Penn (full ride) vs. Columbia ($50k) vs. NYU (aid is pending Forum

[jazzman69]

Short and sweet. What do I do? I had my heart set on living in NYC, but I just learned of Penn's full ride offer and I only have 2 days to decide. I will call Columbia and NYU to re-negotiate, but I would have to take out loans to pay for any amount of uncovered tuition, and I am planning to enter non-lucrative legal areas (AKA public defense work, education policy, and the like - I'm not gonna be looking for a job at Skadden).

Thoughts? Is Penn truly a no-brainer?

[bk1]

Is Penn truly a no-brainer?

Yes.

[Bildungsroman]

Absolutely take Penn.

[jazzman69]

Thanks for the rapid reply!

Let me refine my question: What amount of money should I need to see from NYU or CLS before I would even consider turning down Penn's full ride?

Considering that I have no money, will not have high paying job, but prefer those two schools to Penn for a variety of reasons (not even prestige as much as location).

[bk1]

Let me refine my question: What amount of money should I need to see from NYU or CLS before I would even consider turning down Penn's full ride?

Probably more than 100k. If the difference between the schools is 15k/year or less (including the difference in cost of living) you could start considering NYU/CLS. Personally I would take Penn unless the difference was 10k/year or less.

[Veyron]

Thanks for the rapid reply!

Let me refine my question: What amount of money should I need to see from NYU or CLS before I would even consider turning down Penn's full ride?

Considering that I have no money, will not have high paying job, but prefer those two schools to Penn for a variety of reasons (not even prestige as much as location).

With the money you'll save you could take the Acela to class from Manhattan every day still have money left over. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Damn, law students are terrible at CBA.

[Dany]

Is Penn truly a no-brainer?

Yes.

[kaiser]

100% Penn

[NinerFan]

Penn. No contest.

[Dato]

.

[b33eazy]

I think you should factor in money, but it's about more than money. Is this scholarship dependent on grades? If so, that is something you should consider. Because i know of students losing scholarships because they could not maintain certain grades. Also, I think you should really go to a school that makes you happy. If you only choose a school because of finances, you may not do as well because you are not as happy. That should be factored in. I also want to go to law school in New York, so I would be leaning towards NYC law schools. What I think you should do is try your best to negotiate the costs down at NYU.

[Bildungsroman]

I think you should factor in money, but it's about more than money. Is this scholarship dependent on grades? If so, that is something you should consider. Because i know of students losing scholarships because they could not maintain certain grades. Also, I think you should really go to a school that makes you happy. If you only choose a school because of finances, you may not do as well because you are not as happy. That should be factored in. I also want to go to law school in New York, so I would be leaning towards NYC law schools. What I think you should do is try your best to negotiate the costs down at NYU.

It's only shithole schools that require more than good academic standing to retain your scholarship.

[Dany]

I think you should factor in money, but it's about more than money. Is this scholarship dependent on grades? If so, that is something you should consider. Because i know of students losing scholarships because they could not maintain certain grades. Also, I think you should really go to a school that makes you happy. If you only choose a school because of finances, you may not do as well because you are not as happy. That should be factored in. I also want to go to law school in New York, so I would be leaning towards NYC law schools. What I think you should do is try your best to negotiate the costs down at NYU.

Law school is law school. I very much doubt that his experience will be very different between Penn, CLS, and NYU, and if "happiness" is worth $100k to you, you either need to be a millionaire or get over yourself. Penn has great employment statistics, will leave OP with very little debt, and probably has the same type of students that CLS/NYU have, and that should make OP happy. He has his whole life to live in NYC, and Penn can get him there without crushing debt.

He'd be wise to negotiate with NYU, but barring any extremely surprising generosity on their part, he'd be foolish not to choose Penn.

[Nelson]

He'd be wise to negotiate with NYU, but barring any extremely surprising generosity on their part, he'd be foolish not to choose Penn.

TCR. Considering Toll fellowships are not stat based, I doubt NYU is just going to offer him a matching RTK.

