Columbia Class of 2018 Forum

[ph5354a]

As far as differences between NYU and Columbia, I would focus less on perceived differences in job opportunities (NYU can get you BigLaw jobs, and Columbia can get you PI jobs; I really don't think the difference is as great as advertised) and more about the schools themselves, given that you will have to actually spend 3 years of your life there. I definitely found that the two schools had different "feels" to them. I personally liked the Columbia students that I met better and found that the professors were more accessible and friendly, but other people certainly have the opposite experience. Location can also cut both ways (some people like a little distance from downtown, and some people like waking up and being there; although a lot of NYU students live off-campus in Brooklyn, I believe). NYU's class size is a little larger, the 1L requirements are slightly different, Columbia's Legal Methods program is definitely unique, the housing options are different, etc. There are a lot of subtle differences that can add up in one direction or another.

+1

When deciding between CLS and NYU, I chose CLS primarily because of its location/housing options. I wanted to be able to live near campus and I knew I couldn't afford the Village. Seems like something relatively trivial for such a big decision, but when you're dealing with schools as similar as these two, anything can cut one way or another. For as much as this topic is beaten to death, it always comes down to one thing --visit both, pick which one you like better, and don't look back. The substantive differences are too minimal to quibble over.

Also CLS definitely has strong connections to SDNY, EDNY and 2nd Circuit, so I'm not sure where that perception is coming from. Check out this page for more details on the judicial externships http://web.law.columbia.edu/social-just ... pring-2015

[Skool]

To clarify, based on the link posted above, there seems to be federal judicial internships in chambers and EDNY/SDNY prosecution. Neither of which interest me as much as EDNY/SDNY civil or Fed Defenders. The latter three options, NYU seems to have, in addition to EDNY/SDNY prosecution, while Columbia seems to have prosecution/chambers. Unless I'm misreading something.

I was just talking in the other thread with an NYU person who mentioned how an acquaintance just finished their own trial in the Fed Defenders externship, which is exactly the kind of thing I'd love to do before leaving law school.

[green.tea]

For those of you who attended the first ASW, anyone do the apartment viewing? If so, was it helpful? Did you find time to visit a class? Did you come away feeling more or less excited about attending Columbia? Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!

[ChemEng1642]

For those of you who attended the first ASW, anyone do the apartment viewing? If so, was it helpful? Did you find time to visit a class? Did you come away feeling more or less excited about attending Columbia? Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!

Yes - definitely helpful. Yes - class was boring though. And definitely felt more excited about Columbia!

[js1663]

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[Hand]

I'm sure this has been asked before but does anyone know how merit aid works outside of Hamiltons/Butlers? When do we receive them and do we have to fill out any paperwork first?

you need to fill out the forms, since all other aid is called need based, and someone reported here that we are supposed to hear by the end of the month

[Skool]

You need to fill out the financial aid cover page/application and send in some supporting documentation. The coverpage/application and instructions should be on the admitted students page.

For those of you who attended the first ASW, anyone do the apartment viewing? If so, was it helpful? Did you find time to visit a class? Did you come away feeling more or less excited about attending Columbia? Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!

The apartment viewing was helpful. I looked at the couple's housing a block away from the law school. It was a nice, good sized one bedroom at a reasonable price we are going to shoot for. It was nice to see up front.

I was neutral about the class. It was a criminal law class, the facts of the case under discussion were interesting but I can see it becoming a trudge week after week.

[js1663]

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[DK21]

I'm sure this has been asked before but does anyone know how merit aid works outside of Hamiltons/Butlers? When do we receive them and do we have to fill out any paperwork first?

you need to fill out the forms, since all other aid is called need based, and someone reported here that we are supposed to hear by the end of the month

Does that mean that you get aid called need based even if there is no need? Seems weird to fill out forms to be considered for aid even if you know you won't qualify for need.

