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Columbia. You are in an extremely fortunate position to most likely be getting a cLS degree debt free. I will be loaning out $140K with the same scholarship amount!
If this was legitimately 40K/yr at cornell v 60 total CLS, my vote would be a lot harder, but with your families’ mitigating financial circumstance, this choice is easy.
Pick the school you like the most I guess, can’t go wrong. Gratz.
Financially, it’s a slight win for Cornell without your parents aid and at zero debt CLS wins.
Also, I’d much rather be at median at CLS than Cornell even with 100k more debt given your goals. Change that to bottom 35%ish and yeah, definitely Cornell.
I would go Cornell here. That’s a serious savings, especially when COL is factored in. Columbia is a great choice too. I don’t think you can go wrong here.
Your stats make me very hopeful for next cycle! Any extraordinary softs/URM/anything, if you don’t mind me asking?
Thanks for the input thus far. I may be coming off as an incredibly anxious person because of my financial concerns, but I’m sure we all share the fear of big debt and no job. I am no financial wiz, so it is hard for me to determine how much risk is reasonable to take on for Columbia.
PM’ed, but the short answer is no.
Go Conrell save the skrilla and be happy when you have a NYC firm with a lot less debt. Yes you will get better firms at a lower ranking attending Columbia. However, in the end if your not just chasing prestige to chase it you can do quite well coming from Cornell, for a lot cheaper.
Dude: if you can go to Columbia for free barring any major disaster in the next three years, you should go to Columbia.
I’m debt averse but even I like the chances of you making it the next 3 years without disaster. If your parents can afford it and don’t care, just go to Columbia.
If you are really worried, get them to pay for 1L and 2L- and you cover 3L.
I really want to say Cornell because I’m tired of people defecting to Columbia, but the more I look at this:
the more I think Columbia is worth it here.
Columbia (potentially) debt free is very tempting, hence my second thoughts about Cornell. However, saving my family ~50 large is also tempting. Imagine the well-deserved vacation my parents could take with 50k. They would never want me to turn down Columbia in order to save them money, but they are often blinded by their own benevolence.
Take out 50k in loans and go to Columbia. That is a damn pittance.
Or you could work out a deal where you pay them back 50K after if you land biglaw. Although if they’re as benevolent as you say, I suppose they may refuse taking back the money.
CLS by a mile
(0L)
I think some people are voting for cornell without reading the OP. its no debt either way. Cornell is a great school, but Columbia is a clear winner here on all counts. (If his parents couldnt afford it, they wouldnt offer. It sounds like they know what they’re doing).
Columbia. Your boomer parents money should have zero value to you. So spend it.
yeah i’m one of them i never read the OP just look at the poll look at the money and always pick the lower rank school that gave that scholly offer. If its still within the T14 and not GeorgeTTTown.
Are you crazy? Take the money. Go to the best school. This is almost a very stupid humble brag thread. " my parents will pay for my COA and difference from my scholarship but I don’t know if I should take them up on this offer. If they lose their jobs that allow them to pay these huge sums, I will have to borrow money. What to do?"
Do you have any idea how much easier your life and career will be because of this? Just having COA covered would be a huge benefit to most people.
The difference to your potential career could be huge.
If you changed the title to Columbia or Cornell for free, everyone would vote Columbia.
2L but that’s OK. $60k more for CLS is a pretty easy decision.
I really appreciate all the input. Also, I realize now that, although unintentionally so,
This is almost a very stupid humble brag thread
Sorry about that. This thread has functioned somewhat like a coin flip to me. I threw the question out there and, once all the pro-Columbia comments/votes came rolling in, I found myself really pulling for Cornell. I have until Wednesday to decide, but I will likely be choosing Cornell. Go Big Red.