Georgetown Law School housing vs living at home

[Anonymous]

Live on campus the first year. I lived off at my law school, and even though I was within fairly easy walking distance (10 blocks?) it took me much longer to get plugged into the social life of the law school, aka my starter professional network.

[Anonymous]

Both of these law schools are huge and Georgetown in particular doesn’t have much of a community. I’d think OP’s kid could do better - and cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Planning is great, but he sounds like a kid who is overly fixated on figuring out his life many years in advance. That’s not necessary in this case, and actually can spin into anxiety and analysis paralysis.

To put it bluntly, my advice is to slow down and focus on one step at a time. Here’s what that looks like:

(1) Apply this fall to Georgetown, GW, and other schools that interest him, too. Put his best foot forward and use all the resources his college provides, including the pre-law advisor etc.

(2) Find out in the spring where he is accepted. Hopefully that includes GW and Georgetown, if those are still his top choices. (But if he does not get into either school, this entire issue of living at home while going to law school in 2026 is moot.)

(3) Consider the pros and cons each school that accepted him, including cost. If Georgetown or GW are options, break down costs into two options: living at home vs. living independently.

(4) If Georgetown or GW are still in the mix, THIS is the time to learn more about whether he would be happier and better-served living at home vs. living independently.

So … here’s what he should do now:

Put a note in his planner to reconsider this question in March or April 2026, when it will be “ripe.”

“Parking” future issues where they belong is an excellent life skill that will serve him well as a lawyer and in life, more generally.

There is no need to “borrow problems from the future.” That is a distraction from more pressing and present decisions, and often a feeder for rumination and anxiety. Best to learn that now, as an undergrad, before diving into law school 15 months from now.

Good luck to him with his senior year in college and the law school admissions process!

What does the bolded portions mean ????

It means don’t worry about hypothetical problems that may not even happen.

Put those worries on list to address later - if/when it is clear they are real decisions to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re really putting the cart before the carriage if he’s anticipating starting law school in fall 2026. He still needs to apply and be accepted. No need to start deciding on housing now. Figure that out later, in about a year!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're not paying for law school, who is?

He will take loans.

Is t it like $300k for law school at Georgetown?!!! He’s taking $300k in loans?

Don't most law students whose parents earn "too much" money take loans? OP here. We earn too much for him to get financial aid, but after spending almost $400K on college and another fortune on private schools, this is the deal. We still have one more kid whose college we have to pay for, and can't get into grad school support for either of them.

I'd rather go to public school and in-state college and not need loans for grad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re really putting the cart before the carriage if he’s anticipating starting law school in fall 2026. He still needs to apply and be accepted. No need to start deciding on housing now. Figure that out later, in about a year!

Exactly this! I know many students who couldn't get into Georgetown Law or GW Law this year. It is getting tougher to get into these schools, there are tons of people applying with high GPA and LSAT. Go to law admissions Reddit to get a clue about the odds. Seriously asking this question before your son has even applied is crazy. Land your helicopter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just responded, but I also just saw your question too. No, that is not the correct way to think about this. First year grades are the most important and that’s the most important year to live off campus. I also did not realize he was coming straight from college. That’s an even better reason for him not to live at home.

As an aside, I don’t think it’s a great idea to go straight from college to law school. I think it’s better to work for a couple of years first.

Sorry, confused by this reply. You say that first year is the most important to live off campus (that is, at home?). But the next two sentences make it sound like he shouldn't live at home.

Typo, sorry. I think it's best that first year he live on campus or in one of the apartments within walking distance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I worked full time on the Hill and went to a DC law school at night, you’re darn right I lived in my parents’ home.

I realize that is not the situation of OP’s child, but still - first year is tough. No need to add difficult living conditions to it.

Interesting that you are assuming that living on his own will be "more difficult" than living at home. I don't think that is often the case for many twenty somethings. For me, living on my own was easier and less stressful than living at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to GULC a while back and a good friend lived in Reston with his parents and commuted. He loved it. I already had a partner and lived my first year in an apartment in rosslyn and took the metro. That was a pretty normal thing to do. My best friend lived in a basement apartment on Capitol Hill all three years. At that time, not that many people lived in Gewirtz (maybe there is more housing now?). It was mostly ppl who went straight from college to law school without working at all between and felt more comfy with the dorm scene. Either can work well. Keep the commute and parking or metro access in mind. They had a shuttle to/from Union station to school that I would take after 5 pm (at the time the neighborhood got a little spicy around then, regardless of season) or when it rained.

I think you lived there before the area around the school became more developed. Now there are tons of apartments closer to school. Commuting from Rosslyn is not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re really putting the cart before the carriage if he’s anticipating starting law school in fall 2026. He still needs to apply and be accepted. No need to start deciding on housing now. Figure that out later, in about a year!

The cart before the carriage?

Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is kind of ridiculous to have this thread when acceptance rates are getting lower for these law schools.

Georgetown has more applications than any other law school so good luck getting in.

Ha ha THAT’S not why this thread is ridiculous.

What’s ridiculous is that there are so many detailed responses to a mother asking whether her adult son should live at home during law school. Is this really something one needs to crowd source?

What’s also ridiculous is that the poor guy has to shell out 300k for law school because the parents wasted all that money on private schools and private colleges. With the amount of money that they wasted they could have bought the kid a condo!

There is just so much wrong with this thread.

I don't get this logic. You choose to sent your kids to expensive colleges and schools. Huge waste. We tell our kids state, if possible so we can pay for grad school and no debt. We don't have the kind of money like that either.

[Anonymous]

I lived at home during law school in the DC area. I graduated with no debt. My parents paid tuition. Total Cost of Attendance was around 50k as a result. Of course my starting salary in the government was 37k back then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Live on campus the first year. I lived off at my law school, and even though I was within fairly easy walking distance (10 blocks?) it took me much longer to get plugged into the social life of the law school, aka my starter professional network.

I actually don't know that engaging with law school social life is great, as to be the vibe in law school felt a bit middle school. Lots of partying, dating, messy breakups. I was already married when I started law school and avoided a lot of it and I think it helped me focus more on class (I graduated with top grades). Not to say I didn't make friends, but most of my friends from law school are in entirely different legal fields and my professional network came from my first job more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live on campus the first year. I lived off at my law school, and even though I was within fairly easy walking distance (10 blocks?) it took me much longer to get plugged into the social life of the law school, aka my starter professional network.

I actually don't know that engaging with law school social life is great, as to be the vibe in law school felt a bit middle school. Lots of partying, dating, messy breakups. I was already married when I started law school and avoided a lot of it and I think it helped me focus more on class (I graduated with top grades). Not to say I didn't make friends, but most of my friends from law school are in entirely different legal fields and my professional network came from my first job more.

But this post is about a 22 year old.

[Anonymous]

I went to GULC and am not reading the other posts but 100% live at home. The dorm is brimming with stress especially around finals. Everyone I know who lived there hated it. Maybe live somewhere else with friends after first year but being at home first year is the best thing possible.