Harvard vs. NYU (Vanderbilt) vs. Columbia (Butler) Forum

[jt716]

Hi, looking for some input deciding between these options. Coming straight out of undergrad. I'm not interested in BigLaw-- I want to do a clerkship and then PI work (thinking either ACLU impact lit or USAO/NYCDA). Ideally I want to be a federal judge in the long-term. I know everyone on here tends to tell you to take the money and run, but wondering if the type of PI work I want to do and the fact that I personally would only be on the hook for ~50% of Harvard changes the calculus.

GPA 3.9, LSAT 178.

NYU- Vanderbilt (full tuition) but 60k debt for living expenses
Columbia- Butler (half tuition)
Harvard- sticker with family help (~50% covered)

[existentialcrisis]

NYU.

[UVA2B]

NYU.

[jrf12886]

I'd go with NYU given your goals. (unless you can somehow get more $ from CLS)

[ponderingmeerkat]

I would take the Vanderbilt and never, ever look back.

Yes, H might give you a slightly better shot at impact lit than NYU but it'll still be a very-outside chance. It's not as though a median bro (or even a top-25% gunner at H is crushing those SPLC/ALCU offers. So, you'd be, in essence, paying 150K for a intensely-marginal increase in opportunity for what is correctly called a "unicorn" opportunity. Don't bet the farm buying lottery tickets.

In contrast, with the Vanderbilt, you've got a 100% chance of low-to-no debt thereby giving you the freedom to go anywhere and do anything that your heart desires. Money becomes "no problem". So, you can take that career-building job that pays shit. You can follow your heart and help XXXXX cause/person/organization. Think about not only the quality of life that will build for you but also the "quality of career". All of a sudden, you can scoff at others making career choices based on money and focus on whatever niche or avenue will make the most impact and allow you to feel most fulfilled. Never underestimate that freedom.

[cavalier1138]

NYU.

[drjekyllope]

i'm a 0L but i've got debt from undergrad and let me tell you, debt is real and it is a shackle on your brain. go to NYU. their LRAP is dope and, like meerkat points out, you're gonna have similar career options as you would at H, but without the burden of giant debt holding you back.

go to NYU, be happy.

[Pure Applesauce]

full tuition from NYU is an amazing outcome--one of the best possible

take it

run

never look back

[RSN]

I'm pretty annoyed at Columbia for not giving you the Hamilton with those stats, but yes, NYU is the right call here. Did you get waitlisted at Yale?

[jt716]

I'm pretty annoyed at Columbia for not giving you the Hamilton with those stats, but yes, NYU is the right call here. Did you get waitlisted at Yale?

Haven't heard anything from Yale yet. I applied later in the cycle so maybe that's why I didn't get the Hamilton.

[Nebby]

NYU

[texasellewoods]

I had the exact same options --- I chose Harvard and feel like it was definitely the right choice. That being said, I want to settle in Texas and the Harvard name is incredibly powerful down there while NYU is like eh. I think the access to professors/guest speakers is a huge benefit to H. I have no interest in a clerkship so I don't know much about the relative strengths of the program, but I can't imagine H would be worse than NYU. The grading system here is BEAUTIFUL and I am legit never stressed about grades here which is a blessing as a 1L haha. Do not underestimate that feeling.
Taking the money is definitely a fantastic option, and I'm certainly not saying ignore that -- just know that most people at H had high money offers from other schools and all picked H, and the vast majority of people I know are very happy with that choice!

[Dr. Nefario]

Harvard's not even on the good side of the river. Go NYU.

[goldenbear2020]

Just curious why you'll have 50% of tuition covered at Harvard with family help but need to take on 60k COL debt at NYU?

[jt716]

Just curious why you'll have 50% of tuition covered at Harvard with family help but need to take on 60k COL debt at NYU?

Not a great reason really- it's covered by Stafford loans, and they think 60k debt is manageable on a PI income.

[Nebby]

I had the exact same options --- I chose Harvard and feel like it was definitely the right choice. That being said, I want to settle in Texas and the Harvard name is incredibly powerful down there while NYU is like eh. I think the access to professors/guest speakers is a huge benefit to H. I have no interest in a clerkship so I don't know much about the relative strengths of the program, but I can't imagine H would be worse than NYU. The grading system here is BEAUTIFUL and I am legit never stressed about grades here which is a blessing as a 1L haha. Do not underestimate that feeling.
Taking the money is definitely a fantastic option, and I'm certainly not saying ignore that -- just know that most people at H had high money offers from other schools and all picked H, and the vast majority of people I know are very happy with that choice!

Unless OP wants to work in Texas, nothing you've said has anything to offer other than a textbook example of Cambridge Syndrome

[Box11RowG]

You can't really go wrong here. Debt can be psychologically damaging but if you are certain about your career goals, you will likely be on LRAP for your entire loan repayment period. That being said, I would definitely go with NYU, and there's no way Columbia should be a contender at double the cost. Given your interests, NYU probably has the strongest curriculum, and PI impact litigation jobs will be just as open to you there as they would at HLS. I don't think those jobs are a long shot for anyone at these schools; they just take demonstrated and specific interest. (Grades matter much less.) Most PI opportunities of the kind you sound interested in will be more easily accessible out of NYU than Columbia. (For example, the ford foundation fellowship program is open to HYS student and NYU students only.)

Tl;dr: NYU is the right decision but HLS would be a good decision too.

[Pure Applesauce]

I had the exact same options --- I chose Harvard and feel like it was definitely the right choice. That being said, I want to settle in Texas and the Harvard name is incredibly powerful down there while NYU is like eh. I think the access to professors/guest speakers is a huge benefit to H. I have no interest in a clerkship so I don't know much about the relative strengths of the program, but I can't imagine H would be worse than NYU. The grading system here is BEAUTIFUL and I am legit never stressed about grades here which is a blessing as a 1L haha. Do not underestimate that feeling.
Taking the money is definitely a fantastic option, and I'm certainly not saying ignore that -- just know that most people at H had high money offers from other schools and all picked H, and the vast majority of people I know are very happy with that choice!

Ask yourself if this person is paying back and working debt yet