Cornell $$ v Pitt (Full Ride) Forum

[Lacepiece23]

I know this might seem weird but these are the two decisions I'm faced with. I got 25k per year at Cornell and a full ride at pitt. I am from pittsburgh have numerous ties there including my undergrad which is notorious for producing Pittsburgh lawyers. I know I have already created a thread about this before but that was before scholly info. Everyone is telling me Pitt my parents, current lawyers, and pre law advisor. I would have zero debt because my parents would let me live at home. Cornell would probably end up being about 150k total after CoL.

Would I be crazy to turn down this offer to go to the safer option. I have a slight preference for Pittsburgh but wouldn't mind NYC big law. Also if and when I probably miss the big law boat at Pitt is there any way to build a career from the bottom up through PD or the local prosecution office? or would I be stuck doing doc review in a kind of dead end situation. I am pretty risk adversed and don't mind not making a lot of money being a lawyer. Sorry for creating the thread twice.

[bdole2]

Stipulations on the Pitt scholarship?

[Nelson]

I think this is easily Cornell but more risk averse folks may disagree. Cornell just gives you more options.

[checkster]

I think this is a debate if its little $ from Cornell, but with 25k a year I wouldn't be able to turn it down for Pitt.

[Lacepiece23]

3.0 like median stips at Pitt if i can't keep that I would just drop out and try something else because lets be serious I probably shouldn't be a lawyers if I can't get above median there, and I wouldn't have any losses except time.

[bdole2]

Hmmm both are good options IMO. I'd probably take Cornell.

[Lacepiece23]

Hmmm both are good options IMO.

wow first time I've ever heard anyone say that on this forum lol.

[CanadianWolf]

Do you want to live at home during law school ?

[Lacepiece23]

Do you want to live at home during law school ?

Wouldn't mind it I'm pretty young my mom's pretty strict and overall I'd probably study an equal amount at home or more than not living at home. For some it would be a distraction, but at my house my mom would make it a no nonsense type of setting and basically take the choice away of what I am allowed to do with my free time.

I'm not suggesting that I'm not mature enough to live on my own or would not be able to study by myself. However, I am only 22 so living at home isn't such a bad thing for me.

[Mr. Somebody]

Are you happy working in shitlaw at Pittsburgh with no debt after graduating?

[CanadianWolf]

Pittsburgh, if you want to live & work in Pittsburgh after law school. Cornell for NYC. Two great options, in my opinion. Congratulations !

[Lacepiece23]

Are you happy working in shitlaw at Pittsburgh with no debt after graduating?

No I wouldn't be happy with that, but it would be helpful to me if you could help me with the other part of my question. Is this something that ever turns into a career or would I be stuck there for ever. I could live off of 30-40 for a long time in my city but eventually I would like to make somewhere between 60-80k at the very least. It wouldn't matter if it took me a while, but I have no delusions of making big law in this small secondary market.

[Mr. Somebody]

Pittsburgh, if you want to live & work in Pittsburgh after law school. Cornell for NYC. Two great options, in my opinion. Congratulations !

You don't think h/she can go back to Pittsburgh from Cornell?

[CanadianWolf]

Yes, OP can return to Pittsburgh from Cornell, but why spend the extra $150,000 or so ?

[Mr. Somebody]

Yes, OP can return to Pittsburgh from Cornell, but why spend the extra $150,000 or so ?

If OP strikes out in Pittsburgh they have NYC as a fallback. OP has indicated only a "slight preference" and seems more concerned about career options overall.

[Lacepiece23]

Yes, OP can return to Pittsburgh from Cornell, but why spend the extra $150,000 or so ?

Thats partially the argument I've heard from everyone I've talked to in combination with in my opinion unrealistic expectations about employment following Pitt law. I believe this stems from the fact that I've obviously been talking to most lawyers who are a little older and when they went to law school the market was much better. However, a few t20 people have also told me Pitt. The only person i've talked to who hasn't said Pitt is a recent graduate who clerks for a judge that teaches one of my undergrad classes. He also had to take out loans to go to Pitt.

