Harvard v. UChicago Forum

[ToTransferOrNot]

As a UChicago student, this is a no-brainer. Harvard. Short of a full tuition scholarship (which Chicago doesn't really do,) I don't think you should be giving this much thought.

Bold, brazen, truth... I appreciate it...

so did you transfer in to UChi, or are you considering transferring out - if I may ask, in the interest of full disclosure

I transferred in.

(As further full disclosure, I also have some regret that I did UChi ED and, as a result, didn't give myself a shot at Harvard.)

[swimbrad]

As a UChicago student, this is a no-brainer. Harvard. Short of a full tuition scholarship (which Chicago doesn't really do,) I don't think you should be giving this much thought.

Bold, brazen, truth... I appreciate it...

so did you transfer in to UChi, or are you considering transferring out - if I may ask, in the interest of full disclosure

I transferred in.

(As further full disclosure, I also have some regret that I did UChi ED and, as a result, didn't give myself a shot at Harvard.)

Thanks!

[Joga Bonito]

As a UChicago student, this is a no-brainer. Harvard. Short of a full tuition scholarship (which Chicago doesn't really do,) I don't think you should be giving this much thought.

Thank you my friend, your the voice of reason. I wanna be like you next year.

[swimbrad]

So got my flight booked to Boston to check it out Thursday and Friday...

Is anyone there/know anyone there that'd be willing to show me around/possible let me stay with them (the price of hotels this weekend are astronomical b/c of graduation)... If there is PLEASE send me a message (I'd be forever grateful)

[swimbrad]

I know it's been awhile, but I wanted to check back in and thank everyone for their input.

After some more deliberation I've decided to attend Harvard in the fall

Thanks again everyone!

[goawaybee]

Excellent.

I just read through this entire thing, that wordy post on the previous page was fantastic. Glad you pulled the trigger, just don't get caught in the gray zone, that was your last past go for free. Next time, keep squeezing 'til whatever you were aiming at drops or you drop. All in all the entire thread was enjoyable. 4.3/5

Rock the shit out of H in the fall. Onward

[swimbrad]

Upon telling UChicago that I was going to Harvard, they offered me a full ride...

thoughts? - does this change anything, I mean... that's a lot of money on the table

thanks in advance, and sorry for my extreme indecision

[miamiman]

Upon telling UChicago that I was going to Harvard, they offered me a full ride...

thoughts? - does this change anything, I mean... that's a lot of money on the table

thanks in advance, and sorry for my extreme indecision

free at Chicago vs. sticker at Harvard?

I'd go to chicago...

[AppsAbound]

What would you enjoy more?

1) Lower loan payments for a shorter period of time
2) Or telling people you went to Harvard?

I'm not usually one about the prestige, but you seem like someone who could appreciate the latter. But 120K is a lot o' money.....I'd take it. There isn't anything you can get at HLS that you can't get at UofC. Perhaps certain opportunities will be more present, but we're not talking night/day differences here. But remember, this is the rest of your life we're talking about.

[swimbrad]

What would you enjoy more?

1) Lower loan payments for a shorter period of time
2) Or telling people you went to Harvard?

I'm not usually one about the prestige, but you seem like someone who could appreciate the latter. But 120K is a lot o' money.....I'd take it. There isn't anything you can get at HLS that you can't get at UofC. Perhaps certain opportunities will be more present, but we're not talking night/day differences here. But remember, this is the rest of your life we're talking about.

This is the exact dilemma I'm having... it's a shit-ton of money... even amortized out over a 45 year career is 3,000 per year... but it's also Harvard... argh!

[agentzer0]

what is your goal wrt law school:

1) go to the best possible school for you and your goals

or

2) go to the most efficient school for you and your goals

1 - H
2 - C

[whattodo2008]

What would you enjoy more?

1) Lower loan payments for a shorter period of time
2) Or telling people you went to Harvard?

I'm not usually one about the prestige, but you seem like someone who could appreciate the latter. But 120K is a lot o' money.....I'd take it. There isn't anything you can get at HLS that you can't get at UofC. Perhaps certain opportunities will be more present, but we're not talking night/day differences here. But remember, this is the rest of your life we're talking about.

This is the exact dilemma I'm having... it's a shit-ton of money... even amortized out over a 45 year career is 3,000 per year... but it's also Harvard... argh!

Chicago.

[Amelie]

In full disclosure, I'm on the Harvard WL and am almost your numbers twin...

but if I were in your situation I think I would choose Chicago. Graduating from a top 5 school with minimal debt is a pretty great position to be in. But I'm also fairly debt-averse.

