Law Schools

A Late Summer Law School Burn

Law school rivalries are the best.

By  
on

I enjoy the law school rivalry between NYU and Columbia, much like somebody in the SEC enjoys watching Big Ten Football.

Many students get into both NYU and Columbia. And then, when they don’t get into HYS, they have to make a tough choice. That choice will not define their career options: both groups of students do well in the job market. But the choice defines what they want to present to the world. NYU gives off a vibe of “law school can be fun.” Columbia exudes the rational calculation of “the chances of surviving Harlem at night are 725 to 1.”

Because the choice is more about personality than options, the rivalry can last beyond 3L year. I meet more people at conferences that went to Columbia, but I get drunk at those conferences with more NYU kids. It’s hard to explain but easy to see.

In a message to incoming 1Ls, a recent NYU grad kind of summed up the difference in one email…

Here’s a message that popped up on NYU’s listserv that subsequently made its way to my inbox:

Darling 1Ls,

Welcome to NYU Law. Most of you are going to love it. There’s lots to learn and much fun to be had (believe it or not).

But just a friendly reminder – we aren’t Columbia. You don’t already need outlines for your classes. You don’t already need to be doing reading assignments (holy shit, seriously enjoy this last part of your summer because you will never have another one).

Don’t be the gunner everyone hates before classes even start.

Sincerely,
A recently graduated NYU law student

Sponsored

That’s pretty spot-on. At Columbia, gunners are tolerated, even grudgingly respected. At NYU… gunners are not allowed to join in the reindeer games.

I’m trying to imagine the version of this letter from a Columbia grad:

Future Colleagues,

Welcome to Columbia Law. Most of you are going to learn a lot, and if you are smart enough you’ll even have fun while you are doing it.

But here’s some advice — we’re not NYU. Show up to class prepared. Nobody wants to be slowed down while the professors has to wait for your dumb ass to catch up. Everybody will assume you will be ready to hit the ground running.

Sponsored

So, no need to be a “gunner” about it. Everybody has already thought of everything you are thinking of asking.

Sincerely,
Part of your alumni network.

Welcome back to school, guys.

Topics

, , ,