NYU v Duke Forum

[thisisunexpected]

Choice: NYU (probably at sticker, was just admitted off the waitlist today, so we'll say $280k) vs. Duke ($180k)

Goals: the usual, clerkship, public interest or biglaw, NYC

Other: I've worked at a firm in NYC for 4 years now, so I have some connections here already. I have some savings and a 401k I can cash out, but the vast majority of the above amounts will be loan-funded. I've got a week to decide.

[valrath]

I don't think NYU is worth 100k more than Duke

[Bronck]

I don't think NYU is not worth 100k more than Duke

FTFY

[Tom Joad]

Duke. Don't be silly.

[JamMasterJ]

Duke unless you get 67K

[hephaestus]

Duke. Don't be silly.

[supernma]

OP what are your numbers (if you don't mind sharing them)?

[thisisunexpected]

3.4/170. They're clearly having a weird year.

[supernma]

Word. Actually that seems about right to me. Did you do ED to NYU? Just curious.

[rickgrimes69]

1. NYU is objectively not worth sticker price.
2. NYU is objectively not worth $100k more than Duke.
3. Seriously, NYU is not worth $100k more than Duke.

[supernma]

I would probably disagree with you on that one. Just sayin'.

[Ti Malice]

Duke. Don't be silly.

[thisisunexpected]

Word. Actually that seems about right to me. Did you do ED to NYU? Just curious.

Nope, applied in February.

[rad lulz]

Duke. Don't be silly.

[jbagelboy]

I would not attend NYU with sticker debt

Duke at that price is a respectable deal

50K at NYU would beat your Duke scholarship professionally speaking with NYC biglaw/PI ambitions (although you should know whether you want to work for a law firm or in public service since they have pretty different trajectories...). Then again, this is with the assumption that you have 4 years of NYC ties, friends, maybe family, and arent looking for change.

With these two options I voted you stick with Duke. Update with scholarship information if it comes in. Also, CONGRATS on NYU with a 3.4!

[heywatchitbuddy]

Question about Duke, roughly what percentage of the class gets biglaw?

[sublime]

..

[quakeroats]

Question about Duke, roughly what percentage of the class gets biglaw?

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... =employers

40 to 50% depending on your definition of Biglaw.

You should probably add in that 12.9% federal clerkship number.

If we're doing fed clerks plus 250+ firms that's 62.6%.

[sinfiery]

1. NYU is objectively not worth sticker price.

Objectively is a strong word.



OP, I picked NYU at 200k over UVA at 115k. It wasn't the best financial decision but I'd rather live in NYC for 3 years in my 20s and my career goals could really be boosted by lateraling from a v5 firm which NYU dominates non t6 schools in.


Still financially stupid and I can't advise anyone to do what I did. Go to Duke.

[rickgrimes69]

1. NYU is objectively not worth sticker price.

Objectively is a strong word.

It's an accurate one. IMO, no school outside of HYS is worth sticker ITE, and those schools are only worth it because of their excellent LRAP. $280k for law school is just too expensive nowadays, and NYU just isn't special enough (no offense) to merit such an absurdly high COA.

[sinfiery]

How do you feel about PAYE? It seems to have the potential to dramatically lower the downside of the law school investment? And if the tax bomb is removed, is a little bit too perfect.

[loomstate]

The argument for NYU in this situation depends on OP's interests and goals.

If OP wants biglaw, NYU is a legitimate move - whereas NYU has about 5% bad outcomes and Duke has about 15%. That being said, if OP is capable enough to avoid bottom ~5% at NYU that may equate to capable enough to avoid bottom ~15% at Duke. But who knows.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... =employers

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... =employers

[thisisunexpected]

The argument for NYU in this situation depends on OP's interests and goals.

If OP wants biglaw, NYU is a legitimate move - whereas NYU has about 5% bad outcomes and Duke has about 15%. That being said, if OP is capable enough to avoid bottom ~5% at NYU that may equate to capable enough to avoid bottom ~15% at Duke. But who knows.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... =employers

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... =employers

I would think that the bigger difference would be if I want PI/government? NYU has been placing about twice as many people there (20-25%) as Duke (8-10%) according to lst.

[Doorkeeper]

Duke unless you get 67K

This. Make sure you tell NYU about your Duke scholarship. People who get accepted off of the waitlist can get scholarship money.

[rickgrimes69]

How do you feel about PAYE? It seems to have the potential to dramatically lower the downside of the law school investment? And if the tax bomb is removed, is a little bit too perfect.

If the Tax Bomb gets removed (and that's a big If) that lowers the risk a lot and makes NYU at sticker less of an objectively bad decision. It's still a relatively bad decision though, when you consider how much extra you're paying per additional percentage chance at a positive outcome. Duke placed within 1% of NYU's large firm and federal clerkship placement last year. Unless someone is dead-set on P.I. work or unnecessarily concerned about dat V10 prefstige, NYU offers a very marginal advantage but costs a lot more.