$$$ at Chicago v. Harvard Forum

[dafaz16]

I'm pretty much exclusively interested in PI work after school, though I'd be open to going to a firm for a few years if that would be a good learning experience.

I like that Chicago's small and intense with accessible professors.

Regarding location, I'm pretty ambivalent.

Basically, I think I might get more out of Chicago's intellectual environment, but I'm worried about career options and am unsure if the money compensates for that.

Thanks for your help!

[Knock]

If you want PI, i'd go to Harvard and take advantage of their excellent LRAP.

[dafaz16]

The LRAP isn't an issue. $100,000 is the minimum possible difference, assuming I get 100% benefits from Harvard's LRAP, which is unlikely.

[bdubs]

Go to Chicago. It sounds like you actually want to go to Chicago but just need some confirmation. The environments between the places are totally different and you like most of the aspects of the Chicago environment. Also, 100k is an awfully large difference when you are making PI salaries.

[clintonius]

About how much total cost of attendance are you looking at for each school? I think the balance could shift if it's $0 vs $100k as opposed to $100k vs $200k.

[dafaz16]

Yeah, it's 0 v. 100,000.

[Fresh]

But I'd also like to keep open the option of not even becoming a lawyer, maybe going into politics or journalism or some other field. Does the fact that I'm not even sure I want to be a lawyer argue for Harvard (lay prestige) or Chicago (better financial situation)?

For options - Harvard.

However, if your heart is at Chicago, as previous poster said, then go there. The thing is, 15+ years from now you don't want to get hung up on the thought of 'what if'

[bk1]

Yeah, it's 0 v. 100,000.

Chicago for 0 debt it is.

[trudat15]

Yeah, it's 0 v. 100,000.

I assume you got a Rubinstein, but you dont anticipate taking out any COL loans?

[dafaz16]

Yeah, it's 0 v. 100,000.

I assume you got a Rubinstein, but you dont anticipate taking out any COL loans?

Yeah.

[trudat15]

Yeah, it's 0 v. 100,000.

I assume you got a Rubinstein, but you dont anticipate taking out any COL loans?

Yeah.

Chicago for 0 debt is pretty freaking awesome.
Have you visited both?

[dafaz16]

Yeah, it's 0 v. 100,000.

I assume you got a Rubinstein, but you dont anticipate taking out any COL loans?

Yeah.

Chicago for 0 debt is pretty freaking awesome.
Have you visited both?

Not exactly. I visited Chicago and liked it. I went to Harvard undergrad so at least I have an idea of it. I wouldn't say that either has an advantage on the gut level, which is the only level that I think visiting is useful for.

[09042014]

$$$ at Chicago because half of people who want PI end up in big firms anyway.

[dafaz16]

$$$ at Chicago because half of people who want PI end up in big firms anyway.

Haha, I realize that, but I don't think I'll be in that half. (Also, I think it's way more than half.)

[bk1]

Haha, I realize that, but I don't think I'll be in that half. (Also, I think it's way more than half.)

Are you pretty sure you'll be in the top 10% of grades too?

Chicago for free is too good to pass up. Having no debt will make your job search much easier and, though you may get a less prestigious PI position than you would at Harvard, you aren't going to be making any debt payments ever.

[09042014]

$$$ at Chicago because half of people who want PI end up in big firms anyway.

Haha, I realize that, but I don't think I'll be in that half. (Also, I think it's way more than half.)

Being poor to help other poors sounds awful. At least at UChi you'll be debt free.

[bhan87]

DId you try negotiating $$$ with NYU? And also, Harvard basically owns almost all the federal government positions

[dafaz16]

Haha, I realize that, but I don't think I'll be in that half. (Also, I think it's way more than half.)

Are you pretty sure you'll be in the top 10% of grades too?

How could anyone be sure of that? I'll certainly try.

[bk1]

How could anyone be sure of that? I'll certainly try.

That was a bad TLS joke because a lot of people going to law school are very sure they will outdo their classmates.

I really think the freedom of no debt is the better call here even if your employment ceiling is lower at Chicago.

[dafaz16]

How could anyone be sure of that? I'll certainly try.

That was a bad TLS joke because a lot of people going to law school are very sure they will outdo their classmates.

I really think the freedom of no debt is the better call here even if your employment ceiling is lower at Chicago.

Do people really think the employment ceiling is lower if, say, you're in the top 10% and on LR at Chicago? My thinking is that, if I'm unable to do that well at Chicago, I'll be unable to do that well at Harvard and I'll be shut out of basically the same tippy-top PI jobs. But if I do that well at Chicago, I'll basically be in the mix for those jobs, and it will come down to interviews and recommendations and the like.

[bk1]

Do people really think the employment ceiling is lower if, say, you're in the top 10% and on LR at Chicago? My thinking is that, if I'm unable to do that well at Chicago, I'll be unable to do that well at Harvard and I'll be shut out of basically the same tippy-top PI jobs. But if I do that well at Chicago, I'll basically be in the mix for those jobs, and it will come down to interviews and recommendations and the like.

If you're tippy top at Chicago, probably not. But as you stated you will do just as well at either place and can't be sure how good that will be. What you can be sure of is that at equal class rank, a Harvard kid will have more options than a Chicago kid.

[dafaz16]

If you're tippy top at Chicago, probably not. But as you stated you will do just as well at either place and can't be sure how good that will be. What you can be sure of is that at equal class rank, a Harvard kid will have more options than a Chicago kid.

Jeez, I don't like to shut down options. I realize there's no right answer here, but that's what drives me crazy!

[CanadianWolf]

Chicago.

[Law Sauce]

Do people really think the employment ceiling is lower if, say, you're in the top 10% and on LR at Chicago? My thinking is that, if I'm unable to do that well at Chicago, I'll be unable to do that well at Harvard and I'll be shut out of basically the same tippy-top PI jobs. But if I do that well at Chicago, I'll basically be in the mix for those jobs, and it will come down to interviews and recommendations and the like.

If you're tippy top at Chicago, probably not. But as you stated you will do just as well at either place and can't be sure how good that will be. What you can be sure of is that at equal class rank, a Harvard kid will have more options than a Chicago kid.

I think that this a total generalization that we just dont know is true. Grades probably arent even the most important factor in this scenario.

Also how do you even have equal class rank in this case: top 1/3ish with mostly high 170s and a few 180s vs top 1/3ish with more Hs than Ps. It is just confusing, and that may help the H kid actually. Either way though, I think it comes down to things other than grades most likely. Not disagreeing that H is more prestigious obviously, but you do already have H on your resume. Something to consider.

[samsonyte16]

If this were 100k v. 200k, I would say go to Harvard because LIPP would effectively nullify the difference between monthly loan payments at the two schools. If you are looking at 0 v. 100k, however, you have a much tougher situation. Given your interests in politics, government, and clerking, there are some fairly compelling reasons to choose Harvard. Still, it seems like you are more enthusiastic about Chicago and being truly debt free (not just less debt) would be valuable. So I vote Chicago.

Edit: I just noticed you went to Harvard undergrad. I see this as another point in favor of Chicago. Having two institutional affiliations instead of one might be useful down the road, and if you are ever interested in leaving the legal world your undergrad will give you all the lay prestige you need.