Columbia v. Harvard Forum

[logistikon]

The question is not which one to attend (I'm sure that almost everyone will say harvard); the question is rather what advantages harvard actually has on columbia (other than a slight rankings edge). Is there really a reason other than pure prestige to pick harvard over columbia?

[ResolutePear]

The question is not which one to attend (I'm sure that almost everyone will say harvard); the question is rather what advantages harvard actually has on columbia (other than a slight rankings edge). Is there really a reason other than pure prestige to pick harvard over columbia?

Walk into a "bodega" or any other grocery store. Ask the cashier this question. *THAT* is your answer.

[TheFactor]

Harvard is a guaranteed panty-dropper.

[logistikon]

The question is not which one to attend (I'm sure that almost everyone will say harvard); the question is rather what advantages harvard actually has on columbia (other than a slight rankings edge). Is there really a reason other than pure prestige to pick harvard over columbia?

Walk into a "bodega" or any other grocery store. Ask the cashier this question. *THAT* is your answer.

I hope that if I attend either of these schools, the opinions of bodega cashiers will not matter to my ego or job prospects.

[2things2]

Harvard is a guaranteed panty-dropper.

[DeepSeaLaw]

At HLS you don't need to rank quite as highly in your class to secure competitive positions. Many employers -- from firms to judges -- hire "deeper" into the class at Harvard; this is more dramatic when you get outside of New York, where CLS is obviously very strong.
Additionally, the grading system means that small differences in 1L grades (B vs B+, A vs A-, etc.) won't matter quite as much when it comes to hiring.

Harvard, along with Yale, also owns the federal government, and places many more alumni into academia. The difference really is just prestige, but it's professional prestige, not lay prestige. If we're talking Biglaw firms in NYC, there probably isn't much of a difference, although the HLS grad might get slightly more latitude on grades. But if we're talking federal clerkships, government Honors programs, or other uber-competitive positions, the gap begins to matter more.

[gdane]

Enjoy Harvard.

[Bumi]

Walk into a "bodega" law school or any other grocery store academic institution. Ask the cashier a professor this question. *THAT* is your answer.

[ResolutePear]

The question is not which one to attend (I'm sure that almost everyone will say harvard); the question is rather what advantages harvard actually has on columbia (other than a slight rankings edge). Is there really a reason other than pure prestige to pick harvard over columbia?

Walk into a "bodega" or any other grocery store. Ask the cashier this question. *THAT* is your answer.

I hope that if I attend either of these schools, the opinions of bodega cashiers will not matter to my ego or job prospects.

My point in saying that is simple:

A bodega cashier has the depth of common knowledge required to give an obvious answer to this question. Hell, you already answered the question half-way in the question itself.

[Attorney]

Harvard is Harvard. It is the pinnacle of all creation.

[MrPapagiorgio]

Harvard is a guaranteed panty-dropper.

The only reason we attend lawl school.

[FuManChusco]

Harvard is Harvard. It is the pinnacle of all creation.

Egregious Yale trolling

[Lovely Ludwig Van]

Harvard is a guaranteed panty-dropper.

Lol. This guy is pretty funny.

[09042014]

Better clerkship and academia. For big law they are fairly similar. Harvard has an edge but its not huge.

Go to harvard if you can, but don't be too butthurt if you don't get in.

[JamMasterJ]

H. Unless you have a stack of money from Columbia

[logistikon]

thanks for the responses. the motivation behind the thread is as follows - new york seems like it is a much more fun city in which to live, but i'm afraid of taking a hit in job prospects because i wanted to party in nyc for 3 years. i suppose if i choose to do biglaw, i can always make up for lost time in nyc after law school.

[sonervous88]

thanks for the responses. the motivation behind the thread is as follows - new york seems like it is a much more fun city in which to live, but i'm afraid of taking a hit in job prospects because i wanted to party in nyc for 3 years. i suppose if i choose to do biglaw, i can always make up for lost time in nyc after law school.

as someone who used to live in boston and ives outside of nyc now boston is an awesome city to live in. don't let that be your deciding factor

[logistikon]

thanks for the responses. the motivation behind the thread is as follows - new york seems like it is a much more fun city in which to live, but i'm afraid of taking a hit in job prospects because i wanted to party in nyc for 3 years. i suppose if i choose to do biglaw, i can always make up for lost time in nyc after law school.

as someone who used to live in boston and ives outside of nyc now boston is an awesome city to live in. don't let that be your deciding factor

i visited new york to check out nyu and columbia and i fell madly in love immediately. i just don't feel the same way about boston...dunno what it is.

[sonervous88]

thanks for the responses. the motivation behind the thread is as follows - new york seems like it is a much more fun city in which to live, but i'm afraid of taking a hit in job prospects because i wanted to party in nyc for 3 years. i suppose if i choose to do biglaw, i can always make up for lost time in nyc after law school.

as someone who used to live in boston and ives outside of nyc now boston is an awesome city to live in. don't let that be your deciding factor

i visited new york to check out nyu and columbia and i fell madly in love immediately. i just don't feel the same way about boston...dunno what it is.

hey to each his own. just be happy! you have great choices and i'm jealous. i don't think there is a bad choice. however. if you got into harvard i'd try to seroiusly negotiate some cash from columbia. just to sweeten the deal good luck and congrats

[BeautifulSW]

Everyone will say "Harvard" and I suppose that they are right by almost any career measure wherever you want to go and whatever you want to do. I mean, if you can't get into Yale, Harvard is the obvious choice.

Even so...I've worked with a Columbia lawyer or two over the years and I've known more than a few Harvard Law grads. Both groups (tiny samples, really) were breathtakingly smart and well-trained lawyers. Predictably, many were my own professors. But the Harvard people tend to hate their school while Columbia grads tend to revere theirs. Probably doesn't mean anything. Just anecdotes. But it does make one think. Why ARE these people so BITTER?