tell me where i should go to law school

**whitak24** · 04-28-2003, 04:37 PM

well, time is running out for me and i have to make a decision on where to go to law school by May 1.

i'm deciding between Columbia Law School (NYC) and University of Michigan Law School......

as far as strength of the schools and reputations go, the two schools are basically equal. they're both great schools, and will provide me with a plethora of opportunities when i graduate.

financially, the two are fairly similar, although U-M would be slight cheaper (about $16,400 over three years).

i like CLS because when i visited there, i felt very comfortable and just really liked the environment, the area, the students, and all that stuff. on the other hand, i wasn't a huge fan of the people at U-M, and while the Law Quad there is amazing architectually, i find it dreary and dark.

the advantage of U-M is that I would be close to my GF (actually, closer than i am right now). i would also be close to my family, although that's not a big concern to me. i am comfortable with Ann Arbor (although it's a vastly overrated town), and know i could live there and be as happy as i am now.

i guess it's kind of a risk/reward sort of thing. one part of me wants to move to NYC and go where i feel like i fit in best. it's a chance to experience something new. if i went to Michigan instead, i'm afraid i'd wonder what could have been had i gone to Columbia. i'd feel like i was being the wimp and taking the easy way out instead of really challenging myself.

on the other hand, i'm afriad that if i go to CLS, i'll end up lonely and feeling bad because i'm seeing my GF so rarely. and i don't want to put the stress on her of having an even longer distance relationship. yet i don't want to give up what's really best for me just because of the relationship.

so anyway, i don't know what advice people out there have....but fire away.....

**Grimm** · 04-28-2003, 04:42 PM

Unless you are engaged or married, NEVER make serious life affecting decisions based on a girl.

**Jenny** · 04-28-2003, 04:52 PM

I was going to say...

What is your gf's situation like? Is the relationship even close to marriage? If she is in college, have you both thought of her transferring up to somewhere closer in NY?

**Jenny** · 04-28-2003, 04:53 PM

Oh yeah, and ultimately, you have to go where YOU would feel most comfortable and be most happy. If you don't, even if it is nice to be around her more, you may end up resenting the relationship. And neither of you want that...

**NuTs62** · 04-28-2003, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by Jenny
Oh yeah, and ultimately, you have to go where YOU would feel most comfortable and be most happy. If you don't, even if it is nice to be around her more, you may end up resenting the relationship. And neither of you want that...

I say Columbia. You seem to want to go there more, for the school reasons. UM you want to go for the relationship/cost. If you can afford it, go for Columbia. I'm not sure what the distance is between the two locations (Columbia, and where she lives), but perhaps there'll be a way to see each other once every two weeks? Like Grimm and Jenny said, it depends on how serious the relationship is.

**nickel** · 04-28-2003, 05:43 PM

well since Syracuse University http://www.law.syr.edu wasn't one of your choices.... (home of the 2003 NCAA champs

)

i would say your description sounds like you are more sold on U-M.

**whitak24** · 04-28-2003, 05:46 PM

my GF and i have been dating for four and a half years. we know we're going to get married, although we're not engaged (neither of us are into engagements that stretch out for years, and it's at least 3-4 years before we could get married).

currently, we live 3+ hours apart (she's in columbus, OH for law school, and will be there for 2 more years). if i moved to NYC, it would be about 10 hours by car (which basically means you've gotta fly if you're doing a weekend trip). so we probably would be seeing each other every month-6 weeks if i was in NYC.

keep the opinions coming, guys

**oblongmelon** · 04-28-2003, 06:12 PM

What about Cornell? or Loyola? So many good schools to choose from!

**dbax791** · 04-28-2003, 07:11 PM

Did you go to Michigan for undergrad as well?

I personally think its good to get away from family/friends for grad school. Its a new experience, it is 10x harder than anything in undergrad so you won't have much free time anyway. And far away from family, you won't feel as much pressure to come home every week, and concentrate on your studies.

That was the same experience I had when choosing. I had a gf/friends/family in AZ, but I went to texas for grad school - even tho Arizona offered me a full-tuition scholarship. I met a lot of new people, focused on my studies and had a blast on the weekends.

It was the right decision, and I'm glad I did it.

I'd go to Columbia. JMO.

**cheapie** · 04-28-2003, 07:18 PM

i wouldn't even think twice. i'd go to columbia! it's a chance to live in ny, got to an extremely well-known school, and get out of MI for a while. and just think how much your future mother-in-law will enjoy saying, "that's whitak, he's my daughter's husband and he went to COLUMBIA! we're all so proud of him." the other lady will say, "oooh, the guy my daughter married just went to michigan. your daughter is SOOOO lucky." lol.

**Nija** · 04-28-2003, 07:18 PM

Well. Where have you been? Michigan right? Lived there pretty much your whole life, right? Why not go for a total change. Do something drastic. Attend NYC. Get a new (york) look at the world. Be a man. Do something for you. Your girlfriend will be there no matter what, hopefully, so uproot yourself from your comfortable life, and swtich everything around you as much as possible.

or you could stay in Michigan....

**Jenny** · 04-28-2003, 07:44 PM

I agree. NY would be my choice.

**DankNstickY** · 04-28-2003, 08:43 PM

go to the Art Institute of California - Los Angeles.

**NuTs62** · 04-28-2003, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by DankNstickY
go to the Art Institute of California - Los Angeles.

so he can get lessons from you (your sig)?

