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I definitely want to work in NYC after LS and probably in corporate law (litigation hopefully). I've visited Michigan already and was awed by the campus. At the end of the day, I am most concerned with job prospects. Considering this, do you guys think that the job prospects that Columbia offers outweighs the tuition break and COL break that I would get by attending Michigan?

I got into NYU but I'm pretty convinced that I'd prefer Columbia. I haven't received a decision from Chicago yet but considering my NYC intentions, I think Columbia would be preferable over Chicago.

So the decision is between....

Columbia- sticker
or
Michigan- 67k

.

Assuming you end up at median, you're better off at C imo

Unless Daddy is paying, take the money at Michigan. Totally stupid to go $200k in debt for a degree that is basically the same as the Michigan degree.

Half-tuition is nothing to sneer at though.

Notor wrote:Unless Daddy is paying, take the money at Michigan. Totally stupid to go $200k in debt for a degree that is basically the same as the Michigan degree.

You really think this?

Notor wrote:Unless Daddy is paying, take the money at Michigan. Totally stupid to go $200k in debt for a degree that is basically the same as the Michigan degree.

I expected more from someone with an Eazy E tar

$$

Notor wrote:Unless Daddy is paying, take the money at Michigan. Totally stupid to go $200k in debt for a degree that is basically the same as the Michigan degree.

Daddy not paying but I don't have any debt after undergrad.

Notor wrote:Unless Daddy is paying, take the money at Michigan. Totally stupid to go $200k in debt for a degree that is basically the same as the Michigan degree.

A Michigan degree might be roughly equivalent to a CLS degree for many things, but not for big law in NYC. Go to Columbia.

CLS biglaw placement, especially elite biglaw firms, is unmatched by any other law school. Chicago comes very close, but that's it.

If OP is of the opinion that the only acceptable use for a JD is to be a biglaw slave in New York City, then go to Columbia. Makes no sense otherwise.

Also, OP says he has no debt after undergrad, which shows that he has no personal knowledge of what debt can do to your financial situation. He should strive to not find out and take the money at Michigan. With cost of living in NYC and tuition, he is going to be absolutely crippled in debt and will have no choice other than to get a biglaw job to be able to pay off the debt, which will still take years.

If you go to Columbia, you are forcing yourself to take a job in 3 years that you have absolutely no idea if you will like out of necessity. That is not exactly comforting.

Are we all assuming that Columbia = biglaw job on graduation? Isn't bottom half still getting dicked at OCI?

Also, how much free time do you think you will have while you are working 70 hour weeks at your white shoe firm? I don't understand why you want to be in NYC so badly... the inside of an office building looks the same pretty much everywhere. It sounds romantic, but I would be wary saying that you want to do corporate litigation in NYC as a 0L when you can't possibly know that.

Notor wrote:Also, how much free time do you think you will have while you are working 70 hour weeks at your white shoe firm? I don't understand why you want to be in NYC so badly... the inside of an office building looks the same pretty much everywhere. It sounds romantic, but I would be wary saying that you want to do corporate litigation in NYC as a 0L when you can't possibly know that.

You're definitely right that I have no idea if I want to do corporate litigation or some other kind of work. I do have a finance background though and so working in a transactional business will not affect me in a negative way (I have worked for an investment bank and was not scared off by the hours or the work). The specific type of law I want to work in will be determined eventually by what I like in law school, but to decide right now about where to go, I know that working in transactional affairs is definitely a route I'm strongly considering.

NYC because of family.

Columbia ONLY IF you are absolutely sure your career goals will not change.

Even if you think there is a 20% chance you will pursue something other than BigLaw, then you should think twice about it.

gossipgirl wrote:

Notor wrote:Also, how much free time do you think you will have while you are working 70 hour weeks at your white shoe firm? I don't understand why you want to be in NYC so badly... the inside of an office building looks the same pretty much everywhere. It sounds romantic, but I would be wary saying that you want to do corporate litigation in NYC as a 0L when you can't possibly know that.

You're definitely right that I have no idea if I want to do corporate litigation or some other kind of work. I do have a finance background though and so working in a transactional business will not affect me in a negative way (I have worked for an investment bank and was not scared off by the hours or the work). The specific type of law I want to work in will be determined eventually by what I like in law school, but to decide right now about where to go, I know that working in transactional affairs is definitely a route I'm strongly considering.

NYC because of family.

Michigan is a great school and offers a much more collegiate setting than Columbia (football games, college town etc). It is also substantially cheaper and still offers excellent placement options. However, Columbia places better in NYC.

I guess the question is whether or not a Columbia JD is worth twice as much to you as a Michigan degree. All I can say is that debt is truly horrendous, and by going to Columbia you are locking yourself into a biglaw or bust situation at a time when you are still unsure. To me, going to Michigan with some money is the much safer place to figure out exactly what type of law you want to practice.

Bear in mind that Columbia has yet to make most of its scholarship decisions. In fact, telling Columbia in late March/early April that you have a half-tuition scholarship from Michigan but that Columbia is your top choice and you'd love to attend would probably convince Columbia to give you at least a small scholarship, possibly a sizable scholarship--and you may well still get a sizable scholarship from them anyway, without bargaining.

Good luck either way. Personally, I'd choose sticker at Columbia based on your situation (including family and career goals), but Michigan is also a great school, and the lower debt is not something to pass up easily.

Notor wrote:Unless Daddy is paying, take the money at Michigan. Totally stupid to go $200k in debt for a degree that is basically the same as the Michigan degree.

Michigan would be 67k cheaper, not a full ride. And Columbia may well offer $ in the future.

CLS >>> Michigan for NYC biglaw

Maybe this is just b/c grades just came out, but really think carefully about where you would be comfortable being at or even below median.

Of course then you have to balance how risk-averse you are re: grades vs. how risk-averse you are re: $$.

I voted for Columbia, btw.

Depends on how you feel about debt.
If you are debt averse, Michigan with $ is a great opportunity that many on this board would die to be offered.
On the the other hand, Columbia is a higher financial risk. However, with higher risk comes higher possible returns.

I'm going to vote Michigan this time, but you have two great opportunities no matter which you choose.

Isn't NYC the easiest market to break into? Why pay extra money for Cls when um should get the job done?

I feel like people are forgetting that you will still have a massive amount of debt after graduating from Michigan. Based on what you want to do after graduation, Columbia wins easily. Also, you may still have a shot at getting money from Columbia in March/April.

.

I'm in almost the exact same situation, except its Chicago vs Mich with 45k

Just talking to a Harvard 3L today and she said that bottom half of the class at Harvard had an uphill battle finding top firm jobs this year. Perhaps this information will help you make your decision.