[Tiago Splitter]

I'm sure this has been asked before but does anyone know how merit aid works outside of Hamiltons/Butlers? When do we receive them and do we have to fill out any paperwork first?

you need to fill out the forms, since all other aid is called need based, and someone reported here that we are supposed to hear by the end of the month

Does that mean that you get aid called need based even if there is no need? Seems weird to fill out forms to be considered for aid even if you know you won't qualify for need.

It is weird but it's just how they do things. If you're a contender for merit money you have to go through all the need based aid hoops even if you know you won't qualify for any need based aid.

[Thisistheyear]

t is weird but it's just how they do things. If you're a contender for merit money you have to go through all the need based aid hoops even if you know you won't qualify for any need based aid.

Are you saying people without need receive scholarship grants? I thought scholarship grants, which require all the financial aid forms, were based on need. Is this incorrect?

[Tiago Splitter]

t is weird but it's just how they do things. If you're a contender for merit money you have to go through all the need based aid hoops even if you know you won't qualify for any need based aid.

Are you saying people without need receive scholarship grants? I thought scholarship grants, which require all the financial aid forms, were based on need. Hope I'm not mistaken...

Yes people without need receive them. At least when I was applying Columbia required you to fill out all of the financial aid forms to get any kind of money other than a Butler or Hamilton. I assume this is still the case. And from what I saw from my friends I'm confident that while need is taken into account in scholarship determinations it is not the only or necessarily even the primary factor.

[tlsapp2017]

There is no way that I qualified for need based aid based on my parent's income, but I got a significant amount of "need" aid from Columbia. It's merit aid, they just refuse to call it that, and make you fill out all of the dumb forms even though they may not matter in your case.

[Skool]

They also say they will evaluate offers from peer schools in making a determination of your "need aid". Which is non-nonsensical if they were doing pure need aid.

[tk17]

Did people get any sort of confirmation that they received your and your parents' tax returns?

[wonka]

Did people get any sort of confirmation that they received your and your parents' tax returns?

No. I actually called to double check.

[curlietop86]

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[DK21]

so i didn't turn in any forms because there was no way i would qualify for need aid, turning in my parents' information - worth it to ask them if they are still accepting applications, given the above information about how it's not strictly need-based?

They are definitely still accepting them.

[curlietop86]

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[wsag826]

Does anyone have any insight on when Columbia typically releases aid decisions? Anxiously waiting on mine as I'd like to start negotiating. Know these things generally take a month but would love if anyone has any insight.

Also, really getting more and more excited about Columbia with each passing day!!!!!

[boomlawyered]

At ASW they said late March, early April. They also said to email if you have an earlier scholarship/deposit deadline, but that they won't make any promises re getting your aid decision out sooner.

[sneezus]

anyone hear back on financial aid yet? doubt it, figured i would ask though.

follow-up: does anyone have a financial aid threshold with regards to CLS? aka what is the maximum debt-financed COA you'd be willing to incur to go to Columbia, considering other offers you may have?

[Four Winds]

Does anyone have any insight on when Columbia typically releases aid decisions? Anxiously waiting on mine as I'd like to start negotiating. Know these things generally take a month but would love if anyone has any insight.

Also, really getting more and more excited about Columbia with each passing day!!!!!

Last year the first award reported on TLS was on April 4th.

[wsag826]

Does anyone have any insight on when Columbia typically releases aid decisions? Anxiously waiting on mine as I'd like to start negotiating. Know these things generally take a month but would love if anyone has any insight.

Also, really getting more and more excited about Columbia with each passing day!!!!!

Last year the first award reported on TLS was on April 4th.

Thanks for the heads up! Waiting, waiting, waiting...

[lukewarmest]

so i didn't turn in any forms because there was no way i would qualify for need aid, turning in my parents' information - worth it to ask them if they are still accepting applications, given the above information about how it's not strictly need-based?

why would you accept aid money you don't need? have your parents pay, let columbia give to some poor person who doesn't have rich parents to pay.