Fully from left field... HLS vs Chicago? Forum

[Lordcarnus123]

I was looking at $60k from Chicago vs $73k at Harvard. Ceteris paribus I was feeling Harvard more so I made up my mind. But I just received a fully offer not five minutes ago and I don't know which way is up.

Career goals: clerking (COA), DOJ honors, fedgov long-term (either DOJ or SEC).

What do?

EDIT: I initially said I got a Ruby, which is tuition + stipend. Turns out I'm (just) getting full tuition.

[Npret]

Ruby

[haus]

No substantive advice just wanted to say congratulations!

[Lordcarnus123]

Ruby

Defend.

[Lordcarnus123]

No substantive advice just wanted to say congratulations!

Thank you. I fully recognize what an awesome position this is to be in. But I also just left HLS like ten minutes ago having made up my mind. Then got the Ruby email as I was biking away.

[Future Ex-Engineer]

lol. Is this even a question?

Take the Ruby and run. However, if you need more justification, then drop the Ruby and burn your savings at HLS. Someone else will gladly take that offer.

[Npret]

Ruby

Defend.

I care about money. I understand the minimal difference between Harvard and Chicago. To me the Ruby is winning the law school game. So many 0Ls want to clerk for the COA it seems but neither school is a guarantee for these limited jobs.

But actually do what you want. It's your career.

[guynourmin]

I think Ruby is the best possible LS outcome by a decent margin.

[SeewhathappensLarry]

I think Ruby is the best possible LS outcome by a decent margin.

[LoganCouture]

Ruby

Defend.

You are feeling HLS more but before that was a tiebreaker rather than in the face of 200k+ cost difference. go to Law School Transparency and plug the Ruby vs your aid at H into their cost comparison spreadsheets and see what loan payments you'll be making after graduating from each (keeping in mind that if you make money over your summers you can bank it at Chicago but your grant aid will go down significantly at HLS). You are getting one of the best law schools in the country to pay you to attend. It's going to H that needs to be defended IMO.

[Veil of Ignorance]

I was looking at $60k from Chicago vs $73k at Harvard. Ceteris paribus I was feeling Harvard more so I made up my mind. But I just received a Ruby offer not five minutes ago and I don't know which way is up.

Career goals: clerking (COA), DOJ honors, fedgov long-term (either DOJ or SEC).

What do?

Numbers? Also absolutely the Ruby.

[Mr. Blackacre]

I think Ruby is the best possible LS outcome by a decent margin.

Should be a no-brainer.

[rpupkin]

Ruby

Defend.

I'll provide a few more words: Take the Ruby

[Vursz]

In my experience (and that of many folks I know), clerkships at the COA level are very closely bound up with the professors you know and the connections you've made at school. You're automatically at a disincentive on that front at HLS, simply because the school is enormous; at Chicago, you have a better chance of getting to know the people who can really help with that goal.

Take the Ruby.

[dabigchina]

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/news/inside ... class-2017

Here are some Ruby recipients. Check out what they are doing, OP.

Also, just for my own gratification, does the Rubenstein come with a COL stipend as well?

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

In my experience (and that of many folks I know), clerkships at the COA level are very closely bound up with the professors you know and the connections you've made at school. You're automatically at a disincentive on that front at HLS, simply because the school is enormous; at Chicago, you have a better chance of getting to know the people who can really help with that goal.

Take the Ruby.

I don't think the size of Harvard works against you here. You can get close with any professor at any law school -- just go to their office hours each week and ask them interesting questions about their latest law review article or whatever else they find interesting. And if you get a good grade in a class, offer to be a TA. Doing these two things is enough to establish a strong relationship. Speaking from experience, which I don't think is anecdata in this case.

ETA: I would take the Ruby but I don't know your financial situation. Seems like you're paying for it so Ruby is likely the way to go. Plus you'll get special treatment at UC, whereas you'll just be another man/woman in a suit at Harvard. Big fish, small pond type of stuff. Nevertheless, while this is a big difference in $, it's not that much considering that you'll work in a high-paying profession until you're at least 65. So if your gut is Harvard, there's nothing wrong with that at all, contrary to what I expect you'll hear on TLS.

[Rigo]

Shit that's quite a bump. Congrats.
I'd take the Ruby. That's an amazing outcome. Having that little debt without having to compromise on job opportunities will provide great flexibility.

[Phil Brooks]

HLS is probably full of people who say things like, "Defend."

It is definitely full of people who should not have gone $200k+ into debt (or depleted their parents' retirement accounts, or their future inheritances, by $200k+).

[rpupkin]

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/news/inside ... class-2017

Here are some Ruby recipients. Check out what they are doing, OP.

I was prepared to roll my eyes at this, but that is an astonishingly impressive clerkship-placement rate for the Ruby recipients in the class of 2017. (I assumed that UChi was just going to cherry pick the special outcomes, but they listed everyone.) A lot of those COA clerkships are with baller judges.

[cheaptilts]

This is such a no-brainer

[Alexandros]

.

[magnum_law]

Majority of those Ruby recipients look like aspies tho. OP better go 2 HLS

[Rigo]

Majority of those Ruby recipients look like aspies tho. OP better go 2 HLS

OP was sure to hit us with ceteris paribus to alleviate any concerns about Chicago fit.

[magnum_law]

Majority of those Ruby recipients look like aspies tho. OP better go 2 HLS

OP was sure to hit us with ceteris paribus so Chicago might be a good fit.

ETA: OP enjoy Chi

[Npret]

Majority of those Ruby recipients look like aspies tho. OP better go 2 HLS

OP was sure to hit us with ceteris paribus so Chicago might be a good fit.

Also,
"Defend."