Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell Forum
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:43 pm
Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
I am having a really hard time with this decision so I've finally decided to put it to the TLS forum. I've already sent in the initial deposit for both schools. Here are some details:
I graduated from undergrad in 2008 and have worked for the past three years at a public interest legal services organization. I am from Manhattan and looking to stay here after law school. While I ultimately want to work in public interest, I am not totally opposed to the idea of working in biglaw for a while to pay off loans/get training. That said, I am not sure how long I could sustain that lifestyle before needing to do something more fulfilling.
Fordham has offered me $15K/year. Because I have a decent amount of savings and could live with my parents, I could attend Fordham without taking out ANY loans. This is very appealing to me. As for the school itself, I liked it but I didnt love it. I didn't get the feeling that I was especially excited about going there, but the location would be extremely convenient.
Cornell has offered me NO merit aid, so even after using all my savings, I am still looking at about $100K in debt when I graduate. When I visited Cornell, I really loved it. Ithaca is beautiful and I loved Cornell's small class sizes. However, I am nervous to take on so much debt, particularly with the legal market being uncertain and my own uncertainties about biglaw.
So what do people think I should do? And before you say it-- no, I am not going to re-take. I already retook once and I am getting older (26 this fall). I am ready to go to law school now.
I graduated from undergrad in 2008 and have worked for the past three years at a public interest legal services organization. I am from Manhattan and looking to stay here after law school. While I ultimately want to work in public interest, I am not totally opposed to the idea of working in biglaw for a while to pay off loans/get training. That said, I am not sure how long I could sustain that lifestyle before needing to do something more fulfilling.
Fordham has offered me $15K/year. Because I have a decent amount of savings and could live with my parents, I could attend Fordham without taking out ANY loans. This is very appealing to me. As for the school itself, I liked it but I didnt love it. I didn't get the feeling that I was especially excited about going there, but the location would be extremely convenient.
Cornell has offered me NO merit aid, so even after using all my savings, I am still looking at about $100K in debt when I graduate. When I visited Cornell, I really loved it. Ithaca is beautiful and I loved Cornell's small class sizes. However, I am nervous to take on so much debt, particularly with the legal market being uncertain and my own uncertainties about biglaw.
So what do people think I should do? And before you say it-- no, I am not going to re-take. I already retook once and I am getting older (26 this fall). I am ready to go to law school now.
- WokeUpInACar
- Posts: 5542
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:11 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
You should retake for more scholarship money, but Fordham as is.
-
- Posts: 170
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:49 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
100k is not bad at all for Cornell. Even biglaw for a year or two should knock that down to within the realm of a 40-50k job to handle. Since you also love it your decision is easy. Are you sure you have the CoA correct, though? CoA at Cornell total is something like 270k-- are you saying you have at least 120k in savings?
-
- Posts: 1417
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:04 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
So are all of us, but guess what? Law school isn't going anywhere. If you retook and received some $$ from Cornell, it would be a no-brainer decision. That being said, if you're dead set on going right now, Fordham isn't a terrible option.grumpycat2012 wrote:So what do people think I should do? And before you say it-- no, I am not going to re-take. I already retook once and I am getting older (26 this fall). I am ready to go to law school now.
-
- Posts: 585
- Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:13 am
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Take Fordham.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
- Robespierre
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:02 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Yeah, this struck me too; the Cornell numbers don't seem right. If you're going at sticker, to calculate your debt at graduation, take the school-stated COA of 231K; mark it up about 10% for tuition and rent hikes while you're in school; subtract what you can cover from savings/parental help; then take the result and mark it up about 15% for interest that will accrue while you're in school.empyreanrrv wrote:100k is not bad at all for Cornell. Even biglaw for a year or two should knock that down to within the realm of a 40-50k job to handle. Since you also love it your decision is easy. Are you sure you have the CoA correct, though? CoA at Cornell total is something like 270k-- are you saying you have at least 120k in savings?
- jbagelboy
- Posts: 10361
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:57 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Obligatory: Retake the LSAT.
On-Topic: COMPLETELY disagree with those saying Fordham. Cornell will offer vastly superior opportunities, and it doesn't sound like you'll have crippling debt. 15K/year is not a legitimate enough draw considering the differences between the schools. If it was full ride at Fordham v sticker at Cornell, then I'd say Fordham.
On-Topic: COMPLETELY disagree with those saying Fordham. Cornell will offer vastly superior opportunities, and it doesn't sound like you'll have crippling debt. 15K/year is not a legitimate enough draw considering the differences between the schools. If it was full ride at Fordham v sticker at Cornell, then I'd say Fordham.
-
- Posts: 2399
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:21 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
I agree with this. In a vacuum, Cornell is easily worth 100k more than Fordham. However, OP should retake.jbagelboy wrote:Obligatory: Retake the LSAT.
