Duke with $45k vs. UVA (unknown $) Forum

Tarheel10 · Post by **Tarheel10** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:08 pm

Was all set on Vanderbilt but got the Duke offer. From Nashville and might want to end up there but also interested in doing the kind of work (environmental PI/gov) that isn't readily available in Nashville. Interested in working on the west coast, south, or mid atlantic. Id have a good support system in Nashville and like the school but Dukes LRAP is much better, they have an enviro clinic, and generally place slightly better. Marginally more expensive. Thoughts anyone? How much better is the Duke environmental law program? How do the student bodies compare? Social life? I have a pretty good feel for employment differences already (reL but not hugely significant). Thanks.

EDITED to reflect new situation.

ndirish2010 · Post by **ndirish2010** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:11 pm

If you're from Nashville, you should be fine going back if you want from Duke. In that case, take Duke.

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:23 pm

Duke because the costs are close and Duke is definitely more prestigious than Vandy.

Borhas · Post by **Borhas** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:36 pm

Tarheel10 wrote:Was all set on Vanderbilt but got the Duke offer. From Nashville and might want to end up there but also interested in doing the kind of work (environmental PI/gov) that isn't readily available in Nashville. Interested in working on the west coast, south, or mid atlantic. Id have a good support system in Nashville and like the school but Dukes LRAP is much better, they have an enviro clinic, and generally place slightly better. Marginally more expensive. Thoughts anyone? How much better is the Duke environmental law program? How do the student bodies compare? Social life? I have a pretty good feel for employment differences already (reL but not hugely significant). Thanks.

ask Vandy for more money

duckmoney · Post by **duckmoney** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:38 pm

d00k

The differences in employment are very real. You have a much better shot at a high-paying job from Duke, no question.

beachbum · Post by **beachbum** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:40 pm

bk187 wrote:Duke because the costs are close and Duke is definitely more prestigious than Vandy.

ahduth · Post by **ahduth** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:58 pm

Borhas wrote:ask Vandy for more money

Otherwise Duke. Only because Dean Hoye is so nice though.

thickfreakness · Post by **thickfreakness** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:22 pm

ahduth wrote:
Borhas wrote:ask Vandy for more money
Otherwise Duke. Only because Dean Hoye is so nice though.

I call your Hoye and raise you a Levi. Best dean in the country, yo.

quakeroats · Post by **quakeroats** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:24 pm

thickfreakness wrote:
ahduth wrote:
Borhas wrote:ask Vandy for more money
Otherwise Duke. Only because Dean Hoye is so nice though.
I call your Hoye and raise you a Levi. Best dean in the country, yo.

Having a widely respected former federal judge as dean is about as good as it gets.

Tarheel10 · Post by **Tarheel10** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:44 pm

Can anyone speak to differences in school culture, student body, social life, etc?

HeavenWood · Post by **HeavenWood** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:28 pm

beachbum wrote:
bk187 wrote:Duke because the costs are close and Duke is definitely more prestigious than Vandy.

quakeroats · Post by **quakeroats** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:33 pm

Tarheel10 wrote:Can anyone speak to differences in school culture, student body, social life, etc?

http://realserver.law.duke.edu/ramgen/s ... 3232010.rm

Fast forward to 1 minute 17 seconds through.

fingersxd · Post by **fingersxd** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:10 pm

Duke is TCR here. (And I'm on their wait list).

Tarheel10 · Post by **Tarheel10** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:25 pm

fingersxd · Post by **fingersxd** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:22 am

Tarheel10 wrote:Wow, I guess I'm making a mistake, but I'm going with Vanderbilt. It just feels right to me.

Not a mistake. You should go wherever you thought was the better fit. You will likelt do better if you are happier.

boom_cs · Post by **boom_cs** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:26 am

Judging by your user name I do not think you could have a clean conscious if you had to spend 3 years at Duke. Plus Durham sucks

Tarheel10 · Post by **Tarheel10** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 11:42 am

Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:22 pm

Tarheel10 wrote:Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...

You should really be making the choice based on job prospects and considering Duke has a significant edge over Vandy in terms of finding you jobs, this is an easy call.

quakeroats · Post by **quakeroats** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:59 pm

bk187 wrote:
Tarheel10 wrote:Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...
You should really be making the choice based on job prospects and considering Duke has a significant edge over Vandy in terms of finding you jobs, this is an easy call.

Job prospects? Who cares about those when he can't get into the spirit of things?

dabbadon8 · Post by **dabbadon8** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:07 pm

I think they may be going through something I went through. I was set to go to mich got in at duke off the WL. Even though I initially had duke tied for my number one choice and it fit much better for me personally and my career goals, I almost decided to go to mich. After deciding on a school you probably have gotten yourself all psyched up for it, searched out and focused on the positive. Pretty much convinced(or brainwashed) yourself that it is the right place for you. Looking at things objectively can be tough after convincing yourself why someplace may be better for you. Just remember you are going to professional school, which is a stepping stone for securing a job. Don't make a choice based off a relatively vague sense of fit when there are more important factors, like getting a job.

TheFactor · Post by **TheFactor** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:10 pm

quakeroats wrote:
bk187 wrote:
Tarheel10 wrote:Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...
You should really be making the choice based on job prospects and considering Duke has a significant edge over Vandy in terms of finding you jobs, this is an easy call.
Job prospects? Who cares about those when he can't get into the spirit of things?

But he's a Carolina fan.

fingersxd · Post by **fingersxd** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:14 pm

Duke is clearly the better option for job placement.

OP, did you have any success negotiating more $ out of Vandy?

I suppose if Durham is a place where you would be truly miserable I can understand the logic of not attending (I had no interest in Cornell for this reason), but objectively speaking, it will make your career path that much more difficult.

Tarheel10 · Post by **Tarheel10** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:24 pm

Its not just because Im a "Carolina fan." Thanks, though. There are other considerations that I haven't gotten to in this thread. Close family ties to Vanderbilt and Nashville, interest in Nashville government, the potential to work part tme and cover most of my debt at Vanderbilt. Plus Duke will still cost about $14,000 more. Close research match wit a Vanderbilt professor and the ability to work with him.

Tarheel10 · Post by **Tarheel10** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:36 pm

Please excuse my grammar, structural, and spelling mistakes. I'm using my phone.

Tarheel10 · Post by **Tarheel10** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:47 pm

And I already turned down Penn, Northwestern, Cornell with money, Texas with money, Georgetown, and others, so this ain't the first time I will have made what is conventionally considered a dumbass decision.

Duke with $45k vs. UVA (unknown $) Forum

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