Cornell v. Michigan - NYC Biglaw Forum

[crabcakes]

Currently choosing between Cornell and Michigan. Both will likely be at sticker, but parents paying 100%. Would like to do biglaw, preferably in NYC. No real preference between Ithaca or Ann Arbor...Annnnny thoughts?

[inthebeginning]

Also would be very interested in this.

Michigan has a sterling reputation for biglaw recruiting for NYC firms, but I also know that Cornell is huge for biglaw too. I was looking at us news and world report and it looks like 85% of cornell grads go into firms on graduation, that compares with 73% for Mich but it looks like Mich also has 14% clerkship. But it did seem that Cornell had a higher percentage than other T14 going right into firms, I'm not sure if that is a reflection of poor clerking rates, or good biglaw recruiting.

I also want to apply to Mich and Cornell next year and do big law, may go ED to Mich. Got a 3.65 undergrad and 163 on lsat diag so not sure if I'll make the cut but should be around there if I improve in LSAT I hope. Did you apply anywhere else?

[inthebeginning]

Also, voted for Michigan because it's way more fun.

[YourCaptain]

whichever your parents like moar obviously dude

[Tanicius]

Michigan by a long shot.

[Yeshia90]

Also would be very interested in this.

Michigan has a sterling reputation for biglaw recruiting for NYC firms, but I also know that Cornell is huge for biglaw too. I was looking at us news and world report and it looks like 85% of cornell grads go into firms on graduation, that compares with 73% for Mich but it looks like Mich also has 14% clerkship. But it did seem that Cornell had a higher percentage than other T14 going right into firms, I'm not sure if that is a reflection of poor clerking rates, or good biglaw recruiting.

I also want to apply to Mich and Cornell next year and do big law, may go ED to Mich. Got a 3.65 undergrad and 163 on lsat diag so not sure if I'll make the cut but should be around there if I improve in LSAT I hope. Did you apply anywhere else?

If you're taking in June, you have no excuse not to get up into the mid 170s and end up at NYU/CLS

[Nobody]

Is Cornell's placement partially due to the fact that it places wider but in less competitive firms? I really don't even know enough about biglaw and could probably only name like four firms, but it is the kind of situation where biglaw includes Cravath and Sullivan & Cromwell, but also less competitive firms, and Cornell places lots of grads into those? Or is biglaw more or less equally competitive?

I actually really like Cornell, but I want to make sure I have a good picture of how it places.

[NoleinNY]

Michigan, and you have amazing parents.

[crabcakes]

lots of michigan love on here, and yes, my parents are awesome!

but am i misguided to be swayed in cornell direction by this? http://abovethelaw.com/2011/03/best-law ... -job-2011/

[NoleinNY]

lots of michigan love on here, and yes, my parents are awesome!

but am i misguided to be swayed in cornell direction by this? http://abovethelaw.com/2011/03/best-law ... -job-2011/

The caveat to that list (mentioned in the article) is clerkship placement. If you get the urge while there to apply for clerkships, you have a better shot (and lots of firms give clerkship bonuses.)

Look, if you went to Cornell, it would not be a mistake. You are choosing between two great schools. The consensus here, is Michigan, but you wouldn't be wrong to pick Cornell. Have you visited both? That could help you decide better than asking the masses.

[crabcakes]

yeah, im visiting both and i guess it'll ultimately come down to feel. michigan would be summer start, so i'm trying to decide sooner rather than later. gaahhhh, decisions...

[NoleinNY]

yeah, im visiting both and i guess it'll ultimately come down to feel. michigan would be summer start, so i'm trying to decide sooner rather than later. gaahhhh, decisions...

Then book yo tickets, sir/ma'am.

[gdh]

I'm making the same choice right now. Although, I would be equally happy in NYC or DC. One interesting, albeit irrelevant, thing I've noticed is that Cornell has more lay prestige and impresses friends/family more than Michigan.

My fear with this decision is that I don't want to become further regionalized having done UG and two years of work in Michigan. All that said, I see myself returning to the state to go to UMich next year.

[Helmholtz]

Michigan, and you have amazing rich parents.

[IAFG]

Michigan by a long shot.

Whatever you want unless you can negotiate aid. For NYC biglaw they are equivalent.

[Champion]

I'm making the same choice right now. Although, I would be equally happy in NYC or DC. One interesting, albeit irrelevant, thing I've noticed is that Cornell has more lay prestige and impresses friends/family more than Michigan.

My fear with this decision is that I don't want to become further regionalized having done UG and two years of work in Michigan. All that said, I see myself returning to the state to go to UMich next year.

Yea, I would definitely agree to the comment about lay prestige. I told some people i got into Michigan (didn't flinch) and then Georgetown..."omg wowwww Georgetown..that's amazing". So if the lay prestige aspect is something your looking into than it's definitely Cornell, however, where it really matters...Michigan's name goes a long way. If in the same position I would choose Michigan for the fact that if your plans change you'll probably have more flexibility. In the end, however, two great schools...won't go wrong at either.

[JamMasterJ]

Michigan, and you have amazing parents.

to you and the poster before: Cornell self-selects into biglaw, while Mich grads have a wider array of post-grad jobs. If you want the best overall prospects, choose M

[Lincoln]

I obviously have some bias regarding this, since I attend Cornell. But we do very, very well in NYC BigLaw. If that's what you want, I think Cornell is the better choice. If you want anything/anywhere else, choose Michigan (with the exception of Boston, where Cornell also places well for a non-Boston school, but why anyone wants to move there is beyond me). Michigan's alumni community and Govt/PI reach is wider outside NYC than Cornell's. I have friends there who loved it, and who did very well and got what they wanted in terms of firms/clerkships. But to illustrate with an anecdote, there are more Cornell grads than Michigan grads going to my V5 firm, despite a class size that is just over half. I'd be surprised if Cornell weren't overrepresented w/r/t Michigian at other top NYC firms, as well.

Another thing I think is overlooked is the strength of Cornell's undergrad alumni community in NYC. Lots of people went to other law schools, but have an affinity for Cornell, and still do recruiting there, etc. It was an asset during recruiting that I didn't expect. The same may be true for Michigan, but again, I think that's more the case outside NYC.

[IAFG]

Michigan, and you have amazing parents.

to you and the poster before: Cornell self-selects into biglaw, while Mich grads have a wider array of post-grad jobs. If you want the best overall prospects, choose M

This sounds like bullshit to me.

[FlanAl]

one thing that has to be said is cornell's easy access to nyc. if what you want is nyc big law then you probably like the city and would rather go there on weekends than to detroit. ann arbor is supposed to be pretty sick but i think ithaca hippies are great.

[law2015]

My advice is to go to Michigan for one simple reason and that is the ungraded LRW.

[FlanAl]

My advice is to go to Michigan for one simple reason and that is the ungraded LRW.

yup i'll go with that for sure. graded lrw made people way more aggro than necessary last semester for sure

[American_in_China]

Also, if you want to go anywhere else at all, Michigan.

[bogart]

Cornell, because it places better in nyc.
/thread.

[ahduth]

My advice is to go to Michigan for one simple reason and that is the ungraded LRW.

Jesus ungraded LRW +100000.