On-Topic: COMPLETELY disagree with those saying Fordham. Cornell will offer vastly superior opportunities, and it doesn't sound like you'll have crippling debt. 15K/year is not a legitimate enough draw considering the differences between the schools. If it was full ride at Fordham v sticker at Cornell, then I'd say Fordham.
- Doorkeeper
- Posts: 4869
- Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:25 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
1. Retake is the right answer.
2. So long as Cornell has a functional LRAP program, Cornell over Fordham for 100k. EASY.
2. So long as Cornell has a functional LRAP program, Cornell over Fordham for 100k. EASY.
- Dr. Dre
- Posts: 2337
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:10 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Fordham is not a bad choice, if gun to my head, i'd choose Fordham
But retake is the CR
But retake is the CR
- Tekrul
- Posts: 493
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:17 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Gun to my head, also, I'd take Fordham here if the debt will truly be 0.Dr. Dre wrote:Fordham is not a bad choice, if gun to my head, i'd choose Fordham
But retake is the CR
But short of a gun to the head, up to and including any situation with a reasonable chance of survival such as being pushed from the top of a 5 story building, I would retake.
Edit: Retake because you've already demonstrated the capability to get into these schools, and get $$ from Fordham. I suspect you are one dedicated summer of LSAT studying from getting $$ from Cornell.
-
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:24 am
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
In order to graduate with $100,000 of debt from Cornell, with no scholarship, you would have to have (roughly) $140,000 of cash saved. Are your numbers right?grumpycat2012 wrote:I am having a really hard time with this decision so I've finally decided to put it to the TLS forum. I've already sent in the initial deposit for both schools. Here are some details:
I graduated from undergrad in 2008 and have worked for the past three years at a public interest legal services organization. I am from Manhattan and looking to stay here after law school. While I ultimately want to work in public interest, I am not totally opposed to the idea of working in biglaw for a while to pay off loans/get training. That said, I am not sure how long I could sustain that lifestyle before needing to do something more fulfilling.
Fordham has offered me $15K/year. Because I have a decent amount of savings and could live with my parents, I could attend Fordham without taking out ANY loans. This is very appealing to me. As for the school itself, I liked it but I didnt love it. I didn't get the feeling that I was especially excited about going there, but the location would be extremely convenient.
Cornell has offered me NO merit aid, so even after using all my savings, I am still looking at about $100K in debt when I graduate. When I visited Cornell, I really loved it. Ithaca is beautiful and I loved Cornell's small class sizes. However, I am nervous to take on so much debt, particularly with the legal market being uncertain and my own uncertainties about biglaw.
So what do people think I should do? And before you say it-- no, I am not going to re-take. I already retook once and I am getting older (26 this fall). I am ready to go to law school now.
Also, if you gun for PI, and get it, with Cornell's LRAP, it is better to max out your loans. Look up the program. If you miss PI, you could always throw your savings into the principal. Granted, you would be out the origination fee and some interest. But really take a look at the program and you will see why the risk is worth it
- HBBJohnStamos
- Posts: 456
- Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:13 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Cornell places more students into Biglaw + Art III clerkships than Fordham places into real legal jobs hth
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:48 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
NJL 250, 2013
Cornell 72
Fordham 84
Cornell 72
Fordham 84
-
- Posts: 2399
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:21 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Cornell places double percentage wise. Raw numbers are not the appropriate metric.doc b wrote:NJL 250, 2013
Cornell 72
Fordham 84
- romothesavior
- Posts: 14692
- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:29 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Cornell, but I would retake. Low debt is nice but throwing away your life savings seems unnecessary when you could just retake, get a couple points, and go on a scholarship.
- jbagelboy
- Posts: 10361
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:57 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
bad 2nd post, try again. maybe there should be a post floor to give advice on choosing a law school threads.doc b wrote:NJL 250, 2013
Cornell 72
Fordham 84
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login
- jbagelboy
- Posts: 10361
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:57 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
+1 to reiterateromothesavior wrote:Cornell, but I would retake. Low debt is nice but throwing away your life savings seems unnecessary when you could just retake, get a couple points, and go on a scholarship.
- HBBJohnStamos
- Posts: 456
- Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:13 pm
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Yeah and that's 2011 for Cornell. GJ bro.ImNoScar wrote:Cornell places double percentage wise. Raw numbers are not the appropriate metric.doc b wrote:NJL 250, 2013
Cornell 72
Fordham 84
- guano
- Posts: 2264
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:49 am
Re: Fordham ($$) vs. Cornell
Never listen to someone who advocates maxing out high interest non-dischargeable debttimetoleave wrote:Also, if you gun for PI, and get it, with Cornell's LRAP, it is better to max out your loans. Look up the program. If you miss PI, you could always throw your savings into the principal. Granted, you would be out the origination fee and some interest. But really take a look at the program and you will see why the risk is worth it
Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.
Register now, it's still FREE!
Already a member? Login