BU (105K) Vs. Cornell (90K) - Any thoughts? Forum

[lawschoolbound2014]

So here are all my offers.

Iowa- full ride
Wisconsin-full ride
BU-105K
Cornell-90K
Northwestern-held

I attended one of the midwestern schools for undergrad and I really want to branch out and see what else is out there. Iowa's deposit deadline is TOMORROW!! so I'm feeling a little shaky. I'm pretty sure I don't want to go to any of my midwest choices.. besides Chicago, I'm only interested in East coast, and California. 90K from Cornell is ALOT of money but since tuition at BU cost less, I would still end up with about 100K debt from Cornell versus 60-80 K from BU (with living expenses added in). I also have a boyfriend ,which makes things more complicated. He could easily transfer to Boston and be able to significantly contribute towards living expenses..However, i'm very hesistant if I should even factor him into this decision b/c considering what I want to ultimately end up doing, Cornell seems like a no brainer. I want to do Big law, preferably in the Boston, California markets. I wouldn't mind living in Boston at all but I dont' want to be strapped there. My boyfriend will be attending MBA school in 3 years. Since I don't know where he will ultimately end up, I need to go somewhere that will give me the most flexibility. But 100K debt is hard to swallow. Am I being ridiculous? can someone talk some sense into me?

Thanks

[PiersonVee]

It sounds like you have BigLaw aspirations. You should either attend Cornell and plan on practicing in New York City, or lower your expectations. BigLaw is certainly possible from the other schools, (particularly BU), but it is not very likely.

Of course, if you get into Northwestern, this may be your best option for BigLaw since it will give you more options in areas outside NYC.

Finally, if you are not set on working at a large law firm, BU would likely get you an offer at a Boston firm, but it may not be an AmLaw 100 firm.

[buckilaw]

Cornell hands down. Even if you get into NU, Cornell with money>>NU at sticker even.

[splitmuch]

Difference between cornell and bu degree > than 40,000 in loans total.

[PiersonVee]

Cornell hands down. Even if you get into NU, Cornell with money>>NU at sticker even.

If someone wants to practice in NYC, then I completely agree that Cornell is clearly the better option. However, if she goes to Cornell and decides that she would like to find a job elsewhere, she may find it difficult to swim against the current. If most alums are practicing in NYC and most OCI interviewers are from NYC, then it may not be easy to head in a different direction. If I were in her shoes, I would have a few discussions with Cornell students/alums about this issue.

This is coming from a 2L at a T14 that found it difficult to search for jobs in secondary markets. It was, as I wrote above, very difficult to swim against the current. That said, I quickly decided to conform to the process, and I am heading to a large firm in Chicago this summer. I am very excited, and I don't feel like Chicago was simply a consolation prize. However, at least in my experience, it was very difficult to swim against the current because the process for finding jobs in specific markets is already in place.

[ndirish2010]

Cornell.

[alexonfyre]

Cornell hands down. Even if you get into NU, Cornell with money>>NU at sticker even.

TITCR

[justhoping]

90k and 105k is not that different, but Cornell>>BU, so one more vote for Cornell

[Spookyghost]

Cornell. Put it on the board, we're done here.

[paulinaporizkova]

did you apply to any other schools? seems like if you got 30k a year at cornell you could get some (albeit smaller) scholarships from other t14s. unless a lot of that money is need based, which cornell does a better job with compared to the rest of t14

[alexonfyre]

did you apply to any other schools? seems like if you got 30k a year at cornell you could get some (albeit smaller) scholarships from other t14s. unless a lot of that money is need based, which cornell does a better job with compared to the rest of t14

If he gets into NU, they are pretty loose with money as well. If the 30k were need-based I would actually say deposit Cornell, LOCI and wait out the list for NU.

EDIT: To allay OP's fears, at the prices you mentioned, any of those schools will pay back your investment, at this point it is simply seeing which one will pay back the most in the long run.

