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Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:33 pm
by saito816
Hi,
I'm trying to decide between Michigan, Cornell, and OSU. I was pretty sure I wanted to go to Michigan, but then Cornell just offered me 75k which is over double Michigan's offer of 30k. That being said, the COA is higher at Cornell, so it really only becomes a 24k difference over 3 years.
I absolutely loved Michigan's ASW, while my visit to Cornell made the school seem nice, but I didn't have quite the same feeling towards it. Maybe I should see if Michigan will increase my scholarship, although I've heard they don't really negotiate. However, they might be more open to it because the grant they gave me is need based aid only.
My long term goal is big law, but I'm open to almost whatever as long as I can pay back my loans.
One thing to keep in mind is that I'm not completely certain I want to work in NY city, and I wouldn't mind working in Cleveland (surprising though that might be). Ohio firms don't seem to really do OCI at Cornell like they do at Michigan, which might be an issue, this is also why OSU is still in consideration.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:35 pm
by bk1
Michigan since you're not sure you want NYC, you like the school better, and the cost difference isn't that big.
Since you want biglaw, OSU is definitely out.
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:40 pm
by Dany
bk187 wrote:Michigan since you're not sure you want NYC, you like the school better, and the cost difference isn't that big.
Since you want biglaw, OSU is definitely out.
+1; this seems like a no-brainer, especially given that you liked your Mich visit. Enjoy Ann Arbor!
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 1:46 am
by 2things2
too easy.
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:25 am
by Law Sauce
try to negotiate, then if nothing, pick your preference. these schools with that money are very equal. I think that you could get Cornell's CoA lower than that if you try/lived cheaply/got summer work (think more like 120-130 or less with good 2L SA). Though that may be true of both schools.
check nalp, but I doubt either school makes much of a difference for Cleveland. Maybe there are one or two Cleveland firms at Michigan's OCI, but most likely you are going to be mass-mailing all the Ohio firms anyway and firms will look favorably on both these schools especially if you did well and can show a good desire to stay in Ohio. I would call this pretty even. Also, both schools open up major markets like nyc and dc similarly (in DC Michigan may have a very small edge, maybe).
to end though, this is just a preference choice, pick the one you like better
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:30 am
by buckilaw
bk187 wrote:Michigan since you're not sure you want NYC, you like the school better, and the cost difference isn't that big.
Since you want biglaw, OSU is definitely out.
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:37 am
by c_dubya_s
Michigan definitely sounds right, from what you're saying, but have you tried to negotiate? I know that Michigan says that their scholarship offers are non-negotiable, but I don't know how true that actually is.
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:16 am
by FlightoftheEarls
Law Sauce wrote:try to negotiate, then if nothing, pick your preference. these schools with that money are very equal. I think that you could get Cornell's CoA lower than that if you try/lived cheaply/got summer work (think more like 120-130 or less with good 2L SA). Though that may be true of both schools.
check nalp, but I doubt either school makes much of a difference for Cleveland. Maybe there are one or two Cleveland firms at Michigan's OCI, but most likely you are going to be mass-mailing all the Ohio firms anyway and firms will look favorably on both these schools especially if you did well and can show a good desire to stay in Ohio. I would call this pretty even. Also, both schools open up major markets like nyc and dc similarly (in DC Michigan may have a very small edge, maybe).
to end though, this is just a preference choice, pick the one you like better
I don't know if the $8k/year in savings at Cornell is worth taking over Michigan if OP is already doubting whether NYC is the market for him/her. Cornell has zero Cleveland firms, compared to Michigan's five (not a ton, but a significant difference - OSU only has 3 more of the smaller Cleveland firms). In fact, Cornell doesn't have a single Ohio office coming to their OCI according to NALP, whereas Michigan has 20. I think people may assume that Ohio firms hate on Michigan (rivalry blah blah blah), but these firms know how good Michigan law grads are relative to local grads and tend to dig pretty deep in our class. Unless you hated Michigan and loved Cornell, I would personally think Michigan is significantly above Cornell for Ohio placement. As concerns OSU vs. Michigan, the difference in position in your class where you'll need to be at OSU vs. Michigan for Ohio firms is very substantial, assuming any legitimate ties to the state.
Also, that's a good point about the cost reduction and savings from a 2L SA, although it definitely applies to any school where you can land a 2L SA (as you suggest).
Re: Michigan $ Vs Cornell $$ Vs Ohio State $$$
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:35 pm
by Law Sauce
FlightoftheEarls wrote:Law Sauce wrote:try to negotiate, then if nothing, pick your preference. these schools with that money are very equal. I think that you could get Cornell's CoA lower than that if you try/lived cheaply/got summer work (think more like 120-130 or less with good 2L SA). Though that may be true of both schools.
check nalp, but I doubt either school makes much of a difference for Cleveland. Maybe there are one or two Cleveland firms at Michigan's OCI, but most likely you are going to be mass-mailing all the Ohio firms anyway and firms will look favorably on both these schools especially if you did well and can show a good desire to stay in Ohio. I would call this pretty even. Also, both schools open up major markets like nyc and dc similarly (in DC Michigan may have a very small edge, maybe).
to end though, this is just a preference choice, pick the one you like better
I don't know if the $8k/year in savings at Cornell is worth taking over Michigan if OP is already doubting whether NYC is the market for him/her. Cornell has zero Cleveland firms, compared to Michigan's five (not a ton, but a significant difference - OSU only has 3 more of the smaller Cleveland firms). In fact, Cornell doesn't have a single Ohio office coming to their OCI according to NALP, whereas Michigan has 20. I think people may assume that Ohio firms hate on Michigan (rivalry blah blah blah), but these firms know how good Michigan law grads are relative to local grads and tend to dig pretty deep in our class. Unless you hated Michigan and loved Cornell, I would personally think Michigan is significantly above Cornell for Ohio placement. As concerns OSU vs. Michigan, the difference in position in your class where you'll need to be at OSU vs. Michigan for Ohio firms is very substantial, assuming any legitimate ties to the state.
Also, that's a good point about the cost reduction and savings from a 2L SA, although it definitely applies to any school where you can land a 2L SA (as you suggest).
I meant they were very equal for the money in general, the rest of the post says how they may not be equal for op, and also for how partners would see then if you are mass mailing a small market like cleveland. Your point is exactly why i said check nalp. Turns out there are a bunch at Michigan's oci, I didnt know this. So there's a real advantage. It is not surprising that nobody from ohio goes to cornell.