Columbia($) v. NYU($) v. Duke ($$) v. Cornell ($$$) Forum

[Sacred Cow]

Schools you are considering:

Columbia - 50k (178k COA)
NYU - 45k (172k COA)
Duke - 81k (136k COA)
Cornell - 135k (77k COA)
Georgetown - ???
Wisconsin - full ride+15k stipend
Also riding the waitlists at UChi and Harvard

My family will cover cost of living expenses, the rest will be loans. I sent negotiation emails to NYU and Duke, and I'll update if I hear anything. To me, Duke and Wisconsin seem to have the weakest offers so far, Wisconsin because I'm really aiming for T14 and Duke because it seems to fall in a bad middle zone where if I take the money, I'd go Cornell, and if I take higher ranking I'd pick Columbia/NYU. Not to mention that Duke's placement numbers really don't seem to be substantially different than Cornell's.

For a little about me, I have strong ties to Milwaukee, looser ties to Chicago. My unicorn goal is to work for a lit boutique like Susman/W&C, but I'm perfectly fine with general biglaw lit. I'm not really aiming to work in any particular part of the country.

Thanks for your input!

Update: Columbia offered 50k, and NYU didn't raise their offer.

[90convoy]

literally same dilemma as me. I will be watching this!

[LoganCouture]

I'd take Cornell but you should probably include total COA figures in your post.

[middlebear]

If you're cool working anywhere, and thus cool with NYC BigLaw, I'd say Cornell for sure.

[Mack.Hambleton]

easily cornell

[Sacred Cow]

I'd take Cornell but you should probably include total COA figures in your post.

Updated to include those for the ones I've heard back from

[BigZuck]

Cornell

[WeeBey]

Schools you are considering:

Columbia - ????. Still no word on financial aid yet, but I'm guessing not any more than what NYU gave me.
NYU - 45k (172k COA)
Duke - 81k (136k COA)
Cornell - 135k (77k COA)
Georgetown - ???
Wisconsin - full ride+15k stipend
Also riding the waitlists at UChi and Harvard

My family will cover cost of living expenses, the rest will be loans. I sent negotiation emails to NYU and Duke, and I'll update if I hear anything. To me, Duke and Wisconsin seem to have the weakest offers so far, Wisconsin because I'm really aiming for T14 and Duke because it seems to fall in a bad middle zone where if I take the money, I'd go Cornell, and if I take higher ranking I'd pick Columbia/NYU. Not to mention that Duke's placement numbers really don't seem to be substantially different than Cornell's.

For a little about me, I have strong ties to Milwaukee, looser ties to Chicago. My unicorn goal is to work for a lit boutique like Susman/W&C, but I'm perfectly fine with general biglaw lit. I'm not really aiming to work in any particular part of the country.

Thanks for your input!

According to LST, Cornell average 66.2% in Biglaw and Fed Clerkships over the last 2 years, whereas Duke averaged 62%.

Especially since you have no preference of where you wanna work, take Cornell.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Cornell by far
Wisconsin if you want to work in the state
Duke

NYU way too much money for the value of the degree

[CanadianWolf]

OP: Talk to the Deans at Wisconsin. See if they can set you up with a prestigious, career enhancing paid 1L summer placement.

Otherwise, Cornell looks good unless accepted to Harvard or Chicago. Then repost.