Top Law Schools

Hi all, I would really appreciate any feedback regarding BC, Wash U and Cornell. I am originally from the Boston area and want to end up there eventually. BC gave me nearly a full ride and I love the school, but I am not 100% sure I want to be in Boston right after graduating-I would like to have the option to be in DC or work internationally at some point, but will likely end up practicing long-term along the East Coast (no Midwest or Cali). I would be okay with working in Boston for a couple of years and then moving to DC/intl. Wash U offered me a full ride, and although I do not want to be in the Midwest, I think it places well in DC but not in Boston. To make matters even more confusing, I was also just accepted to Cornell (no $). I do not want to work in NYC, but the stellar rank and reputation makes it hard to turn down. Money is not a huge issue for me, but obviously the less I have to pay, the better.

So, taking all of that into consideration, please let me know any thoughts/advice-thank you!!

If money is less of an issue such that you can afford full freight at Cornell you go there. It will get you into Boston market if you want to be there, especially if you have some connections there already and will certainly give you better options outside of New England if you decide you want to explore those options some. You don't want to pigeon-hole yourself at a regional school when you're not absolutely sure you wanna stay there. Also, the Bruins suck.

WashU is out. As to BC vs. Cornell, I believe the standard formulation is:

If: Boston Biglaw > Any Boston > Any Biglaw, then: BC
If: Boston Biglaw > Any Biglaw > Any Boston, then: Cornell

Since you do not want to work in NYC, where Cornell gives its greatest advantage, I would say BC.

Curious as to what "money is not a huge issue for me" means. If it means that someone else is going to be paying your legal education, then I think you should go to Cornell. If it means you aren't concerned about taking on a large amount of debt, then I think you should go to BC. BC is a great school (I'm an alum), but it doesn't have the name recognition in the legal industry of Cornell. I can't speak about Cornell placement in DC, but it is relatively difficult from BC unless you are top 1/3rd, and then it isn't even a given. DC is a very small market and I don't think many BC grads end up there (probably because it is far easier to get a job in Boston/NYC).

The only caveat I have on the above, is that you don't want NYC. If things don't go well at Cornell, I'm not sure exactly where you would end up geographically.

Tadatsune wrote:WashU is out. As to BC vs. Cornell, I believe the standard formulation is:

If: Boston Biglaw > Any Boston > Any Biglaw, then: BC
If: Boston Biglaw > Any Biglaw > Any Boston, then: Cornell

Since you do not want to work in NYC, where Cornell gives its greatest advantage, I would say BC.

Agreed. I'd go bc in your situation.

BC easily.

BC looks very good for you. Try to determine whether Cornell will offer you any money before deciding.

If Cornell would give you a half ride or better, it would be an obvious choice.
If Cornell gives you nothing, BC.
If Cornell gives you anything between nothing and a half ride, that is a decision that you would have to make.

Also, would you rather have a good job somewhere outside of Boston, or a not so good job in Boston? If scholarships truly don't matter to you, the answer to that question is the only thing that matters.

Sorry, let me clarify. My family will be paying for the majority of my legal education so money is not necessarily a concern. With regards to where I want to end up, while I do want to settle down in the Boston area long-term, in my mind, that means about 10 years down the road. I am open to working elsewhere for a few years after graduating but want to be sure I'll have the opportunity to return back north later.

Thanks!

Boston College. Free tuition & fees from a great law school in your target market.

If you were targeting NYC biglaw, then Cornell would be the better choice in light of your substantial financial support from your family.

WashUStL just doesn't fit in with your plans.

garland23 wrote:Sorry, let me clarify. My family will be paying for the majority of my legal education so money is not necessarily a concern. With regards to where I want to end up, while I do want to settle down in the Boston area long-term, in my mind, that means about 10 years down the road. I am open to working elsewhere for a few years after graduating but want to be sure I'll have the opportunity to return back north later.

Thanks!

