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So I applied to transfer to Penn, NYU and Columbia. So far in at NYU and still awaiting Columbia (NYU over Penn so Penn is out). I was deadset on leaving until I did financial calculations.

I currently am getting $25k from Cornell. Factoring in the loss of that, accrued interest, plus COL in NYC, that comes out to, in simple terms, a lot of money. So now I would like to stay.

My issue is that I skipped the writing comp completely. I am wondering how bad this would look come interview time. I want litigation 100%. I was hoping for Cravath, Sullivan, Simpson, Davis Polk, or Paul Weiss. Thoughts?

Go.

Stay - Cornell v. NYU is not that big of difference for NY big law, especially with your grades. If you are a decent interviewee, you will get many many offers. You will be able to pick and choose. Congrats!

You can work on to a journal.

With your grades, I don't think journal matters. You will get multiple offers from your list - OCI interviewers will base their decision on your Cornell grades, not NYU. So, just transfer if you can't stand Ithaca. But besides that, I don't see why you would transfer.

Who would even apply to Penn/Columbia/NYU from top 10% at Cornell? If you want real prestige, HYS or bust.

Likely in at Columbia. Go.

Reasonable chance for Harvard.

Big mistake not to write-on for law review at Cornell. You'll be explaining that for awhile. If you stay, focus on making top 5%.

In regards to law review explanation: Just say the truth in interviews...you were intending to transfer, but then for some reason you didn't...With those grades, you do not need law review.

With those grades, you may lose out to another top 10% with law review. Go. Otherwise your decision to not write-on may seem foolish--especially since you were accepted to NYU. Either go or make top 5%.

P.S. Maybe you don't understand how competitive NYC biglaw is & how competitive NYC biglaw attorneys are. You risk being viewed as a wimp if you stay. Either go or make top 5%.

A top-10% "wimp" at Cornell will get almost any NY big firm he wants.

CanadianWolf wrote:With those grades, you may lose out to another top 10% with law review. Go. Otherwise your decision to not write-on may seem foolish--especially since you were accepted to NYU. Either go or make top 5%.

P.S. Maybe you don't understand how competitive NYC biglaw is & how competitive NYC biglaw attorneys are. You risk being viewed as a wimp if you stay. Either go or make top 5%.

How is your advice so consistently troll-like, even though I know you are serious?

I think the chances that you get one of your desired firms is pretty high -- I am summering at one of them and there are multiple people here from reasonably high in the class at Cornell but no Law Review. I am not sure how going to NYU would improve your odds, and I could frankly see it hurting in the short run.

Out of curiosity, why didn't you apply to Harvard?

You can get all of those firms from Cornell with your grades. Transferring will hurt your chances.

rayiner wrote:You can get all of those firms from Cornell with your grades. Transferring will hurt your chances.

This. Unless you can get Stanford or Yale.

@geepee: Do you really think that law review is not important for NYC biglaw ?

Also, how do you suggest that OP respond if asked about law review ?

Agree that OP should have applied to Harvard. If OP didn't ,then questionable judgment in light of not participating in the write-on.

CanadianWolf wrote:@geepee: Do you really think that law review is not important for NYC biglaw ?

Also, how do you suggest that OP respond if asked about law review ?

Agree that OP should have applied to Harvard. If OP didn't ,then questionable judgment in light of not participating in the write-on.

Plenty of people from Cornell without LR get firms listed by OP.

No, LR is not going to make or break anyone at any V10. Walking away from a scholly is not credited. Lean into the transfer schools for need-based aid if you think you can get it, but otherwise, stay put.

IAFG wrote:No, LR is not going to make or break anyone at any V10. Walking away from a scholly is not credited. Lean into the transfer schools for need-based aid if you think you can get it, but otherwise, stay put.

You don't know how bad Ithaca is.

@ajax: I understand. Just curious how geepee would respond if asked.

CanadianWolf wrote:@ajax: I understand. Just curious how geepee would respond if asked.

You honestly shouldn't be giving advice.

You told OP to raise his grades to top 5%? 1L is over. I don't even know how to interpret that.

Also you obviously know nothing about Cornell. LR write on grades is ~top 8%. He won't have much explaining to do since he wouldn't have graded on.

OP's original post in this thread stated that he missed the writing competition.

@ajax: Do you really believe that Cornell LR is limited to grade-on only ? You shouldn't be offering advice if you believe that.

P.S. @ajax: Reread OP's original post in this thread & you'll understand.

OP: You are a likely transfer admit to Columbia. If accepted, go.

If you remain at Cornell & are asked about LR, you risk being viewed as a wimp or a flake. Focus on the scholarship. As I wrote above, you risk losing out to other T-14 candidates with top 10% & law review.

Sure you can get NYC biglaw with your current class rank at Cornell, but you might lose out on some when competing with other top 10% & LR.

Did you apply to Harvard ?

P.S. Just looked at a few of ajaxconstructions earlier posts. Apparently ajax is a Cornell law student in the top 20% who decided not to do the write-on for Cornell's law review. Odd that ajax would now play dumb by suggesting that Cornell's law review is limited to the top 8% grade-ons.

CanadianWolf wrote:@geepee: Do you really think that law review is not important for NYC biglaw ?

Also, how do you suggest that OP respond if asked about law review ?

Agree that OP should have applied to Harvard. If OP didn't ,then questionable judgment in light of not participating in the write-on.

That's a straw man. I think that, with OP's grades and his class of target firms, no LR will not break his chances. Never did I say that it's not important in any circumstance. If OP was top 25% and didn't write on, I would think that's dumb.

Does Cornell have something like moot court or another litigation-based practice simulation that takes up significant time (clinical programs, etc.)? If so, just say you are 100% lit and wanted to do that instead of journal. I think if you come up with a reason that you didn't do the write on, the firms won't care.

ajaxconstructions wrote:Also you obviously know nothing about Cornell. LR write on grades is ~top 8%. He won't have much explaining to do since he wouldn't have graded on.

CanadianWolf wrote:P.S. Just looked at a few of ajaxconstructions earlier posts. Apparently ajax is a Cornell law student in the top 20% who decided not to do the write-on for Cornell's law review. Odd that ajax would now play dumb by suggesting that Cornell's law review is limited to the top 8% grade-ons.

CanadianWolf wrote:@ajax: Do you really believe that Cornell LR is limited to grade-on only ? You shouldn't be offering advice if you believe that.

This is not what ajax said. S/he merely stated that because only the top 8% or so grade on to LR, then the OP will not have to explain grading on then turning it down. The assumption being that people will think that OP participated in the write-on and merely didn't make it.

Anyway, not sure why OP didn't apply to at least H if not YSH. If looking only for biglaw than I would probably stay put. If looking for clerkships (or a very slim chance at academia) then transferring may be better.

CanadianWolf wrote:OP: You are a likely transfer admit to Columbia. If accepted, go.

If you remain at Cornell & are asked about LR, you risk being viewed as a wimp or a flake. Focus on the scholarship. As I wrote above, you risk losing out to other T-14 candidates with top 10% & law review.

Sure you can get NYC biglaw with your current class rank at Cornell, but you might lose out on some when competing with other top 10% & LR.

Did you apply to Harvard ?

P.S. Just looked at a few of ajaxconstructions earlier posts. Apparently ajax is a Cornell law student in the top 20% who decided not to do the write-on for Cornell's law review. Odd that ajax would now play dumb by suggesting that Cornell's law review is limited to the top 8% grade-ons.

I actually made LR, thanks though.