Is there absolutely no possible reason to pick H over Y? Forum

[jcccc]

If there are reasons, what are they?

[iMisto]

I'm sure somebody might mention one... but I wouldn't.

[gaud]

I'm sure somebody might mention one... but I wouldn't.

[005618502]

If there are reasons, what are they?

The thing is, why would you?

Classes are P/F at Yale first semester. As a 1L not at HYS, I now know why this would be AMAZING. Seriously, this with not having to worry about jobs would be the best scenario possible. Why go any other way? Harvard will not open doors that Yale wont

[buddingjd]

living in New Haven?

[Lincoln]

I can think of several: SO in Boston, wanting to work in Boston after graduation, legacy at HLS, scholly (does HLS award those?), wanting to study law instead of policy, and so on.

[dissonance1848]

If you can get into HYS, forget about H; it comes down to YS. They both give far better chances for clerkships, academia, and you automatically get biglaw if you want it.

Even good reasons for picking H over Y are probably temporary; your degree is forever.

[09042014]

H Bomb bro.

[dissonance1848]

H bomb don't always convert into greenbacks bro.

[ph14]

If there are reasons, what are they?

The thing is, why would you?

Classes are P/F at Yale first semester. As a 1L not at HYS, I now know why this would be AMAZING. Seriously, this with not having to worry about jobs would be the best scenario possible. Why go any other way? Harvard will not open doors that Yale wont

Best possible reason is wanting to live in Boston rather than New Haven, but that's not really a good reason. I think you probably should choose Yale here, unless you have some real compelling reasons to choose HLS (not just wanting the HLS brand/lay prestige). But I kind of disagree about classes P/F first semester. Seems like it would be difficult to stand out when it comes to OCI with only one semesters worth of grades. Maybe for someone with years of great work experience that could be advantageous, but for someone K-JD, a bit less opportunity to get good grades and stand out. Having less stress and probably less work is nice though.

[indigomachine]

living in New Haven?

On the flip side, Harvard in general is a year-round tourist attraction that has ridiculous groups of annoying out-of-towners tromping through campus all day. (not as bad at the law school but still...)

I'd still take that over New Haven, but if you're easily annoyed by slow moving groups of 15+, might be worth noting.

[Swimp]

I think there's an argument to be made that the Harvard alumni network is more valuable than the Yale network.

[jcccc]

I think there's an argument to be made that the Harvard alumni network is more valuable than the Yale network.

I figured this is probably one of the reasons

[dissonance1848]

If you want to go into politics, or some elite corporate stuff, yeah, HLS will serve your purposes better than Yale. That being said, Yale/Stanford would be better for the typical attendee.

If you are not sure about your future ambitions, the risk of getting curve pwned outweighs being governor of some state, or doing MBB.

Take Y/S over H. Just do it.

[094320]

..

[bjsesq]

H bomb don't always convert into greenbacks bro.

But it makes the aspy chicks cream.

[cinephile]

I know someone making this decision right now and for her Harvard was more attractive because she's rather live in Boston - both for the sake of living in Boston and for living with her friend going to Harvard right now. Also, it has more international prestige and she'd rather work overseas anyway.

[IAFG]

If you were doing the JD/MBA.

That was my only possible answer.

[094320]

..

[thelawyler]

If you wanted to definitely do extensive overseas work eventually in your career, I think Harvard does have an edge. But most cases, I'd take Yale despite the New Haven vs Boston thing. It's only three years.

[jcccc]

If you want to go into politics, or some elite corporate stuff, yeah, HLS will serve your purposes better than Yale. That being said, Yale/Stanford would be better for the typical attendee.

If you are not sure about your future ambitions, the risk of getting curve pwned outweighs being governor of some state, or doing MBB.

Take Y/S over H. Just do it.

How exactly will HLS give me the edge if I wanted to pursue a career in politics and "elite corporate stuff"?

[dissonance1848]

Harvard has larger alumni base, H bomb. Applies to politics and elite corporate stuff, which in this case means gunning for MBB, corporate executive positions, etc.

[englawyer]

another reason: if you have ever had a desire to live in the work of this esteemed architect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Gropius. once in a lifetime opportunity!

[AllTheLawz]

If you have a decent personality (and dont have a full-out PI background and plan on applying to firms) you cant make a bad choice between HYS. I applied Boston, DC and a major secondary market (one of CHI/ATL/SF/SV), didnt have killer ties to any of the three and still killed it with nearly all Ps. Will be taking a job at one of the top few firms in the market, the same job I would have taken had I chose another HYS.

In my case, however, I have little interest in clerking and zero interest in academia. If you have interest in either of those two things probably better to choose Y (choice between H and S should still be preference). FWIW, I know people at all three and have discussed people aiming at biglaw and striking out at OCI at all three.

ETA: I was choosing between H and S. Never applied to Y due to personal reasons.

[Ti Malice]

living in New Haven?

New Haven is really not that bad. By all accounts it was a pretty terrifying place 20 years ago, but there's a lot to like about it these days.