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I am using the G.I. Bill, which covers COL and roughly 1/2 tuition at both schools. NYU offered a 37.5K (45K if I do public interest) scholarship; Columbia didn't offer anything.

My priorities for after-graduation are:

1) federal gov't (if I can't do it entry-level I'd like to transition later on)
2) Biglaw in any market--I'm fine with NYC
3) Regional biglaw in my home market (Detroit)
4) Something stable but not soul-crushing

Have no interest in PI at this moment, but I'm flexible. I have about 40K saved up, and I may use it to defray my loans. I will be in my early 30's when I graduate. Thanks!

Won't Columbia match? Unless you stongly prefer CLS, take NYU.

Tough call. You should research federal government hiring from these two schools to see if there's any difference. If it's not significant, I would go NYU here.

soj wrote:Won't Columbia match? Unless you stongly prefer CLS, take NYU.

I sent them my NYU offer before they determined awards but still bupkis. I was surprised I got anything from NYU frankly. I'm below both their LSAT medians.

Sounds like it comes down to $40K for an Ivy League name.

If you do spend your savings, you could graduate from NYU with 0 debt, even COL. That sounds pretty incredible.

Perdevise wrote:If you do spend your savings, you could graduate from NYU with 0 debt, even COL. That sounds pretty incredible.

T6 school with no debt sounds amazing. I'd take that deal in a heartbeat; I don't think CLS is worth 40k more than NYU.

I'd pick your preference. A lot of people seem to favor NYU since it's 1/2 as much but I think if the numbers were 200k vs 240k it would be a lot closer. I'd probably save the money and take NYU but if you really prefer CLS I don't think the cost is that different that you'd be crazy to do it.

I'd go to NYU but CLS wouldn't be crazy.

CLS isn't worth $40K more than NYU. NYU is easy choice here. The 2 schools are essentially peers, so I think the smart advice is to pick based on which gives more $$ (unless you have some absurdly strong preference than for whatever reason is worth forgoing $40K)