Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL Forum

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candleash

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Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by candleash » Mon May 09, 2022 9:09 am

As title says! I've been struggling between the two immensely... Your reasoning will be most helpful, thank you!

crazywafflez

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by crazywafflez » Mon May 09, 2022 10:10 am

I'd personally take Vandy. I think it just places better overall and if you want NYC you'll be able to snag it from Vandy. Plus, Nashville is cheaper. I certainly see an argument for Fordham, but I jsut think Vandy gets you BL, and maybe not NYC, whereas, Fordham gets you NYC but maybe not BL. That's a lot of debt to not get BL.

talons2250

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by talons2250 » Mon May 09, 2022 10:44 am

To swing NYC biglaw from Fordham, you'll need to get very high grades. You have a bit more insurance at Vandy to get lower grades and still achieve biglaw, if not in NYC then almost certainly in the south where the Vanderbilt name has cachet. It's really hard to tell how you will ultimately do in your first year of law school because of the curve. So I would go with Vandy.

candleash

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by candleash » Mon May 09, 2022 12:05 pm

Thank you for your replies! Just a little more information. I'm currently living in NYC with a degree from Columbia University. Not sure if that matters in job selection, but I'm fairly all-around NYC and pretty set on going to NYC, albeit NYC Big Law.

I understand Vandy has better BL numbers while Fordham has better NYC numbers. But when it comes to "NYC BL", I feel like the competition becomes much fierce.

I often hear the importance of networking as well, though as of right now I don't quite understand how being in NYC vs emailing lawyers in Tennessee will affect my networking capabilities (perhaps in the alumni, I suppose?)

crazywafflez

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by crazywafflez » Mon May 09, 2022 12:12 pm

If you've got a strong NYC portfolio, I think you'll have little trouble coming back with a Vandy degree. With the updated info, I more strongly lean towards Vandy than previously stated. Just make sure to do your summers in NYC.

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talons2250

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by talons2250 » Mon May 09, 2022 12:29 pm

Is re-taking the LSAT and applying in a later cycle an option? Presumably, the recent inflation in LSAT scores will dissipate at some point, and Columbia, NYU, or Cornell could become a viable option for you down the road.

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cavalier1138

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by cavalier1138 » Mon May 09, 2022 12:52 pm

If you are "biglaw or bust," then the correct answer here is likely that you should retake the LSAT and reapply.

Vanderbilt is certainly a "better" choice here, but if you aren't comfortable with your non-biglaw options from that school, then you shouldn't go.

BEng,MBA,FRM,JD(?)

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by BEng,MBA,FRM,JD(?) » Mon May 09, 2022 2:28 pm

Would go with vandy! It's BL+FC numbers are better than at least a few t-14s and I don't see how vandy median won't get you generic NYC biglaw even if the economy isn't as good as it is now.

BasedCii

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by BasedCii » Sun May 22, 2022 11:46 pm

cavalier1138 wrote:
Mon May 09, 2022 12:52 pm
If you are "biglaw or bust," then the correct answer here is likely that you should retake the LSAT and reapply.

Vanderbilt is certainly a "better" choice here, but if you aren't comfortable with your non-biglaw options from that school, then you shouldn't go.
Thoughts on Vandy's 2021 250+ BL/FC rate? (69%). Given that no other T20 has risen as nearly as much, what do you think caused this? Also, Vanderbilt c/o 2024 size is 154 compared to the typical 180-200. Do you think this will have a material impact on outcomes?

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The Lsat Airbender

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by The Lsat Airbender » Mon May 23, 2022 12:07 am

BasedCii wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 11:46 pm
cavalier1138 wrote:
Mon May 09, 2022 12:52 pm
If you are "biglaw or bust," then the correct answer here is likely that you should retake the LSAT and reapply.

Vanderbilt is certainly a "better" choice here, but if you aren't comfortable with your non-biglaw options from that school, then you shouldn't go.
Thoughts on Vandy's 2021 250+ BL/FC rate? (69%). Given that no other T20 has risen as nearly as much, what do you think caused this? Also, Vanderbilt c/o 2024 size is 154 compared to the typical 180-200. Do you think this will have a material impact on outcomes?
Bolded largely answers the question in the previous sentence.

BasedCii

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Re: Vanderbilt $$ vs Fordham $$ for NYC BL

Post by BasedCii » Mon May 23, 2022 3:36 pm

The Lsat Airbender wrote:
Mon May 23, 2022 12:07 am
BasedCii wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 11:46 pm
cavalier1138 wrote:
Mon May 09, 2022 12:52 pm
If you are "biglaw or bust," then the correct answer here is likely that you should retake the LSAT and reapply.

Vanderbilt is certainly a "better" choice here, but if you aren't comfortable with your non-biglaw options from that school, then you shouldn't go.
Thoughts on Vandy's 2021 250+ BL/FC rate? (69%). Given that no other T20 has risen as nearly as much, what do you think caused this? Also, Vanderbilt c/o 2024 size is 154 compared to the typical 180-200. Do you think this will have a material impact on outcomes?
Bolded largely answers the question in the previous sentence.
Right but their c/o 2021 with the ridiculous employment outcomes had 192 students. Wondering if the decrease makes Vandy a better value proposition employment-wise.

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