Cornell $ vs. Georgetown $$ Forum

[feefeeriri]

So I can't decide where to go and I am coming to you guys for help!

I received $142,500 at Georgetown and $105,000 at Cornell.

I want to work in biglaw in NYC and clerk for a year.

I know Cornell has better placement for biglaw in the NYC market, but Georgetown's location is more appealing to me and I'm not sure if their low employment is because everyone tries to get into biglaw in DC or if they actually just suck at placing in NYC. Need some input on this. Am I looking at more competition at Georgetown for an NYC job based on their large class size?

I visited Ithaca and I just don't see myself there due to the isolation. But I am willing to go if it is the better overall choice. I'm also feeling hesitant of denying such a large scholly from Georgetown. Cornell denied my request to reconsider so they will not up their offer.

Thanks!

[UVA2B]

Cornell is the safer choice for your goals, and the difference in cost probably shouldn't dissuade you. GULC lags behind in placement for a number of reasons, and they can place you in NYC Biglaw.

Only you can say how much the isolation of Ithaca will affect you, but absent serious psychological concerns, go to Cornell with that scholarship.

[feefeeriri]

Does anyone have a clear answer as to why GULC's employment score is 67% according to LST? It appears that people have speculated that 1) it's because of size: bottom half below median struggle to find jobs since the class size is so large plus there are about 100 people transferring from a non top law school who may have trouble finding jobs 2) people want to work in DC and the D.C market is saturated from people from the other top law schools who want to work in DC and the fact that Gtown is in DC doesn't give it any home advantage at all because all the other schools target DC as well 3) some people go for prestigious government or political positions that are extremely competitive

Are these basically the reasons? Also when are this year's employment stats coming out/have they already come out?

[Lavitz]

Does anyone have a clear answer as to why GULC's employment score is 67% according to LST? It appears that people have speculated that 1) it's because of size: bottom half below median struggle to find jobs since the class size is so large plus there are about 100 people transferring from a non top law school who may have trouble finding jobs 2) people want to work in DC and the D.C market is saturated from people from the other top law schools who want to work in DC and the fact that Gtown is in DC doesn't give it any home advantage at all because all the other schools target DC as well 3) some people go for prestigious government or political positions that are extremely competitive

Are these basically the reasons? Also when are this year's employment stats coming out/have they already come out?

Sounds like you need someone from GULC to answer this question. Try asking here: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 4&t=253271

And this year's stats are coming out now. Cornell is out, but not yet GULC: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=276222

[SUPERCHEF]

So I can't decide where to go and I am coming to you guys for help!

I received $142,500 at Georgetown and $105,000 at Cornell.

I want to work in biglaw in NYC and clerk for a year.

I know Cornell has better placement for biglaw in the NYC market, but Georgetown's location is more appealing to me and I'm not sure if their low employment is because everyone tries to get into biglaw in DC or if they actually just suck at placing in NYC. Need some input on this. Am I looking at more competition at Georgetown for an NYC job based on their large class size?

I visited Ithaca and I just don't see myself there due to the isolation. But I am willing to go if it is the better overall choice. I'm also feeling hesitant of denying such a large scholly from Georgetown. Cornell denied my request to reconsider so they will not up their offer.

Thanks!

Cornell

[Npret]

What is your actual debt at repayment from each school?

[Rigo]

I know Ithaca is probably the most off-putting of all T13 locations, but I'd go Cornell here given your goals. It's only 3 years and I'm sure your new friendships will get you through the isolation factor and it won't be that bad.

[ponderingmeerkat]

Pretty sure I'd take Cornell here as well. Don't think you're wrong if you choose GULC but Cornell is better given your goals.

[rpupkin]

Cornell for your goals. There is a theoretical cost-savings-level where I'd say go to GULC instead, but you're probably $20K - $30K away from that point.

[Tiago Splitter]

I don't think there's anything wrong with choosing GULC here as GULC tuition is 4K a year less in addition to the extra scholly money. Still, the best bet is to suck it up and take Cornell.

[feefeeriri]

What is your actual debt at repayment from each school?

Total debt at repayment is 186k at Cornell and 148k at Georgetown.

[feefeeriri]

I don't think there's anything wrong with choosing GULC here as GULC tuition is 4K a year less in addition to the extra scholly money. Still, the best bet is to suck it up and take Cornell.

Cornell for your goals.

Pretty sure I'd take Cornell here as well. Don't think you're wrong if you choose GULC but Cornell is better given your goals.

but I'd go Cornell here given your goals.

Thanks everyone for your input. So I do want to do biglaw in NYC but I may switch into public interest later on or a job with better hours and accordingly a lower salary. I'm not sure of this path yet but does that change anything? Lower salary would equate to a longer time to pay off my debt so I'm feeling debt averse here. I don't think I will last in biglaw forever.

[Rigo]

What is your actual debt at repayment from each school?

Total debt at repayment is 186k at Cornell and 148k at Georgetown.

Try to get at least $15k more from Cornell through negotiations.
Also live frugally in Ithaca. And you'll have 2L SA money unless you're a total lemon.

It's expensive but it could work out where you'd graduate closer to $120-130k in the red.

[Roose]

Regarding a potential switch to public interest, I believe you would then qualify for Cornell's LRAP, which would cover your payments for 10 years (assuming you make under 75,000) until you receive loan forgiveness.

[feefeeriri]

What is your actual debt at repayment from each school?

Total debt at repayment is 186k at Cornell and 148k at Georgetown.