[CanadianWolf]

Mr. Somebody: Reread my first post in this thread.

[Mr. Somebody]

Yes, OP can return to Pittsburgh from Cornell, but why spend the extra $150,000 or so ?

Thats partially the argument I've heard from everyone I've talked to in combination with in my opinion unrealistic expectations about employment following Pitt law. I believe this stems from the fact that I've obviously been talking to most lawyers who are a little older and when they went to law school the market was much better. However, a few t20 people have also told me Pitt. The only person i've talked to who hasn't said Pitt is a recent graduate who clerks for a judge that teaches one of my undergrad classes. He also had to take out loans to go to Pitt.

I'm from Florida and don't know anything about Pittsburgh. I can only go by the statistics which seem to indicate unless you finish at the top of your class you're going to end up in shitlaw. If you are happy with that while having no real debt (living at home), then that's what I would go with. I can't seem to find any statistics on the law school's website, maybe if you contact them you can get a detailed breakdown.

[Chucky21]

You don't want to limit yourself in your career options so early in your career. This is why I suggest going to Cornell, you will be able to do so much more with your career. Sure you will have debt, but you pay for what you get, and you will get more out of Cornell.

[Nelson]

Yes, OP can return to Pittsburgh from Cornell, but why spend the extra $150,000 or so ?

Because he'll have a significant leg up for the handful of big firms in Pittsburgh over the entire class of Pitt grads gunning for the same jobs. And median at Cornell gives him a shot at NYC firms while median at Pitt means he's potentially unemployed. He's only 22 and with no debt, Cornell is a better option for what he wants to do.

[CanadianWolf]

My understanding is that Pittsburgh is a bit unusual. I've been told that Duquesne grads get hired by Pittsburgh's most prominent firms. Regardless, $150,000 plus interest is a lot of debt versus no debt in one's preferred market--even if that preference is only a "slight preference".

[Nelson]

My understanding is that Pittsburgh is a bit unusual. I've been told that Duquesne grads get hired by Pittsburgh's most prominent firms. Regardless, $150,000 plus interest is a lot of debt versus no debt in one's preferred market--even if that preference is only a "slight preference".

Yeah you can say the same of all local schools but that's only the top top of the class at Pitt that has those opportunities. OP has nothing tying him to this market. If he was 30 with a wife and kids this is a different story.

[bruss]

Is this even real. And ivy vs a shit hole and the only thing that makes the shit hole appealing is that you have ties. Come on bro you can get a job in Pittsburgh if you go to Cornell. Don't pass up a chance for NYC big law because you are afraid of success.

[Lacepiece23]

Is this even real. And ivy vs a shit hole and the only thing that makes the shit hole appealing is that you have ties. Come on bro you can get a job in Pittsburgh if you go to Cornell. Don't pass up a chance for NYC big law because you are afraid of success.

I wouldn't exactly call Pitt a shithole. I do see your point and I'm not afraid of success. The general wisdom is that you shouldn't attend law school unless its with scholarship or in a market you want to be with with ties. Pitt just happens to be the best law school in my market, and I got a full ride to that school. I think its a legitimate question. Just my opinion tho.

[bruss]

Is this even real. And ivy vs a shit hole and the only thing that makes the shit hole appealing is that you have ties. Come on bro you can get a job in Pittsburgh if you go to Cornell. Don't pass up a chance for NYC big law because you are afraid of success.

I wouldn't exactly call Pitt a shithole. I do see your point and I'm not afraid of success. The general wisdom is that you shouldn't attend law school unless its with scholarship or in a market you want to be with with ties. Pitt just happens to be the best law school in my market, and I got a full ride to that school. I think its a legitimate question. Just my opinion tho.

Sorry for the hyperbole. But yes you are correct in ur statments above,But this only applies when you are talking about schools OUTSIDE OF THE T14.