Transfer: Harvard or Yale? (Interested in elected office) Forum

[prncaspian3]

If I were in this position, I would just give more credit to the differences in immediate opportunities at either school, rather than focusing on something less concrete like differences in networking opportunities and how these might affect your ability to wage an effective campaign.

True this. The nebulous circumstances of a future election, in a place we don't know, renders moot any notion that Harvard is "the" choice over Yale because of great networking and current representation in Congress (despite the fact that Yale has those, too). There's plenty of good reasons to go to either school, but as far as helping him into elective office is concerned, Harvard's edge is probably illusory.

[Lonagan]

OP is transferring from another law school and is concerned about the relative public images of Yale and Harvard? If anyone even cares where you went to law school, the following conversation will take place, regardless of which of these you choose.

"I think I'll vote for JamesHowlett. S/He went to Yarvard Law!"

"yeah, but he had to transfer there from the University of Virgimichipennsylberkenewyorkchicagcolumbistanford. He couldn't get in to Yarvard the first time around."

Because this conversation will take place, it doesn't matter which school you choose.

[ToTransferOrNot]

People are seriously saying that because the networking at Harvard MIGHT be a little better, this guy should turn Yale down?

God, people are stupid on the internet somtimes. There are reasons to go to Harvard over Yale, but the better networking for BIGPOLITICS isn't one of them.

[mallard]

People are seriously saying that because the networking at Harvard MIGHT be a little better, this guy should turn Yale down?

God, people are stupid on the internet somtimes. There are reasons to go to Harvard over Yale, but the better networking for BIGPOLITICS isn't one of them.

Yeah, no, I'm not stupid, and this guy wants to do BIGPOLITICS, so that's what we're thinking about.

[ToTransferOrNot]

People are seriously saying that because the networking at Harvard MIGHT be a little better, this guy should turn Yale down?

God, people are stupid on the internet somtimes. There are reasons to go to Harvard over Yale, but the better networking for BIGPOLITICS isn't one of them.

Yeah, no, I'm not stupid, and this guy wants to do BIGPOLITICS, so that's what we're thinking about.

Seriously, Mallard, you're smarter than this. Two years as a transfer at H vs Y is not going to mean a darned thing for his political career. On the other hand, the difference between Yale and Harvard could mean a lot for his legal career, particularly because he could get YLR--and a distinguished legal career could possibly help him flip some connections in to a political run.

There are reasons to pick Harvard over Yale as a transfer, but this is seriously not in the ballpark.

[iagolives]

Yeah, I'm going to have to say that I don't think it matters much one way or another. I mean, I don't think that the average voter cares. Assuming there will still be war/economic issues when OP becomes pres (which, given our nation's trajectory is fair), I think that a person's harvard/yale pedigree won't matter either way. People will be focusing on their jobs, their mortgages, etc more then which elite law school the person went to.

As to the rich people connections thing, I think there are still plenty of rich people at YLS. Also, given how YLS seems to make "non-competativeness" almost a nirvana like thing to be obtained, I think it is more likely you won't make as many enemies at YLS as you would at HLS and people would probably remember you more because YLS is smaller.

I mean, I guess what I'm saying OP is, in the end, go to which school makes you happiest. There are plenty of very big differences between YLS and HLS, political aspirations I don't think at one of them. You'll be well on your way either way.

[northwood]

go where you want to go, or to which school you like the best. IF Yale makes you happy, go there. If harvard makes your world twirl, go there. Either one is a good choice.
if you want to be elected into office, you need to start in local government, then work your way up to national government. It doesnt really make much of a difference in the publics eye where you went ( since the public thinks your a egotistical sob whos only in it for yourself) to school. They only care about your views and the rosy picture of things you say you are going to do in office, not about the name of your school. Actually, you should go miitary. the public likes officials who serve. ( and if you are a "war hero" your political party will have an easier time backing you up and helping with your campaign)

[northwood]

..

[JamesHowlett]

Thanks for all the responses. I am visiting Yale later this week, then I will make my decision.

[JamesHowlett]

Hello TLS,

Thanks for all of your advice. I particularly found Mallard's and dbt's comments helpful.

I visited both schools and decided to go with Yale. If my decision were solely based on politics, I do think that Harvard would be the smarter choice for the exact reasons that Mallard highlighted (larger class size = more connections, more stay in big law which means big $$). I agree with dbt, though, that the potential difference is so small and elusive that other factors should weigh more heavily. I am interested in clerking too, so being able to write-on to YLJ is a big plus, although I am making my decision assuming that I am not going to write-on. In the end, I decided on Y because I like the small school community better than the law school city (both of which have great virtues).

In the alternative, I based my decision solely on the TLS poll.

Thanks again for all the comments.

OP