Top Law Schools

Debt isn't a huge issue, but would certainly not mind having less..not 100% on NYC, but want biglaw. I also want to attend the school that will give me the most reach across the major U.S cities.

msblaw89 wrote:Debt isn't a huge issue, but would certainly not mind having less..not 100% on NYC, but want biglaw. I also want to attend the school that will give me the most reach across the major U.S cities.

NYC = Cornell
More cities (esp. South) = Vandy

I would personally take the 75k. You can still get to NYC from Vandy. Ithaca is also colder.

I agree. Vanderbilt is more attractive primarily due to the significant cost difference (Cornell is the first or second most expensive law school in the country with respect to tuition.)

msblaw89 wrote:Debt isn't a huge issue, but would certainly not mind having less..not 100% on NYC, but want biglaw. I also want to attend the school that will give me the most reach across the major U.S cities.

Cornell...

Vandy. Do you really want to come out of LS with 250-260k of debt from Cornell?

Vanderbilt. Cornell at sticker is just too expensive.

Now I don't know if this will happen, but last cycle there was a decent number of applicants who got anywhere from 30-60k with my stats....still Vanderbilt? I will only have to take out loans for tuition too.

msblaw89 wrote:Now I don't know if this will happen, but last cycle there was a decent number of applicants who got anywhere from 30-60k with my stats....still Vanderbilt? I will only have to take out loans for tuition too.

I mean this is a personal choice. Many people go to Cornell over substantial money at a Vandy/Texas/UCLA/USC/WUSTL, etc. Others take the money. You have to balance Cornell's increased portability and employability against Vandy's short-term financial savings. People come out differently on this. Have you visited either school? Which do you like more, money aside? Consider that too.

woeisme wrote:

msblaw89 wrote:Now I don't know if this will happen, but last cycle there was a decent number of applicants who got anywhere from 30-60k with my stats....still Vanderbilt? I will only have to take out loans for tuition too.

I mean this is a personal choice. Many people go to Cornell over substantial money at a Vandy/Texas/UCLA/USC/WUSTL, etc. Others take the money. You have to balance Cornell's increased portability and employability against Vandy's short-term financial savings. People come out differently on this. Have you visited either school? Which do you like more, money aside? Consider that too.

I have visited Vanderbilt and I will visit Cornell in April. In your opinion, do you think a degree from Cornell will take me farther (geographically for biglaw) than Vandy?

msblaw89 wrote: I have visited Vanderbilt and I will visit Cornell in April. In your opinion, do you think a degree from Cornell will take me farther (geographically for biglaw) than Vandy?

I think it's a fact that it does and will. The question is whether the added reach of Cornell is worth the additional tuition to you. And people answer that question differently.

woeisme wrote:

msblaw89 wrote: I have visited Vanderbilt and I will visit Cornell in April. In your opinion, do you think a degree from Cornell will take me farther (geographically for biglaw) than Vandy?

I think it's a fact that it does and will. The question is whether the added reach of Cornell is worth the additional tuition to you. And people answer that question differently.

Thanks, I appreciate your opinion

Do you have ties to the South?

TemporarySaint wrote:Do you have ties to the South?

I wonder this too. I'm making the same decision. Vandy is so tempting but I have zero ties to the south and from everything I've read on this site southern markets are very parochial. I think I'm taking Cornell. I'm fine with NYC and the big firms in the secondary
Market I work in oci/job fair at Cornell. Unfortunately none of the big three here do oci at Vanderbilt.

Tl, Dr. In same situation. Choosing Cornell due to lack of ties.

I agree Cornell is portable. How far the reach goes all depends on how well you do. If offered 60k, I would take that over Vandy. If 30...eh yeah, probably, but that's cause I can't imagine living in the south. Though I'd try to negotiate w/Vandy for more. Keep in mind, Cornell costs a tad more, and, again, you're in Ithaca...

top30man wrote:

TemporarySaint wrote:Do you have ties to the South?

I wonder this too. I'm making the same decision. Vandy is so tempting but I have zero ties to the south and from everything I've read on this site southern markets are very parochial. I think I'm taking Cornell. I'm fine with NYC and the big firms in the secondary
Market I work in oci/job fair at Cornell. Unfortunately none of the big three here do oci at Vanderbilt.

Tl, Dr. In same situation. Choosing Cornell due to lack of ties.

I'd get in touch with the poaster formerly known as Grizz for more info on Vandy placement. Cornell sticker would freak me out a bit unless you're 100% NYC big law or bust.

Debt at graduation (approximately, assuming no cost increases):

Cornell - 250k
Vandy - 150k

150k at Vandy still carries with it some serious risk for people who don't get biglaw and who lack ties to the South. I'm kind of split but I'd lean ever so slightly Cornell for a non-Southerner.

I don't think reach from Cornell is highly relevant. The fact is at both of these schools, and especially Cornell, is that you're going to need biglaw to pay it off and most of biglaw is in NYC (especially for those around median).

bk187 wrote:Debt at graduation (approximately, assuming no cost increases):

Cornell - 250k
Vandy - 150k

150k at Vandy still carries with it some serious risk for people who don't get biglaw and who lack ties to the South. I'm kind of split but I'd lean ever so slightly Cornell for a non-Southerner.

I don't think reach from Cornell is highly relevant. The fact is at both of these schools, and especially Cornell, is that you're going to need biglaw to pay it off and most of biglaw is in NYC (especially for those around median).

Is making 160k, but with the cost of living in NYC really going to put a dent in any kind of loans?

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Well, I don't want to go back to Florida. Sorry if this is a stupid question....but many of the top 100 firms have several offices across the U.S and even internationally. If I went to Cornell and interviewed with a firm whose base is in NYC, but has an office in Chicago( where I hypothetically want to work)....would that work? Or is each firm treated independent of the others?

bk187 wrote:Debt at graduation (approximately, assuming no cost increases):

Cornell - 250k
Vandy - 150k

How?

46k tuition * 3 = 138k - 75k = 63k. You're suggesting OP is going to rack up 30k/yr in CoL and other expenses? And that he can expect to generate no revenue?

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seancris wrote:

bk187 wrote:Debt at graduation (approximately, assuming no cost increases):

Cornell - 250k
Vandy - 150k

How?

46k tuition * 3 = 138k - 75k = 63k. You're suggesting OP is going to rack up 30k/yr in CoL and other expenses? And that he can expect to generate no revenue?

Yay for compounding.

--LinkRemoved--

I put in a starting cost of attendance of 45K increasing at 3.5% per year, with 25k in schollies each year. Ended with 144K in debt.

EDIT: Entered 65K COA, not 45K

Tiago Splitter wrote:

seancris wrote:

bk187 wrote:Debt at graduation (approximately, assuming no cost increases):

Cornell - 250k
Vandy - 150k

How?

46k tuition * 3 = 138k - 75k = 63k. You're suggesting OP is going to rack up 30k/yr in CoL and other expenses? And that he can expect to generate no revenue?

Yay for compounding.

--LinkRemoved--

I put in a starting cost of attendance of 45K increasing at 3.5% per year, with 25k in schollies each year. Ended with 144K in debt.

According to the GULC app...I got 160,258 total indebtedness then -75k would be 85,258.... but I wouldn't need to take out any loans for living expenses ...it would be tuition only. So I would assume the 85k would be even lower

Tiago Splitter wrote:Yay for compounding.

Err... I have never once thought about this. FML. This shit is too expensive.