Top Law Schools

I am interested in becoming a politician. I realize that graduating debt free from a t-14 is a wonderful way to start your career. However, Harvard Law and American politics are deeply intertwined. It seems like HLS sets you up for a career in politics better than any other law school (tbf, there could be confounding factors at work here).

Given my aspirations, isn't Harvard the right choice, even if I received a Ruby or Hamilton(not bloody likely)?

I'd love to get some feedback on this.

GordonFreeman wrote:I am interested in becoming a politician. I realize that graduating debt free from a t-14 is a wonderful way to start your career. However, Harvard Law and American politics are deeply intertwined. It seems like HLS sets you up for a career in politics better than any other law school (tbf, there could be confounding factors at work here).

Given my aspirations, isn't Harvard the right choice, even if I received a Ruby or Hamilton(not bloody likely)?

I'd love to get some feedback on this.

GTFO you crumpet-eating, crooked toothed Brit! We don't need ur kind in are country.

CounselorNebby wrote:GTFO you crumpet-eating, crooked toothed Brit! We don't need ur kind in are country.

Dude, come on.

.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

CounselorNebby wrote:GTFO you crumpet-eating, crooked toothed Brit! We don't need ur kind in are country.

Dude, come on.

This cannot be a real poster Nony... Wait a second...

1) Conflated Ego
2) Lack of social awareness
3) Seriously asks the most ridiculous questions
4) Is American but uses British slang to sound cool for his prep-school bros

You'd fit right in at HLS, Mr. Freeman!

Your aversion to "bloody" seems overblown.

And I don't know whether this poster is flame or not, but since the question "Harvard v. T14 full ride" has come up a gazillion times, I'm not sure why this post specifically makes you think so. (I mean, yes, the "I want to do politics" is a sort of bad sign, but has also come up on this site a gazillion times, perfectly earnestly.)

I think I'm a jackass and can't find any pf the threads, would one of you guys mind linking some?

I was thinking particularly of this: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... +the+money (though I believe it devolves into some weird Harvard white-knighting/bickering partway through). Also, if you forum search topic titles only for "Harvard" "full ride", you will get a bunch of specific threads comparing Harvard with a full-ride option.

As for the politics thing, there have definitely been posts by people who want to go into politics, but admittedly they're harder to pull out via search. The usual response is: don't go to law school unless you want to be a lawyer, so don't go to law school to become a politician - actually work in politics instead.

Thanks nony

dont really understand why being british is a bad thing ITT

ilikebaseball wrote:dont really understand why being british is a bad thing ITT

Citizenship requirement.

I'm assuming you're straight through because your post infers (no offense) a pretty high level of ignorance. I'm also assuming you're not thinking that Harvard = better shot at becoming president. Before Obama was elected president, the last president to come out of Harvard law was Rutherford B. Hayes (all other Harvard presidents went there for undergrad, and you will have zero connections with Harvard College via the law school unless you went to Harvard for undergrad).

The reason Harvard is good for politics is because it's full of really talented people and it's a huge school (large future-donor base). That being said, you can just as easily find a huge future-donor base, or talented people, at Columbia or Georgetown (actually Georgetown will likely have the largest group of people going into politics).

Harvard is a great school, but going there for sticker means you will be working in big law for a couple years before you can even think about politics. If your question was Harvard for an additional 75k v. a school like Duke (or even Columbia) I think you could be justified in choosing Harvard. Other than that, for what you want to do, choosing Harvard (at sticker) over Columbia (and possibly even Georgetown) on a full ride is a bad choice.

Most politicians don't go to Harvard, or even law school for that matter. Don't take on that kind of debt based on some hazy idea that Harvard = politics. Be objective about how you will get from point A (law school) to point B (politics) before you make any kind of decision that will directly impact your ability to achieve your goals.

ilikebaseball wrote:dont really understand why being british is a bad thing ITT

It's not.

t14 full ride unless your parents are aristos paying full freight or harvard clears nearly all your tuition via need based aid. not much debate to be had.

koval wrote:I'm assuming you're straight through because your post infers (no offense) a pretty high level of ignorance. I'm also assuming you're not thinking that Harvard = better shot at becoming president. Before Obama was elected president, the last president to come out of Harvard law was Rutherford B. Hayes (all other Harvard presidents went there for undergrad, and you will have zero connections with Harvard College via the law school unless you went to Harvard for undergrad).

The reason Harvard is good for politics is because it's full of really talented people and it's a huge school (large future-donor base). That being said, you can just as easily find a huge future-donor base, or talented people, at Columbia or Georgetown (actually Georgetown will likely have the largest group of people going into politics).

Harvard is a great school, but going there for sticker means you will be working in big law for a couple years before you can even think about politics. If your question was Harvard for an additional 75k v. a school like Duke (or even Columbia) I think you could be justified in choosing Harvard. Other than that, for what you want to do, choosing Harvard (at sticker) over Columbia (and possibly even Georgetown) on a full ride is a bad choice.

Most politicians don't go to Harvard, or even law school for that matter. Don't take on that kind of debt based on some hazy idea that Harvard = politics. Be objective about how you will get from point A (law school) to point B (politics) before you make any kind of decision that will directly impact your ability to achieve your goals.

Forget about presidents. Take a look at the U.S. congress. Harvard lawyers are over-represented. I know that HLS doesn't translate directly into politics. But it seems like the social cachet of a HLS degree combined with Harvard's powerful alumni network gives you a head start for a career in politics.

I know there is no direct line to becoming a legislator-- there's more than one way to skin a cat. But it sure seems like HLS gives you an advantage.

ETA: love how much flak I got for going outside the standard American lexicon of colloquialisms.

Wahreit, you EDed. you're even dumber/less socially aware than me.

This is probably a premature thread. It's not worth considering imaginary HLS vs. imaginary scholarship before you have all your offers on the table, IMO.

I think low debt is probably the right way to go on this one though.

People on TLS are so anti-HLS. Why? It's a fucking great school. Everybody jumps on Yale's jockstrap, but roundly criticize people who choose HLS when in reality they are very comparable institutions. If debt aversion is such a priority, then YLS is no more justifiable than HLS.

Here are the facts: HLS and YLS put you in a better position to pursue unicorn jerbs. You have to honestly evaluate yourself and say whether these careers are realistic for you given your skill set. Whether it's fair or not, HLS connotes instant credibility with the average American who doesn't have the background to properly evaluate legal education (there's probably no difference in the education you receive at any top 10 school I imagine).

GordonFreeman wrote:People on TLS are so anti-HLS. Why? It's a fucking great school. Everybody jumps on Yale's jockstrap, but roundly criticize people who choose HLS when in reality they are very comparable institutions. If debt aversion is such a priority, then YLS is no more justifiable than HLS.

Here are the facts: HLS and YLS put you in a better position to pursue unicorn jerbs. You have to honestly evaluate yourself and say whether these careers are realistic for you given your skill set. Whether it's fair or not, HLS connotes instant credibility with the average American who doesn't have the background to properly evaluate legal education (there's probably no difference in the education you receive at any top 10 school I imagine).

If all you care about is layman prestige, go to Harvard.

Also, no SLS love?

lc39 wrote:

GordonFreeman wrote:People on TLS are so anti-HLS. Why? It's a fucking great school. Everybody jumps on Yale's jockstrap, but roundly criticize people who choose HLS when in reality they are very comparable institutions. If debt aversion is such a priority, then YLS is no more justifiable than HLS.

Here are the facts: HLS and YLS put you in a better position to pursue unicorn jerbs. You have to honestly evaluate yourself and say whether these careers are realistic for you given your skill set. Whether it's fair or not, HLS connotes instant credibility with the average American who doesn't have the background to properly evaluate legal education (there's probably no difference in the education you receive at any top 10 school I imagine).

If all you care about is layman prestige, go to Harvard.

Also, no SLS love?

SLS is solid. Don't think it's as conducive to my career aspirations.

Laymen are voters. So lay prestige matters.

Wahrheit wrote:Do laymen vote based on where you went to LS compared to the fact that you went to LS at all in a significant capacity?

Are you running for President?

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/201 ... f-congress

lol at me citing usnews