@Pizzagirl Firstly, I’d like to thank you for your reply.
I am aware that my view on academia is not a very supported one here on CC. That said, I do feel that I should at least explain my point-of-view, even though it is not likely to convince you or any of the other posters who so strongly oppose such views. I’ll start by saying that I am not putting Harvard Law on a pedestal because it has the name “Harvard” in it. I think that many will agree that though there are many other good law schools out there (and perhaps even better such as Yale), getting your JD at HLS has a lot of important benefits (and that’s before we even start to talk about the very high placement rate); whether it’s the large and diverse student body (who will one day become top lawyers themselves), the amazing and invaluable alumni network or even just the “prestige” a name like Harvard brings to it (which will surely be useful both in the US and in business trips abroad), these are all important benefits.
As far as applying to the school you love most for ED/EA, I have to say that if they weren’t all reaches then I obviously would. The problem is that these schools are all so highly-competitive that there is no guarantee whatsoever that I will even get in to a single one on the list. I have always enjoyed studying, whether it was in class back at high-school or even during my military service when I had to study for my position in an intelligence unit. It is because of this, and because I am not looking for any specific “college experience” like many of the 18 year old freshman are, that I believe that no matter where I eventually choose to attend - I will surely enjoy my undergraduate studies. To me, it’s just not that important what my undergraduate years are like since I’ll still have many more to go while getting my JD, which is really the degree that will determine how quickly and smoothly I can make my transition into the job market.
I did do my research on these schools, as well as on other schools that are not part of the Ivy League. My conclusion was that though there are many amazing universities in the U.S., those that I have not mentioned (apart for maybe the top liberal colleges) simply will not give me enough of an advantage compared to an education here in Israel. Thus, it would not be worth it for me, as I can study here for about 2,500 USD per year.
Anyway, thank you again for your reply and your concern, and I hope that if you have relevant information on this topic that you will share it with me 