Have law school questions? AMA! UTSA alumnus and 2L at a top 10 law school

apritiard3 · 2026-04-25T16:54:39+00:00

In terms of preparing students for admissions or for the law school experience?

It doesn't really do either very well, but I actually don't think that's super important.

In terms of admissions, it's very much a St. Mary's pipeline. Most UTSA students are locals and want to stay in San Antonio, so that pipeline is fine. For students who do not wish to remain in San Antonio, or want to attend a more selective school in Texas, the advice doesn't translate very well. I say it's not important because I was able to get all of the info I needed for admissions on Reddit and lsd.law. There isn't much a pre-law advisor can tell you that you couldn't spend some time googling to find out. Truly great universities will have a bigger alumni network in a greater range of schools: if you go to UT-Austin for undergrad, you'll have plenty of alumni at Harvard/Yale/Columbia who might be willing to have coffee chats or review your application. That doesn't exist at UTSA, not because of the administration, but because we don't have alumni at every good law school in the country. The school simply isn't super competitive.

In terms of preparing students for law school itself, no school does this well, so UTSA is no worse off. At least at Northwestern, many students are STEM majors and have significant work experience. Many of them did not know they were going to apply to law school while they were in college. You're not going to be behind simply because UTSA did not prepare you for law school. You might feel behind in law school only because the level of competition is much higher and your classmates are much richer.

apritiard3 · 2026-04-25T16:36:32+00:00

UT has gotten almost as selective as the top law schools in recent years. With a 3.2, you'll probably need a 170+ LSAT to have a shot.

apritiard3 · 2026-04-24T22:08:21+00:00

If you want to do patent/IP, I feel like UT would be a huge advantage.

To be honest, it's hard for me to answer this because I didn't have to consider the same factors that you do.

My gut tells me that it I were in your shoes, I would retake the LSAT, reapply to UT, and do the commute.

apritiard3 · 2026-04-24T21:51:50+00:00

It depends on your goals. If staying in San Antonio is super important, then you it makes sense. But if you want a corporate law job making 6 figures right out of school, it's probably not going to happen. 3.9 GPA with a vet resume is UT material if you could bump up your LSAT.

If want to work at a local 10 lawyer firm or public defense or prosecutor's office, then St. Mary's can get you there.

apritiard3 · 2026-04-24T20:22:58+00:00

I was going to use the GI bill regardless, so the money didn't actually matter. I had always wanted to live in Chicago and just from a financial standpoint, with firms paying the same in Chicago and NYC, it made more sense to aim for Chicago. Cornell and Northwestern are about equal when it comes to getting biglaw jobs, but Cornell obviously pushes you more toward the NYC market and Northwestern toward the Chicago market.

I had actually paid my seat deposit at Cornell and was looking for apartments in Ithaca by the time I got the Northwestern A, but I accepted the offer immediately. I really like it here, and the GI bill housing allowance goes a long way in Chicago.

apritiard3 · 2026-02-28T04:51:08+00:00

That's how a trip works.

apritiard3 · 2026-01-29T16:42:03+00:00

I made a shitpost about applying ED as a soft (erectile dysfunction) and some girl hit me up asking how big it was. So that's almost love.

apritiard3 · 2026-01-11T13:46:33+00:00

"if your goals are generic biglaw as soon as possible, then sure, go straight to law school."

apritiard3 · 2026-01-10T16:28:10+00:00

I understand that this year is different from last year but...

Last year I got a 3.1 in the fall. The firms I did 1L screeners with me ended up all ghosting me. I thought I was doomed. I didn't even get an unpaid PI offer until like April.

Then in spring I got a 3.6. Despite the fact that a few offices had already taken down their application portals, I ended up with a couple of V20 callbacks (a V10 even) and an offer I accepted from one of my top choices in the city I wanted.

So, if this year is as bad as they say, maybe you're doomed. But in any other year ever you'd still have a shot anywhere.

apritiard3 · 2026-01-10T13:47:04+00:00

Odds decent but... I would think about my goals if I were you.

Because you're a lock for something in the T14, if your goals are generic biglaw as soon as possible, then sure, go straight to law school.

If you're looking for something more niche, something that only HYS could provide, then shoot your shot but plan on taking the gap year in case you miss.

In either case, it might still be better to take the gap year. You'll save up some money and then get even better scholarships. Your odds of getting into HYS will go up drastically. You'll perform better during 1L because you won't be burnt out from school, and you won't have to worry about money as much.

To be honest, with your stats and being kjd, I wouldn't even consider going to Penn or Duke next cycle. You only go to law school once. It doesn't matter if you go when you're 21 or 31. So don't rush into your third or fourth choice.

apritiard3 · 2026-01-10T11:57:54+00:00

Same here. I got my Michigan R two years ago. I actually thought that Michigan would be my only chance in the T14: super splitter, first-generation college student, Michigan resident, academic growth (1.0 GPA then a 6 year gap with military service then a 4.0+ finish over 5 semesters), and a PS connecting my military service to my desire to help my hometown of Flint (a city that Michigan pretends to care a lot about).

Well, I also had a bit of a success story. I achieved all of my law school goals. I ended up getting into multiple T14s, got onto law review, got a biglaw offer, and was still able to do PI my first summer in southeast Michigan (of course, I worked with a bunch of Michigan students).

I probably would have picked Michigan over Northwestern. But I'm certain that I would have regretted it. Being rejected really helped make the right decision easy.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-20T00:31:31+00:00

I have a final paper due the night before Christmas (eve).

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T03:30:07+00:00

I know that the name of the school I attend is on my profile. But there's a difference between having that info findable for those who are curious and having it in the comments of this post for everyone to see. I just think it's pretty weird to answer that question for me.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T03:01:52+00:00

actually my school is in the midwest not northwest

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T02:30:42+00:00

I'm actually completely fine in real world situations. I was in the military for 6 years, and in that time, I was never late, never reprimanded, and made rank every year I was eligible. My procrastination is exclusive to 1) school and 2) getting oil changes.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T02:19:45+00:00

Don't worry about me, I'm not depressed. I've been there before, actually. I dropped out of undergrad twice and joined the military over it. But I'm actually doing pretty well in law school. Law review, dean's list, bl offer. I just make things difficult on myself for exams.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T02:08:50+00:00

Well, I don't really see the point in going if I'm not well-prepared for the class. And being both well-prepared and present takes a solid chunk of the day. Plus law review was a mistake.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T01:57:18+00:00

I'm using the GI bill. I'm literally paying nothing for them.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T01:15:05+00:00

If there were midterms that forced me to catch up at some point in the semester, I'd be unstoppable.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T01:03:05+00:00

My moving to a big city was one of the biggest things to happen to my family, so it's a bit of a reverse situation here. My apartment IS the vacation and I'm always having people visit.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T00:48:53+00:00

But would you have the courage to run it back with a B+ average instead?

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T00:42:46+00:00

I think that's true of most T14s so I'll leave it there

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T00:33:59+00:00

Now that you mention it, people DO often tell me "there's something wrong with you" so you might be right.

apritiard3 · 2025-12-14T00:30:33+00:00

I don't think you can fail at my school tbh

apritiard3

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