24 HOURS TO DECISION: CLS 47K, NYU 75K, Chicago 75K Forum

[jitsrenzo]

I'm interested in biglaw. Practicing in NY or Chicago would be fine. I’m very ambitious, so I’m looking for a school that will help me get the most out of my legal career. CLS was my first choice, but their offer is much lower. NYU is a great school, and I was caught by surprise by Chicago's offer to match NYU.

I keep wavering. Sometimes I think I should just go with NYU. I think now I've come to the opposite conclusion, that Columbia and Chicago have better reputations and better placement in elite biglaw/clerkships.

What do you think? Who has the better reputation in the legal community? It's a very tough choice and I don't feel like I have done all the research. I would love to hear from you.

[Tofu]

I'm interested in biglaw. Practicing in NY or Chicago would be fine. I’m very ambitious, so I’m looking for a school that will help me get the most out of my legal career. CLS was my first choice, but their offer is much lower. NYU is a great school, and I was caught by surprise by Chicago's offer to match NYU.

I keep wavering. Sometimes I think I should just go with NYU. I think now I've come to the opposite conclusion, that Colombia and Chicago have better reputations and better placement in elite biglaw/clerkships.

What do you think? Who has the better reputation in the legal community?

how much do you like cls? why do you think you should just go with nyu (is this including how chicago matched nyu's offer?)? do you like nyu or chicago more?

[smov_operator]

How are you ambitious? What do you want do?

[jitsrenzo]

how much do you like cls? why do you think you should just go with nyu (is this including how chicago matched nyu's offer?)? do you like nyu or chicago more?

I like CLS' location and I also feel it has a stronger reputation v. NYU. I'm seeking input on this point.

I did the least amount of research on Chicago, so then I think about what I'm familiar with: NYU v. Columbia. One approach is, they're pretty much the same, so take the money and run. That leaves NYU ahead.

Of course, if Chicago has a stronger reputation, I will choose it over NYU. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I've looked through past threads and read the Chicago 1L taking questions threads and I remember USAIRS making a strong case for Chicago.

[romothesavior]

how much do you like cls? why do you think you should just go with nyu (is this including how chicago matched nyu's offer?)? do you like nyu or chicago more?

I like CLS' location and I also feel it has a stronger reputation v. NYU. I'm seeking input on this point.

I did the least amount of research on Chicago, so then I think about what I'm familiar with: NYU v. Colombia. One approach is, they're pretty much the same, so take the money and run. That leaves NYU ahead.

Of course, if Chicago has a stronger reputation, I will choose it over NYU. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I've looked through past threads and read the Chicago 1L taking questions threads and I remember USAIRS making a strong case for Chicago.

How does taking the money and running -----> Choosing NYU? NYU has a slightly higher tuition. Is Chicago a lot more expensive? I'd be surprised if it was.

[jitsrenzo]

how much do you like cls? why do you think you should just go with nyu (is this including how chicago matched nyu's offer?)? do you like nyu or chicago more?

I like CLS' location and I also feel it has a stronger reputation v. NYU. I'm seeking input on this point.

I did the least amount of research on Chicago, so then I think about what I'm familiar with: NYU v. Colombia. One approach is, they're pretty much the same, so take the money and run. That leaves NYU ahead.

Of course, if Chicago has a stronger reputation, I will choose it over NYU. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I've looked through past threads and read the Chicago 1L taking questions threads and I remember USAIRS making a strong case for Chicago.

How does taking the money and running -----> Choosing NYU? NYU has a slightly higher tuition. Is Chicago a lot more expensive? I'd be surprised if it was.

I mean, between Columbia and NYU, one line of thinking is that the two are essentially the same, so I should just pick the cheaper one. But I'm starting to think that Columbia/Chicago have stronger reputations and should be >>> NYU. I am looking for thoughts on this matter.

In particular, I was influenced by these stats from another, similar thread:

http://lawfirmaddict.blogspot.com/2006/ ... ement.html
http://lawfirmaddict.blogspot.com/2007/ ... ement.html
http://www.leiterrankings.com/jobs/2008job_biglaw.shtml

[smov_operator]

It really depends on what you want to do. Of course, Chicago has the edge with academia/clerkships. But, neither school would give you an advantage per se if you wanted to become partner of a large NYC firm. Each school will get you where you want to go. That being said, the extra 30k from NYU and Chicago is looking good.

[im_blue]

Chicago is stronger than NYU with lower COL, so IMO this choice should come down to CLS 47K vs Chicago 75K.

[creamedcats]

I'd say since you're interested in BigLaw 28k isn't gonna be a big deal. Don't worry too much about the money. They're all excellent options. I voted for Columbia for completely arbitrary reasons. (NYC > Chicago)

[badfish]

If biglaw is your goal, all are solid choices. Still, I'd probably go with U of C in this particular instance.

[CG614]

If biglaw is your goal, all are solid choices. Still, I'd probably go with U of C in this particular instance.

Really, aren't you at NYU? Why would you go with CHI over NYU?

