I'm trying to figure out how to say no to Harvard so I can accept a T10 scholarship. I'm hoping to get some perspectives of grads with substantial debt (and see past the 0L chatter). Can anyone with experience speak? I'd also love to hear perspectives of grads that said no to HYS.

Are you happy you have an HYS diploma and $200k in loans? Do you wish you had a CCN degree with much smaller debt?

I value some of the things the HYS degree provides (maximum portability, mainly, but also some others), but I don't know how much of a price tag to put on those things.

Hit me with your best anecdotal evidence.

If your goal is NYC biglaw, I would (and did) recommend choosing CLS (with scholly) over Harvard (sticker). Academia is another story and I'm not too sure how that field works, except that Yale is supposedly the best option for that career path.

when i went to harvard's asw, i went to the student club fair and the guy in charge of the texas club (yes its a club completely dedicated to all things texas) was a 3L from texas and he had gotten full scholly to UT..he said he regretted not going to texas and that overall he felt like he made the wrong decision

I turned down a major T-10 scholarship, but I'm glad I did. However, if that scholarship had been to one of CCN I would have taken it in a heartbeat. The employment options are frankly not that different, and the prestige gap isn't going to mean anything down the line. If you're sitting on a Hamilton or Rubenstein or Root Tilden scholarship or even something halfway there, I think you would be totally crazy not to take it.

Coming from the guy who was like president of a club dedicated to texas

If it helps, portability to places you don't have preexisting ties to is mainly a myth, especially outside of major markets.

With H?.....

I have no interest in academia. But I do hope/plan to do some unconventional stuff with my life (probably outside of the law) where an HYS degree would help... if [my future self] can foot the bill. I imagine my first job will be at a big firm in a big city. Afterwards, I'm hoping to get weird.

You'd be surprised when OCI rolls around. Here's an example from an H student. It's acrossthelake's poast.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=182815&start=128

I'm so sorry you had such a negative experience.

OP--pretty much comes down to the price tag you put on H's intangible prestige and the ability to have lunch at the Harvard Club. If you're married/have dependents/are financially scrupulous, then take the money.

I personally put a very high price on the intangibles because I think if I took money at a lesser school I would always be left wondering what if. Even if I end up doing very well, I would always wonder if I might have done better had I gone to H.

I think there are tangible benefits too--like access to the alumni network, legacy privileges for your kids, etc.

This is intriguing to me! Will you elaborate? Weird like run for office or weird like join the circus?

Do you really not know how to link to a specific post?

No

what?

Wait echo chamber got locked? I'm behind the times

Click the little white page in the top right next to where it says "Posted: Sat Apr 28."

What was unclear about this?

Bearsgrl lol

Every time I eat at Chick Fil A I'm always like "Fuck I should have retaken my LSAT. I could be eating at the Harvard Club right now."

Perma?

So you would've taken the money.

Doesn't everyone else has the same priorities.

idk

Not gonna sit here and let you talk about cfa like that

I mean, that wasn't really my point, but whatever.

I actually really really love cfa...I had some gross chicken tenders today and wished it was cfa.