Time sensitive: Cornell ($220k debt) vs. BU ($85k debt) Forum

[Mike12188]

Cornell may have better career prospects, but as far as biglaw goes, we are talking about 25-30% placement at BU, compared to 35-40% placement at Cornell. If you fall in that 10% it makes sense for you to go to BU, but are the odds of you hitting that range worth $100k?

I'm pretty sure it is way higher than that.

[scammedhard]

I'm pretty sure it is way higher than that.

Then show OP the data. It's pretty hard to commit an extra 140K based on someone's beliefs.

[NYC Law]

I'm pretty sure it is way higher than that.

Then show OP the data. It's pretty hard to commit an extra 140K based on someone's beliefs.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=152447
See the NLJ links.

Cornell has never placed less than 40% into NLJ 250 (c/o 2005-2010).

[Helmholtz]

Cornell has never placed less than 40% into NLJ 250 (c/o 2005-2010).

I bet c/o 2011 is under 40

[NYC Law]

Cornell has never placed less than 40% into NLJ 250 (c/o 2005-2010).

I bet c/o 2011 is under 40

Possible, but then we're just going into speculation again.

I'm Pretty sure if anyone suggested this time last year that Cornell would have ~60% NLJ placement for c/o 2010 they would have been ridiculed endlessly.

[Helmholtz]

Cornell has never placed less than 40% into NLJ 250 (c/o 2005-2010).

I bet c/o 2011 is under 40

Possible, but then we're just going into speculation again.

Meh, everybody (including current Cornell students who have talked to OCS) seems to think it's going to be hovering around the 40 mark. I would not be surprised if it's just a tad shy, but we'll see. It's certainly less speculation than trying to figure out exactly what c/o '12 or '13 is going to be.

[Robespierre]

Wait. I'm lost. Why would BU be 135K cheaper than Cornell? Is it because of a scholly? If so, what are the scholly stipulations? Is it because your dad is lending you money for BU? If so, why won't he give you the same deal for Cornell?

Sorry if this is in the original post. I'm just missing it for some reason.

Pending that, my vote is Cornell. I believe in small law schools (for the reasons others have stated); Ithaca is awesome; better NLJ250 placement than BU (although how much better is admittedly not clear); and there's always IBR in a crunch.

[bikepilot]

I'd vote BU, that's a huge difference in debt and the interest on that 135k will be significant as well. Boston is a great city too.

[Cupidity]

Wait. I'm lost. Why would BU be 135K cheaper than Cornell? Is it because of a scholly? If so, what are the scholly stipulations?

There are never stipulations on scholarship money at Boston University. The only exception is the full-ride public interest scholarship, which you have to give back if you take a firm job.

[Robespierre]

Wait. I'm lost. Why would BU be 135K cheaper than Cornell? Is it because of a scholly? If so, what are the scholly stipulations?

There are never stipulations on scholarship money at Boston University. The only exception is the full-ride public interest scholarship, which you have to give back if you take a firm job.

OK, thank you. So OP has a scholly of about 135K at BU with no stips. Pretty sweet. And I just looked at his GULC vs. BU thread and learned that he already had his Ivy ticket punched undergrad, which makes the Cornell prestige less important. I still like Cornell's smallness (it's a placement advantage) and NLJ250 numbers (second in the country!), and I still love Ithaca, but maybe that doesn't outweight 135K.

[Z3RO]

Am I the only other person who is hugely surprised to find that BU sends 30% of grads to Biglaw? Seems like it should be lower for some reason.

Wait. I'm lost. Why would BU be 135K cheaper than Cornell? Is it because of a scholly? If so, what are the scholly stipulations?

There are never stipulations on scholarship money at Boston University. The only exception is the full-ride public interest scholarship, which you have to give back if you take a firm job.

OK, thank you. So OP has a scholly of about 135K at BU with no stips. Pretty sweet. And I just looked at his GULC vs. BU thread and learned that he already had his Ivy ticket punched undergrad, which makes the Cornell prestige less important. I still like Cornell's smallness (it's a placement advantage) and NLJ250 numbers (second in the country!), and I still love Ithaca, but maybe that doesn't outweight 135K.

They've fluctuated a bit on the NLJ250 numbers. I mean NU was #1 last year, but I don't think anybody seriously thinks that they reliably have the best employment prospects in the entire country.

[Corwin]

Voted BU. 85K debt is nothing and TBH in terms of post graduation I think quality of life is better in Boston than in NYC.

[FutureInLaw]

So, yeah, with lower COA, scholarship, Americorps money, selling my car, and the loan from my dad, BU ends up being actually roughly $75k (I just realized the car thing) with no interest.

Cornell still is $100k with no interest (dad's loan) plus $120k with interest (stays the same because I would need my car).

Still torn and will be speaking to Cornell tomorrow RE: financial aid. Hearing from an attorney today that Cornell is "viewed as that much better" than BU and "there is no question that the legal world places a premium on such matters, especially early in one's career" doesn't help.

Bah. Thanks for all the opinions.

[Ikki]

I would probably do BU. $220k + a substantial amount of interest for a Cornell Law degree makes me wince.

