BU v Cornell Forum

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:48 pm

So I am making this decision and it is really hard. I got a BU scholarship (not from the law school but from BU itself---they give full rides and stipends to 10 grad students across all the school---so the law school does not give this scholarship in general---fyi). BU gave me a full ride with the $20,000 living stipend guaranteed for all three years so long as I stay enrolled. No GPA requirement to keep it.

Cornell just gave me $90,000, and the rest are in loans (for now). This still leaves about 110,000 to pay. Is the Cornell name worth that much of a difference when considering it and BU?

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:49 pm

I'd easily take BU for free in this situation unless you don't like Boston, and even then I'd still probably take it and aim for NYC out of BU.

bigkahuna2020 · Post by **bigkahuna2020** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:50 pm

Career goals? I can't see a way the BU deal doesn't win unless you REALLY want academia or something.

Damn...congrats on two GREAT options.

buckilaw · Post by **buckilaw** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:50 pm

[quote="elm84dr"]BU gave me a full ride with the $20,000 living stipend guaranteed for all four years so long as I stay enrolled.[quote]

Cornell is worth the extra debt. Does it really take 4 years to graduate from BU Law?

dpk711 · Post by **dpk711** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:51 pm

First, congrats on the significant schollies you've received.
Second, where do you end up working? If Boston, then BU is the choice but anywhere else then probably Cornell.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:52 pm

Sorry for four years, meant to say 3, haha.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:54 pm

I would like to work in Boston OR New York. I want flexibility after I graduate, however, because I am older (26) and will get out of school at 29. I would like to get a government position after MAYBE working 2-3 years in BigLaw. I am from Boston and love it here. I visited Ithaca and think it's a coll little spot.

dpk711 · Post by **dpk711** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:57 pm

elm84dr wrote:I would like to work in Boston OR New York. I want flexibility after I graduate, however, because I am older (26) and will get out of school at 29. I would like to get a government position after MAYBE working 2-3 years in BigLaw. I am from Boston and love it here. I visited Ithaca and think it's a coll little spot.

If New York, I would certainly go to Cornell. If you are sure you want to stay in Boston then BU might be better for you. If you have a Biglaw or bust mentality then go to Cornell.

bigkahuna2020 · Post by **bigkahuna2020** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:58 pm

Go to BU man. You will be debt free with an awesome degree before 30, good shot at biglaw and government.

LRAP would be Cornell's advantage, but with your career goals this is irrelevant (and it is always better to have no debt than help with debt)

And there is nothing that helps flexibility more than ZERO debt with a good degree

dpk711 · Post by **dpk711** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:58 pm

bigkahuna2020 wrote:Go to BU man. You will be debt free with an awesome degree before 30, ~~good shot at biglaw~~ and government.

LRAP would be Cornell's advantage, but with your career goals this is irrelevant (and it is always better to have no debt than help with debt)

FTFY

bigkahuna2020 · Post by **bigkahuna2020** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:59 pm

dpk711 wrote:
bigkahuna2020 wrote:Go to BU man. You will be debt free with an awesome degree before 30, ~~good shot at biglaw~~ and government.

LRAP would be Cornell's advantage, but with your career goals this is irrelevant (and it is always better to have no debt than help with debt)
FTFY

30%+ isn't a good shot? Cornell fluctuates down to 42% or so some years.

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:59 pm

elm84dr wrote:I would like to work in Boston OR New York. I want flexibility after I graduate, however, because I am older (26) and will get out of school at 29. I would like to get a government position after MAYBE working 2-3 years in BigLaw. I am from Boston and love it here. I visited Ithaca and think it's a coll little spot.

I'm unconvinced that Cornell is worth extra $110,000 for a 10-15 percent larger shot at biglaw.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:03 pm

This is what I'm struggling with right now...APRIL 15th!!!!!!!

I would do big-law, but I am not big law or bust. I would be happy with a government job paying $70,000-100,000, but with no debt. If I went to Cornell, I will be biglaw or bust because I will have 110,000 to pay back.

bigkahuna2020 · Post by **bigkahuna2020** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:04 pm

elm84dr wrote:This is what I'm struggling with right now...APRIL 15th!!!!!!!

I would do big-law, but I am not big law or bust. I would be happy with a government job paying $70,000-100,000, but with no debt. If I went to Cornell, I will be biglaw or bust because I will have 110,000 to pay back.

LoL I'd be happy banging a stripper that isn't a golddigger, but it ain't gonna happen

http://www.justice.gov/oarm/arm/hp/hpsalary.htm

And getting GS-13 is no walk in the park

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:09 pm

elm84dr wrote:This is what I'm struggling with right now...APRIL 15th!!!!!!!

I would do big-law, but I am not big law or bust. I would be happy with a government job paying $70,000-100,000, but with no debt. If I went to Cornell, I will be biglaw or bust because I will have 110,000 to pay back.

