UChi vs NYU (poll added) Forum

[eleanor5]

Primarily considering UChi and NYU... Still sort of considering Harvard as a weak third option but I'd have no aid.

I have the same merit-based offer at both UChi and NYU -- $30k/year, $90k total. Given UChi's slightly lower tuition and lower cost of living, I'm estimating COA to be as follows:
U Chicago - $110k
NYU - $130k

I'm broadly interested in PI/policy/government work; not interested in firm work; interested in clerking. Would love to be in DC/NY/CA after law school, in that order, but I am also very geographically flexible.

If I understand correctly, NYU has an edge for public interest, UChi has an edge in the rankings and for clerkships, either would give me the geographic flexibility I want, and Harvard has an edge in everything but is not worth picking for a $90k difference.

Thoughts?

[kaiser]

I feel like Chicago may give you more flexibility overall. Depends on how set you are on PI. If you are pretty much certain you want that route, then yes, NYU makes most sense. But if you aren't quite sure, and want to keep things more open (with regard to both career goals, and geography), I'd probably lean Chicago, but not by much.

[wons]

For the kind of work you're describing, Harvard starts looking extremely interesting. It opens doors in DC that your other options do not . . .

[2014]

I wouldn't pay more for NYU than UChi in your case, plus our LRAP is better I think (spousal income). Harvard is tougher because I agree it opens a few more doors most likely but I agree it doesn't open 90k worth of them for the overwhelming majority of students.

[lastsamurai]

Putting up a poll will probably help you get more input.

I'd say it depends on where you want to be geographically for the next three years. I don't see there being any real differences between NYU and Chi aside from those that you already mentioned. H with no aid would be a tough sell for me if I had those scholarships unless family money could be made available.

[Nelson]

With no actual career goals and a desire to avoid law firms, best bet is not to go to law school.

[eleanor5]

With no actual career goals and a desire to avoid law firms, best bet is not to go to law school.

I do not have one singular specific all-or-nothing goal, but rather a small variety of desirable outcomes towards which I am aiming, all of which fall under the broad PI/policy/government umbrella and which generally seem to involve law school as an appropriate/necessary educational background.

Let's just assume, for the sake of providing valuable input, that I should go to law school, and that my career goals are valid and a little more developed than I have explained above.

[Nelson]

With no actual career goals and a desire to avoid law firms, best bet is not to go to law school.

I do not have one singular specific all-or-nothing goal, but rather a small variety of desirable outcomes towards which I am aiming, all of which fall under the broad PI/policy/government umbrella and which generally seem to involve law school as an appropriate/necessary educational background.

Let's just assume, for the sake of providing valuable input, that I should go to law school, and that my career goals are valid and a little more developed than I have explained above.

If you won't work in private practice under any circumstances, don't go to law school. You will end up disappointed. There's a narrow exception for people who want to work as public defenders or in civil legal aid. If you want to work in policy or government, go work on the Hill, don't go to law school.

No one can give you meaningful advice to decide between these two schools because neither is going to make any difference as to whether you work in the "the broad PI/policy/government umbrella."

[kaiser]

Given that you indeed are dead set on PI, and want to maximize your PI opportunities, NYU is probably the right choice here.