Columbia Class of 2017 Forum

[esperanto]

I have called Columbia several times until today (it's NYU deadline..) but still have not received
my aid package yet. It's a little frustrating, but I was quite commited to Columbia after attending ASW
so I decided to let go of NYU scholarship. I visited both schools and have friends attending both
institutions, so I think I had a good chance to compare 2 schools.


I met more than 5 people paying the full price during the ASW. (yes.. I asked everyone if they were
willing to pay the full price because I was worried about being asked to pay sticker price to attend)
Life upon graduation would really depend on their family's contribution to their education, but all of the people
I met said it was worth it. I specifically asked whether to choose Columbia over NYU with the amount of scholarship
I'd be getting from NYU (It's not a whole lot of money, but it helps)

Then again, their opinion could be biased, and they could've said that because they took into consideration
my interest in corporate law.

[jbagelboy]

I have called Columbia several times until today (it's NYU deadline..) but still have not received
my aid package yet. It's a little frustrating, but I was quite commited to Columbia after attending ASW
so I decided to let go of NYU scholarship. I visited both schools and have friends attending both
institutions, so I think I had a good chance to compare 2 schools.


I met more than 5 people paying the full price during the ASW. (yes.. I asked everyone if they were
willing to pay the full price because I was worried about being asked to pay sticker price to attend)
Life upon graduation would really depend on their family's contribution to their education, but all of the people
I met said it was worth it. I specifically asked whether to choose Columbia over NYU with the amount of scholarship
I'd be getting from NYU (It's not a whole lot of money, but it helps)

Then again, their opinion could be biased, and they could've said that because they took into consideration
my interest in corporate law.

One of the repeat problems I've witnessed in the sticker discussion is that older attorneys, and even people from C/O 2013, attended when borrowing sticker did not mean what it means today. Columbia tuition broke $50,000 for the first time in 2011-2012. So if you enrolled in 2010, you were paying <$50K tuition, maybe $68-70K total per year. Even borrowing the max that's barely $250K. Still a shocking amount, but most people got a modest $30-50K grant and could get their "near sticker" cost to around $200K. I still think $200K is a pretty reasonable price for a school like Columbia; a lot of recent grads and even a few 3Ls might tell you they paid "sticker or near sticker" on loans but this is the ballpark they have in mind. Problem is, it's a bit over $300k now. and main market has remained 160k starting. Not sure how to feel about that.

not to discourage any of you from attending! it's a personal choice.

[EquallyWrong]

I have called Columbia several times until today (it's NYU deadline..) but still have not received
my aid package yet. It's a little frustrating, but I was quite commited to Columbia after attending ASW
so I decided to let go of NYU scholarship. I visited both schools and have friends attending both
institutions, so I think I had a good chance to compare 2 schools.


I met more than 5 people paying the full price during the ASW. (yes.. I asked everyone if they were
willing to pay the full price because I was worried about being asked to pay sticker price to attend)
Life upon graduation would really depend on their family's contribution to their education, but all of the people
I met said it was worth it. I specifically asked whether to choose Columbia over NYU with the amount of scholarship
I'd be getting from NYU (It's not a whole lot of money, but it helps)

Then again, their opinion could be biased, and they could've said that because they took into consideration
my interest in corporate law.

I don't know how valuable the input of current students is given that they aren't feeling the real effects of sticker yet (if you these 5 people were current students). you certainly wouldn't be alone paying sticker, if that is what concerns you, but the consequences after graduation would be the same regardless of how popular an option it was. If the sticker price is going up, it eats out your ability to start accumulating wealth for yourself, but it also means if you find in 2018 a strong desire to downshift...you kind of can't do it and not be financially fubar, and the ability to do "what you really want to do" is pushed back a few years (I'm not mentioning the inability to find good paying work because I'm giving CLS some due credit here). worrying about the future's uncertainties, though, quickly turns morbid...and if you've made a decision, by all means take ownership of it. turning lemons into lemonade: maybe it will motivate you to avoid any fuckuppery if that was something you indulged in in the past. maybe you're one of the anti-fragile types who thrives when confronted with a dismal prospect, I dunno, it'll be a journey of self discovery for us all. When trying to make a decision with lots of uncertain consequences people tend to seek outside authorization...the schools are going to happily provide it for you, real people are usually more ambivalent, I find, TLS wisdom is of limited usefulness and given to heavy groupthink.

[zen]

I love Columbia, but it physically hurts to think about paying sticker and accruing DAT DEBT. Can any sticker-paying folks PM me about their decision-making processes?

I'd love to be part of that conversation tooooooo.

+1

also interested!

Me too! As it stands, I'll be doing almost sticker for CLS.

[milkandcheerios]

Still no financial aid info from Columbia even though I called last week to remind them that my NYU scholarship was expiring. I decided to take the risk and let NYU go today, CLS has been my dream school since my freshman year (although that was before I discovered TLS and realized how crazy paying sticker is) and I just couldn't bring myself to deposit at NYU, even with $$. I'm going with my gut even though it might be stupid reason to pick a law school.

