WUSTL(135K)vs Vandy(84K)vsCornell(sticker) ? Forum

[findafish]

International, wonder which one is the best for me. Want to go big law, don't want to be in too much debt (if it is not worth it).

[CanadianWolf]

For biglaw, Cornell or Vandy. Really depends upon your degree of aversion to debt. Cornell places well in New York City.

[lawandi]

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-gr ... aw-schools
This was just posted. Shows WUSTL and Vandy as comparable in recruiter's eyes. Could this be true? If so, a full ride at WUSTL looks pretty amazing.

[CanadianWolf]

But the same article places Cornell above both of the other law schools. And the NLJ's Go-To-Law-Schools list ranked Cornell #2 overall. For biglaw, Cornell is your best option.

[findafish]

Thanks, I think Cornell places really well in NYC, which is very impressive. Otherwise, I would lean towards the full ride.
I will get a PHD degree in science, not sure if that will make any difference in the job market (e.g. IP related).

[Hannibal]

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-gr ... aw-schools
This was just posted. Shows WUSTL and Vandy as comparable in recruiter's eyes. Could this be true? If so, a full ride at WUSTL looks pretty amazing.

No, those rankings are 100% worthless. Do not pay attention.

You want biglaw, but you want to have less debt. How much is 50k worth to you? Your chances at biglaw will increase significantly, but your personal performance will probably land you outside of the discrepancy. IMO it's a bit of a toss-up, so you should choose on region/school you like.

[Michael Bluth]

Unless you really want NYC, I would be pretty loath to go all-in at Cornell with that much money on the table at Vandy and Wash U.

[JCougar]

Unless you really want NYC, I would be pretty loath to go all-in at Cornell with that much money on the table at Vandy and Wash U.

This.

Even if you get NYC biglaw with all that debt from Cornell, the question is...how long will you last in Biglaw? Long enough to pay off that debt given the cost of living in NYC? If you really want New York, I'd do Cornell. But I think either WUSTL or Vandy is a better financial decision. Although, ITE, not getting biglaw is more likely than getting it at either Vandy or WUSTL ITE.

[bigkahuna2020]

Thanks, I think Cornell places really well in NYC, which is very impressive. Otherwise, I would lean towards the full ride.
I will get a PHD degree in science, not sure if that will make any difference in the job market (e.g. IP related).

As your debt accumulated, you are going to get a 5-6 year degree? WUSTL all the way then.

[findafish]

I mean by the time I start the Law school, I will be able to obtain a PhD in science. I am struggling for it now..

[JCougar]

I mean by the time I start the Law school, I will be able to obtain a PhD in science. I am struggling for it now..

If you want to do IP law, normal job prospects don't apply. Just being above median at WUSTL with a science PhD and a desire to do IP law will make gainful employment almost a slam dunk.

[violinst]

You know you want to go to Cornell. With your science background and Cornell's placement, you are most likely to get a good job after graduation. So money is not likely to be a problem. On the other hand, the better name will stay with you forever. You only go to law school once.

[findafish]

Thanks for the replies.
It seems that WU people said "go to Wash U w/ $$$$$" and Cornell people said "go to Cornell w/ good name and placement rate!"
I need to make a decision...

[Arbiter213]

Thanks for the replies.
It seems that WU people said "go to Wash U w/ $$$$$" and Cornell people said "go to Cornell w/ good name and placement rate!"
I need to make a decision...

Tag: Relevant to my interests.

[whitman]

Vandy. No question. Places very well. That is a huge scholarship. Cornell is $20,000 more even setting aside the scholarship, so roughly $100,000 more.

[alanbfish]

Is Vandy significantly better than WUSTL?

[FiveSermon]

Vandy got murdered in the most recent statistics. They placed something like 36%?

[keg411]

Close relative chose Cornell at sticker over USC and Emory with $$ (did not apply to WashU or Vandy). Is working in BigLaw and doesn't regret it at all. If you can get any family help at all with the debt load, I would go to Cornell. Second choice would be Vandy if you want the South.

[romothesavior]

Vandy got murdered in the most recent statistics. They placed something like 36%?

Uh, how is that getting murdered? Once you add in clerkships, they're looking at 40%+ NLJ 250 placement. Throw in prestigious PI and government, you're looking at half the class with a darn good legal gig lined up. Sure, it's no T14, but that is a pretty good number for a non-T14 ITE.

I'd say if you really want to avoid debt, WUSTL. But make no mistake about it, Vandy is the much better school for placement. I'd scratch Cornell, but I'm debt-averse and hate NYC.

[FiveSermon]

Vandy got murdered in the most recent statistics. They placed something like 36%?

Uh, how is that getting murdered? Once you add in clerkships, they're looking at 40%+ NLJ 250 placement. Throw in prestigious PI and government, you're looking at half the class with a darn good legal gig lined up. Sure, it's no T14, but that is a pretty good number for a non-T14 ITE.

I'd say if you really want to avoid debt, WUSTL. But make no mistake about it, Vandy is the much better school for placement. I'd scratch Cornell, if I were you.

Because the year before that they placed over 47%. A 10% drop is pretty harsh.

[romothesavior]

Because the year before that they placed over 47%. A 10% drop is pretty harsh.

But you can't look at these things in a snap-shot. A month ago, everyone was saying how great Vandy was and how they had weathered the ITE storm. Now they're getting murdered?

[FiveSermon]

Because the year before that they placed over 47%. A 10% drop is pretty harsh.

But you can't look at these things in a snap-shot. A month ago, everyone was saying how great Vandy was and how they had weathered the ITE storm. Now they're getting murdered?

Schools in the south got murdered. Look at Duke and Vandy. Duked dropped well over 10% also.

[pleasetryagain]

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-gr ... aw-schools
This was just posted. Shows WUSTL and Vandy as comparable in recruiter's eyes. Could this be true? If so, a full ride at WUSTL looks pretty amazing.

No, those rankings are 100% worthless. Do not pay attention.

You want biglaw, but you want to have less debt. How much is 50k worth to you? Your chances at biglaw will increase significantly, but your personal performance will probably land you outside of the discrepancy. IMO it's a bit of a toss-up, so you should choose on region/school you like.

ALAS! someone who makes sense! Listen to this guy.

[seatown12]

parlay wustl fullride into whatever possible $ at cornell

[Grizz]

Because the year before that they placed over 47%. A 10% drop is pretty harsh.

But you can't look at these things in a snap-shot. A month ago, everyone was saying how great Vandy was and how they had weathered the ITE storm. Now they're getting murdered?

Schools in the south got murdered. Look at Duke and Vandy. Duked dropped well over 10% also.

People bid before ITE and received summer offers before the scale of ITE was apparent. The numbers reflect southern no-offers, not lack of placement power. The NLJ250 #s this year are fairly useless.