**oblongmelon** · 04-28-2003, 09:02 PM

Originally posted by Yossarian
obby musta missed my home cookin' comment

actually, it's only about 3 hours away..(depending on how fast someone drives!)

**ufcrusher** · 04-28-2003, 11:46 PM

My vote would be for Columbia Law. Even if the schools are pretty closely ranked (I didnt see the rankings this year) you are probably going to get more mileage from being a Columbia Law Grad then you would from Michigan. Just my opinion, not like I know anything about being a lawyer or anything though.

**sbp** · 04-28-2003, 11:50 PM

Hey whitak24 sure you want to go to University of Michigan Law School? They got busted for discrimination and are still trying to defend it.

**gear02** · 04-29-2003, 05:56 AM

I hate to bring this up, but go to Columbia because of its name and the fact that it's a Ivy League school. Although this may seem shallow now, it will help you in the future when you try to get a job. People know and respect this school.

**WhiskeyPapa** · 04-29-2003, 06:17 AM

Doesn't anyone see the obvious problem here? A future household with TWO lawyers? Man, I don't want to be around to hear any of those fights...

**whitak24** · 04-29-2003, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by kb0wwp
Doesn't anyone see the obvious problem here? A future household with TWO lawyers? Man, I don't want to be around to hear any of those fights...

man, it's already a problem

i still don't know what i want to do, but i appreciate everyone weighing in with advice on the subject. i guess by tonight i'll have made a decision.....wish me luck

**Kim** · 04-29-2003, 08:54 AM

Good luck Whitak!

**ray** · 04-29-2003, 09:15 AM

Columbia Law hands down. The name, the reputation are prominent in NYC and finding a very lucrative position when you graduate is going to be much much easier, than if you went to school in Michigan. Though Michigan has a strong alumni community where networking is vibrant, Columbia would get you in the door to most prominent New York law firms in a split second.

My 2 cents.

**jujubees** · 04-29-2003, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by whitak24
i like CLS because when i visited there, i felt very comfortable and just really liked the environment, the area, the students, and all that stuff. on the other hand, i wasn't a huge fan of the people at U-M, and while the Law Quad there is amazing architectually, i find it dreary and dark.

Based on your description, I think you answered your own question. The only disadvantage I see to CLS is being further away from your gf. It sounds like your relationship is stable enough to withstand the extra distance, and your gf is already referring to this as a "ten-year plan" so why not oblige her?

No matter what your decision is, good luck!

**Grimm** · 04-29-2003, 10:21 AM

I strongly sugest you go to Columbia. If you go to Michigan and don't like it you will end up taking it out on your GF, you won't intend to, but you will. It will kill your relationship faster than being away from her. That's why you never base your choice on a girl. Not because you might break up, but because it will cause you to break up.

Eliminate your GF from the reasons you consider a school. If you decide to go to Michigan for the difference in money that's fine. Just make sure that's why you made the decision. Limiting your career for a girlfriend could be the worst mistake you make in your whole life.

**zenbooty** · 04-29-2003, 10:28 AM

Those mentioning your potential new neighbors at Columbia seem to have completely forgotten about my existence, as well as Burzhi's and who knows who else.

When does school start? I'll be looking for a rommate soon, hehe.

And why can't y'all just get married now and bring her wherever you go? Is she also in school still?

**whitak24** · 04-29-2003, 10:40 AM

Originally posted by zenbooty
Those mentioning your potential new neighbors at Columbia seem to have completely forgotten about my existence, as well as Burzhi's and who knows who else.

some people have limited memories

Originally posted by zenbooty
When does school start? I'll be looking for a rommate soon, hehe.

orientation starts ~Aug 11. hopefully, i can get an efficiency in the subsidized university apartments, but if they throw me in with a roommate, then i might have to start looking for other options (i'm a little uneasy about the whole "blind assignment" thing)

Originally posted by zenbooty
And why can't y'all just get married now and bring her wherever you go? Is she also in school still?

she's still in school for another 2 years

**coleslaw** · 04-29-2003, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by Yossarian
you goto NYC you can meet mojo and/or slaw every weekend, they be just a few(read 2-3) hours away.

Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?

**ufcrusher** · 04-29-2003, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by kb0wwp
Doesn't anyone see the obvious problem here? A future household with TWO lawyers? Man, I don't want to be around to hear any of those fights...

Why I Outta!

There is nothing wrong with a household with two lawyers thank you! And fights are generally mellower than the rest of the world because we get to talk out problems like we learned in law school.

**attgig** · 04-29-2003, 01:20 PM

aiight, i didnt read everyone else's reply, but here's my $.02

do you see yourself as a family guy or a career guy?
What do you value more, and what do you see yourself devoting yourself to more in the future. there's no wrong answers....

if you're a family guy, where you feel like you'd be more fulfilled by family life than your career when you hit your midlife crisis, stick close to home. you're adaptable enough, and u-m has a good enough program, that you can deal with some suckiness during the week, and come weekend, your gf/family time will help you out, and get you jacked up to tackle another week.

if you think in the future, your career path is going to guide you in terms of moving your family around, or taking up priority over a little extra family time, go to columbia. you need a place where you feel like you're going to develop your career the most. and spending a month or so away from fam/gf won't be so bad, cuz your work, and your studies would be that rewarding.

well, do some self analysis...and tell me watchu think.