Duke 90k vs. Chicago 75k vs. Columbia 50k Forum

[choculamaviva]

I would like to end up in Denver after school. Still unsure as to area of law.

[General Tso]

I would like to end up in Denver after school. Still unsure as to area of law.

I am not sure that your targeted job market is relevant in this decision. Any of these 3 should trump the local schools there. I think you should look to other factors in your decision process.

[violinst]

I would like to end up in Denver after school. Still unsure as to area of law.

Duke is out.
Columbia is tempting.
But Chicago is the one : lower COL and thus much lower COA, but still the same prestige and placement.

[scribelaw]

How random, Denver.

Chicago with $75k is a great deal.

[09042014]

How random, Denver.

Chicago with $75k is a great deal.

TITCR

[06162014123]

.

[BetterCallSaul]

Yay Denver! I know Colorado lawyers with degrees from all three of these places.
I think the previous posters are right that Chicago has the best blend of cash and fanciness.

Also, whether or not you already have ties in there, it would be a good idea to spend your 1L summer in Colorado--commitment to the state really really matters to Denver firms.

[kurla88]

No poll?

Chicago seems like the clear winner here.

[underachiever]

No poll?

Chicago seems like the clear winner here.

+1

[motiontodismiss]

Chicago. Obvious.

[Renzo]

I would like to end up in Denver after school. Still unsure as to area of law.

Duke is out.
Columbia is tempting.
But Chicago is the one : lower COL and thus much lower COA, but still the same prestige and placement.

Duke is not out!

OP, you have to visit. Any of those schools will get you a job in Denver, so it's a matter of where you'll be happiest vs. how much you're willing to pay. Chicago is going to be considerably cheaper than NYC, and Chicago is a great school in a great city (if you can stand the frigid, soul-hurting cold). New York is also awesome, and it might be worth it to you personally to come here for the school and the experience of living in the city for a while, if that appeals to you. But jobs in Denver are going to pay less across the board than big markets, so you should be slightly more debt-sensitive than some, and Duke is great. If scholarship money hadn't been an issue, I would have picked Duke over U Chicago and VPBN (I also really liked U Mich.).


And, standby for PM with more personal detail than I wish to post...

[im_blue]

I'd take Chicago 75k, then Columbia 50k. Duke 90k is out.

[d34d9823]

.

[jms1987]

I'm interested to see what you pick, as I too would like to end up in Denver. (or California)

[choculamaviva]

Thanks for all the input thus far. I'd like to find more info about the cost of living in Chicago. I'm from Illinois, so the city is really no mystery to me, but I need to dig around and find some specifics about rent, transport, etc. in that neighborhood. As I understand it, most of the law students live in one specific building. I'm also a bit concerned about how these schools are going to re-tool their LRAP to dovetail with the new Federal loan policies, so I'm not sure which LRAP is better....

[Dany]

Thanks for all the input thus far. I'd like to find more info about the cost of living in Chicago. I'm from Illinois, so the city is really no mystery to me, but I need to dig around and find some specifics about rent, transport, etc. in that neighborhood. As I understand it, most of the law students live in one specific building. I'm also a bit concerned about how these schools are going to re-tool their LRAP to dovetail with the new Federal loan policies, so I'm not sure which LRAP is better....

Here's a pretty useful thread about some housing options/prices in Hyde Park.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=109383

This is also an informative one:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=84243

For what it's worth, I think your best option is Chicago and it gets my vote!