Columbia v. Chicago Forum

[bloodonthetracks]

I'm fortunate to be choosing between these two schools. I realize that this choice may boil down to picking the city in which I want to live. Still, I'd appreciate any insight relating to my decision (setting aside the issue of cost of living).
--I received no $ from either.
--I have lived in and love both Chicago and New York City. I would be happy to be a student and settle down in either city.
--I am hopelessly undecided about my career path. The only thing I know is that I probably don't want to go into academia.

Things that are important to me: 1) accessibility and quality of the faculty; 2) opportunity to have a relatively active social life beyond studying; 3) general atmosphere of the school (I understand that law school is competitive, but I'd like to avoid a cutthroat environment).

Thanks.

[Unitas]

Go to Columbia.. While I don't necessarily agree that "fun goes to die in Chicago," I do tend to believe when there is that much smoke there is a fire.

Plus NYC has so much to offer socially.

[dresden doll]

Chicago fulfills all three of your requirements. Though the school is pretty intense, it's definitely not cutthroat and you'd have opportunity to socialize plenty. Never forget, the school does serve liquor every Friday afternoon.

That said, I'm sure same can be said of CLS. Moreover, I'd personally pick NYC over Chicago any day, any time. City of Chicago blows IMO. NYC = awesome.

If you haven't visited, you should. If you're still undecided after visiting, just pick Chicago. I mean, assuming you really do feel equally about both places, you can just as well save yourself some money in COL loans.

[bloodonthetracks]

Chicago fulfills all three of your requirements. Though the school is pretty intense, it's definitely not cutthroat and you'd have opportunity to socialize plenty. Never forget, the school does serve liquor every Friday afternoon.

That said, I'm sure same can be said of CLS. Moreover, I'd personally pick NYC over Chicago any day, any time. City of Chicago blows IMO. NYC = awesome.

If you haven't visited, you should. If you're still undecided after visiting, just pick Chicago. I mean, assuming you really do feel equally about both places, you can just as well save yourself some money in COL loans.

I have visited both. I like that CLS is in Manhattan. In terms of Chicago neighborhoods, Hyde Park ranks pretty low in excitement. That being said, I actually really liked the intellectual atmosphere of the UChicago campus as a whole; I felt like it was an ideal place to study -- though not socialize.

(And as much as I hate to pick a fight with someone giving me advice, Chicago is an awesome city. You probably just stayed in the touristy areas.)

[JollyGreenGiant]

I think this one is gonna come down to personal preference. Where do you think you'll be happier?

BTW, the people who post here that are attending Chi are a pretty awesome bunch, but I'm sure the same can be said for CLS.

[miamiman]

This is a problem of plenty. Given there is little complexity here -- no money at either, a legitimate but not insurmountable COL disparity, lateral job prospects, I doubt youll find a compelling reason to attend one versus the other via TLS.

Best to go on gut. Or flip a coin.

[dresden doll]

Chicago fulfills all three of your requirements. Though the school is pretty intense, it's definitely not cutthroat and you'd have opportunity to socialize plenty. Never forget, the school does serve liquor every Friday afternoon.

That said, I'm sure same can be said of CLS. Moreover, I'd personally pick NYC over Chicago any day, any time. City of Chicago blows IMO. NYC = awesome.

If you haven't visited, you should. If you're still undecided after visiting, just pick Chicago. I mean, assuming you really do feel equally about both places, you can just as well save yourself some money in COL loans.

I have visited both. I like that CLS is in Manhattan. In terms of Chicago neighborhoods, Hyde Park ranks pretty low in excitement. That being said, I actually really liked the intellectual atmosphere of the UChicago campus as a whole; I felt like it was an ideal place to study -- though not socialize.

(And as much as I hate to pick a fight with someone giving me advice, Chicago is an awesome city. You probably just stayed in the touristy areas.)

I think the intellectual atmosphere is awesome. My classmates are incredibly thoughtful and intelligent, and I genuinely enjoy their company. In fairness, though, I imagine I'd be saying much the same if I were attending CLS.