[jazzman69]

Thanks for the responses, guys! It's not a Toll fellowship, although I don't feel like revealing too much more. Looks like Penn is the unanimously approved choice.

[roaringeagle]

Penn.


EDIT: If you really want public defender work you should check out the loan forgiveness at Columbia and NYU. I do not know if they are comprehensive or not. My instinct is Penn because then you can change your mind with little debt.

[top30man]

He'd be wise to negotiate with NYU, but barring any extremely surprising generosity on their part, he'd be foolish not to choose Penn.

TCR. Considering Toll fellowships are not stat based, I doubt NYU is just going to offer him a matching RTK.

[patrickd139]

Is Penn truly a no-brainer?

Yes.

[Dany]

Thanks for the responses, guys! It's not a Toll fellowship, although I don't feel like revealing too much more. Looks like Penn is the unanimously approved choice.

Congrats on the awesome offer!

[b33eazy]

I think you should factor in money, but it's about more than money. Is this scholarship dependent on grades? If so, that is something you should consider. Because i know of students losing scholarships because they could not maintain certain grades. Also, I think you should really go to a school that makes you happy. If you only choose a school because of finances, you may not do as well because you are not as happy. That should be factored in. I also want to go to law school in New York, so I would be leaning towards NYC law schools. What I think you should do is try your best to negotiate the costs down at NYU.

Law school is law school. I very much doubt that his experience will be very different between Penn, CLS, and NYU, and if "happiness" is worth $100k to you, you either need to be a millionaire or get over yourself. Penn has great employment statistics, will leave OP with very little debt, and probably has the same type of students that CLS/NYU have, and that should make OP happy. He has his whole life to live in NYC, and Penn can get him there without crushing debt.

He'd be wise to negotiate with NYU, but barring any extremely surprising generosity on their part, he'd be foolish not to choose Penn.

Law school is NOT law school. There are CLEAR differences. Some people are not just as happy in certain areas. For example, I have classmates who dropped out of undergrad/law school because of their surroundings. Also, if what your saying truly was the case, the poster would not have made this thread and would have taken Penn. He wants to take Columbia or NYU and there's nothing wrong with that. However, I do understand where you are coming from, but debt should not be the only thing that should be considered. I read on this board domes of times where posters pick Harvard over a full ride at NYU. Debt is just one factor.

[Nelson]

I read on this board domes of times where posters pick Harvard over a full ride at NYU. Debt is just one factor.

Taking Harvard over NYU full ride is justifiable (though I think questionable). Taking NYU over Penn full ride is insane.

[Dany]

I think you should factor in money, but it's about more than money. Is this scholarship dependent on grades? If so, that is something you should consider. Because i know of students losing scholarships because they could not maintain certain grades. Also, I think you should really go to a school that makes you happy. If you only choose a school because of finances, you may not do as well because you are not as happy. That should be factored in. I also want to go to law school in New York, so I would be leaning towards NYC law schools. What I think you should do is try your best to negotiate the costs down at NYU.

Law school is law school. I very much doubt that his experience will be very different between Penn, CLS, and NYU, and if "happiness" is worth $100k to you, you either need to be a millionaire or get over yourself. Penn has great employment statistics, will leave OP with very little debt, and probably has the same type of students that CLS/NYU have, and that should make OP happy. He has his whole life to live in NYC, and Penn can get him there without crushing debt.

He'd be wise to negotiate with NYU, but barring any extremely surprising generosity on their part, he'd be foolish not to choose Penn.

Law school is NOT law school. There are CLEAR differences. Some people are not just as happy in certain areas. For example, I have classmates who dropped out of undergrad/law school because of their surroundings. Also, if what your saying truly was the case, the poster would not have made this thread and would have taken Penn. He wants to take Columbia or NYU and there's nothing wrong with that. However, I do understand where you are coming from, but debt should not be the only thing that should be considered. I read on this board domes of times where posters pick Harvard over a full ride at NYU. Debt is just one factor.

Get back to me when you've actually attended a law school.

