NYU ($$-$$$$) v. Harvard v. ... Forum

[yomisterd]

A good (?) dilemma:

Accepted as an IILJ scholar at NYU. 25k a year.
Accepted at Harvard. Would be completely debt-financed.
Accepted at Chicago with 25k a year. Planning on staying East Coast, but could consider Chicago.

Also in at Columbia, but no fin aid info yet.

Stats: 173/3.9x. 2 years WE with (possible) above average softs.

THE TWIST:

SO relies on access to NYC for work. We would need a car if I went to Harvard, and there is no true financial security regarding SOs job situation.

While this is primarily a personal decision, I wanted to use TLS as a sounding board for experience of others with SOs or just people with opinions. So let me have 'em.

ETA: Career goals are really up in the air right now. I'd love BigFed with a policy focus, I'd love public interest fellowship with international focus NGO, I'd love BigLaw litigation, I am pretty wishy washy. I would really like to do a clerkship, as I think it would help me have a lot of these options open as future exit options. Or maybe I'm naive.

[The Dark Shepard]

Given everything with your situation, NYU sounds like your best bet if it is at least 3/4 scholarship(and perhaps even with half)

[yomisterd]

Given everything with your situation, NYU sounds like your best bet if it is at least 3/4 scholarship(and perhaps even with half)

This has been my general thought. Also, it seems clerkship outcomes for IILJ scholars are significantly better than NYU overall, so I feel this may help ease my concerns about turning down HLS. Anyone who disagrees, please smack me with superior reasoning. I need it right now.

[koalacity]

Easiest choosing thread I've seen in a while. Definitely NYU given your SO's job and your flexible career goals.

[yomisterd]

Easiest choosing thread I've seen in a while. Definitely NYU given your SO's job and your flexible career goals.

What type of career goals do you think would make HLS a lock in this situation?

[nebula666]

Easiest choosing thread I've seen in a while. Definitely NYU given your SO's job and your flexible career goals.

What type of career goals do you think would make HLS a lock in this situation?

Academia maybe

[yomisterd]

NYU is offering less than half tuition. I think they want me to go to Harvard...

[lastsamurai]

NYU is offering less than half tuition. I think they want me to go to Harvard...

Did you try to negotiate a little with NYU? I also thought they were a little low with the named scholarships, but I think they have room to increase or that they will once people start withdrawing.

[lawschool22]

I'm leaning NYU here. But it would help if you posted total COA figures, which incorporate the increased cost of the car, etc.