HELP!! Duke (25k/year) vs UGA (Full Ride) Forum

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I'm posting for a friend. She is a senior at UGA right now and has to make a decision soon. She can't decide between Duke or UGA. She asked me to make a poll for her because I'm a little more active on this site and she isn't very good with computers. How she got a 172 LSAT, we will never know. But I'm digressing. Here are the facts:

She likes UGA and would like to stay in Athens another three years. Her family, friends and new boyfriend are all in either Athens or Georgia. And, of course, UGA has offered her a full ride. She wouldn't mind practicing and living in Georgia.

But, she was also offered a 25k/year scholarship at Duke. That still leaves her having to put up about 70k in tuition during law school. Duke is a great school, and she would probably be happy there too, but is the extra 70k worth it?

She isn't positive about what field she wants to practice, and isn't really leaning toward big law. She's the type of person who would like to use her law degree to get involved in politics down the road, definitely in Georgia, and maybe even nationally. Would a Duke JD be worth the extra expense if she wants to pursue law/politics in Georgia? And what about the DC angle? Would a Duke JD get her to DC easily? She did two DC internships in college and would like a JD that has the potential to get her back, if she decides to do that after law school.

As far as debt, that is a consideration. However, her parents can help her out to an extent. Although the 70k is something to consider. Law school will probably be a lot more fun without having that debt hanging over her. But Duke law is Duke law... T14, etc...

Thoughts??

[Pearalegal]

Sounds like UGA is the clear choice. For the the family, friends or especially the new boyfriend...but for career options.

Also, tell her to get a computer book.

[scribelaw]

Sounds like UGA is the clear choice. For the the family, friends or especially the new boyfriend...but for career options.

Also, tell her to get a computer book.

Yeah, gotta go to Duke. The differences are too immense and that's a nice scholly from Duke.

[TheBigMediocre]

I'll ring in.

If she is interested in GEORGIA politics, she might be better off actually going to UGA over Duke because it is the state's flagship law school. Additionally, from what I was told at ASW, UGA Law has a surprisingly large alumni network in the DC area. Successfully heading to DC probably comes with the "top of the class" caveat, I'd assume.

Also, not knowing what she wants to do is a double-edged sword. On one hand, being debt-free coming out of UGA will give her more freedom in choosing options like PI, midlaw, or something else she is passionate about. Coming out of Duke is going to give her more options to select from but she may be limited in her ability to select by her debt.

Finally, it sounds like she has a lot of roots/connections in the area. Will being away from those make it more difficult for her to do well? I'm a big proponent of the idea that you're going to do better where you're happy, so have her ask herself if she can be happy at Duke away from the loved ones you mentioned.

Thats just my two cents.

Full Disclosure: I'm going to UGA next year.

[Tangerine Gleam]

I was going to automatically vote Duke, and then I read the story...and then I got a little confused.

But I'm still going to vote Duke.

UGA full ride isn't a terrible idea, but it's not like it's a very expensive school to begin with. Funny enough, 25/year at Duke is actually worth MORE $ than a "full ride" at Georgia with in-state tuition. But that's totally beside the point...what matters in the end is the final balance, and yes, Duke will cost her more.

If her aspirations are remotely national, then Duke will have a clear edge. Hell, it will have a clear edge in Georgia, too...UGA Law may be one of the state's top schools (with a great alumni network), but Duke still trumps it in the South. The Georgia market is super-saturated with UGA grads. The only reason to stay in Athens is for 3 years of family and friends. She should visit Duke and give this shit some serious thought.

[Pearalegal]

Wait, what about Emory? Does that seem like it'd be a happy medium? Did she get any money there?

[Experimental Section]

Wait, what about Emory? Does that seem like it'd be a happy medium? Did she get any money there?

She was offered 20k/year at Emory. However, she doesn't really like that school at all. Not a big Atlanta fan, wrong scene for her, etc. It's between Duke and UGA. Good suggestion, though.

[Tangerine Gleam]

Great poll results. How do you really feel, TLS?

[TheBigMediocre]

Great poll results. How do you really feel, TLS?

I'd say a lot of those are just the "OMG T-14 OF COURSE!!" people who didn't even bother reading OP's background and just voted.

[KMaine]

Read the original post, don't care. The clear choice is Duke. OMG MUCH BETTER SCHOOL REGARDLESS OF HER ASPIRATIONS. Boyfriend can go visit.

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BUMP (sorry)

[ranovr32]

I don't know, hmm............ Corvette or Honda Civic?

[godawgs10]

I may be a little biased, but UGA sounds like the clear choice. Considering graduating debt free, it seems like that will leave you with as many options to do the type of work you're interested in as Duke would.

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One more bump for good measure...

[Tangerine Gleam]

...[UGA] will leave you with as many options to do the type of work you're interested in as Duke would.

I disagree. Consider:

She isn't positive about what field she wants to practice, and isn't really leaning toward big law. She's the type of person who would like to use her law degree to get involved in politics down the road, definitely in Georgia, and maybe even nationally.

And what about the DC angle?...She did two DC internships in college and would like a JD that has the potential to get her back, if she decides to do that after law school.

Not to mention, as far as debt:

...her parents can help her out to an extent.

All things considered, Duke wins by a mile, in my opinion. If this person was 100% positive she wanted to always stay in Georgia, my answer might be different -- but this isn't the case.

[TheBigMediocre]

Everything TG said.

I have to agree with this. That's why I qualified the majority of my statements in my response.

[Experimental Section]

I've been arguing for Duke. It's not that much farther away. Similiar college atmosphere. Wayyyy more legit law degree. Would be a good degree for the entire southeast and DC. The 70k difference is something to consider, but... it's Duke Law!! Drew Rosenhaus went there! And the UGA in-state tuition is basically nothing. It's cool that it's a full ride, but it wouldn't cost that much anyway. It is an interesting predicament, though.

[keg411]

This isn't just a rankings thing. Based on the OP, Duke is the right choice.

[cavebat2000]

I think I might find myself in the exact same position with Duke but in a different state with that state's powerhouse law school.

Same career aspirations, same financial situation, etc.

Are you sure you arn't secretly talking about me?

Anyway, I too am finding it hard to make a decision. I will be attending the state school's ASW very soon to see if that helps me, but I am thinking it really wont.

With IBR, LRAP, and other debt reduction things, the extra debt from Duke seems negligible, especially with the increased job prospects even within your own state as potentially "THE Duke grad" entering the state that year (small class size for the win).

But the political benefit and social benefit of the state school is very difficult to overcome for me. Family, friends, and a girlfriend who would like Ohio a lot better than North Carolina. Also, ignore people who say Duke provides better national political office advantage. That's BS. I live in DC and I can tell you that politics begins with a state, not with DC, unless of course you are interested in some kind of executive branch appointment, or that of POTUS.

I would say the state school presents a short-term advantage while Duke provides a long term advantage but I think that is a value judgement that depends on just how much you value friends and family.

All I can tell you is that I too have not yet decided. In a way I hope the state school ASW sucks so I have a strong rational reason to turn them down.

[fortissimo]

Dook.

[CanadianWolf]

Not an easy choice unless she does not want to practice law in Atlanta but intends to stay in Georgia; the clear choice in this scenario is the University of Georgia School of Law.
Initially I thought that this post was about another student facing the same choices of a full ride to Georgia versus a partial scholarship to Duke, although I believe that he has selected the full ride to Georgia as he intends to practice in Atlanta while pursuing a political career.