uc davis vs cornell Forum

[hellohello]

hi everyone, Im stuck in a dilemma and thought I'd ask for peoples opinion here. I was pretty sure I would be attending Davis in the fall based on various factors ($, location, program) but I just got accepted into Cornell from being on hold/reserve. I haven't gotten the financial aid packet or scholarship info but the lady I spoke to gave me hope about receiving at least some funding. I eventually want to get into public interest / education policy / social justice related stuff ( I know thats very vague and broad but Im just not completely sure yet) and I would like to live in California, preferably la/oc area, in the long run. what do you guys think? I would appreciate some feedback. thanks in advance!

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

[CanadianWolf]

Congratulations ! Normally, Cornell would be the obvious choice, but your scholarship combined with your desire to remain in California after graduation call for consideration of other factors--such as environments. Some report that Cornell Law can be quite competitive & that 3 years in Ithaca isn't ideal. Although Cornell is not a large law school, first year classes were reported to USNews as averaging about 98 students. What are your preferences in these areas ? Do you excel in competitive environments ? How attached to California are you in the near & far terms ?

How soon until Cornell informs you about financial aid/scholarship awards ?

P.S. Cornell is the most expensive law school in the country for tuition (although Berkeley out-of-state tuition is higher) & transportation from California to Ithaca, New York is costly.

[Law Sauce]

Depends on whether prestigious/influential work or living in California is the variable that is more important to you? which one would you give up easier?

[hellohello]

Depends on whether prestigious/influential work or living in California is the variable that is more important to you? which one would you give up easier?

I know I want to be in california in the long run, but I would also idealize having an influential career. does going to Cornell make it difficult for me to find work in california?

[hellohello]

so why are people voting for Davis? explanations would be helpful. help please

[071816]

Depends on whether prestigious/influential work or living in California is the variable that is more important to you? which one would you give up easier?

I know I want to be in california in the long run, but I would also idealize having an influential career. does going to Cornell make it difficult for me to find work in california?

Not really. It's just expensive as fuck if you don't get any financial aid.

edit: freakin' typo

[bk1]

Assuming there is a guarantee on your 27k/year getting renewed, I think taking less debt is preferable since you want public interest, especially since it is a good regional school in CA where you want to work.

UCD's CoA estimate is under 60k and I can tell you from personal experience that their CoL is definitely overbudgeted. I think the fact that you will end up with a big chunk less than 100k debt at UC Davis makes it a better pick than paying over 200k for Cornell.

Of course this is assuming that you are getting the full 81k. If there is a decent amount of doubt in whether the 27k gets renewed then I'm not sure that Davis is worth it compared to Cornell.

[bk1]

so why are people voting for Davis? explanations would be helpful. help please

For PI, having far less debt seems preferable to having to rely on LRAP/IBR, especially when the cheaper school is a strong regional in the area you want and the expensive school is one that traditionally does not send many people into PI (though that may be partially self-selection).

[hellohello]

Assuming there is a guarantee on your 27k/year getting renewed, I think taking less debt is preferable since you want public interest, especially since it is a good regional school in CA where you want to work.

UCD's CoA estimate is under 60k and I can tell you from personal experience that their CoL is definitely overbudgeted. I think the fact that you will end up with a big chunk less than 100k debt at UC Davis makes it a better pick than paying over 200k for Cornell.

Of course this is assuming that you are getting the full 81k. If there is a decent amount of doubt in whether the 27k gets renewed then I'm not sure that Davis is worth it compared to Cornell.

I guess Im not 100% sure that I want to go into public interest, Im also interested in government and maybe mid sized firms that focus on education law or human rights. does that make a difference in your answer?

[bk1]

I guess Im not 100% sure that I want to go into public interest, Im also interested in government and maybe mid sized firms that focus on education law or human rights. does that make a difference in your answer?

No, I still think Davis is the better bet because that level of debt gives you more flexibility than Cornell where you have no choice but to take biglaw or a LRAP/IBR job to cover your debt. And it's not like you're picking a T2 or something to get that kind of debt.

[tothePAIN]

Davis undergrad.

COL in Davis, depending on OP's preferences, could be around 12k/year. For the full year, not 9 months.

[cornellbeez]

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

Are these need-based? If so, you definitely aren't getting them renewed. I would go to Cornell.

[hellohello]

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

Are these need-based? If so, you definitely aren't getting them renewed. I would go to Cornell.

they are need-based but the fin aid office and the dean have both stated that need-based grants dont change drastically throughout the 3 years..

