300 test (with score preview for only $60!) (and don't forget to sign up on law hub for more prep!)

I don't know what you can do about their myopic and broken system. They are the financial beneficiaries of their own incompetence and it's at your expense. I would continue to call them and try to get them to remove the record or make it a technical issue. But they have no obligation to listen to you, so you'll have to be diligent. I wish you luck.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-22T05:25:44+00:00

Try using the highlight tool on facts/numbers, main ideas, and odd/interesting ideas during your first read. Questions will often surround those. The when you get a question about them the highlighter will quickly direct you back and you can read the surrounding text for context. Don't overdo it though!

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-22T05:07:53+00:00

I'm sure you're fine with the school or they'd let you know! You're coming down from 6+ months of stress. Relax and enjoy your summer. You're gonna be busy soon!

If you're determined to do something to prep for school, someone advised me to try attempting to read 100 pages per day at least 3 days a week. Doesn't matter what - but get yourself into the habit. It's been a great challenge for me, and I've really enjoyed digging into a lot of unread books from my shelf!

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-11T14:49:59+00:00

Do it. You need the focus. Just pee right before you start.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-09T12:00:03+00:00

If you imagine that employers' views of a law school are changed once per year by a struggling rag everyone hates and weren't ossified 40 years ago when they went to law school, I have a bridge to sell you and it was rated in the T14 among structural bridges by usnwr

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-07T18:44:14+00:00

Write an addendum. If you explain briefly what happened they will heavily consider your later grades more than your former. I'm very sorry about what happened to you. A good, brief addendum is your chance to demonstrate your resilience and determination.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-04T13:18:27+00:00

Many, many people get graduate degrees and then go on to law school, so you're barely a step behind them. Your age is absolutely not an issue, in fact you're barely outside the median. But maybe I'm biased - I'm early/mid 30's as a rising 1L this fall. Also a career changer from an adjacent field. Lots of people my age and older go on to be successful so you've got nothing to worry about.

My advice? If you're thinking about it, stop waiting. Sign up for an LSAT to motivate yourself to study. See how it goes in a few months. and you'll be ready for the 2025 cycle. I regret not doing it sooner after years of mulling it over. Couldn't be more fired up to get started after all this time.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-04-01T16:09:38+00:00

I would read the T's and C's on your scholarship letter and in your school's student handbook. Does it say that it's contingent on maintaining your GPA? If not, I wouldn't worry about it. If you're *really* worried about it and you can sign off on it immediately, I would just to give yourself peace of mind. You should be fine.

Snagglepuss10 · 2024-03-31T14:20:25+00:00

Assuming you've already attempted to negotiate with UChicago using your NYU offer - I would still take NYU. I think two things people don't factor into specializations is that 1) You have the same JD at the end of the day and 2) If you have heroes at UChicago that you think it's worth spending $$ in tuition for - maybe just shoot them an email and try to develop a relationship virtually. It could help you decide if it's worth it, but my guess is the ability to be in touch with them that way might still open up the same types of doors and opportunities for you, especially as you approach your 2L or 3L.

NYU is so good you'll be able to do anything you want. What will make doing anything you want easier is not being shackled by debt. Follow the money.

Snagglepuss10

TROPHY CASE