FINAL: NYU ($) v. Duke ($$) v. HLS - LS22 needs your help Forum

[lawschool22]

I say between NU and Duke go where you think you'll be the most happy, because coming from either one you're going to have to have the grades to get to DC. You might as well go where you'll have the best time for 3 years.

I definitely think this is about where my head is at currently.

[lawschool22]

Also, just to provide an update: I was waitlisted at H, so the options are narrowing.

[lawschool22]

Oh, and a question for Desert Fox and the other NU supporters out there. I realize that the NU biglaw numbers seem to be a bit stronger than Duke's. I'm wondering if you think a portion of that is simply due to the increased level of other experiences (work experience, primarily) that NU seems to offer compared to Duke. It seems like NU assembles a class of individuals who have done things previously that corporate firms would tend to value, and that perhaps gives it's stats an advantage over Duke.

The reason I'm asking is to determine whether I would get that advantage at either school, and if so, would it be better to be the guy with average (or even below-average) WE at Northwestern, or the guy with above-average WE at Duke?

I may be way off base here, but just throwing that out there for discussion.

[whereskyle]

Oh, and a question for Desert Fox and the other NU supporters out there. I realize that the NU biglaw numbers seem to be a bit stronger than Duke's. I'm wondering if you think a portion of that is simply due to the increased level of other experiences (work experience, primarily) that NU seems to offer compared to Duke. It seems like NU assembles a class of individuals who have done things previously that corporate firms would tend to value, and that perhaps gives it's stats an advantage over Duke.

The reason I'm asking is to determine whether I would get that advantage at either school, and if so, would it be better to be the guy with average (or even below-average) WE at Northwestern, or the guy with above-average WE at Duke?

I may be way off base here, but just throwing that out there for discussion.

What's your work experience? I have two years of paralegal experience and this year I'm building habitat houses with AmeriCorps. The 1Ls/2Ls/3Ls said that this was about average. Based on the admit dinner in SF, fellow admits include orchestra conductors and admin assistants. I don't think the work experience is out of this world. If it were, they'd be in at HYS. Are you K-JD, LS22? Just a year of WE gives us something to discuss at OCI.

[lawschool22]

Oh, and a question for Desert Fox and the other NU supporters out there. I realize that the NU biglaw numbers seem to be a bit stronger than Duke's. I'm wondering if you think a portion of that is simply due to the increased level of other experiences (work experience, primarily) that NU seems to offer compared to Duke. It seems like NU assembles a class of individuals who have done things previously that corporate firms would tend to value, and that perhaps gives it's stats an advantage over Duke.

The reason I'm asking is to determine whether I would get that advantage at either school, and if so, would it be better to be the guy with average (or even below-average) WE at Northwestern, or the guy with above-average WE at Duke?

I may be way off base here, but just throwing that out there for discussion.

What's your work experience? I have two years of paralegal experience and this year I'm building habitat houses with AmeriCorps. The 1Ls/2Ls/3Ls said that this was about average. Based on the admit dinner in SF, fellow admits include orchestra conductors and admin assistants. I don't think the work experience is out of this world. If it were, they'd be in at HYS. Are you K-JD, LS22? Just a year of WE gives us something to discuss at OCI.

PM sent

Edit: Well based on talking w/ whereskyle it seems like my WE may be a bit above average for NU (although this would be anecdotal). Not sure how that plays into everyone's thinking.

[stewart23]

I would put NW & Duke in the same class for costs, and above NYU for that reason. I would say NW 1st due to your openness to Chicago for work.

Good luck, you have helped a lot of people this cycle.

+1 Also, another 0L vote for Northwestern based on COA.

[gta]

Edit: Well based on talking w/ whereskyle it seems like my WE may be a bit above average for NU (although this would be anecdotal). Not sure how that plays into everyone's thinking.

Have you considered waiting a cycle, continuing to work and save money for COL, and applying ED to Northwestern next year?

[Mal Reynolds]

Are you seriously considering NYU here? You really shouldn't be.

[lawschool22]

Are you seriously considering NYU here? You really shouldn't be.

No, not at the current price. If they were to play ball via negotiation then it could change things.

It's definitely between NU and Duke currently. I have a feeling Duke will increase a bit, enough to make the two basically equal cost. At which point I need to decide if either is marginally better for my goals.

[lawschool22]

Edit: Well based on talking w/ whereskyle it seems like my WE may be a bit above average for NU (although this would be anecdotal). Not sure how that plays into everyone's thinking.

Have you considered waiting a cycle, continuing to work and save money for COL, and applying ED to Northwestern next year?

I doubt I would get it given my GPA. They usually give those to people above both medians.

[staysha]

I say between NU and Duke go where you think you'll be the most happy, because coming from either one you're going to have to have the grades to get to DC. You might as well go where you'll have the best time for 3 years.

I definitely think this is about where my head is at currently.

The problem with this is that it ignores the placement differences between the schools, geographically speaking. Assuming first the schools' DC placement is similar, and assuming second you don't land DC, you obviously want to be at the school that places best in your second preferred market. Whichever school that may be.

Also whatever you decide, don't go to NU thinking Chicago biglaw is realistic without ties.

[thebobs1987]

I say between NU and Duke go where you think you'll be the most happy, because coming from either one you're going to have to have the grades to get to DC. You might as well go where you'll have the best time for 3 years.

I definitely think this is about where my head is at currently.

The problem with this is that it ignores the placement differences between the schools, geographically speaking. Assuming first the schools' DC placement is similar, and assuming second you don't land DC, you obviously want to be at the school that places best in your second preferred market. Whichever school that may be.

Also whatever you decide, don't go to NU thinking Chicago biglaw is realistic without ties.

