Harvard v. Yale?

[bass]

Probably also worth mentioning that there are many more HLS alums on the Supreme Court than YLS grads (5+ to 2).  Thomas shouldn't even count on Yale's side, since he doesn't think the degree is worth the paper it's printed on.  If you plan to be a Supreme Court Justice, it's probably best to go to Harvard.  Particularly if you want to be a Chief Justice.  I can't name a Chief Justice from YLS.

[Kirk Lazarus]

Probably also worth mentioning that there are many more HLS alums on the Supreme Court than YLS grads (5+ to 2).  Thomas shouldn't even count on Yale's side, since he doesn't think the degree is worth the paper it's printed on.  If you plan to be a Supreme Court Justice, it's probably best to go to Harvard.  Particularly if you want to be a Chief Justice.  I can't name a Chief Justice from YLS.

HLS also produces like 3X more graduates

[Eveman in Ingmarland]

There is too much shoptalk on this thread. Man, as soon as I get on Big Brother y'all goin' to Gitmo. Just FYI.

[devilishlyblue]

Risk aversion is rational behavior -- it's a natural consequence of diminishing marginal returns, which is very rational.

Put more concretely --
If the "utility gap" (i.e. how satisfied you'll be) between the bottom and the middle of the class is larger than the gap between the middle and the top, and if you have no idea where in Harvard's class you'll be, then it's rational to pick Yale.

[H4CS]

YLS Grad:

Survivor Champion


HLS Grad:

I love New York reject.


The difference is clear.

That's I Love New York 2 and a clear point for Harvard.

[Eveman in Ingmarland]

Risk aversion is rational behavior -- it's a natural consequence of diminishing marginal returns, which is very rational.

Put more concretely --
If the "utility gap" (i.e. how satisfied you'll be) between the bottom and the middle of the class is larger than the gap between the middle and the top, and if you have no idea where in Harvard's class you'll be, then it's rational to pick Yale.

It's rational to the extent that it's logically consistent with the parameters you mentioned. However, it doesn't mean that what makes you happy is rational, which is my sticking point. Not quite like Samuelson's Colleague, but not too different either

[devilishlyblue]

Yeah -- the parameters might not hold.  For example, those looking for SCOTUS clerkships need to be at the top and if they're not there then middle vs. bottom doesn't really matter.  Or some students (say with vastly below LSAT/GPA) might well suspect they'd be very near the bottom of Harvard's class, in which case they don't need to invoke risk aversion to choose Yale.  Etc.

[Eveman in Ingmarland]

Yeah -- the parameters might not hold.  For example, those looking for SCOTUS clerkships need to be at the top and if they're not there then middle vs. bottom doesn't really matter.  Or some students (say with vastly below LSAT/GPA) might well suspect they'd be very near the bottom of Harvard's class, in which case they don't need to invoke risk aversion to choose Yale.  Etc.

This is why I love economics so much. You can explain anything with it. Even why your own explanations don't make sense.

[EnlightenedOne]

If you want to get on a fast track to a position in the department of justice, take a lesson from Regent graduates. If Clinton gets the nomination, go to Yale. If Obama gets the nomination, go to Harvard. (It's pretty obvious a republican won't win.)

P.S. I'm rooting for Obama because I didn't bother applying to Yale.

[Startin Up Soon!]

They're both so great that marginal differences in prestige don't matter.  If I get a bit lucky and get into Yale, i don't think i'd be able to decide w/o ASWs.