[cornellbeez]

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

Are these need-based? If so, you definitely aren't getting them renewed. I would go to Cornell.

they are need-based but the fin aid office and the dean have both stated that need-based grants dont change drastically throughout the 3 years..

That's pretty good marketing. Talk to any current 2L/3L UC law student. They are lying to you. You can also search TLS for threads on UC need-based grants. You are not getting them renewed.

[BruceWayne]

If there's one thing I've learned during/after 1L it's that it's best to go to law school in the region you want to work/live unless the school in the different region is much much stronger (ie Harvard for California vs. UCLA). Cornell isn't strong enough (with the scholarship money at Davis) to beat out Davis for working in California. Frankly, you're going to need pretty good grades at either school and Cornell is going to be a serious adjustment, in terms of QOL, for someone from California.

[hellohello]

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

Are these need-based? If so, you definitely aren't getting them renewed. I would go to Cornell.

they are need-based but the fin aid office and the dean have both stated that need-based grants dont change drastically throughout the 3 years..

That's pretty good marketing. Talk to any current 2L/3L UC law student. They are lying to you. You can also search TLS for threads on UC need-based grants. You are not getting them renewed.

really? :/
i just took their word for it because they announced it at the admitted student day as well... that we'll typically get the same need based grant or more because we wont be making any income during our 1L year.. wouldnt there be a lot of really mad students next year? haha

[zanda]

UCLA/USC aren't options?

[fatdouche]

Damn. Go to Davis.

[clevermoose]

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

That's pretty good marketing. Talk to any current 2L/3L UC law student. They are lying to you. You can also search TLS for threads on UC need-based grants. You are not getting them renewed.

Are these need-based? If so, you definitely aren't getting them renewed. I would go to Cornell.

I experienced this same difficult decision (90K at Cornell and 129K at Davis) and ultimately chose Davis because I feel that I will be in a better position to choose a job that is a good fit for me, without worrying about debt.

Also, I was at the ASD when the financial aid administrator stated that grant awards are usually increased in accordance with fee increases each year, as long as your parents' and your own income do not increase.

HTH

[071816]

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

Are these need-based? If so, you definitely aren't getting them renewed. I would go to Cornell.

they are need-based but the fin aid office and the dean have both stated that need-based grants dont change drastically throughout the 3 years..

That's pretty good marketing. Talk to any current 2L/3L UC law student. They are lying to you. You can also search TLS for threads on UC need-based grants. You are not getting them renewed.

Do you go to a UC law school? If not, OP, I suggest you ask someone who does.

[CanadianWolf]

As a side note: Another recent admit to Cornell received $25,000 per year scholarship financial aid (155 LSAT, 3.6 GPA, Native American) a few days after being called off Cornell's reserve list.

[hellohello]

edit. I got about 27k in grants from Davis which will be renewable each year without a min. gps requirement .

That's pretty good marketing. Talk to any current 2L/3L UC law student. They are lying to you. You can also search TLS for threads on UC need-based grants. You are not getting them renewed.

Are these need-based? If so, you definitely aren't getting them renewed. I would go to Cornell.

I experienced this same difficult decision (90K at Cornell and 129K at Davis) and ultimately chose Davis because I feel that I will be in a better position to choose a job that is a good fit for me, without worrying about debt.

Also, I was at the ASD when the financial aid administrator stated that grant awards are usually increased in accordance with fee increases each year, as long as your parents' and your own income do not increase.

HTH

thanks for your input. did you receive any need-based grant awards and if so, were they renewed/increased in the following years?

[clevermoose]

thanks for your input. did you receive any need-based grant awards and if so, were they renewed/increased in the following years?

Yes, I received the 27k one that you have. I haven't entered law school yet, so I might get to meet you IRL at UCD!

[cornellbeez]

they are need-based but the fin aid office and the dean have both stated that need-based grants dont change drastically throughout the 3 years..

That's pretty good marketing. Talk to any current 2L/3L UC law student. They are lying to you. You can also search TLS for threads on UC need-based grants. You are not getting them renewed.

Do you go to a UC law school? If not, OP, I suggest you ask someone who does.

That's exactly what I was suggesting when I told the OP to search TLS threads. I know a fair number of people at UC law schools, and they haven't had their grants renewed. But really, why would I intentionally provide misinformation? I'm not a 0L and I have no ties whatsoever to Davis or Cornell, unlike other posters in this thread with vested interests in their school.

OP, PM worldtraveler if you don't believe me.

[gjr8891]

I voted for UC Davis. It sounds like the better choice based on your desire to work in California.