Harvard vs. BC/BU vs. NYU/Columbia Forum

[mallard]

You won't get HLS with a sub-3.7 GPA from BC. You should get a 175+ on the LSAT no matter what.

[D.Wilde]

First off, everyone is correct in telling you that you should study your ass off, as if Harvard is your goal, even if your admission prospects at Harvard are exceedingly slim. Graduating from BU/BC with $50-$100K in debt is a vastly better option than graduating from those schools with $175-$200K in debt. Higher LSAT score = Bigger Scholarship. Case closed.

Regarding employment in NYC coming from BU/BC: First off, the general reputation is that BC mildly trumps in Boston and BU mildly trumps everywhere else. This seems to largely be a myth, based mostly on the fact that BC students more often want to stay in Boston and BU students more often want to leave, rather than on the relative prestige or reputation of the schools.

ITE, neither school is placing very well in NYC. Especially in NYC biglaw. Placement in NYC is by no means impossible from BU or BC, but it is very difficult, and you'll need to seriously rock 1L. If you're willing to consider it, I'd recommend taking a year and working as a paralegal for a big firm in NY. Work closely with some partners, then if you do well in 1L, you'll have a very strong "in" at a firm which could result in an offer. This seems like a decent compromise between "will not live away from girlfriend for 3 years" and "graduate from BU/BC with no legal networking ties to NYC."

If you're certain you want to work in NYC, and NYU, Columbia, or even Fordham are available to you, you should go there. Living away from your girlfriend will suck, but several of my classmates had long-distance relationships/engagements, and at least one of these students finished in the top 5 of the class. It can be done, and while 3 years of living apart may suck, imagine if she graduates and gets her dream job in NYC and you can't follow her at all because no legal employers in NYC will hire you...

Then again, the economy might get better by the time you go through OCI...who knows.

[tram988]

First off, everyone is correct in telling you that you should study your ass off, as if Harvard is your goal, even if your admission prospects at Harvard are exceedingly slim. Graduating from BU/BC with $50-$100K in debt is a vastly better option than graduating from those schools with $175-$200K in debt. Higher LSAT score = Bigger Scholarship. Case closed.

Regarding employment in NYC coming from BU/BC: First off, the general reputation is that BC mildly trumps in Boston and BU mildly trumps everywhere else. This seems to largely be a myth, based mostly on the fact that BC students more often want to stay in Boston and BU students more often want to leave, rather than on the relative prestige or reputation of the schools.

ITE, neither school is placing very well in NYC. Especially in NYC biglaw. Placement in NYC is by no means impossible from BU or BC, but it is very difficult, and you'll need to seriously rock 1L. If you're willing to consider it, I'd recommend taking a year and working as a paralegal for a big firm in NY. Work closely with some partners, then if you do well in 1L, you'll have a very strong "in" at a firm which could result in an offer. This seems like a decent compromise between "will not live away from girlfriend for 3 years" and "graduate from BU/BC with no legal networking ties to NYC."

If you're certain you want to work in NYC, and NYU, Columbia, or even Fordham are available to you, you should go there. Living away from your girlfriend will suck, but several of my classmates had long-distance relationships/engagements, and at least one of these students finished in the top 5 of the class. It can be done, and while 3 years of living apart may suck, imagine if she graduates and gets her dream job in NYC and you can't follow her at all because no legal employers in NYC will hire you...

Then again, the economy might get better by the time you go through OCI...who knows.

Well said.

[Snoopy1216]

Blunt, serious advice: there is never a reason NOT to score as high as you possibly can on the LSAT. Do so, apply everywhere, and only when you hear back from schools will you have the luxury of worrying about this stuff.

While I understand that, there's a huge difference in time commitment/studying for BC Law compared to HLS. If I can get into BC with a lower score, and that's where I'm going to go, then I wouldn't want to waste time on the LSAT.

This is clinically insane. Someone said better score=more money. TITCR. And, my friend, you are not a lock. You cant assume that they will like you or choose you over another identical applicant. Your chances significantly increase if you apply to a school and your numbers are above median. But, you are in no way "guaranteed" admission (loosely quoted). I would strive for the best score you can to increase your chances and/or scholarship to any school!

The fact that any of us had to explain that bothers me...

[maine08080]

Blunt, serious advice: there is never a reason NOT to score as high as you possibly can on the LSAT. Do so, apply everywhere, and only when you hear back from schools will you have the luxury of worrying about this stuff.

While I understand that, there's a huge difference in time commitment/studying for BC Law compared to HLS. If I can get into BC with a lower score, and that's where I'm going to go, then I wouldn't want to waste time on the LSAT.

I'm sorry but I just find this attitude to be disturbing. If you are going to half ass the admissions game to law school, you should re-evaluate your plans.

[mikcou]

I've done rather informal, random prep over the past 1.5 years. I'm familiar with the material. About a month ago, I took a diagnostic test and scored a 161. Sorry not including that in my original post.

I look at the LSAT as a test of time investment and familiarization. The more I study and familiarize, the better I can do. But maybe this is extremely misguided, and I need to reevaluate my attitude to the test.

Not to be harsh but even for BC/BU you still are going to need 166/167 to get in. And thats not even going to get you much of anything in aid. Basically, PREP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN