Penn$$ vs. NYU($?) For a Not-Super-Liberal Student Forum

[float55]

GPA: 3.95
LSAT: 169 with 1 (final!!!) retake

I was offered $25,000 per year from Penn. I don't know what NYU is going to offer me, but I expect them to offer me *some* money. I also expect to be able to avoid taking out loans since my family can front me the money (though we're not *rich,* so COA is still very much an important factor).

After I graduate, I want to work in Big Law, most likely in NYC. My long-term hope is to focus on defending civil liberties as a practicing attorney, and ideally as a public intellectual as well.

I *like* Penn more. I like that it has a campus. I suspect it would be relatively car-friendly (is that true??). But, most of all, I'm very nervous about the political atmosphere at NYU. I went to an extremely liberal college, and ended up with a pretty socially-debilitating reputation on campus as some kind of evil kook. I don't want to get into the politics too deeply here, but, basically, I'm very critical of the far left, especially when it comes to feminism and environmentalism. The only thing NYU really has going for it is that it's near my brother and parents.

So, I guess one way to ask it is: What's the minimum amount of money that NYU could offer me to make you think I should go there? Any input about differences in the two schools' ideological climates would also be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[Skump]

Your concern was about NYU, but I'll just go ahead and confirm Penn certainly isn't super liberal. The faculty might even lean conservative. At the very least, Penn has plenty of conservative/libertarian scholars. The Federalist Society is one of the more popular campus organizations, and its members are very well represented (disproportionately so) in the leadership of school's journals.

Bottom line: If you have a problem fitting in at Penn, it won't be because you're a conservative.

[zombie mcavoy]

GPA: 3.95
LSAT: 169 with 1 (final!!!) retake

I was offered $25,000 per year from Penn. I don't know what NYU is going to offer me, but I expect them to offer me *some* money. I also expect to be able to avoid taking out loans since my family can front me the money (though we're not *rich,* so COA is still very much an important factor).

After I graduate, I want to work in Big Law, most likely in NYC. My long-term hope is to focus on defending civil liberties as a practicing attorney, and ideally as a public intellectual as well.

I *like* Penn more. I like that it has a campus. I suspect it would be relatively car-friendly (is that true??). But, most of all, I'm very nervous about the political atmosphere at NYU. I went to an extremely liberal college, and ended up with a pretty socially-debilitating reputation on campus as some kind of evil kook. I don't want to get into the politics too deeply here, but, basically, I'm very critical of the far left, especially when it comes to feminism and environmentalism. The only thing NYU really has going for it is that it's near my brother and parents.

So, I guess one way to ask it is: What's the minimum amount of money that NYU could offer me to make you think I should go there? Any input about differences in the two schools' ideological climates would also be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Any public intellectual worth his salt could do better than a 169 on the LSAT.

[Clearly]

Don't pick your law school based on how much you hate feminism hth.

Also Philly is marginally more car friendly than NYU, but that isn't saying much and its certainly not a car friendly city.

Also, consider that its not your views that get you in trouble, but how closed minded you might be towards others views. I have a crazy libertarian friend who's quite well liked because he's willing to sit and listen and discuss alternatives with an open mind. There's a difference between being conservative, and hating liberals. The fact that you chose to express your views in terms of how much you hate the other side might explain why people think you're an "evil kook".

[03152016]

we pledge allegiance to george soros before every class
shitcons watch out

[Mack.Hambleton]

please tell me you're a gamergater lmao

[adil91]

GPA: 3.95
LSAT: 169 with 1 (final!!!) retake

I was offered $25,000 per year from Penn. I don't know what NYU is going to offer me, but I expect them to offer me *some* money. I also expect to be able to avoid taking out loans since my family can front me the money (though we're not *rich,* so COA is still very much an important factor).

After I graduate, I want to work in Big Law, most likely in NYC. My long-term hope is to focus on defending civil liberties as a practicing attorney, and ideally as a public intellectual as well.

I *like* Penn more. I like that it has a campus. I suspect it would be relatively car-friendly (is that true??). But, most of all, I'm very nervous about the political atmosphere at NYU. I went to an extremely liberal college, and ended up with a pretty socially-debilitating reputation on campus as some kind of evil kook. I don't want to get into the politics too deeply here, but, basically, I'm very critical of the far left, especially when it comes to feminism and environmentalism. The only thing NYU really has going for it is that it's near my brother and parents.

So, I guess one way to ask it is: What's the minimum amount of money that NYU could offer me to make you think I should go there? Any input about differences in the two schools' ideological climates would also be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Any public intellectual worth his salt could do better than a 169 on the LSAT.

What is a public intellectual? Like a TV political pundit? You don't have to have a score greater than 150 to be a Fox News pundit

[rpupkin]

After I graduate, I want to work in Big Law, most likely in NYC. My long-term hope is to focus on defending civil liberties as a practicing attorney, and ideally as a public intellectual as well.

Exit options into public intellectualism are much better for NYU grads.

[zombie mcavoy]

What is a public intellectual? Like a TV political pundit? You don't have to have a score greater than 150 to be a Fox News pundit

I was making fun of OP, obvs. I think people like Noam Chomsky or Walter Lippman are what most would consider public intellectuals.

Also: true. I think megyn kelly went to like long island or brooklyn law.

[chuckbass]

Just stopping by to say that if your family can front you $50-80k/yr, then yes, your family is rich hth.

[03152016]

What is a public intellectual? Like a TV political pundit? You don't have to have a score greater than 150 to be a Fox News pundit

I was making fun of OP, obvs. I think people like Noam Chomsky or Walter Lippman are what most would consider public intellectuals.

Also: true. I think megyn kelly went to like long island or brooklyn law.

good old long island law

[zombie mcavoy]

What is a public intellectual? Like a TV political pundit? You don't have to have a score greater than 150 to be a Fox News pundit

I was making fun of OP, obvs. I think people like Noam Chomsky or Walter Lippman are what most would consider public intellectuals.

Also: true. I think megyn kelly went to like long island or brooklyn law.

good old long island law

*albany law school.

[middlebear]

My long-term hope is to focus on defending civil liberties as a practicing attorney, and ideally as a public intellectual as well.

I *like* Penn more. I like that it has a campus. I suspect it would be relatively car-friendly (is that true??). But, most of all, I'm very nervous about the political atmosphere at NYU. I went to an extremely liberal college, and ended up with a pretty socially-debilitating reputation on campus as some kind of evil kook. I don't want to get into the politics too deeply here, but, basically, I'm very critical of the far left, especially when it comes to feminism and environmentalism. The only thing NYU really has going for it is that it's near my brother and parents.

So, I guess one way to ask it is: What's the minimum amount of money that NYU could offer me to make you think I should go there? Any input about differences in the two schools' ideological climates would also be much appreciated.

Two things (though I'm a fellow 0L, so all the usual disclaimers apply). "Defending civil liberties" sounds to me like PI, so just going off of what I remember from employment numbers, I would think NYU would be the far stronger option. Of course, either would get you NY BigLaw.

Other thing, like others have said - you're not going to be socially crippled because of your beliefs, you're going to be socially crippled if you're an ass about other peoples' beliefs. You shouldn't be making a massive investment (or at least, spending a massive amount of your parents' money) on a kneejerk decision made because of perceived leanings in either political direction.

[banjo]

Go wherever you get the most money.

[universityof]

Go wherever you get the most money.

You can't just ignore things like feminism when you make a decision like this

[middlebear]

Go wherever you get the most money.

You can't just ignore things like feminism when you make a decision like this

Well, we women are angry and demanding ridiculous things everywhere among the intellectual elite. Probably a wash.

[03152016]

tbh op if you're outspoken in your dislike of feminism and environmentalism you're probably not going to win any popularity contests no matter where you go

[LeeAdama]

2L at NYU here. Yes, NYU is liberal, but we have an active FedSoc and there's the Journal of Law & Liberty which is one of the few libertarian/conservative journals in the country. I wouldn't pick Penn over NYU over the political leanings of some of your classmates. However, Penn with $$ over NYU with nothing is a different story.

[transferror]

Should've copped that full ride at Baylor

[LochnerMonster]

NYU has Richard Epstein. 'nough said.

[Auxilio]

Just stopping by to say that if your family can front you $50-80k/yr, then yes, your family is rich hth.

I don't think that is really true, especially if it is coming out of their nominal retirement fund. As long as it is a loan, being able to give 150k is obviously rich.

[Aeon]

When selecting where to go among the top law schools at least, politics are a terrible way to make the decision. Every top school (like the legal profession at large) leans left, some more so than others, but there is a right-leaning contingent everywhere. Most people, regardless of political persuasion, are there to learn the law, not argue politics. So long as you aren't too quarrelsome, you'll be fine.

[chuckbass]

Just stopping by to say that if your family can front you $50-80k/yr, then yes, your family is rich hth.

I don't think that is really true, especially if it is coming out of their nominal retirement fund. As long as it is a loan, being able to give 150k is obviously rich.

You realize that your first and second statements are completely contradictory, yes?

Anyway you slice it, being able to pay that kind of dough makes you rich. Most Americans don't have much of a retirement fund fwiw.

[Nebby]

This is pretty lolly. "I want to do BigLaw in NYC but I'm purposefully avoiding the school that places better in NYC BigLaw because I'm a stauch social goober. Now back to Breitb4rt!"

[star fox]

Just go to Penn. Did you apply to Cornell btw?