[lawschoolbound2014]

No, I didn't really apply to any other schools in T14 (besides Penn, Berkeley, and Harvard- got dinged at each one). . I am not against working in NYC. I have never been to NYC so I don't know how I will like it. I visited Cornell a few weeks ago and I really enjoy that small town atmosphere for studying. I want to study International Business Law, an area where Cornell does really well. As of now, I am definitely leaning towards Cornell. I just need to justify that debt and tell myself it is going to all work out in the end. lol

[alexonfyre]

No, I didn't really apply to any other schools in T14 (besides Penn, Berkeley, and Harvard- got dinged at each one). . I am not against working in NYC. I have never been to NYC so I don't know how I will like it. I visited Cornell a few weeks ago and I really enjoy that small town atmosphere for studying. I want to study International Business Law, an area where Cornell does really well. As of now, I am definitely leaning towards Cornell. I just need to justify that debt and tell myself it is going to all work out in the end. lol

If all you need to hear is that Cornell is worth $100k, then have a great time in Ithaca and don't look back!

[lawschoolbound2014]

No, I didn't really apply to any other schools in T14 (besides Penn, Berkeley, and Harvard- got dinged at each one). . I am not against working in NYC. I have never been to NYC so I don't know how I will like it. I visited Cornell a few weeks ago and I really enjoy that small town atmosphere for studying. I want to study International Business Law, an area where Cornell does really well. As of now, I am definitely leaning towards Cornell. I just need to justify that debt and tell myself it is going to all work out in the end. lol

If all you need to hear is that Cornell is worth $100k, then have a great time in Ithaca and don't look back!

Yess thats what I need to hear!!! I need encouragement!

[paulinaporizkova]

No, I didn't really apply to any other schools in T14 (besides Penn, Berkeley, and Harvard- got dinged at each one). . I am not against working in NYC. I have never been to NYC so I don't know how I will like it. I visited Cornell a few weeks ago and I really enjoy that small town atmosphere for studying. I want to study International Business Law, an area where Cornell does really well. As of now, I am definitely leaning towards Cornell. I just need to justify that debt and tell myself it is going to all work out in the end. lol

If all you need to hear is that Cornell is worth $100k, then have a great time in Ithaca and don't look back!

Yess thats what I need to hear!!! I need encouragement!

yes, it is worlds better than any of your other options and that's all that matters

[Blindmelon]

35k extra is worth it for Cornell. If you don't know where your BF will be for the MBA program, I wouldn't factor him in. Also, after about a year in LS you'll break up (sorry, but I think only 1 long distance couple I know from 1L is still together and they were married).

[lawschoolbound2014]

35k extra is worth it for Cornell. If you don't know where your BF will be for the MBA program, I wouldn't factor him in. Also, after about a year in LS you'll break up (sorry, but I think only 1 long distance couple I know from 1L is still together and they were married).

This makes me very sad. I hope that does not happen to us. We have been dating for over 3 years so our relationship is pretty strong. I just don't know the stress of law school is going to affect a long distance relationship.

I will not factor him in for now. I will go to Cornell and call it day! Thanks TLSers!! you guys have been extremely helpful!!

[alexonfyre]

35k extra is worth it for Cornell. If you don't know where your BF will be for the MBA program, I wouldn't factor him in. Also, after about a year in LS you'll break up (sorry, but I think only 1 long distance couple I know from 1L is still together and they were married).

This makes me very sad. I hope that does not happen to us. We have been dating for over 3 years so our relationship is pretty strong. I just don't know the stress of law school is going to affect a long distance relationship.

I will not factor him in for now. I will go to Cornell and call it day! Thanks TLSers!! you guys have been extremely helpful!!

Dated my ex-gf for 5 years, probably would have married her. 6.5 months of long distance schooling and we were finished. Still good friends though. At this point in your life you both need to focus on making the best decisions for yourself. If it is "meant to be" then you will find each other again on the other side.

[coldshoulder]

Cornell hands down. Even if you get into NU, Cornell with money>>NU at sticker even.

TITCR

+1