[IAFG]

Upon telling UChicago that I was going to Harvard, they offered me a full ride...

thoughts? - does this change anything, I mean... that's a lot of money on the table

thanks in advance, and sorry for my extreme indecision

free at Chicago vs. sticker at Harvard?

I'd go to chicago...

what? bite me miamiman. send this guy to HLS, which i can't imagine anyone ever regrets, then make a spot for me at UChi.

[IAFG]

wait, do you know HLS is going to stiff you? they tend to be pretty generous with need-based

[miamiman]

Upon telling UChicago that I was going to Harvard, they offered me a full ride...

thoughts? - does this change anything, I mean... that's a lot of money on the table

thanks in advance, and sorry for my extreme indecision

free at Chicago vs. sticker at Harvard?

I'd go to chicago...

what? bite me miamiman. send this guy to HLS, which i can't imagine anyone ever regrets, then make a spot for me at UChi.

there's always a spot on my couch for you, iafg.

<3

[swimbrad]

wait, do you know HLS is going to stiff you? they tend to be pretty generous with need-based

I don't know... it'll be pretty close c/o my parents... but I should be getting my numbers any day now

This is really wrecking my brain...

ps - good luck getting off the WL

[IAFG]

wait, do you know HLS is going to stiff you? they tend to be pretty generous with need-based

I don't know... it'll be pretty close c/o my parents... but I should be getting my numbers any day now

This is really wrecking my brain...

ps - good luck getting off the WL

haha thanks. i will be pulling for that HLS need-aid for you

[MJMD]

I don't know if anyone has already mentioned this, but your law school experience at either university may be considerably affected by the differing class sizes: knowing virtually everyone in your class of 200 at Chicago versus being just another number in your class of 600 at Harvard.

[swimbrad]

I don't know if anyone has already mentioned this, but your law school experience at either university may be considerably affected by the differing class sizes: knowing virtually everyone in your class of 200 at Chicago versus being just another number in your class of 600 at Harvard.

That is a good point, one of which I'm having trouble with... b/c while there are advantages of small class size, there's also advantages to big class sizes

think: more alumni, more people to get to know (find a group), more classes/topics offered, etc.

[djgoldbe]

Considering you want V10 biglaw, id still go for H. However, you really need to ask yourself if you have 0 debt if you really still want biglaw. Many go into it because they need to pay off loans (many, not all), not because it is the job they will learn the most from / enjoy. Having no debt and a UChi degree will give you insane flexibility to take a lower paying job you may enjoy more. (Also note, for clerkships this is applicable as well. Federal clerkship straight out of school is going to be JSP 11 which, in Chicago, is 60K a year.)

[swimbrad]

Yea, I think I do want biglaw, at least for a while. I'm an accountant by trade, so I want to do big corporate work. I've seen what it's like to work 60+ hrs/wk during busy season and I think I could handle it (plus I don't really like having a life anyways

[MJMD]

When the choice is between Harvard and Chicago, I have to hope that the grades you get are going to be far more determinative of your subsequent career prospects than your choice of school. A full-ride doesn't just give you insane flexibility after you graduate, but during your three years of school as well, flexibility that may or may not translate into better grades (because you were free choose the right apartment, to take the right summer positions, and to go out drinking on occasion without spending the following week worried about how much money you threw away, for example).

[IAFG]

When the choice is between Harvard and Chicago, I have to hope that the grades you get are going to be far more determinative of your subsequent career prospects than your choice of school. A full-ride doesn't just give you insane flexibility after you graduate, but during your three years of school as well, flexibility that may or may not translate into better grades (because you were free choose the right apartment, to take the right summer positions, and to go out drinking on occasion without spending the following week worried about how much money you threw away, for example).

huh. that actually sounds like a disincentive to go to chicago.

[swimbrad]

When the choice is between Harvard and Chicago, I have to hope that the grades you get are going to be far more determinative of your subsequent career prospects than your choice of school. A full-ride doesn't just give you insane flexibility after you graduate, but during your three years of school as well, flexibility that may or may not translate into better grades (because you were free choose the right apartment, to take the right summer positions, and to go out drinking on occasion without spending the following week worried about how much money you threw away, for example).

huh. that actually sounds like a disincentive to go to chicago.

and harvard only has 3 grades (no plus/minus) HP, P, and you suck.... whereas chicago has a much more specific grading scale