Ninja edit! But still relevant, OP in the latest NLJ Cornell placed nearly 60% percent of the class, which is nearly double what BU did at 30%.

True, but next year's NLJ250 is going to be a Cornell bloodbath.

What makes you think that? (None of your other posts hinted at an answer to that question).

[mrwarre85]

I voted Cornell but that is just because I would like it better (I like rural areas). I have no idea about you, sorry. Good luck though-- like you said, both good options.

[Helmholtz]

I would probably do BU. $220k + a substantial amount of interest for a Cornell Law degree makes me wince.

Ninja edit! But still relevant, OP in the latest NLJ Cornell placed nearly 60% percent of the class, which is nearly double what BU did at 30%.

True, but next year's NLJ250 is going to be a Cornell bloodbath.

What makes you think that? (None of your other posts hinted at an answer to that question).

"Bloodbath" is certainly relative to Cornell's usual numbers. I thought it was relatively well-established through numerous personal accounts on here that Cornell was going to be around the 40% mark for NLJ250.

[Ikki]

"Bloodbath" is certainly relative to Cornell's usual numbers. I thought it was relatively well-established through numerous personal accounts on here that Cornell was going to be around the 40% mark for NLJ250.

I still don't think that based on the small TLS sample you can extrapolate to what's gonna happen next year. When the NLJ rankings came out in Feb. no one on TLS was saying "I told you so!". Hell, I haven't even heard a single convincing argument to why NYU did so poorly. You might be right, the class of 2010 might have gotten really lucky, but that's about all we can say.

[Cupidity]

"Bloodbath" is certainly relative to Cornell's usual numbers. I thought it was relatively well-established through numerous personal accounts on here that Cornell was going to be around the 40% mark for NLJ250.

Boston SA's increased 10-15%, not BU, but the city firms. Choate who cancelled their program for 2 years is expected at 8-10, Ropes is back to the high 60's and Jones Day opened a new office that is expected to hire 4-5, and most of the rest of the firms added 1 or 2 seats on to their previous years classes. If current trends hold (no guarantees) BU could be doing as high as 35% when you get here.

[Grizz]

"Bloodbath" is certainly relative to Cornell's usual numbers. I thought it was relatively well-established through numerous personal accounts on here that Cornell was going to be around the 40% mark for NLJ250.

I still don't think that based on the small TLS sample you can extrapolate to what's gonna happen next year. When the NLJ rankings came out in Feb. no one on TLS was saying "I told you so!". Hell, I haven't even heard a single convincing argument to why NYU did so poorly. You might be right, the class of 2010 might have gotten really lucky, but that's about all we can say.

Dood ATL leaked the 40%ish number months and months ago for c/o whatever the next year's NLJ is.

[Ikki]

"Bloodbath" is certainly relative to Cornell's usual numbers. I thought it was relatively well-established through numerous personal accounts on here that Cornell was going to be around the 40% mark for NLJ250.

I still don't think that based on the small TLS sample you can extrapolate to what's gonna happen next year. When the NLJ rankings came out in Feb. no one on TLS was saying "I told you so!". Hell, I haven't even heard a single convincing argument to why NYU did so poorly. You might be right, the class of 2010 might have gotten really lucky, but that's about all we can say.

Dood ATL leaked the 40%ish number months and months ago for c/o whatever the next year's NLJ is.

Haven't seen that, was that just for Cornell?

[MTal]

I can't wait until law degree costs hit 300k!!

[Cupidity]

I can't wait until law degree costs hit 300k!!

Uhh... UC Berkley out of state tuition + interest.

[Grizz]

"Bloodbath" is certainly relative to Cornell's usual numbers. I thought it was relatively well-established through numerous personal accounts on here that Cornell was going to be around the 40% mark for NLJ250.

I still don't think that based on the small TLS sample you can extrapolate to what's gonna happen next year. When the NLJ rankings came out in Feb. no one on TLS was saying "I told you so!". Hell, I haven't even heard a single convincing argument to why NYU did so poorly. You might be right, the class of 2010 might have gotten really lucky, but that's about all we can say.

Dood ATL leaked the 40%ish number months and months ago for c/o whatever the next year's NLJ is.

Haven't seen that, was that just for Cornell?

Yeah.

[Ikki]

Haven't seen that, was that just for Cornell?

Yeah.

You're right, just found it.
http://abovethelaw.com/2010/07/biglaw-e ... -a-debate/

[mrwarre85]

So, yeah, with lower COA, scholarship, Americorps money, selling my car, and the loan from my dad, BU ends up being actually roughly $75k (I just realized the car thing) with no interest.

Cornell still is $100k with no interest (dad's loan) plus $120k with interest (stays the same because I would need my car).

Still torn and will be speaking to Cornell tomorrow RE: financial aid. Hearing from an attorney today that Cornell is "viewed as that much better" than BU and "there is no question that the legal world places a premium on such matters, especially early in one's career" doesn't help.

Bah. Thanks for all the opinions.

Good luck balancing all the different opinions your are going to hear. Hang in there.