I have a 3.6 GPA and a 170 LSAT, and my mother graduated from Cornell Law. I know that in college admissions, having an alumni parent can sometimes provide a slight boost in favor of the applicant, and I am wondering whether it is the same for law school admissions. Will my legacy status at all increase my chances at Cornell? I’ve Googled this information and can’t seem to find an answer! Thanks for any help you can provide.
you should get into Cornell anyway.
You’ll probably get in, but it won’t be because of legacy
Montauk’s book (p. 226) is available on Google Books and discusses legacies (w/ quotes from various deans).
Depends on whether or not your mother makes her annual alumni donation =).
No, I’m serious. This stuff does matter. Some people with alumni parents (if they are rich) ask their parents to make extra donations to that school for several years if they know they’re going to apply to it.
On the other hand, you have great scores anyway and probably don’t need too much extra halp.
Thanks everyone! Yes, she does make her annual donation; as far as I know, it’s nothing major, but hopefully they will see that she remains committed to the school.
I would prefer to be closer to a city than Cornell is, as I spent my UG years at a small LAC in the middle of nowhere, but I was hoping that I might be able to rest (somewhat) easily with the idea that I have a decent chance at Cornell, given my family connection… great to hear that you don’t think I’ll need it. I’m interested in remaining in the NYC Metropolitan area, and the schools I plan to apply to are Cornell, Columbia, NYU, Fordham, Seton Hall, Rutgers-Newark, and possibly Brooklyn Law and Penn. What do you think my chances would be at the aforementioned schools, and are there any others you suggest I add? Any I should disregard? (I’m just beginning to plan for law school, so you all are the experts in my eyes!)
Cornell - In
Columbia - Out
NYU - Out
Fordham - In $$
Seton Hall - In $$$
Rutgers - In $$$
Brooklyn - In $$$
Penn - WL
I agree except two little things. Possibly you could add a $ to Cornell, and a small chance of waitlist at NYU from what I saw this cycle.
But basically the above is spot on.
Okay great. Yeah I didn’t think I’d have much of a chance at NYU or Columbia, but considering I’d like to practice in the NYC area I figured I might as well try. Also, I am willing to move elsewhere for law school (but hope to return to NYC) - from what I’ve read, it is clearly important to go to a T14 school, but I am wondering if some have a stronger presence in NYC than others…?
One last (hypothetical) question… let’s say I do get into Fordham with $$, but I also get into Cornell. In terms of job prospects after graduation (I don’t necessarily need biglaw, but would like to be gainfully employed), are there any cases in which one might be better off choosing Fordham? Clearly I’m not going to get an unbiased opinion at home from my mother. 
Full ride or 3/4 ride would make it pretty tempting over Cornell for me. But other people might disagree.
ETA: I hear Fordham is surprisingly good at placement, and Cornell of the T14 is on the low end. But I haven’t actually looked at numbers, so I can’t really say.
Cornell was #2 on the NLJ250 list for placement into the nation’s largest law firms. Cornell is the easy pick over Fordham unless Fordham offers a full tuition scholarship & Cornell offers zero scholarship money & then it is a toss-up.
OP could snag UPenn with an ED, if he is comfortable paying sticker.
And keep in mind, there are different degrees of legacy.
If you are willing to leave NY as you say, blanket 7-14 (Georgetown, not Texas) as well as throwing ones at Columbia and NYU for kicks. You’ll probably get Cornell, and maybe one of MVP as well as some of the lower ones. Use the money to negotiate.
+1
Cornell is a beast at the NLJ250. Last year was a bad year. Look at prior years and this year.
Ah, gotcha. My bad. Full ride only then for Fordham… and only if Cornell wasn’t offering $$$ is my new vote.