Any reason to not choose Duke? Forum

[stewie27]

I'm pretty much set on Duke next year, but am waiting until I'm finished visiting everywhere to make a final decision. It seems like my best option, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.
I'd like to end up in D.C. afterwards, but would be all right in NYC too. Also, I'd like to aim for biglaw or a clerkship after graduation. My top options now are Duke, Cornell, GW, W&M, or riding out the waitlist at GULC. I was also held at Columbia, but I doubt that's promising. I'm not overly debt adverse, but obviously a lower COL and some scholarship money is great.
My biggest question is, given my interest in D.C. should I give more thought to GW or trying for GULC? Or will Duke still give me a decent shot? (I'm also a Gtown undergrad).

[pinkzeppelin]

No. Go to Duke.

[xcountryjunkie]

As someone at GULC (and loving it): go to duke. 16K a year + lower COL + stronger placement for BigLaw/Clerkships + a change of scenery since you're a GU undergrad. All those factors are screaming "Duke" to me.

[beachbum]

As someone at GULC (and loving it): go to duke. 16K a year + lower COL + stronger placement for BigLaw/Clerkships + a change of scenery since you're a GU undergrad. All those factors are screaming "Duke" to me.

+1. See you in Durham.

[FiveSermon]

Yeah Duke is the clear winner here. If it's peer schools like GULC/Cornell offered money there may be a question but not when Duke is dishing out some $.

[ran12]

I would pick Duke. I went to GW and I go to Duke B-school right now. Durham is really different from DC but it's actually a good thing. There aren't many distractions so you can really focus on your classes and getting good grades but at the same time, there is stuff to do in Durham and the surrounding area (Chapel Hill, Raleigh). Bball season is awesome and unlike Gtown games at Verizon, everyone at Cameron is a diehard fan. You prob won't like Durham at first if you're the type that likes big cities but it def grows on you.

If you're picking between Cornell and Duke, Duke is the better bet b/c it loses nothing on rep to Cornell and it's in a nicer climate and from what I know about the two cultures, Duke culture is much more like Gtown.

[CanadianWolf]

Duke.

[mikey101]

From a fellow Hoya undergrad: I'll see you at Duke in the fall. It certainly has better placement in DC than GW and traditionally has done a fair bit better than GULC as well.

[DamnLSAT]

Duke - but after going to a fellow ACC school, I did throw up in my mouth just a little by advocating dook.

[stewie27]

Thanks, TLS. It seems like Duke is the slam dunk decision that I thought it was.

[Moxie]

Why is this even a question. Good money from a better school = win.

[beachbum]

Thanks, TLS. It seems like Duke is the slam dunk decision that I thought it was.

ha... slam dunk.

/watching basketball all day. (Go Devils).

[The Gentleman]

Good chance I'll see you there in a few months OP.

[boom_cs]

Huge UNC fan here but Go to Dook

[KMaine]

Has Cornell given out $ yet? If so, and you didn't get any, go to Duke. If not, wait it out.