As for Chi - I actually live in the smack middle of downtown. I will admit my general hatred of Midwest and desire to get out after 7 years in the region have a lot to do with my hatred of the city. That said, NYC >>>>> Chi, touristy or no touristy areas. Sorry.

[JollyGreenGiant]

I think the intellectual atmosphere is awesome. My classmates are incredibly thoughtful and intelligent, and I genuinely enjoy their company. In fairness, though, I imagine I'd be saying much the same if I were attending CLS.

As for Chi - I actually live in the smack middle of downtown. I will admit my general hatred of Midwest and desire to get out after 7 years in the region have a lot to do with my hatred of the city. That said, NYC >>>>> Chi, touristy or no touristy areas. Sorry.

One of the main reasons I wanted to go to Chi was because of how much I like the midwest.

[bloodonthetracks]

Chicago fulfills all three of your requirements. Though the school is pretty intense, it's definitely not cutthroat and you'd have opportunity to socialize plenty. Never forget, the school does serve liquor every Friday afternoon.

That said, I'm sure same can be said of CLS. Moreover, I'd personally pick NYC over Chicago any day, any time. City of Chicago blows IMO. NYC = awesome.

If you haven't visited, you should. If you're still undecided after visiting, just pick Chicago. I mean, assuming you really do feel equally about both places, you can just as well save yourself some money in COL loans.

I have visited both. I like that CLS is in Manhattan. In terms of Chicago neighborhoods, Hyde Park ranks pretty low in excitement. That being said, I actually really liked the intellectual atmosphere of the UChicago campus as a whole; I felt like it was an ideal place to study -- though not socialize.

(And as much as I hate to pick a fight with someone giving me advice, Chicago is an awesome city. You probably just stayed in the touristy areas.)

I think the intellectual atmosphere is awesome. My classmates are incredibly thoughtful and intelligent, and I genuinely enjoy their company. In fairness, though, I imagine I'd be saying much the same if I were attending CLS.

As for Chi - I actually live in the smack middle of downtown. I will admit my general hatred of Midwest and desire to get out after 7 years in the region have a lot to do with my hatred of the city. That said, NYC >>>>> Chi, touristy or no touristy areas. Sorry.

Fair enough. Though I would never consider living downtown.

[Rand M.]

I vote Chicago if for no other reason than you say faculty quality and accessibility is important to you. That seems to be the only factor where the two school separate. Chicago's size really plays into a lot of the head to head differences, and for my money, its usually an advantage. That said, you have no wrong move here; Congrats in advance on what will be the right choice.

[dresden doll]

I think the intellectual atmosphere is awesome. My classmates are incredibly thoughtful and intelligent, and I genuinely enjoy their company. In fairness, though, I imagine I'd be saying much the same if I were attending CLS.

As for Chi - I actually live in the smack middle of downtown. I will admit my general hatred of Midwest and desire to get out after 7 years in the region have a lot to do with my hatred of the city. That said, NYC >>>>> Chi, touristy or no touristy areas. Sorry.

One of the main reasons I wanted to go to Chi was because of how much I like the midwest.

I am unique in my hatred of the city. Almost everyone hearts Chicago the city, for whatever inexplicable reason.

[swampthang]

I'm fortunate to be choosing between these two schools. I realize that this choice may boil down to picking the city in which I want to live. Still, I'd appreciate any insight relating to my decision (setting aside the issue of cost of living).
--I received no $ from either.
--I have lived in and love both Chicago and New York City. I would be happy to be a student and settle down in either city.
--I am hopelessly undecided about my career path. The only thing I know is that I probably don't want to go into academia.

Things that are important to me: 1) accessibility and quality of the faculty; 2) opportunity to have a relatively active social life beyond studying; 3) general atmosphere of the school (I understand that law school is competitive, but I'd like to avoid a cutthroat environment).

Thanks.

I chose Chicago. Or rather, I didn't really choose Chicago, I got 'Reserved' at Columbia and withdrew shortly thereafter. So I didn't have a choice to make and my response will thusly be tinged by some measure of an attempt to rationalize my selection of Chicago, however, I will try to compensate for it.

