Top Law Schools

fdsa wrote:Subject line says it all. I'm in the extremely fortunate position of being in at Harvard and in at Columbia with a Hamilton Fellowship. Based on what my parents are (very generously) able to contribute and what I could make in my 2L summer, I could graduate from HLS w/ ~$90k in debt (including tuition and cost of living loans).

I would graduate from Columbia without debt, since between my 2L summer employment and what my parents would be able to contribute I would be able to cover cost of living, and the Hamilton covers full tuition.

My goals: I want to clerk, work for a big firm as a litigator, and then go into the federal government in order to get substantive trial experience for a few years before going back to the private sector at a good litigation firm. Obviously this could change, but that is the goal as of now.

I recognize that this is deep into First World Problems territory, and I am tremendously thankful for having such great opportunities and such a supportive family, but I do need to make a decision. What does TLS think?

ph14 wrote:I'd go with Harvard. A $90k pricetag is a great deal on a HLS degree so I'd take it.

Tiago Splitter wrote:Harvard

bk187 wrote:

ph14 wrote:I'd go with Harvard. A $90k pricetag is a great deal on a HLS degree so I'd take it.

+1

Considering CLS will cost $60k for cost of living alone, this seems like a no brainer.

InGoodFaith wrote:

bk187 wrote:

ph14 wrote:I'd go with Harvard. A $90k pricetag is a great deal on a HLS degree so I'd take it.

+1

Considering CLS will cost $60k for cost of living alone, this seems like a no brainer.

He already said his parents would cover COL for Columbia, so it'd be free.

CanadianWolf wrote:I wonder if some are misinterpreting OP's situation. Harvard Law School will not cost OP just $90,000, it will leave OP $90,000 in debt after paying the rest (about $160,000) in cash. The real comparison, therefore, is between Harvard at approximately $250,000 total COA versus Columbia at approximately $60,000 total COA.

P.S. Both the $250,000 cost-of-attendance at Harvard and the $60,000 total COA at Columbia are in after-tax dollars.

imchuckbass58 wrote:If you're dead-set on clerking/government, that's one of the areas Harvard will actually give you a leg up, and I would consider taking them for that reason. If that's kind of secondary to your primary goal of biglaw, CLS probably does just as well in most situations. Do you have any geographic preferences? Many people would say CLS is more New York centric than HLS - if you want to practice in another area of the country (other than the northeast) the HLS name may travel further.

I feel like this is a close enough call though that if you strongly prefer one location, or get a much better feeling from one school when you visit, you can just go on gut.