Harvard v NYU ($$) Forum

[sidequest]

Delete

[UVA2B]

NYU is the smarter choice.

[theothercat]

Disclaimer: I'm a 0L going to NYU. Was waitlisted at Harvard, so did not quite make this choice, but I did choose no debt at NYU over debt at CC, or hanging out on S/H waitlists.

I would 100% go with NYU. You will graduate essentially debt-free from a great school that is known for PI. If you're not familiar with Bryan Stevenson, who is on faculty at NYU, look into his work on capital punishment defense. I can't speak too much to NYU's clerkship numbers (I want to clerk too), but certainly if you go for it, you have a real shot. Unless your debt at Harvard would be very, very low, I just don't think it's worth it.

[cavalier1138]

NYU.

Also, no idea why you want to clerk for your stated career goals. Make sure you're looking into the benefits of clerking for someone on your track, not just the general prestige boost.

[Julius]

For PI work, HLS and NYU are pretty close to peers. I'd go to NYU. If 120k is pocket change to you and your family, HLS might make sense.

[sidequest]

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[UVA2B]

Thanks all for your answers. I know debt is a serious concern on TLS, but the amount I would need to take out is quite low. My main concerns choosing NYU over Harvard is how difficult I'm finding the city (NYC) to live in. It's just wearing me down, and it seems like a commitment to NYU is also a commitment to stay in NYC for at least 3-5 years, considering their high placement rate in the city.

I met several Harvard students who had received clerkships and were pursuing them with the intention to ultimately work in impact litigation. Even if I ultimately don't want to clerk, I can't ignore that Harvard places far more students in Skadden/EJW fellowships.

On the other hand, I know that staying in New York would be easiest on my partner, who has a job and social circle here. Cambridge would likely be relatively isolating, and he prefers staying in NYC.

The NYU scholarship decision deadline if Friday, and I honestly don't know what I'm going to do...

Nothing you've provided to this point suggests Harvard is the better decision. Putting your eggs in the Skadden/EJW basket is a crapshoot no matter where you go.

NYU will not commit you to NYC long-term, particularly when you're talking about impact lit type PI (this is meant to suggest that impact lit is going to be hard to get from anywhere and geographic consideration actually falls secondary to getting a position in that impact lit org).

I think NYU's LRAP is not so demonstrably worse than Harvard's LIPP to make Harvard worth it. And if you put value in your relationship with your SO, that makes NYU an even better decision. Take NYU, you'll appreciate doing so in a year or two.

[ernie]

NYU makes sense. If you want to do capital punishment defense, do the Equal Justice and Defender externship. (Lots of NYU folks end up at EJI by the way.) And you won't be limited to NY. If you have questions about impact lit, PM me.

[Milksteak]

NYU. Skadden/EJW make up a small portion of all PI funding. There are lots of lesser known fellowships that make up the bulk of legal services hiring. Impact lit is always tough to get into, but NYU offers clinics with externships with NYCLU, the Brennan Center, the ACLU, and LDF. If you're interested in capital work, there is the EJI clinic as was mentioned (though very competitive to get into) but also tons of other public defense clinics. Of course if you want to do capital punishment defense you wont be able to stay in the northeast, so whether you go to Boston or stay in NYC, eventually you gotta move.

[Wild Card]

If money is not a concern, then Harvard, obviously.

[enoca]

If:

A) Are sure you wanna do "prestige" PI (some orgs can be just as big of prestige whores as firms)
B) Are sure you want the best possible shot at a clerkship
C) Do not care about the extra loans (LIPP could mitigate this somewhat, but still)
D) Hate NYC

Harvard seems like the obvious answer. Now if you are wishy washy on those points, you might really think about how nice free money is.

Seems like the main issue is your partner's (dis)satisfaction. Unfortunately, don't think anyone here can help you figure that out.

[Rigo]

Debt free and keeping your SO happy? I'd go NYU.
Just pursue PI outside the city if you don't want to stay there long term.

[Veil of Ignorance]

If the NYU scholarship is 40k per year, wouldn't the scholarship be reduced by 20k the third year if you do a 2L SA? Something to consider.

[UVA2B]

If the NYU scholarship is 40k per year, wouldn't the scholarship be reduced by 20k the third year if you do a 2L SA? Something to consider.

I could be wrong on this, but isn't $120k discount at NYU merit aid, and therefore insensitive to need consideration?

[cavalier1138]

If the NYU scholarship is 40k per year, wouldn't the scholarship be reduced by 20k the third year if you do a 2L SA? Something to consider.

I could be wrong on this, but isn't $120k discount at NYU merit aid, and therefore insensitive to need consideration?

NYU always cuts scholarships in the third year if you earn more than $15k for the summer. It sounds like this year, the cut is less than 50% though, so I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes now.

[UVA2B]

If the NYU scholarship is 40k per year, wouldn't the scholarship be reduced by 20k the third year if you do a 2L SA? Something to consider.

I could be wrong on this, but isn't $120k discount at NYU merit aid, and therefore insensitive to need consideration?

NYU always cuts scholarships in the third year if you earn more than $15k for the summer. It sounds like this year, the cut is less than 50% though, so I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes now.

I knew NYU was all about dat PI, but to punish their corporate drones before leaving the academia womb just seems a bit cruel (been reading about premature lambs too much today).

[Veil of Ignorance]

If the NYU scholarship is 40k per year, wouldn't the scholarship be reduced by 20k the third year if you do a 2L SA? Something to consider.

I could be wrong on this, but isn't $120k discount at NYU merit aid, and therefore insensitive to need consideration?

NYU always cuts scholarships in the third year if you earn more than $15k for the summer. It sounds like this year, the cut is less than 50% though, so I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes now.

I knew NYU was all about dat PI, but to punish their corporate drones before leaving the academia womb just seems a bit cruel (been reading about premature lambs too much today).

I agree, I find it an irritating and kind of deceptive policy.

[NoDayButToday]

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