Try to get at least $15k more from Cornell through negotiations.
Also live frugally in Ithaca. And you'll have 2L SA money unless you're a total lemon.

It's expensive but it could work out where you'd graduate closer to $120-130k in the red.

Yeah I totally screwed up in negotiations because I got an email from Gtown offering me $35k and I thought that was it so I went ahead and negotiated with Cornell to up their offer and they said no. 1 day later Gtown emails me giving me the Opportunity Scholarship which totaled to the $47k a year. I tried telling Cornell that I thought Gtown's $35k was the final offer and if they can look at it again but they said I only get one request for reconsideration and denied me.

[feefeeriri]

Regarding a potential switch to public interest, I believe you would then qualify for Cornell's LRAP, which would cover your payments for 10 years (assuming you make under 75,000) until you receive loan forgiveness.

So I can qualify even if I accept a biglaw job and work there for a few years? I always thought that I have to commit to public interest while in/straight out of law school for LRAP.

[Rigo]

Eh I'd still go back to them again.
I think the new hardline policies on negotiation are really just flame and if they want to lock you in, they'll play ball.

[Npret]

Regarding a potential switch to public interest, I believe you would then qualify for Cornell's LRAP, which would cover your payments for 10 years (assuming you make under 75,000) until you receive loan forgiveness.

So I can qualify even if I accept a biglaw job and work there for a few years? I always thought that I have to commit to public interest while in/straight out of law school for LRAP.

You have to read each plan. Your understanding is incorrect for some schools and they allow people to move into PI.
I don't see anything where Cornell allows you to enter LRAP later unless you have a clerkship deferral. You need to find out because the info online is scarce. Also the income cap is $80,000.

http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admiss ... lan-II.cfm

[feefeeriri]

Eh I'd still go back to them again.
I think the new hardline policies on negotiation are really just flame and if they want to lock you in, they'll play ball.

Trying to think of a way to phrase my next email after being rejected two times.."SOOO I know you told me I only get one request and you told me this twice but..." If anyone has a good idea on how to politely request this please PM me

[Npret]

FWIW Georgetown seems to give you two years to apply, but it isn't clear if that allows you to do biglaw private practice and then switch.


https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... -Apply.cfm

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... AP-III.cfm

But obviously I am only posting links here. Neither school seems to expressly allow you to move from private practice to LRAP as other plans will, but it is absolutely not clear.

You need to email and find out!

[Tiago Splitter]

FWIW Georgetown seems to give you two years to apply, but it isn't clear if that allows you to do biglaw private practice and then switch.


https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... -Apply.cfm

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... AP-III.cfm

But obviously I am only posting links here. Neither school seems to expressly allow you to move from private practice to LRAP as other plans will, but it is absolutely not clear.

You need to email and find out!

LRAP is helpful but you could always keep the loans federal and then just do your ten years of PAYE if you switch to PI/Gov. Agree it still makes sense to look into the differences.

[Npret]

FWIW Georgetown seems to give you two years to apply, but it isn't clear if that allows you to do biglaw private practice and then switch.


https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... -Apply.cfm

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... AP-III.cfm

But obviously I am only posting links here. Neither school seems to expressly allow you to move from private practice to LRAP as other plans will, but it is absolutely not clear.

You need to email and find out!

LRAP is helpful but you could always keep the loans federal and then just do your ten years of PAYE if you switch to PI/Gov. Agree it still makes sense to look into the differences.

But the school will pay the loans for them if they qualify. Or rather give them the money to pay their loans.

[Tiago Splitter]

FWIW Georgetown seems to give you two years to apply, but it isn't clear if that allows you to do biglaw private practice and then switch.


https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... -Apply.cfm

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... AP-III.cfm

But obviously I am only posting links here. Neither school seems to expressly allow you to move from private practice to LRAP as other plans will, but it is absolutely not clear.

You need to email and find out!

LRAP is helpful but you could always keep the loans federal and then just do your ten years of PAYE if you switch to PI/Gov. Agree it still makes sense to look into the differences.

But the school will pay the loans for them if they qualify. Or rather give them the money to pay their loans.

Right, but usually just enough to make PAYE payments. On 60k a year that's a few hundred bucks a month.

[Npret]

FWIW Georgetown seems to give you two years to apply, but it isn't clear if that allows you to do biglaw private practice and then switch.


https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... -Apply.cfm

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... AP-III.cfm

But obviously I am only posting links here. Neither school seems to expressly allow you to move from private practice to LRAP as other plans will, but it is absolutely not clear.

You need to email and find out!

LRAP is helpful but you could always keep the loans federal and then just do your ten years of PAYE if you switch to PI/Gov. Agree it still makes sense to look into the differences.

But the school will pay the loans for them if they qualify. Or rather give them the money to pay their loans.

Right, but usually just enough to make PAYE payments. On 60k a year that's a few hundred bucks a month.

Thanks! I honestly never calculated it. Paying so little on so much debt is crazy to me.
I guess a few hundred is better than nothing.

[feefeeriri]

FWIW Georgetown seems to give you two years to apply, but it isn't clear if that allows you to do biglaw private practice and then switch.


https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... -Apply.cfm

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissio ... AP-III.cfm

But obviously I am only posting links here. Neither school seems to expressly allow you to move from private practice to LRAP as other plans will, but it is absolutely not clear.

You need to email and find out!

Cornell's response: You would qualify for our LRAP program (PILIPP II) as long as you are in qualifying employment and under the income cap. You may participate in the PILIPP II program for a maximum of 10 non consecutive years.