OP, personally, I'd choose NYU. I am having a hard time debating CLS and NYU with no money from either, if either school offered me more money, I'd take that one easily. NYU places well in big law and has an excellent law and business curriculum. Plus, I'm not feeling the quad-mesters at CHI. Good luck in your choice!

[dutchstriker]

Seriously, go wherever you want to go. I voted for CLS because that seems to be where you want to go. We're talking about less than $30k in debt on a biglaw salary. It's just not enough for you to be somewhere you don't want to be.

[thickfreakness]

Chicago or Columbia, whichever one you like more. Maybe NYU if you're die-hard for the NY market.

[Renzo]

If I were in your shoes CLS would be out, and I'd be deciding between NYU and UC. CLS is not going to provide you with a benefit that outweighs the extra tuition.

I personally didn't like the idea of living in Chicago, so NYU would be my choice. But if you like Chicago as a city, and like the school, that would be a good choice.

[Chichaca]

Seriously, go wherever you want to go. I voted for CLS because that seems to be where you want to go. We're talking about less than $30k in debt on a biglaw salary. It's just not enough for you to be somewhere you don't want to be.

Agree. I voted Chicago in the poll, but just go with your gut.

[jitsrenzo]

Chicago is stronger than NYU with lower COL, so IMO this choice should come down to CLS 47K vs Chicago 75K.

Why do you say that Chicago is stronger? This is my impression as well, but I don't have a very solid basis for this view.

[heyguys]

Way this economy is looking, I would go with CLS.

[Rand M.]

Chicago is stronger than NYU with lower COL, so IMO this choice should come down to CLS 47K vs Chicago 75K.

Why do you say that Chicago is stronger? This is my impression as well, but I don't have a very solid basis for this view.

Not meaning to answer for that person, but every metric other than US News say that Chi>NYU. This is especially true when you are talking about biglaw. If you were someone interested in PI this wouldn't even be a choice (NYU all day), but a biglaw preference pushes things pretty far in the other direction. I could link you to a million scraps of data that support this. Even within US News Chicago's reputation scores are much stronger, which speaks directly to your concerns in the OP. You can't really make a wrong choice, but with Chicago offering more money than CLS, and no overwhelming desire to be in NYC after graduation Chicago is TCR. It will leave you with the most doors open.

Way this economy is looking, I would go with CLS.

I am confused as to why you would select the school at which the debt burden would be greatest and the OP would not really gain anything in exchange.

[legalease9]

Yeah, no CLS. Not enough cash. Do NYU or Chicago.

[BlackLaw]

chicago or nyu

[jitsrenzo]

Not meaning to answer for that person, but every metric other than US News say that Chi>NYU. This is especially true when you are talking about biglaw. If you were someone interested in PI this wouldn't even be a choice (NYU all day), but a biglaw preference pushes things pretty far in the other direction. I could link you to a million scraps of data that support this. Even within US News Chicago's reputation scores are much stronger, which speaks directly to your concerns in the OP.

If you have data that support this idea, please post it. I already posted some from lawaddicts and from Leiter's elite firm placement.

Also, does anyone have a link to the USNEWS reputational scores? I found this link from Leiter's site for US News reputational scores in 07

http://leiterlawschool.typepad.com/leit ... putat.html

The academic rating (by law school deans and such) have CCN dead even, while the lawyer/judge ratings put CC > N

[nax425]

I'm interested in biglaw. Practicing in NY or Chicago would be fine. I’m very ambitious, so I’m looking for a school that will help me get the most out of my legal career. CLS was my first choice, but their offer is much lower. NYU is a great school, and I was caught by surprise by Chicago's offer to match NYU.

I keep wavering. Sometimes I think I should just go with NYU. I think now I've come to the opposite conclusion, that Columbia and Chicago have better reputations and better placement in elite biglaw/clerkships.

What do you think? Who has the better reputation in the legal community? It's a very tough choice and I don't feel like I have done all the research. I would love to hear from you.

wow I wish I had this problem.

NYU - easy choice. NYU NYU NYU NYU! Go for it.

[Rand M.]

Heres a link to a neat little table that compares rep. scores over the last few years.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =5&t=83424

There are tons of threads on TLS dealing with all of these choices. Even Badfish, who is an NYU student, said that for biglaw Chicago is probably the right choice in this situation.

[Renzo]

Heres a link to a neat little table that compares rep. scores over the last few years.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =5&t=83424

There are tons of threads on TLS dealing with all of these choices. Even Badfish, who is an NYU student, said that for biglaw Chicago is probably the right choice in this situation.

I am an NYU student headed to biglaw (hopefully) who chose my school over UChi. But as I said above, I much prefer NYC to Chicago. If I were the OP, that would be my primary decision criteria: NYC or Chicago. It's hard to really imagine anyone that would have complete and utter ambivalence between those cities, climates, etc.

[englawyer]

NYU or Chicago. choose whether or not you would like to spend 3 years in new york city or chicago.

keep in mind that 3 years of your life is a fairly long time and would probably be the more important difference in this case relative to an additional 2-3% chance of legal academia or whatever.