UMich $$ vs. Cornell $$ Forum

[nerdylsat]

International Applicant, Non-US Citizen. Cornell ends up being 10k more per year because its COA is higher.

Goal is Biglaw for a few years, then transitioning to something more chill, like an in-house gig.

Thoughts?

[jbagelboy]

The schools are peers; you can't go wrong. At that price gap just choose where you like better. Congrats

[S.Picquery]

Where do you want to practice your BL aspirations?

[runinthefront]

The schools are peers; you can't go wrong. At that price gap just choose where you like better. Congrats

Agreed. I would probably lean Michigan here, though, as I don't think the biglaw placement at Cornell justifies an additional $30k in loans (that's real money that has to be paid off eventually), and living in Ithaca vs Ann Arbor has similar pros/cons. Unlike you really hate AA, just go to Mich.

[Rigo]

If you want generic NYC biglaw, I'd probably do Cornell and try to live frugally to lower the difference. Or negotiate a little more to close the gap (unless we're already talking full rides at both).

Really can't go wrong here though so take QOL into consideration if you hate Ithaca or really like Ann Arbor or something. Congrats.

[nyu2019maybeplease]

Well done. Both great options.

If you'd like to be pitched on Michigan, let me know.

[Lincoln]

And if you'd like to be pitched on Cornell, let me know.

[LawDude88]

Go Blue!

Sorry...biased.

[Fiddlesticks]

I'd go Michigan, but both are great options.

[Lincoln]

In all honesty, when I was a 0L I really wanted Michigan and if I had been in your situation I would have taken Mich over Cornell without hesitation. I ended up not having that option, so I went to Cornell, and I haven't regretted it for an instant. PM me with any questions, but get ready for a hard sell.

[tuesdayninja]

Go blue. We have football.

[nerdylsat]

Hello all, and thank you for taking the time to reply. (I tried tagging everyone, sorry if I missed anyone.)

Anyways, my questions that remain are:

1. Cornell is more recognised in my home country due to being Ivy League, whereas Michigan isn't known as much. This isn't a huge concern of mine because at the end of the day I know I'll be vying for US firms anyway, but its still something to take into account.

2. I feel as though I would enjoy Michigan more because it seems more laid-back than Cornell, but Cornell has better BL placement. Is this something to take into account? Can i get into the same level of firms/jobs from both schools, same prestige, etc.? As a Non-US citizen, getting a job might be hard for me, so I need about as much help as I can get lol.

Just fyi, I have around a half a ride at both schools, not a full ride, for those of you that thought I did lol.

[hopefuljumbo23]

And if you'd like to be pitched on Cornell, let me know.

Same. I'm a 1L here and love it. PM me with any questions.

[S.Picquery]

Is there any way for you to go to accepted students weekends?

[mjb447]

What does it mean for a law school to be "laid back"?

[nerdylsat]

What does it mean for a law school to be "laid back"?

More laidback atmosphere, students are more laid back. Thats what I sense up until now atleast.

[nyu2019maybeplease]

The statistics you see online are what they are.

As to your first concern, if prestige back home matters to you, and you've determined Cornell is more known there, that might be something to think about. Only you can judge that.

As for big law placement: if you want to go to New York from here and do semi-decent, you should be able to. I know of one 3L who wants NY big law and has yet to secure a job, and that's in part because he worked elsewhere his 2L summer and then had personal reasons lead him to NYC. I imagine the same could be said of Cornell, although I'm less familiar.

As to "laid back": I don't know that we're more "laid back" than elsewhere (although I've only gone here). I do know that there is a strong sense of community. I would say that I've done well, even in the hard parts of 1L, in large part because of my classmates, and certainly not in spite of them. This is a team, and we want people to do as well as they can. This is not a school that tolerates students undermining each other.

All of those things may be true of Cornell as well. I do know that they have made Michigan a spectacular place for me. Picked here over NYU and don't regret it for a moment.

What does it mean for a law school to be "laid back"?

More laidback atmosphere, students are more laid back. Thats what I sense up until now atleast.

[ZVBXRPL]

International Applicant, Non-US Citizen. Cornell ends up being 10k more per year because its COA is higher.

Goal is Biglaw for a few years, then transitioning to something more chill, like an in-house gig.

Thoughts?

Can you pm stats please? I'm in similar position re $.