[kaiser]

I think you should factor in money, but it's about more than money. Is this scholarship dependent on grades? If so, that is something you should consider. Because i know of students losing scholarships because they could not maintain certain grades. Also, I think you should really go to a school that makes you happy. If you only choose a school because of finances, you may not do as well because you are not as happy. That should be factored in. I also want to go to law school in New York, so I would be leaning towards NYC law schools. What I think you should do is try your best to negotiate the costs down at NYU.

Law school is law school. I very much doubt that his experience will be very different between Penn, CLS, and NYU, and if "happiness" is worth $100k to you, you either need to be a millionaire or get over yourself. Penn has great employment statistics, will leave OP with very little debt, and probably has the same type of students that CLS/NYU have, and that should make OP happy. He has his whole life to live in NYC, and Penn can get him there without crushing debt.

He'd be wise to negotiate with NYU, but barring any extremely surprising generosity on their part, he'd be foolish not to choose Penn.

Law school is NOT law school. There are CLEAR differences. Some people are not just as happy in certain areas. For example, I have classmates who dropped out of undergrad/law school because of their surroundings. Also, if what your saying truly was the case, the poster would not have made this thread and would have taken Penn. He wants to take Columbia or NYU and there's nothing wrong with that. However, I do understand where you are coming from, but debt should not be the only thing that should be considered. I read on this board domes of times where posters pick Harvard over a full ride at NYU. Debt is just one factor.

I'm old school, and completely unempathetic to the whole "find your happiness" thing. Sorry, but kids can suck it up and deal with their surroundings for 3 years when it means 6 figures less of debt. Not like we are talking NYC vs. cow country here. If some kid had such thin skin that they "just couldn't bear the soul-draining unhappiness" of Philly when compared to NYC, I'd smack that kid upside his delusional head. Its the same delusional mindset that is making so many college grads unemployed/underemployed nowadays. Sometimes you have to put your feet on the ground for a moment, and think practically.

[09042014]

I think you should factor in money, but it's about more than money. Is this scholarship dependent on grades? If so, that is something you should consider. Because i know of students losing scholarships because they could not maintain certain grades. Also, I think you should really go to a school that makes you happy. If you only choose a school because of finances, you may not do as well because you are not as happy. That should be factored in. I also want to go to law school in New York, so I would be leaning towards NYC law schools. What I think you should do is try your best to negotiate the costs down at NYU.

Law school is law school. I very much doubt that his experience will be very different between Penn, CLS, and NYU, and if "happiness" is worth $100k to you, you either need to be a millionaire or get over yourself. Penn has great employment statistics, will leave OP with very little debt, and probably has the same type of students that CLS/NYU have, and that should make OP happy. He has his whole life to live in NYC, and Penn can get him there without crushing debt.

He'd be wise to negotiate with NYU, but barring any extremely surprising generosity on their part, he'd be foolish not to choose Penn.

Law school is NOT law school. There are CLEAR differences. Some people are not just as happy in certain areas. For example, I have classmates who dropped out of undergrad/law school because of their surroundings. Also, if what your saying truly was the case, the poster would not have made this thread and would have taken Penn. He wants to take Columbia or NYU and there's nothing wrong with that. However, I do understand where you are coming from, but debt should not be the only thing that should be considered. I read on this board domes of times where posters pick Harvard over a full ride at NYU. Debt is just one factor.

But these schools are filled with virtually the same type of person. They are in similar environments (urban, east coast cities). They also have fairly similar job placement. CLS/NYU is a bit better, but its a matter of degree. There are some jobs Harvard really kills that NYU doesn't do well. (But I honestly think NYU $$$ >> Harvard at sticker, just because some people make bad choices doesn't mean it is valid). They even place similarly in the their target markets.

You say people drop out of school because of their surroundings, but that has no affect on this choice. Because OP doesn't know which school would be better. Especially since they are virtually identical.

[justicefishy]

I'd say go to NYU and let me have some of that delicious scholarship money buuuuut....the right answer is going to Penn