1. Government jobs probably aren't paying 70k, let alone 100k.

2. Government jobs are tough to get.

3. It is feasible to pay back 110k on a 50k salary, though not ideal.

4. You need a more realistic estimation of what is going to happen to you if you strike out of biglaw.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:10 pm

I know that I will work to the core to be top 20% at Cornell or BU, and I can typically reach academic goals when I put my mind to it. DOJustice GS is definitely something I would want to do. Do my chances diminish greatly if I go to BU for that position?

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:15 pm

elm84dr wrote:I know that I will work to the core to be top 20% at Cornell or BU, and I can typically reach academic goals when I put my mind to it.

You really so sure you will be top 20% when you have similar credentials to your classmates and they are working just as hard as you? The curve's a bitch.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:16 pm

I know Gov jobs as just as tough or even tougher to get than Big Law. I interview really well (something every employer I have ever had has said), and I am sure I can break the top 20% at either school, probably more easily at BU. What do most people do that strike out at big law, government positions??? Clerk? Clerking actually sounds like something I would love to do as well. I do not want to be a DA or a PD.

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:20 pm

elm84dr wrote:I know Gov jobs as just as tough or even tougher to get than Big Law. I interview really well (something every employer I have ever had has said), and I am sure I can break the top 20% at either school, probably more easily at BU. What do most people do that strike out at big law, government positions??? Clerk? Clerking actually sounds like something I would love to do as well. I do not want to be a DA or a PD.

Most people who strike out of biglaw work at smaller firms for little pay. Clerking is going to be ridiculously tough out of either school.

If I bet every dollar I had that you wouldn't get top 20%, I'd have a higher chance of winning my money than becoming broke. You really should accept this reality.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:20 pm

Looks like my TLS people are just as split as I am.

KMaine · Post by **KMaine** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:22 pm

elm84dr wrote:I know Gov jobs as just as tough or even tougher to get than Big Law. I interview really well (something every employer I have ever had has said), and I am sure I can break the top 20% at either school, probably more easily at BU. What do most people do that strike out at big law, government positions??? Clerk? Clerking actually sounds like something I would love to do as well. I do not want to be a DA or a PD.

No, the TOP people who get Biglaw have a shot at a clerkship. Good luck reaching your academic goals. Also, you have no idea if you interview well.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:24 pm

bk187 wrote:
elm84dr wrote: If I bet every dollar I had that you wouldn't get top 20%, I'd have a higher chance of winning my money than becoming broke. You really should accept this reality.

Patriot1208 · Post by **Patriot1208** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:25 pm

bigkahuna2020 wrote:
elm84dr wrote:This is what I'm struggling with right now...APRIL 15th!!!!!!!

I would do big-law, but I am not big law or bust. I would be happy with a government job paying $70,000-100,000, but with no debt. If I went to Cornell, I will be biglaw or bust because I will have 110,000 to pay back.
LoL I'd be happy banging a stripper that isn't a golddigger, but it ain't gonna happen

http://www.justice.gov/oarm/arm/hp/hpsalary.htm

And getting GS-13 is no walk in the park

The total federal government pay, for a first year graduate with no experience, does hit 70k in most areas once you include locality and the mandatory overtime at most agencies.

Patriot1208 · Post by **Patriot1208** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:26 pm

bk187 wrote:
elm84dr wrote:This is what I'm struggling with right now...APRIL 15th!!!!!!!
I would do big-law, but I am not big law or bust. I would be happy with a government job paying $70,000-100,000, but with no debt. If I went to Cornell, I will be biglaw or bust because I will have 110,000 to pay back.
1. Government jobs probably aren't paying 70k, let alone 100k.

2. Government jobs are tough to get.

3. It is feasible to pay back 110k on a 50k salary, though not ideal.

4. You need a more realistic estimation of what is going to happen to you if you strike out of biglaw.

federal government jobs starting at gs-11 will all be around 70k f fresh out of school. State government jobs are obviously much lower.

elm84dr · Post by **elm84dr** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:28 pm

KMaine wrote:
elm84dr wrote:I know Gov jobs as just as tough or even tougher to get than Big Law. I interview really well (something every employer I have ever had has said), and I am sure I can break the top 20% at either school, probably more easily at BU. What do most people do that strike out at big law, government positions??? Clerk? Clerking actually sounds like something I would love to do as well. I do not want to be a DA or a PD.
No, the TOP people who get Biglaw have a shot at a clerkship. Good luck reaching your academic goals. Also, you have no idea if you interview well.

I have read that clerkships have are starting to go the way of those who want out of BigLaw. What I see in this thread is that there is a 70% chance I am not getting big law/clerkship/govt jobs from EITHER school??? And that there is no way that those who have interviewed me know whether or not I can interview well.

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