Fordham vs BC vs Cardozo (27K)

[indecisive111]

I cannot decide which of these I want to attend... Just to give some background, I go to school in Boston now, but am originally from NY. I want to do NYC BigLaw. Fordham and BC haven't given me any money and I assume they won't. And Cardozo gave me $27K/year with a stipulation of a 2.85GPA.

[rman1201]

If you want to do NYC Biglaw then Cardozo shouldn't be an option.
Did you apply to BU? Its placement in NYC is supposedly slightly better than BC.
I'd go for BC since it's cheaper and has better overall placement, and still might get you in NYC.

[indecisive111]

If you want to do NYC Biglaw then Cardozo shouldn't be an option.
Did you apply to BU? Its placement in NYC is supposedly slightly better than BC.
I'd go for BC since it's cheaper and has better overall placement, and still might get you in NYC.

Thanks! Any more opinions would be helpful

[Aberzombie1892]

I cannot decide which of these I want to attend... Just to give some background, I go to school in Boston now, but am originally from NY. I want to do NYC BigLaw. Fordham and BC haven't given me any money and I assume they won't. And Cardozo gave me $27K/year with a stipulation of a 2.85GPA.

If you actually want a decent shot at big law, none of these.

If neither Fordham nor BC offer you money, and you are paying for tuition and COL out of your own pocket/loans, Cardozo is the only reasonable choice out of the three.

[patrickd139]

If you actually want a decent shot at big law, none of these.

This. I don't think anyone else has advised you to retake, get some substantive w/e and reapply, but it would be worth a serious look if I were in your shoes.

[CanadianWolf]

Of your current options, limit your considerations to Fordham & Boston College.

[ndirish2010]

BC is the best option. Sticker is a lot though. However I wouldn't say that a 33% placement in NLJ 250 is a bad shot at biglaw. I think you should go to BC and learn to like Boston. You don't have to become a Sox fan.

[lawgrl21]

if you definitely want NYC - Fordham. BC places better generally in biglaw, but not as much in NY as Boston for obvious reasons. While Fordham's percent hired for biglaw is lower, it is almost exclusively in NY from what I understand

edit: look at the school's websites to see % of graduates working in different geographic areas. that should help give you an idea of where most of the recruiting at the school is from. Also,I agree with whoever said think about BU. BC places better in Boston, but BU places well nationally.

[indecisive111]

Unfortunately I was dinged from BU so its not an option. As for retaking- that is definitely not an option I am willing to consider. I am ready for law school now and taking time off just to retake the LSAT isn't something I want to do.

Thanks for the suggestions though! Keep em' coming.

And I definitely want NYC. I have been in Boston for the past 4 years and do not want to start my career off here.

[indecisive111]

bump

[BlueDiamond]

Cardozo.. I want a spot at the other two schools

[Blindmelon]

BC hands down. Fordham gives you a better shot at NYC, no doubt, but because you're have Boston ties from undergrad, you can hit both markets hard and have a better shot at getting an offer. If you get an offer in Boston and not NYC, you could work on lateraling after two years or so.

[thexfactor]

bc. your first goal should be to get a job period.... then think about location.

[hokie]

BC hands down. Fordham gives you a better shot at NYC, no doubt, but because you're have Boston ties from undergrad, you can hit both markets hard and have a better shot at getting an offer. If you get an offer in Boston and not NYC, you could work on lateraling after two years or so.

TITCR. However since you said:

Unfortunately I was dinged from BU so its not an option. As for retaking- that is definitely not an option I am willing to consider. I am ready for law school now and taking time off just to retake the LSAT isn't something I want to do.

Thanks for the suggestions though! Keep em' coming.

And I definitely want NYC. I have been in Boston for the past 4 years and do not want to start my career off here.

then I would go with Fordham. Although getting a job should indeed be your #1 priority, if you 100% sure you do not want to be in a town, then I wouldn't force it. You have a relatively peer school (compared to BC) in the city you want to be in; I say Fordham>>BC in your situation

[indecisive111]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Really appreciate all the opinions... I am leaning towards fordham heavily because I do want NYC so im just seeing is someone has something to say that would dissuade me

[Robespierre]

You say you want NYC Biglaw. Fordham places 25.6% of the class in Biglaw, presumably most of them in NYC. Cardozo places 12.6% in Biglaw, presumably nearly all in NYC. Is being a 1 in 4 shot rather than a 1 in 8 shot worth $81,000 cash over the next 3 years, which is the net present value of something like $300,000 over the course of your working life? I would say No and that's why I'm voting Dozo. But reasonable minds could differ and that's the decision you have to make. Good luck.

[indecisive111]

i feel the same way as the poll... UGH

[IsleMet]

Though it seems that you don't want to take time off or re-take the LSAT...Here's what I would do:

1. Gain some work experience in a field that you could see yourself working in after law school.
2. Study like crazy for the LSAT and get an amazing score (I took the damn thing 4 times)
3. Re-apply either next year or the year after.
4. Get a lot of money at the schools you are considering.

I took two years after undergrad to do Teach for America and it has been a great experience and has enabled me to further narrow down what I want to do after law school. I re-took the LSAT and scored higher and also got a Masters degree. Two years ago, I applied and got into Fordham part time and Cardozo with 25k/year. Now, I applied and got into Fordham full time, full ride a Dozo, and a full ride at BC.

If you stand pat...
-Email Fordham and tell them how much you love them while asking for a little cash (though, they were unwilling to give me ANYTHING even when I told them I got a full ride at BC).
-Do the same for BC
-Email Cardozo and say you'd love to attend, but you were hoping for more $$ (they are generous and might bump your scholly up).

As it stands...I would take BC given your current options!

[bk1]

Unfortunately I was dinged from BU so its not an option. As for retaking- that is definitely not an option I am willing to consider. I am ready for law school now and taking time off just to retake the LSAT isn't something I want to do.

Thanks for the suggestions though! Keep em' coming.

And I definitely want NYC. I have been in Boston for the past 4 years and do not want to start my career off here.

If you really want NYC biglaw then you should retake. If not then go to Fordham.

[IsleMet]

My BC argument:

Cost per year at Fordham factoring in cost of living...72k

At BC...60k

That's a 36k difference over three years.

Decision:
Pros for Fordham: Places a little better for Big Law in NYC. You prefer NYC.
vs.
Pro for BC: 36k

I take the money

[indecisive111]

so much to consider...

i think cardozo is out of the picture... but i am still so torn between fordham and BC

[Slevin Kelevra 2011]

I would pick Boston.

Have you visited the two schools?

[indecisive111]

I would pick Boston.

Have you visited the two schools?

Yes and I really liked them both. I know that BC will give me the best job options overall... however, I am very sure I want NY because of family and other factors.. so because of that I think fordham will give me the best job options for what I want to do because I don't want to get stuck in boston... but then again BC is also slightly cheaper... idk.

[indecisive111]

Update...
Fordham gave me $15K for 3 years total. Pretty much evens the cost of BC and Fordham... now what?

[timertimer61]

Update...
Fordham gave me $15K for 3 years total. Pretty much evens the cost of BC and Fordham... now what?

if you want NYC biglaw, then FORDHAM.