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Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 5:04 am
by Ohz888
Hello all,

I will graduate from a lowly undergrad university in December with a 3.8+ GPA. I've done six years in the military working intel. I have not taken the LSAT yet, goal is 170+.

One of my professors has invited me to attend a Math Finance class he will be teaching at Columbia this summer. This is very tempting for several reasons: the experience, the resume boost, and the actual content. Presumably, it will be far more challenging and far more rewarding than any class my university could offer.

The cost is steep: $11,000, for tuition, food, living expenses, flight. I can afford this, but again, it is steep.

My question: Will a summer class at Columbia bear any weight, or enhance my resume significantly enough, to turn a reject into an accept or waitlist at the Top 10, less Stanford and Berkeley? Does $11k outweigh the potential benefit?

Thank you.

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 5:41 am
by TAD
Not worth it. If it is as challenging as you say it is, you could be paying 11k to actually reduce your chances, as it may lower your GPA.

LSAT>GPA >>>all

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 6:04 am
by RedPurpleBlue
This is not worth $11k at all.

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:04 am
by Npret
No this will not help your admission.

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:44 am
by Rigo
If you're intent on law school, I wouldnt.
Why aren't you pursuing this other field you're interested in and going for a finance job?

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:12 am
by HYPSM
.

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 11:08 am
by Npret
HYPSM wrote:
Ohz888 wrote:Hello all,

I will graduate from a lowly undergrad university in December with a 3.8+ GPA. I've done six years in the military working intel. I have not taken the LSAT yet, goal is 170+.

One of my professors has invited me to attend a Math Finance class he will be teaching at Columbia this summer. This is very tempting for several reasons: the experience, the resume boost, and the actual content. Presumably, it will be far more challenging and far more rewarding than any class my university could offer.

The cost is steep: $11,000, for tuition, food, living expenses, flight. I can afford this, but again, it is steep.

My question: Will a summer class at Columbia bear any weight, or enhance my resume significantly enough, to turn a reject into an accept or waitlist at the Top 10, less Stanford and Berkeley? Does $11k outweigh the potential benefit?

Thank you.
I can absolutely guarantee taking classes at Columbia during the summer will NOT boost your resume in any way or form. I don't know why you're making this unfounded assumption. Anyone can take classes there in the summer; it's not selective or impressive whatsoever. Paying 11K for it would be asinine.
Seriously anyone can go.
Your GPA is stellar.
Study hard for LSAT Instead

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 11:47 am
by acr
HAHAHAHA 11K. Go backpacking across fucking Europe with that money man. Don't waste it on this shit that will do NOTHING for your chances.

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 12:40 pm
by HYPSM
.

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 3:25 pm
by Ohz888
Well alright then. I got duped. Glad I asked. Thank you.

Re: Undergrad: Summer Class at Columbia?

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:17 pm
by jbagelboy
HYPSM wrote:
Ohz888 wrote:Hello all,

I will graduate from a lowly undergrad university in December with a 3.8+ GPA. I've done six years in the military working intel. I have not taken the LSAT yet, goal is 170+.

One of my professors has invited me to attend a Math Finance class he will be teaching at Columbia this summer. This is very tempting for several reasons: the experience, the resume boost, and the actual content. Presumably, it will be far more challenging and far more rewarding than any class my university could offer.

The cost is steep: $11,000, for tuition, food, living expenses, flight. I can afford this, but again, it is steep.

My question: Will a summer class at Columbia bear any weight, or enhance my resume significantly enough, to turn a reject into an accept or waitlist at the Top 10, less Stanford and Berkeley? Does $11k outweigh the potential benefit?

Thank you.
I can absolutely guarantee taking classes at Columbia during the summer will NOT boost your resume in any way or form. I don't know why you're making this unfounded assumption. Anyone can take classes there in the summer; it's not selective or impressive whatsoever. Paying 11K for it would be asinine.
It could have a mild positive impact on applications in finance or consulting if the OP did well, so it's not strictly true that it has *no* impact on resume in the abstract. It will have no impact whatsoever on law school applications or any future career in law.