Columbia/NYU/UVA/Cornell for NYC biglaw Forum

[yarrow]

I'm a very indecisive person and have decided to ask TLS for opinions on my law school predicament. I would appreciate ANY thoughts!

money/stats
I am a splitter. I have not yet heard back from Columbia and Cornell regarding money. NYU gave me $0 and UVA gave me ~$50k. (For comparison's sake, I got ~$70k from Duke and Michigan). My parents might help a bit with spending money but other than that, I will be taking out loans.

career
As for career goals, I *think* I want NYC biglaw, although DC is a consideration as well. Good exit options are important.

Some thoughts on the schools
I absolutely loved UVA when I visited, but I am leaning towards Columbia or NYU at this point because UVA's NYC job prospects scare me.
Columbia vs NYU is an entirely separate issue. I have heard the bad things about Columbia students but frankly when I visited both schools, they seemed the same. Maybe NYU students seemed more fun, but Columbia's job prospects are slightly better, so I feel that they balance each other out. NYU's facilities were better.
I have not visited Cornell, but their NYC job prospects are better than UVA's, no?

[Theopliske8711]

For NYC biglaw you should just try and minimize debt load. Both CLS and NYU are 300K at sticker. Try use your acceptances to get as mic as possible from Cornell.

[yarrow]

^if you don't mind me asking, how much did you receive from Cornell? If minimizing debt is the goal, at what point does Columbia become the better choice? I am going with the assumption that you must have received more from Cornell...

[Theopliske8711]

I haven't received anything from Cornell at this point. Honestly, based off of what I have from other schools, I would consider Cornell with maybe a full scholarship.

Let me just say that I read that you haven't received an offer from CLS or NYU, so it might be best to ask once you have them.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Why are Michigan and Duke out of the picture?

I would go to wherever you get the most money.

[jkpolk]

UVA

[yarrow]

@dixicup: I didn't think they were a good fit. I am thinking about money, but it's confusing because my parents, relatives and friends think debt is normal and something to be dealt with later. In regards to the money I did receive from schools, they're like yeah, you have money, but you're still going to be in debt and it doesn't make a big difference.

Anyway, theolipske is right, I'll just start a new thread once I actually hear back from all the schools.

[rayiner]

@dixicup: I didn't think they were a good fit. I am thinking about money, but it's confusing because my parents, relatives and friends think debt is normal and something to be dealt with later. In regards to the money I did receive from schools, they're like yeah, you have money, but you're still going to be in debt and it doesn't make a big difference.

Anyway, theolipske is right, I'll just start a new thread once I actually hear back from all the schools.

Statistically speaking, your parents, relatives, and friends are bad with money. See, e.g., housing crisis.

[jbagelboy]

Columbia is the best school among your options for NY biglaw. If you can get Cornell to ~$150-160K then it becomes the best choice.

[3L2014]

For NYC biglaw, going to columbia and taking out 100k more in debt over Duke/UVA/Michigan/Cornell seems silly. Especially when you will still have plenty of debt coming from Duke/UVA/Michigan/Cornell it seems like.

[dixiecupdrinking]

For NYC biglaw, going to columbia and taking out 100k more in debt over Duke/UVA/Michigan/Cornell seems silly. Especially when you will still have plenty of debt coming from Duke/UVA/Michigan/Cornell it seems like.

This is right.

$50k at UVA, plus the cost of living difference, plus accrued interest will put you at about $100,000 less than CLS/NYU. That's real money, even though it doesn't feel like it yet. In the best-case realistic scenario, that is two extra years of aggressive debt payments. It's a down payment on a house or apartment.

Not worth it for CLS.