If money is not a concern I would say Cornell. It sounds like you don't want to be in Boston. Cornell can get you to Boston though, if you want. I don't think BC will offer as many opportunities. So if you're comfortable with your family paying a ton of money for Cornell, I'd say it's not a bad choice.

First of all, you will have a better chance at Boston Biglaw out of Cornell than out of B.C., and you will have some chance at D.C. right away if you do well enough. I think the B.C. deal is a great one, but keep in mind you will have to finish higher in the class than you would at Cornell to get a really good job in Boston. I would probably go to BC to minimize debt, but make no mistake, it will limit your options.

See if you can get money out of Cornell, then go to Cornell considering you family is paying. This may be an instance where Cornell has greater portability than the opposing school choice...

If you have no intention of working in Boston for the foreseeable future after you graduate (but rather at some vague point later in your career) then Cornell is the obvious choice.

(I would just caution that, just because your family is paying for it does not mean that you should automatically pick the most expensive choice possible... That said, you should probably pick Cornell.)

The $200,000 or so that you would save from attending BC would make biglaw unnecessary while serving as a hefty downpayment on a townhome.

If Cornell offers scholarship money, then it becomes the obvious choice; but, as matters stand now, a full tuition & fees scholarship to a very solid law school in your home market with the potential of graduating debt free with a $200,000+ graduation present makes more sense, in my opinion.

P.S. Starting a legal career in one city "for a few years" before returning home to Boston may not be a realistic plan.

garland23 wrote:Hi all, I would really appreciate any feedback regarding BC, Wash U and Cornell. I am originally from the Boston area and want to end up there eventually. BC gave me nearly a full ride and I love the school . . .

Either BC or Cornell will be good for this. Cornell has the edge, but if it's a full ride at BC over sticker at Cornell, BC is the better choice.

garland23 wrote: ... but I am not 100% sure I want to be in Boston right after graduating-I would like to have the option to be in DC or work internationally at some point, but will likely end up practicing long-term along the East Coast (no Midwest or Cali).

Again, BC or Cornell are good for these goals. But here the calculus shifts a lot in Cornell's favor. I would not take BC if you're wanting to get to DC or other areas of the east coast since your ties are to Boston. Don't get me wrong, if you do very well at BC, then these doors will be open. But you'll have a significantly better shot at non-Boston east coast markets out of Cornell. It gets trickier though because of the difference in cost of attendance. Cornell might still have the edge, but it's a much closer call.

garland23 wrote: I would be okay with working in Boston for a couple of years and then moving to DC/intl. Wash U offered me a full ride, and although I do not want to be in the Midwest, I think it places well in DC but not in Boston. To make matters even more confusing, I was also just accepted to Cornell (no $). I do not want to work in NYC, but the stellar rank and reputation makes it hard to turn down. Money is not a huge issue for me, but obviously the less I have to pay, the better. So, taking all of that into consideration, please let me know any thoughts/advice-thank you!!

A bit confusing... you say money isn't a huge issue for you. Will be taking out debt to attend law school? Do you have any savings to put towards school? All else being equal (i.e., if you're not super debt averse), Cornell is most definitely the way to go. On the other hand, if you're super debt averse, BC is the safer choice. WUSTL is probably not in the running for your particular end goals.

FWIW, I would (and did) choose Cornell given similar options. But this has to turn on your personal financial situation, goals, and cost-benefit analysis.

garland23 wrote:Sorry, let me clarify. My family will be paying for the majority of my legal education so money is not necessarily a concern. With regards to where I want to end up, while I do want to settle down in the Boston area long-term, in my mind, that means about 10 years down the road. I am open to working elsewhere for a few years after graduating but want to be sure I'll have the opportunity to return back north later.

Thanks!

Just saw this (hadn't read through the whole thread). I really think I'd take Cornell in this case then. It just seems like you'd have less regrets and what ifs. You're lucky to have a supportive family. Take advantage of that shit. That's my .02.

To add my two cents, I think Cornell is the better choice. For all the reasons stated above. BC is a good school with a surprising number of students who do leave the Boston market after graduating, but you will have those options and more at Cornell.