Please Columbia, don't make me regret this...

[tlsapp2017]

I also let my NYU scholarship go today, but at least I know that Columbia will be offering me some $$ (I just haven't heard back about my appeal). So excited to go to CLS next year and meet all of you!!!!!

[jdapplicant]

I'm curious why bonuses don't ever come up in the debt conversation. Pre-recession they were typically 40-50k for first-year associates at Cravath, which sets the market rate. They have dropped to 10k during the recession, but there seems to be indications that they will increase soon.

Also, don't aren't roughly 50% at CLS there at sticker? I think it would be easy to find current students to talk to about why they chose to enroll at sticker.

[MyopicVisage]

.

[francesfarmer]

Has anyone been able to login to lawnet?

[waferthinmint]

Still no financial aid info from Columbia even though I called last week to remind them that my NYU scholarship was expiring. I decided to take the risk and let NYU go today, CLS has been my dream school since my freshman year (although that was before I discovered TLS and realized how crazy paying sticker is) and I just couldn't bring myself to deposit at NYU, even with $$. I'm going with my gut even though it might be stupid reason to pick a law school.

Please Columbia, don't make me regret this...

I wish you the best!!! And if NYU offered you a scholarship, I'm sure it's more likely that CLS will give you at least some $...


So I, like, still have not heard financials from either NYU or CLS. (Granted, I was admitted to CLS last week and it seems they don't start evaluating you for aid until after admission.) eta: Asked NYU when I might expect an award decision a little over a week ago when sending them more documentation they requested, but no reply.

eta:

[Theopliske8711]

To all the recent admits to CLS, don't forget to join us on the facebook page!

[Hitchensian]

To all the recent admits to CLS, don't forget to join us on the facebook page!

Sorry if this has been discussed already, but couldn't we add the Facebook group link to the OP? Might make it more visible for those who don't frequent the thread.

[Theopliske8711]

I don't think it's been discussed, but either the OP or a mod would have to do it.

[waferthinmint]

Anyone know if there is a price difference between furnished and unfurnished 3 BDRs?

[scoobysnax]

Anyone know if there is a price difference between furnished and unfurnished 3 BDRs?

Based on some other conversations, I believe it's like $100-150 more per month.

[Theopliske8711]

Definitely not worth it, IMHO. A trip to ikea will definitely provide som overall savings.

[waferthinmint]

Definitely not worth it, IMHO. A trip to ikea will definitely provide som overall savings.

Follow-up question, then: do we need to move out of campus housing every summer like NYU does it? Or once I get my IKEA furniture, can I know it can stay put for three years unless I choose to move elsewhere?

[fleurdelis2]

Definitely not worth it, IMHO. A trip to ikea will definitely provide som overall savings.

Follow-up question, then: do we need to move out of campus housing every summer like NYU does it? Or once I get my IKEA furniture, can I know it can stay put for three years unless I choose to move elsewhere?

I heard that you can keep it there if you want to keep your apartment over the summer.

[buffalo_]

Definitely not worth it, IMHO. A trip to ikea will definitely provide som overall savings.

Word. Even Amazon is cheaper.

I got a decent full bed at IKEA (mattress, bed, and slats) for around 150 *$250 (just reviewed current prices online) total last year. And you can find loads of these glass/cheapo metal build-it-yourself desks online (or at ikea) for ~$100. That's really they only furniture you need.

[francesfarmer]

Is the furniture in the grad dorms the same as undergrad? Because if so, it is notoriously hideous. Keep that in mind.

[waferthinmint]

All good points, but if I won't be in NY for a summer and I am supposed to move all my stuff out, I want to be able to leave with just my laptop and the shirt on my back (plus some more suitcases of clothes), and not have to bother with moving and storing my furniture somewhere only to have to move it again three months later. It hinges on whether I can keep my same apartment or whether they make you reshuffle yearly like a dorm.

[tlsapp2017]

All good points, but if I won't be in NY for a summer and I am supposed to move all my stuff out, I want to be able to leave with just my laptop and the shirt on my back (plus some more suitcases of clothes), and not have to bother with moving and storing my furniture somewhere only to have to move it again three months later. It hinges on whether I can keep my same apartment or whether they make you reshuffle yearly like a dorm.

I'd ask on this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... start=1500

[Humbert Humbert]

To appeal a financial aid offer, can I just email the fin aid office or is there a more formal procedure (ala NYU)?

[Theopliske8711]

Sublet if that's the case. Just... Change the sheets.

My friends room at nyu was furnished and the furniture was def dorm furniture. Dunno about CLS, but I can only assume.

[waferthinmint]

All good points, but if I won't be in NY for a summer and I am supposed to move all my stuff out, I want to be able to leave with just my laptop and the shirt on my back (plus some more suitcases of clothes), and not have to bother with moving and storing my furniture somewhere only to have to move it again three months later. It hinges on whether I can keep my same apartment or whether they make you reshuffle yearly like a dorm.

I'd ask on this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... start=1500

Thanks!