<p>I got accepted into these three schools and now I have a really hard choice to make. I know that this is the NU thread but i would like an unbiased opinion on which school is bestfor a future in law. The financial situationfor all 3 schools is the same so thats not really a factor. What does everyone think?
PS i'm posting this on the other school's threads to eliminate some bias.</p>
<p>What is your major? Do you want a small school (Williams) or a large research university (Cornell or Northwestern)? Have you visited all of the schools? What type of undergraduate experience are you looking for?</p>
<p>Cornell has a law school on the Ithaca campus. You can take a few courses there when you're a senior. They are really all the same. Personally I would not go to Williams because of it size. At least for the bio program here, there are tons of opportunities for undergrad research that I doubt you would find at a small LAC. Not just the number of research opportunities but the quality of the research and the high tech equipment etc. Also, Cornell has more living alum than Williams.</p>
<p>A couple of aspects about Cornell that could be viewed as bad are the size and the location. The intro courses usually have big class sizes ranging a couple hundred to 1800 (Psych 101). Sure, the professor doesn't know everyone in the class, but if you take the time to introduce yourself before or after class and during office hours, you can easily build a rapport that you could benefit from later one through his or her writing you a recommendation. Also, one more advantage of having big class sizes is the quality of the professor gives the lectures. Maas, the professor for psych 101, is phenomenal. I'm pretty sure that out of the list of the three schools you provided, Cornell would have the most well-known professors because it's such a large research university.</p>
<p>Another possible negative is that Cornell is in the middle of nowhere. Once you're here, however, it doesn't feel rural at all. There's a lot of stuff to do here and there's students everywhere. You won't find cows here unless you actively search for one.</p>
<p>Personally I would choose Cornell. You can look at all the stats or w/e but these three schools are at the same level. I'd go with you gut feeling.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. I want to major in political science and/or international relations, but at Cornell I got into ILR I don't have much of a choice. I think it really comes down to my "best fit"-as cheesy as it may sound, but i still have no idea.</p>
<p>you'll have plenty of wiggle room in ILR to do the polysci/IR route. It may not be in your first year or so, but you'll have plenty time.</p>
<p>BTW, a lot of the ilr students are prelaw. And if you do not like ILR, you can transfer internally to CAS. Transferring is easier than applying to the school. I think it's all based on a certain gpa minimum. Not sure about the exact percentage but I think about 10% of freshman class transfer internally after the first year. It's easier to transfer from a specialty school to CAS and harder to transfer in the reverse. It would be harder, for example, to transfer to the engineering school or the hotel school.</p>
<p>You can get into a great law school from any of these three schools, and I think you are smart to consider fit. But you didn't answer my earlier question. Have you visited the 3 schools, and if so, what were your impressions?</p>
<p>this is coming from a NU grad. Do not worry about things like international prestige and things that Cornell often trumps most other universities. Look for personal fit, and nothing else. If you feel that the ILR curric is too constraining, then perhaps, Cornell is not the way to go. However, all 3 schools are wonderful.</p>
<p>I visited Northwester-I live 30min away, and i visited williams. I am going to Cornell on the 12th, and I'm prob gonna revisit Williams on the 16th. I liked the classes at williams, and the dorms were amazing. Northwestern has the advantage of having Chicago 20min away and Cornell has the obvious adavantage of available resources from a large research university. after i visit i'll be able to form a better opinion. Thanks for the insight</p>
<p>and being from the Northeast, I realize that IRL is semi-state supported or something of that nature. To pay full tuition for ILR, when 3/4 of the students in that program get 1/2 off the bill is not the greatest decision in the world.</p>
<p>"To pay full tuition for ILR, when 3/4 of the students in that program get 1/2 off the bill is not the greatest decision in the world."</p>
<p>and how is this different from any other state-supported school? To be exact, NY students get about 30% off the bill.</p>
<p>Instates pay less because they have to pay state taxes. Obvious choice for me would be Cornell but I am biased. You can also establish state residence in NY so that you won't pay as much.</p>
<p>BTW the dorms are amazing here. They are going to be finished with the west campus initiaitive in 2009, which comprises of 5 new dorms (house systems), three of which are already up and running. The food here is also great. Weather sucks though, but it's not drastically different from the weather at NW and Williams. </p>
<p>And like I mentioned, you can transfer internally to CAS if ILR isn't for you. The advantage with going here is that every college is pretty good so that you won't feel like you're stuck in one college. You can take courses in other colleges too (realistically it won't happen until you are a junior or senior, when you fulfill your basic requirements).</p>
<p>What I was suggesting to the OP was that perhaps ILR was not the right program for him/her. If that is the case, why does it make sense to pay 45 K for that school, especially when new york students can attend for so much less.</p>
<p>Because anyone in ILR will be a student at Cornell University (not at ILR college). If $45,000 isn't feasible financially, then of course, don't consider it. But just because NY state residents have a discount doesn't detract from the ILR program or from the Cornell degree. I guess I don't see how this is different than a full pay student looking at those whose get financial aid and don't pay the full amount. They both end up with the same undergraduate experience and the same college degree.</p>
<p>And as said above, anyone can transfer to CAS if the ILR program turns out to be not the right thing. </p>
<p>But as clearly established earlier, all three schools are great choices, and anyone can get into a good law school or med school or grad school or get a great job coming from any one of these schools. Fit is important.</p>
<p>NUGrad I'm not sure wat ur point about NY students getting a discount is. If anything that will bring better students who couldn't have afforded it otherwise. Not sure how this is worse...</p>
<p>Personally I'd pick either Cornell or Williams. The problem is that they are both very different school so you just need to see where u fit better, where you will be happier, and which will have the better programs and give u a stronger future. Both of those schools r amazing! (and I would NEVER go to school that close to my home. ever. ever ever. lol). Best of luck with ur decisions! U got accepted into some great schools!</p>