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BU (150k) or Fordham (193k) for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 3:50 pm
by NYC Law
Long time lurker here.
Title says it all, should I go to BU or Fordham if I really want NYC big law?
Fordham is only about 20,000 more than BU due to some scholarship money.
This seems like a no-brainer for Fordham, but I can't help but be a little swayed by all the good press BU gets, the somewhat higher prestige, and increased job opportunities elsewhere in the country. But I think I would
really like my first legal job to be in New York City.
Thank you in advance
ETA: The second I made a final decision on Fordham I get an email from BU offering $10k a year. This makes things more difficult
ETA II: Fordham upped it to $7.5k
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 3:57 pm
by Cupidity
I'm the biggest BU proponent on this site, and I say this is a no brainer. Forham 100%
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:24 pm
by Slevin Kelevra 2011
Fordham.
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:25 pm
by danquayle
Cupidity wrote:I'm the biggest BU proponent on this site, and I say this is a no brainer. Forham 100%
But BU is 8 spots higher on the US News!!!
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:26 pm
by jpSartre
neither youre paying too much
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:44 pm
by FF55
I am making a similar decision, but my COA's are lower:
BU ($135k COA)
Fordham ($174k COA)
Strongly prefer NYC, but a $40k difference is tough to stomach, though perhaps not as tough to stomach as 3+ years living in Boston.
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:46 pm
by Cupidity
FF55 wrote:I am making a similar decision, but my COA's are lower:
BU ($135k COA)
Fordham ($174k COA)
Strongly prefer NYC, but a $40k difference is tough to stomach, though perhaps not as tough to stomach as 3+ years living in Boston.
Why the boston hate?
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 7:10 pm
by FF55
Hard to describe -- I feel like all of its historical significance can be overpowering, as if the city is stuck in time. I also grew up near Boston, so maybe that is playing a role...?
But there's no doubt that BU is a strong school. Their faculty and staff are the best I've dealt with in this whole admissions game.
Re: BU or Fordham for NY?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 7:11 pm
by Grizz
jpSartre wrote:neither youre paying too much
Re: BU (150k) or Fordham (200k) for NY?
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:34 pm
by NYC Law
Just got a scholarship from BU ($10k/year). Does this change anything?
Re: BU (150k) or Fordham (200k) for NY?
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:37 pm
by BU2013
Depends what "really" is. Are you certain you want NY, is anything else a distant second, if so, go to Fordham. However, if you wouldn't mind working somewhere else, BU is a better school, and now cheaper.
Re: BU (150k) or Fordham (200k) for NY?
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:41 pm
by 2011Cycle
NYC Law wrote:Just got a scholarship from BU ($10k/year). Does this change anything?
No. For what you want, the number of NY OCI frtims at BU is one-fifth that of Fordham. The 603 bucks per month in loan payment over 10 years is not worth it. It's truly a binary choice. Either you are going to make 125 plus coming out of each or 40k. Why hedge on location for 11k/yr. pre-tax
Re: BU (150k) or Fordham (193k) for NY?
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:00 pm
by NYC Law
Fordham just increased my scholarship too.
Re: BU (150k) or Fordham (200k) for NY?
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:37 pm
by fingersxd
2011Cycle wrote:NYC Law wrote:Just got a scholarship from BU ($10k/year). Does this change anything?
No. For what you want, the number of NY OCI frtims at BU is one-fifth that of Fordham. The 603 bucks per month in loan payment over 10 years is not worth it. It's truly a binary choice. Either you are going to make 125 plus coming out of each or 40k. Why hedge on location for 11k/yr. pre-tax
One-fifth? Doesn't sound quite right...
That said, if you are set on attending this year and absolutely HAVE to be in NYC, then Fordham is probably the best bet here (though I would squeeze every penny you can out of them).
However, I do agree with some previous posters that this much debt is A LOT for either school. I hate to say it, but would you consider retaking & reapplying? You could, at the very least, get a ton more $.
Re: BU (150k) or Fordham (193k) for NY?
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:50 pm
by blsingindisguise
Fordham.
However I would add one thing in response to what was said upthread: don't confuse number of NYC firms attending OCI with chances at NYC biglaw. Remember that for a firm to send someone to an NYC school's OCI is a cab or subway ride and maybe a meal. To send a rep to Boston is a train ride and a hotel room. But many of those firms will still gladly interview BU kids with good grades if they send their resumes. Meanwhile, there will be years where a firm sends someone to Fordham without actually hiring anyone from Fordham.
Fordham's shot at NYC biglaw is better, but there's no way it's 5x better.
Re: BU (150k) or Fordham (193k) for NY?
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:53 pm
by NYC Law
blsingindisguise wrote:Fordham.
However I would add one thing in response to what was said upthread: don't confuse number of NYC firms attending OCI with chances at NYC biglaw. Remember that for a firm to send someone to an NYC school's OCI is a cab or subway ride and maybe a meal. To send a rep to Boston is a train ride and a hotel room. But many of those firms will still gladly interview BU kids with good grades if they send their resumes. Meanwhile, there will be years where a firm sends someone to Fordham without actually hiring anyone from Fordham.
Fordham's shot at NYC biglaw is better, but there's no way it's 5x better.
Yeah I agree with this.
I sent in my second deposit to ... Fordham. I just realized I don't actually have any desire to be in Boston, I was only considering it because I got wrapped up in marginal prestige differences. And the networking advantages of actually being in NYC during school can't be beat.
Not going to retake/reapply, I got really good results for my numbers and I don't want to jinx it. Fordham with a small scholarship isn't guaranteed financial suicide, it's just a big gamble.