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Born and raised in NY and currently @ a T3 in NY. I'm currently in at Fordham and GULC. I know the obvious choice is to choose GULC but strong personal reasons are tying me to NY, plus im still waiting to hear my fate at NYU/Columbia. Would choosing Fordham over GULC be a big mistake? If so, should I suck it up and move to DC now with both decisions at NYU/Columbia still looming? I predict by the time I hear back from NYU/Columbia, classes would be right around the corner and I would have to relocate from NYC to DC in a matter of days. I really want to stay in NY and Fordham seems like a phenomenal opportunity but in the back of my mind I'm scared to give up GULC. My goal is NYC big law and I hear Fordham places really well in NYC big law. My target market is 100% NYC regardless on my big law chances.

:: Edit to add poll

I've heard that Fordham does not let transfers do OCI. You should check into this. However, and regardless, I would choose GULC. As a transfer, I think you would have a better chance at NYC biglaw coming from there. Everyone at Fordham is trying to get NYC biglaw, and firms are only taking from the top of the class. I'm not sure how much better it is at GULC, but at least you have the name.

I'd pick GULC. Like the prior poster said, everyone at fordam wants NYC and ITE only the top of the class is geting NYC biglaw. Anecdotally at least, GULC students last year who bid at NYC did alright because the vast majority of GULC people want DC.

I'd look into fordam's OCI. I know at GULC you can only expect 6-10 interviews, but fordam might be worse. GULC also has had, at least in the past, had a pretty healthy showing from NYC firms. HTH.

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bwv812 wrote:Coming from a T3, I would suspect that neither would be great for NYC biglaw placement. I don't know how OCI at Georgetown will work since the bid deadline has passed (although there apparently is some sort of backdoor). Regardless, you may well get more interviews at Fordham (which is entirely preselect) than the 6-10 you might get at GULC. Yes, GULC did better in NYC than DC last year (both in terms of # of interviews and offers), but DC was tough for everyone, and I would rely on this to mean that NYC is a safe bet.

Given your goals, Fordham probably isn't a terrible choice, but if you're using it's proximity to NYU/CLS and the possibility of getting in there as a major consideration, I think that the chances of getting in there at this juncture are quite slim as I think HYSCCN have all admitted transfers already.

Quite a broad statement. NYU and Columbia said they will be making decisions into August (admissions offices both told me).

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NYU and Columbia have told me over the phone that they will be admitting transfers into mid-August. Even Harvard apparently still has some on their waitlist.

rynabrius wrote:NYU and Columbia have told me over the phone that they will be admitting transfers into mid-August. Even Harvard apparently still has some on their waitlist.

That's rather interesting given that the deadline for EIP bidding has passed. They must have some sort of backdoor policy for late comers, then. I wonder how it affects numbers of interviews late-comers are able to receive, however.

dresden doll wrote:That's rather interesting given that the deadline for EIP bidding has passed. They must have some sort of backdoor policy for late comers, then. I wonder how it affects numbers of interviews late-comers are able to receive, however.

At least at NYU, they reserve a given number of slots from each employer and then do a seperate lottery in late august for transfers. I was told to expect 20-25 interviews. I was also told that in past years, transfers regularly outperformed regular NYU students in getting callbacks and offers.

so I already knew the overwhelming majority would obviously say GULC, however, would i be making a mistake turning down GULC for Fordham or are they somewhat comparable in terms of prestige and respect if i stay in NYC? i guess im asking if i will be respected amongst my NYC peers being a fordham alumnus. i know the name on your JD means a lot in the legal community and i dont want to forever regret my decision.

I say GULC.

prlewis wrote:I know the obvious choice is to choose GULC but strong personal reasons are tying me to NY, plus im still waiting to hear my fate at NYU/Columbia. Would choosing Fordham over GULC be a big mistake? If so, should I suck it up and move to DC now with both decisions at NYU/Columbia still looming? I predict by the time I hear back from NYU/Columbia, classes would be right around the corner and I would have to relocate from NYC to DC in a matter of days.

megaTTTron wrote:I say GULC.

mega, can i get a little something more than this?

You want Biglaw. If you go to Fordham am strike out at NYC biglaw you're hosed. But if you're at Gtown your degree will have more reach and you will have more options. I know "NYC is your only option" but realistically, you are safer at Gtown. NYU/ Columbia would be no brainers though if you got in.

That's just what I would do. And I fucking love Fordham.