URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)? Forum
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URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
W&M (#27) and has given me a guaranteed almost full ride (20k/yr & tuition is 26K) while Cardozo (#50) has given me guaranteed full tuition. Neither scholarship is contingent upon performance as long as I don't fail out, and the debt will be roughly equal due to the higher cost of living in NYC. I feel that the "practical" choice would be to go to W&M, as I'm not sure where I want to practice & want to have a shot at big law. However, the idea of living in Williamsburg for 3 years makes me cringe and I doubt I'd want to live in VA after law school. Would it be totally impractical to go to a much lower ranked school due to a short term geographic preference?
Thanks for any feedback!!!
Thanks for any feedback!!!
- Aberzombie1892
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Forget big law.
If you don't want to work in VA and are indifferent to NYC, the choice is easy.
If you don't want to work in VA and are indifferent to NYC, the choice is easy.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
The percentage of grads going to NLJ250 firms in comparable from each of these two schools (roughly 15%). Cardozo places in NYC, WM in VA and DC. Pick where you want to live.
- NYC Law
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Honestly have you considered trying again next cycle? Retaking optional (but may as well).
Cardozo isn't going to get you big law and you don't want to be in VA, so making a last minute rushed decision to attend one of these schools just because you want to be in law school next year seems like a huge mistake. These aren't awful options, but for what you want, these aren't the best options.
Cardozo isn't going to get you big law and you don't want to be in VA, so making a last minute rushed decision to attend one of these schools just because you want to be in law school next year seems like a huge mistake. These aren't awful options, but for what you want, these aren't the best options.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
I could also go to Fordham, but my scholarship there of 15K/year seemed less practical (because I am risk averse and there is no guarantee that I'll get a biglaw job)
I'm really eager to go to law school next year because I'm spinning my wheels now, already quit my secretarial job, and am ready for the next step...
I'm really eager to go to law school next year because I'm spinning my wheels now, already quit my secretarial job, and am ready for the next step...
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- Aberzombie1892
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Cardozo full ride > Fordham near sticker.bubbletea wrote:I could also go to Fordham, but my scholarship there of 15K/year seemed less practical (because I am risk averse and there is no guarantee that I'll get a biglaw job)
I'm really eager to go to law school next year because I'm spinning my wheels now, already quit my secretarial job, and am ready for the next step...
Quit thinking about big law. Big law shouldn't be in the equation unless you are talking T14.
- NYC Law
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
I faced a similar decision and went with Fordham at 7.5k over Cardozo at 34k. Even a full ride at Cardozo is going to be close to six figures once you factor in cost of living, and out of the schools given Fordham is your only reasonable shot at big law (though still not a 'great' shot). Sometimes you just have to take a gamble.
But if the Fordham debt is out of the question, go to Cardozo.
But if the Fordham debt is out of the question, go to Cardozo.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
i was under the impression that biglaw would be a possibility if i stayed in the top 10% of the class at cardozo or w&m...not so?
- NYC Law
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Probably so, but being top 10% isn't something you can count on.bubbletea wrote:i was under the impression that biglaw would be a possibility if i stayed in the top 10% of the class at cardozo or w&m...not so?
At least with Fordham it will be a possibility if you're top third-ish.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
hm, how about if i'm in the top 1/3 at w&m (ranked 27) and want to do biglaw in nyc? although fordham has a better reputation in the city, w&m is technically ranked higher.
- NYC Law
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Ranking doesnt matter outside of the top 14 schools, after that its all about regional heirarchy.bubbletea wrote:hm, how about if i'm in the top 1/3 at w&m (ranked 27) and want to do biglaw in nyc? although fordham has a better reputation in the city, w&m is technically ranked higher.
If you cant get T13, Fordham is as good as it gets for NYC, followed by Cardozo/Brooklyn/St. Johns
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
I also got into Duke but didn't want to pay sticker. After spending time on this website, I'm beginning to regret that decision...
- NYC Law
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
bubbletea wrote:I also got into Duke but didn't want to pay sticker. After spending time on this website, I'm beginning to regret that decision...
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Call Duke, and ask them if they got your deposit because you think it was lost in the mail....
- blacklawboss
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
LSATfromNC wrote:Call Duke, and ask them if they got your deposit because you think it was lost in the mail....
Lmao... If you are risk adverse go with cardozo. W&M outside of va doesn't mean much. Duke with debt is best option overall. Crawl back to them.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
NYC Law wrote:I faced a similar decision and went with Fordham at 7.5k over Cardozo at 34k. Even a full ride at Cardozo is going to be close to six figures once you factor in cost of living, and out of the schools given Fordham is your only reasonable shot at big law (though still not a 'great' shot). Sometimes you just have to take a gamble.
