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Need to make decision today to either mail deposit to Penn or go to Columbia. Also, still waiting on HLS but that is a gamble and a half. Also, want to be in NYC firm for a few years after graduation and to clerk, long-term would like public interest or academia as option.

My current pros for Penn are: less expensive city to live in, seems like happier student body, smaller
Columbia pros: Ranking (minimal difference), LRAP is insane, It's COLUMBIA

What is your gut feeling?! I am so confused and freaking out. TLS, help a girl out!

If I was in your situation. 100% Columbia for long term and short term reasons

What reasons? I'm really stressing about the finances, and also the general happiness of the students. Penn seems to win on both despite rankings.

Columbia, though I'd wait to hear from HLS.

Given that you mention Columbia's great LRAP, how much does the cheaper CoA at Penn really matter?

As to people: There will be happy people and stressed out people at both locations. I wouldn't sweat it.

Columbia gets a bad rap for some reason, but it's not substantially better or worse than any other T14(at least from what I have heard).

ETA: you're right though, housing is stupid expensive.

Go to CLS. The point of Penn v. NYC being a bit cheaper to live doesn't have much relevance for me... a Biglaw job will pay off the difference in your rent over the years in like 3 weeks.

If you want to live and work in NYC, Columbia is a pretty obvious choice.

Housing is more expensive, but the university owned and provided housing options mitigate the cost differential.

Columbia is easily worth the whatever few thousand for a new york based attorney.

You can get NYC biglaw from both. As far as housing, university owned isn't going to "mitigate the difference." Cheapest thing to do would be to commute in from the Bronx, which is doable.

whatwhatinthebutt wrote:You can get NYC biglaw from both.

Sure, you can get big law from both. Hell, if OP has the 1L grades to transfer to either Penn or CLS, OP can probably get NYC big law from his or her current law school. But the question is which school gives you the best options for NYC big law. And I think CLS is a little better than Penn in that regard.

whatwhatinthebutt wrote:You can get NYC biglaw from both. As far as housing, university owned isn't going to "mitigate the difference." Cheapest thing to do would be to commute in from the Bronx, which is doable.

I said mitigate, not erase.

And obviously commuting from lower COL boroughs would reduce rental costs, but that's beside the point and not a realistic option for law students that want to engage with their community or persons not very familiar with the city.

What is your point

lawtransfer2016 wrote:If I was in your situation. 100% Columbia for long term and short term reasons

+1

I xferd to CLS, OP. You should too

The Columbia campus might have been the final factor - so beautiful. CLS here I come, feeling pretty lucky to have had such a great decision to make. Thanks for all your advice!