CCN vs. Berkeley/Duke/Cornell/UMich ($$) Forum

[lald99]

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[WheninLaw]

If you're fine with being in NY, then I would take Cornell. I could see Duke as an option, but everything else is simply too expensive.

[jbagelboy]

Congrats on all these acceptances. Looks like a great cycle.

You have a lot of room for negotiation here. I bet you can get NYU/CLS to match or exceed that $45K. Same with Berkeley via matching scholarship with Duke or Cornell.

I think I would visit Chicago and Ithaca and decide between Cornell and UChi depending on where you want to work after graduation and how badly you care about Fed Gov opportunities. You can definitely nix Penn and Michigan if they won't increase aid.

[Tiago Splitter]

Cornell's a steal at that price.

[staysha]

Cornell.

[lawschool22]

Based on your goals and Cornell's COA I see no reason not to choose it unless any other schools come close/match after negotiating, then it probably comes down to personal preference. Most interesting will be what your final NYU offer is, but I doubt it's high enough to make cornell the wrong call.

[worldtraveler]

Cornell definitely.

[Otunga]

Cornell. But I suppose a case could be made for Duke if they matched Cornell.

[Doorkeeper]

Cornell or Duke.

This being said, you have a lot of room to negotiate. I would target Penn, NYU, and Chicago with your Michigan/Duke/Cornell scholarships to see if they budge.

[BanjoCalhoun]

Probably Cornell or Chicago, but this could change significantly after negotiations. A lot depends on whether you're more risk averse or debt averse.

You seem to be flexible about location which helps, but if those NYC ties are important to you hopefully CLS or NYU would match Chicago. Excellent prospects here.

[Hitchensian]

Cornell. Enjoy NYC BigLaw with small (comparatively speaking) payments.

[PrideandGlory1776]

Cornell by a mile

[Lavitz]

Obviously negotiate first. I would include the Cornell offer in all negotiations, including with CCN, because that's a ridiculously large cost-difference. For Columbia and NYU, I would also include the Chicago offer because they may be more receptive to an offer from what they consider a peer school.

Otherwise, Cornell.

[nebula666]

I think if Duke matched the Cornell scholarship, you could make a case for Duke. Given that you have significant ties to NYC already, I wouldn't be worried about getting biglaw from Duke, especially if you want to branch out of NY for a few years.

Otherwise, I think Cornell is a great option.

[lald99]

Congrats on all these acceptances. Looks like a great cycle.

You have a lot of room for negotiation here. I bet you can get NYU/CLS to match or exceed that $45K. Same with Berkeley via matching scholarship with Duke or Cornell.

I think I would visit Chicago and Ithaca and decide between Cornell and UChi depending on where you want to work after graduation and how badly you care about Fed Gov opportunities. You can definitely nix Penn and Michigan if they won't increase aid.

Thanks! I'm definitely pleased with the choices. Question: IF I got NYU/CLS/Chicago to even exceed $45K, how much would they have to offer to make it justifiable to go to those places over Cornell/Duke/Mich (if Duke or Mich came close to 150K)?

[lawschool22]

Congrats on all these acceptances. Looks like a great cycle.

You have a lot of room for negotiation here. I bet you can get NYU/CLS to match or exceed that $45K. Same with Berkeley via matching scholarship with Duke or Cornell.

I think I would visit Chicago and Ithaca and decide between Cornell and UChi depending on where you want to work after graduation and how badly you care about Fed Gov opportunities. You can definitely nix Penn and Michigan if they won't increase aid.

Thanks! I'm definitely pleased with the choices. Question: IF I got NYU/CLS/Chicago to even exceed $45K, how much would they have to offer to make it justifiable to go to those places over Cornell/Duke/Mich (if Duke or Mich came close to 150K)?

I would think you would at least want to target getting them <$180k in that case. In other words I probably wouldn't pay >$50k over Cornell for those schools given your goals.

I think you're going to have trouble with that, so the advice is likely not going to change. What is more likely is you're able to get a school like Duke or one of the others to match or beat Cornell, in which case you would have something to think about.

[lald99]

Updated with 9K bump in Duke. Liked Duke a lot. Is 16K that big a difference to warrant Cornell?

[Power_of_Facing]

Updated with 9K bump in Duke. Liked Duke a lot. Is 16K that big a difference to warrant Cornell?

Any chance you'd be open to working for a year and then re-taking/applying?

With a 3.9, work experience, and a 173+, you're looking at minimal debt from CCN.

[jbagelboy]

Updated with 9K bump in Duke. Liked Duke a lot. Is 16K that big a difference to warrant Cornell?

Any chance you'd be open to working for a year and then re-taking/applying?

With a 3.9, work experience, and a 173+, you're looking at minimal debt from CCN.

Op has T14 near full ride options, this doesn't seem necessary.

OP: I think you can safely choose between Duke and Cornell based on other preference factors (non-cost) at this point. Either would be a great choice and debt level for your goals. Congrats again

[yost]

Duke and Cornell are both solid options. Awesome cycle.

[SLS_AMG]

lol just lol at UVA's egregious yield protecting. You should write an LOCI to them and they'll probably go from waitlisting you to offering you like 100k. Still, I'd choose Cornell.

[lald99]

Updated with 9K bump in Duke. Liked Duke a lot. Is 16K that big a difference to warrant Cornell?

Any chance you'd be open to working for a year and then re-taking/applying?

With a 3.9, work experience, and a 173+, you're looking at minimal debt from CCN.

Really can't see myself doing this. With worse options, it would have been my move, but I think the options I have will suit me well for my goals. Also, PTs ranged from anywhere between 169-175 with around a 172 average so it could be risky.

Also, just want to update that Mich matched my Duke scholarship. I know Mich's employment numbers are a little worse, so is there any reason to consider them?

[WearyCartographer]

Also, just want to update that Mich matched my Duke scholarship. I know Mich's employment numbers are a little worse, so is there any reason to consider them?

They're peers. I'd pick your favorite between Cornell, Duke, and Michigan. All have fairly different feels. If you don't have a strong preference between the three though, then take Cornell and the cheapest COA. If you have a preference (i.e. think you'd be happier) for Mich or Duke, I wouldn't let the $16k hold you back.

[lald99]

Also, just want to update that Mich matched my Duke scholarship. I know Mich's employment numbers are a little worse, so is there any reason to consider them?

They're peers. I'd pick your favorite between Cornell, Duke, and Michigan. All have fairly different feels. If you don't have a strong preference between the three though, then take Cornell and the cheapest COA. If you have a preference (i.e. think you'd be happier) for Mich or Duke, I wouldn't let the $16k hold you back.

Thanks, that was the general feeling I had.

To the couple of people who voted Chicago or Columbia, can I really justify that debt?

[Lincoln]

As someone who graduated with around the level of debt you would have from UChi, I would kill a small child to have $100k less to pay off right now.