But if the Fordham debt is out of the question, go to Cardozo.
I am wondering where in the WORLD are people getting their calculations from with COL in NYC?? Of course if you live in the Manhattan you will be FOOLISHLY paying this amount but wouldn't common sense tell you to find somewhere other than the midst of Manhattan to live in to cut costs. You can easily get a one bedroom for 1200 or maybe even get a roommate and get a two bedroom for 1500. You can very well be paying less than 50k for three years. And just cut the luxurious miscellaneous crap and your good to go. But close to six figures... is NUTS!!
And of course there are parts of NYC that you shouldn't be hanging around, but that doesn't mean that anywhere outside of Manhattan is a danger zone. Please don't cave into ridiculous notion that its Grand Theft Auto here in NYC all day everyday. Also a 40 to 60 minute commute is not bad and really common for NYers. So just because you have to travel more than 15 minutes to your school doesn't mean that its the end of the freakin' world.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
TITCRLSATfromNC wrote:Call Duke, and ask them if they got your deposit because you think it was lost in the mail....
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- Blindmelon
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
This x100.crit_racer wrote:TITCRLSATfromNC wrote:Call Duke, and ask them if they got your deposit because you think it was lost in the mail....
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
In making my decision to attend W&M, I've found that W&M definitely gives you great options outside of VA/DC, and that a lot of firms from other places interview at OCI and their regional interview programs. After talking to alumni all across the country and attorneys in my Texas market, I believe W&M has the best national reputation and employment prospects for its range in the T20-30, probably similar to Notre Dame (although I'm sure that will be a point of contention). That was one of the big factors in my decision, fwiw. Best of luck.JD2014 wrote: Cardozo places in NYC, WM in VA and DC. Pick where you want to live.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
AP-375 wrote:In making my decision to attend W&M, I've found that W&M definitely gives you great options outside of VA/DC, and that a lot of firms from other places interview at OCI and their regional interview programs. After talking to alumni all across the country and attorneys in my Texas market, I believe W&M has the best national reputation and employment prospects for its range in the T20-30, probably similar to Notre Dame (although I'm sure that will be a point of contention). That was one of the big factors in my decision, fwiw. Best of luck.JD2014 wrote: Cardozo places in NYC, WM in VA and DC. Pick where you want to live.
I loved W&M. However, their 2010 numbers were scary. The OP should have taken Duke w/o question. W&M at 6K is not bad at all, but from what I have scene getting DC biglaw will be very very hard.
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
If I want to work in NYC, should I definitely choose Cardozo over W&M?
Also, which W&M numbers from 2010 are scary? Are Cardozo's numbers scary as well?
Also, which W&M numbers from 2010 are scary? Are Cardozo's numbers scary as well?
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Yes. I think if you are sure you and NYC, take Cordozo. (although W&M has a regional interview program in NYC, and peeps with good/great grades have ended up in excellent firms there.) If you think you might want somewhere else, or might want to have a little bit more flexibility geographically, I'd lean W&M. Did you visit both?bubbletea wrote:If I want to work in NYC, should I definitely choose Cardozo over W&M?
Also, which W&M numbers from 2010 are scary? Are Cardozo's numbers scary as well?
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Have you spoken with any W&M alumni in NYC? Talking to them in my home market was the difference maker for me - calmed my nerves about passing up a lower-ranked/regionally stronger school. Just call the admissions office and ask them to hook you up with someone in a big firm in NYC. I'm sure they'd do it.bubbletea wrote:hm, how about if i'm in the top 1/3 at w&m (ranked 27) and want to do biglaw in nyc? although fordham has a better reputation in the city, w&m is technically ranked higher.
Did you contact Duke?
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
I visited both schools and loved Cardozo, but was less enthusiastic about W&M (bc I really don't want to live in Williamsburg). On the other hand, NYC may be a distraction from my studies and W-burg may be more bearable once I establish a social support network...in the short term, I'd prefer to be at Cardozo, but long term W&M just may keep more doors open? Leaning toward the practical choice of W&M...
Rationally, I feel the best choice is W&M. Emotionally, I am leaning toward Cardozo.
Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!
*Emailed Duke & haven't heard back yet.
Rationally, I feel the best choice is W&M. Emotionally, I am leaning toward Cardozo.
Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!
*Emailed Duke & haven't heard back yet.
- ahduth
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Re: URGENT: W&M (60K scholarship) vs Cardozo (full ride)?
Not to pile on, but if you want big law, Duke is the only option. Dean Hoye seems pretty chill though, maybe they'll take pity.bubbletea wrote:If I want to work in NYC, should I definitely choose Cardozo over W&M?
Also, which W&M numbers from 2010 are scary? Are Cardozo's numbers scary as well?
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