I think that is a slight exaggeration. Chicago is the most ties-driven of the big markets, but if someone is at NU and does well and can explain in interviews that they want Chicago, it isn't that hard

[lawschool22]

I say between NU and Duke go where you think you'll be the most happy, because coming from either one you're going to have to have the grades to get to DC. You might as well go where you'll have the best time for 3 years.

I definitely think this is about where my head is at currently.

The problem with this is that it ignores the placement differences between the schools, geographically speaking. Assuming first the schools' DC placement is similar, and assuming second you don't land DC, you obviously want to be at the school that places best in your second preferred market. Whichever school that may be.

Also whatever you decide, don't go to NU thinking Chicago biglaw is realistic without ties.

I think that is a slight exaggeration. Chicago is the most ties-driven of the big markets, but if someone is at NU and does well and can explain in interviews that they want Chicago, it isn't that hard

Live in Midwest, some (cousins) family in Chicago, family in northwest Indiana and Peoria, IL. Also I think Chicago is a badass city. Weak, probably, but enough?

[thebobs1987]

The problem with this is that it ignores the placement differences between the schools, geographically speaking. Assuming first the schools' DC placement is similar, and assuming second you don't land DC, you obviously want to be at the school that places best in your second preferred market. Whichever school that may be.

Also whatever you decide, don't go to NU thinking Chicago biglaw is realistic without ties.[/quote]

I think that is a slight exaggeration. Chicago is the most ties-driven of the big markets, but if someone is at NU and does well and can explain in interviews that they want Chicago, it isn't that hard[/quote]

Live in Midwest, some (cousins) family in Chicago, family in northwest Indiana and Peoria, IL. Also I think Chicago is a badass city. Weak, probably, but enough?[/quote]

At NU, yes. If you were to go to Duke or somewhere else without Chicago ties, then I do agree that it would be difficult.

[lawschool22]

Thanks for the info ^.

Also I just want to tell everyone thanks for all the advice. It has really been helpful to have you all think through this with me.

[staysha]

Yeah, that should be good from NU if you do well. But median at NU without real Chicago ties likely means "settling" for NYC or going back home.

[Cobretti]

I say between NU and Duke go where you think you'll be the most happy, because coming from either one you're going to have to have the grades to get to DC. You might as well go where you'll have the best time for 3 years.

I definitely think this is about where my head is at currently.

The problem with this is that it ignores the placement differences between the schools, geographically speaking. Assuming first the schools' DC placement is similar, and assuming second you don't land DC, you obviously want to be at the school that places best in your second preferred market. Whichever school that may be.

Also whatever you decide, don't go to NU thinking Chicago biglaw is realistic without ties.

Are you working in Chicago Biglaw?

[thebobs1987]

Yeah, that should be good from NU if you do well. But median at NU without real Chicago ties likely means "settling" for NYC or going back home.

Maybe. I have had a lot of friends go to NU and while most were probably above median, I am sure a few were close and they all got Chicago offers. At median you aren't getting Kirkland or Sidley, but as long as you can make the interviewers believe you want Chicago you should get something. Probably a current NU student or alum could speak to it better than me

[lawschool22]

The more I think about it, the more I'm realizing that having Chicago as a possible option might give NU the edge here, assuming their DC placement is about equal to Duke, and both will primarily depend on grades (which is what it seems).

[rayiner]

Live in Midwest, some (cousins) family in Chicago, family in northwest Indiana and Peoria, IL. Also I think Chicago is a badass city. Weak, probably, but enough?

That's totally fine for Chicago. The Chicago market thinks of itself as the capital of the Midwest, so as long as you have a strong connection to the Midwest generally you're in good shape. It's not like Seattle, where an interviewer asked my wife (who is like 5th generation Oregonian) "I see you have ties to eastern Washington, but what's your ties to Western Washington?"

[lawschool22]

Live in Midwest, some (cousins) family in Chicago, family in northwest Indiana and Peoria, IL. Also I think Chicago is a badass city. Weak, probably, but enough?

That's totally fine for Chicago. The Chicago market thinks of itself as the capital of the Midwest, so as long as you have a strong connection to the Midwest generally you're in good shape. It's not like Seattle, where an interviewer asked my wife (who is like 5th generation Oregonian) "I see you have ties to eastern Washington, but what's your ties to Western Washington?"

Thanks, good to know. I may have missed it, but are you currently working in Chicago biglaw? If so I may have some follow up questions for you

[rayiner]

Live in Midwest, some (cousins) family in Chicago, family in northwest Indiana and Peoria, IL. Also I think Chicago is a badass city. Weak, probably, but enough?

That's totally fine for Chicago. The Chicago market thinks of itself as the capital of the Midwest, so as long as you have a strong connection to the Midwest generally you're in good shape. It's not like Seattle, where an interviewer asked my wife (who is like 5th generation Oregonian) "I see you have ties to eastern Washington, but what's your ties to Western Washington?"

Thanks, good to know. I may have missed it, but are you currently working in Chicago biglaw? If so I may have some follow up questions for you

I'm not, though I had offers in Chicago after 2L OCI and have a number of friends there. Feel free to shoot me a PM.

[jbagelboy]

If you are re-opening NU for serious consideration (which is completely reasonable), I seriously suggest you visit both schools and cities this month before making the final decision. It's imperative when the odds are so even to know where you want to spend the next 3 years.

[lawschool22]

If you are re-opening NU for serious consideration (which is completely reasonable), I seriously suggest you visit both schools and cities this month before making the final decision. It's imperative when the odds are so even to know where you want to spend the next 3 years.

Yep, I definitely agree. I visited Duke last week, I will be at NU this Saturday and NYU next week. I definitely think, at least between NU and Duke, how I feel about the two locations (which are obviously quite different) will play a not-insignificant role in my decision.

[Catherinelo365]

Any news from Chicago or Columbia?