Top Law Schools

I've been searching through the older threads, and they seem to split down the middle on this. Is it any different this year, as Cornell becomes lower ranked/law school applicants drop/economy slightly rebounds?

FYI, I'm coming straight out of undergrad, no debt& interested in biglaw, but may want to strive for academia/clerkships/politics in the future; I certainly don't want to close any doors. I haven't heard back yet about financial aid from CLS, but I'm assuming it's minimal. Cornell is giving 48K a year. I like both schools & areas.

I'd go with Cornell without a doubt. If it was CLS at sticker vs. Cornell with something like 1/3 or 1/2 tuition, then you at least have yourself a debate, but if you want a NY big firm job, you can very likely get it out of Cornell, and have MUCH less debt to boot.

What were your numbers? Were there any options somewhere in the middle of these two?

Cornell without a doubt. You probably aren't getting academia anyway, Cornell will give you a great shot at NYC big law, and the minimal debt will allow you more leeway in case you decide that isn't what you want.

chimp wrote:Cornell without a doubt.

Agree with the above.

Although you won't be in NYC, you'll have all those post-lawl school BigLaw years to enjoy Manhattan. Enjoy the freedom and satisfaction of knowing you are getting a first rate law school education at minimal cost.

Cornell and it's not even close.

I have $22,500 a year to Michigan; I haven't heard back about financial aid from anywhere else, as I am a bit late in submitting the need access form. I have a 178/3.7 for what it's worth.

Did you apply late? Have you murdered someone? You should get at least 1 of HYS and merit aid at T6 with your numbers.

chiwachiwa wrote:Did you apply late? Have you murdered someone? You should get at least 1 of HYS and merit aid at T6 with your numbers.

HYS is still going to be tough with a 3.7 GPA. S and Y have close to a 3.8 GPA floor and Harvard's is just around 3.7. OP certainly has a chance, but those are still reaches.

If you are seriously seeking guidance between attending Cornell with $48,000 per year scholarship aid versus Columbia at sticker, then you need to know that a significant part of the practice of law involves the use of common-sense.

P.S. Congratulations !

Cornell but wait to see what all of your options are. If you got into CCN I think you might get significant $$ at one of them.

aekea wrote:

chiwachiwa wrote:Did you apply late? Have you murdered someone? You should get at least 1 of HYS and merit aid at T6 with your numbers.

HYS is still going to be tough with a 3.7 GPA. S and Y have close to a 3.8 GPA floor and Harvard's is just around 3.7. OP certainly has a chance, but those are still reaches.

Stanford's floor isn't 3.8, their median is 3.85 and their 25th is 3.72.

But yeah, 178/3.7 is a reach for HYS. Cornell is tcr for this guy's situation.

These numbers should get you substantial money at CCN.

Napt wrote:

aekea wrote:

chiwachiwa wrote:Did you apply late? Have you murdered someone? You should get at least 1 of HYS and merit aid at T6 with your numbers.

HYS is still going to be tough with a 3.7 GPA. S and Y have close to a 3.8 GPA floor and Harvard's is just around 3.7. OP certainly has a chance, but those are still reaches.

Stanford's floor isn't 3.8, their median is 3.85 and their 25th is 3.72.

But yeah, 178/3.7 is a reach for HYS. Cornell is tcr for this guy's situation.

As best I can tell, Stanford accepts some URMs or possibly non-traditional applicants with GPAs considerably below their floor which leads to the skewed stats. A non-URM who has relatively normal softs and a 178 LSAT needs a very high GPA to get in.

Have you considered working for a year? I went straight through from undergrad and I kind of regret not working for a bit. If you don't get substantial merit aid at any of CCN a year of work experience combined with a new (early) application might make sense. You also get the marginal benefit of boosting your gpa a bit for a shot a better shot at H.

Cornell for sure.

buckilaw wrote:Have you considered working for a year? I went straight through from undergrad and I kind of regret not working for a bit. If you don't get substantial merit aid at any of CCN a year of work experience combined with a new (early) application might make sense. You also get the marginal benefit of boosting your gpa a bit for a shot a better shot at H.

+ 1

If you're not willing to consider that, then:

chimp wrote:Cornell without a doubt. You probably aren't getting academia anyway, Cornell will give you a great shot at NYC big law, and the minimal debt will allow you more leeway in case you decide that isn't what you want.

+ 1