Cornell (sticker) vs. Notre Dame ($60K scholarship) Forum

[Mr. December]

I was all set on going to ND until I was admitted to Cornell earlier today (based on the threads in this forums, seems like I'm not the only one who needs to make a decision like this).

Ideally, I would like to do govt work or public interest in D.C. - I really have no interest in doing Biglaw. However, since I'm originally from the Midwest and my entire family is here, it wouldn't be the end of the world if I'm stuck in the region after finishing law school.

Would Cornell offer a substantial advantage over ND in terms of getting to D.C.?

[Hawkeye Pierce]

D.C. is an extremely difficult market to break into. If that is what you want, go to the best law school that you can. And Cornell is clearly better than Notre Dame in that respect. Sticker is hard to swallow at over 200k in debt, but still.

[TheFactor]

It is not necessary to start two threads asking exactly the same question.

[mrwarre85]

It is not necessary to start two threads asking exactly the same question.

Everyone's situation is different. Confused how you could even state that unless you believed financial considerations were the only ones worth considering.

[TheFactor]

It is not necessary to start two threads asking exactly the same question.

Everyone's situation is different. Confused how you could even state that unless you believed financial considerations were the only ones worth considering.

Perhaps I should have been clearer. It is not necessary for the same person to start two threads asking exactly the same question.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=157470

[Cupidity]

Interesting that most people think Cornell isn't worth sticker, and yet they would still choose it over substantial scholarship at Notre Dame.

Logical reasoning tells me that Notre Dame with $60k scholarship is worse than a bad idea not worth entertaining?

[flexityflex86]

60k is not so substantial.

south bend by itself would stink to live in - it is like flint, michigan from roger and me - at least everywhere 5 miles from notre dame, and housing at notre dame is not cheap. it would probably still wind up costing like $120k, and once we're talking 6 figure debt, I think the importance of a top 14 vs. becomes magnified.

[Gecko of Doom]

Cornell would probably give you an advantage for DC. But what are your plans if you don't make DC PI? If your plan is to pursue PI whether or not you get DC, you get IBR and PSLF, so you might as well go with Cornell. If not, it's a significantly more complicated decision.

[mrwarre85]

Cornell is the best financial decision here. If that is your primary concern, I would definitely go to Cornell.

[ndirish2010]

60k is not so substantial.

south bend by itself would stink to live in - it is like flint, michigan from roger and me - at least everywhere 5 miles from notre dame, and housing at notre dame is not cheap. it would probably still wind up costing like $120k, and once we're talking 6 figure debt, I think the importance of a top 14 vs. becomes magnified.

This is such an uninformed post it is almost funny. South Bend is 100x better than Flint, and I'm not quite sure what you mean by expensive, because you can get a pretty nice apartment within 5 min driving distance of ND for ~500/mo. I've lived in South Bend for five years and have very few complaints other than the weather. If you really want DC, you should go to neither of these schools...but given that you said you wouldn't mind being in the midwest, ND is the choice.