1) I found the Leiter Rankings somewhat useful in my Penn v. Chicago debate (although does that fact that he teaches at UC call them into question?) and the latest suggest that Chi might have a slight quality edge of Col. It's really pretty close so I would generally call it a wash unless there's one area you're particularly interested in. Student:Faculty ratios are also nearly identical so this could definitely be a dead heat. Anecdotally, a friend of mine spoke with a prof at Col who was supposedly an expert in a certain environmental field and friend reported that said prof had no idea what he was talking about. For whatever that's worth.

2) social life is what you make it, really. Both are top schools filled with top students in large, diverse cities. I do think I would give a slight edge to Col based on class size. More classmates = more people to meet, more organizations to be a part of and to put on events, more everything. Given that Col is roughly 2x the size of Chi, this could be a significant difference. Then again, both are in huge cities so if you know people in either, it could be a mitigating factor.

3) I can only speak anecdotally about Col (or really Chi for that matter, having never attended the law school myself), but a different friend who visited Col ended up picking Penn due to the students' "overwhelming douchiness". Again, one example, who knows how much it matters, but I used it to comfort myself over my Col rejection. A ton of Col students go into biglaw and tend to have business/finance backgrounds/interests. I think Chi is a slightly nerdier bunch in that students come from slightly more theoretical backgrounds, but again, this is just feeling. I really enjoyed my Chi ASW visit and was shocked to find people there who were bright, friendly, and liked to party. That's all I'm looking for.

Perhaps you've heard the phrase: you can't go wrong? Really, you can't. Good luck!

[of Benito Cereno]

Where did you go ug?

[bloodonthetracks]

thanks to everyone for the thoughtful responses so far.

[bloodonthetracks]

Where did you go ug?

non-HYP (or C) ivy. so...brown, cornell, dartmouth, or penn.

[clintonius]

I want you at Columbia if only so I can buy a beer for the guy who got into UofC at the same time I got WL'd. So much anticipation!

[bloodonthetracks]

I want you at Columbia if only so I can buy a beer for the guy who got into UofC at the same time I got WL'd. So much anticipation!

beers are on me, clintonius.

[legalease9]

Go Columbia. Since you are completely undecided about career path and/or location, go with Columbia's (barely) better employment prospects. Plus Manhattan kicks ass! And Chicago does have the unfun rep...

[clintonius]

I want you at Columbia if only so I can buy a beer for the guy who got into UofC at the same time I got WL'd. So much anticipation!

beers are on me, clintonius.

Actually, we can bring my friend who got the Roots at NYU. I've informed her that drinks are on her for the next three years.

[JollyGreenGiant]

I want you at Columbia if only so I can buy a beer for the guy who got into UofC at the same time I got WL'd. So much anticipation!

beers are on me, clintonius.

Actually, we can bring my friend who got the Roots at NYU. I've informed her that drinks are on her for the next three years.

I was gonna comment on how awesome the group "The Roots" are.. until I realized you were referring to the Roots Tilden.

[bloodonthetracks]

I want you at Columbia if only so I can buy a beer for the guy who got into UofC at the same time I got WL'd. So much anticipation!

beers are on me, clintonius.

Actually, we can bring my friend who got the Roots at NYU. I've informed her that drinks are on her for the next three years.

I was gonna comment on how awesome the group "The Roots" are.. until I realized you were referring to the Roots Tilden.

i was similarly confused.

[JollyGreenGiant]

i was similarly confused.

If you know who "The Roots" are, and you knew them before Jimmy Fallon... come to Chicago. Now.

[Regionality]

COL in Chicago is significantly cheaper than COL of NYC...you can find really affordable places around UChicago...

[clintonius]

And clearly that says something about Chicago's desirability; therefore, OP should go to CLS.

(ITT: law school tug-of-war!)

[swampthang]

And clearly that says something about Chicago's desirability; therefore, OP should go to CLS.

(ITT: law school tug-of-war!)

It could, Supply could have momentarily outpaced Demand. Two sides to every story, at least.