Michigan (45k) vs. Duke (54k) Forum

[rjma88]

I've narrowed my options down to Michigan with a $45,000 offer and Duke with a $54,000 offer. According to LSN, Michigan's COL is slightly less, but total cost of attendance at Duke would probably be roughly 5k cheaper. Is this enough to make up for the ranking disparity between the two? I'm fairly debt adverse, but I was hoping for 60-65,000 from Duke. I'm from the South, but not really dead set on working in the South. I'm pretty open to working anywhere at the moment. I'm also interested in getting involved with sports at some point in my career, but know that it can be difficult to break into and Duke's presumed slight edge in this field may not be enough to make the difference. Most likely I'll end up shooting for a Big Law job post-graduation.

[Bumi]

Have you visited both?

[bk1]

These schools are roughly peers. They cost the same. Pick the one you prefer and don't let a magazine dictate your decision.

I might give Duke a slight edge for the South and Michigan a slight edge for the midwest.

[dissonance1848]

Duke and Michigan are similar in placement power. Duke has been screwed recently because of high no offer rates in the South, so their numbers seem worse than they are vs. Michigan.

[rjma88]

Unfortunately I have been working all Spring and was unable to visit either. That makes it a pretty difficult choice in my opinion, but probably pushes me slightly towards Michigan as it's a "better" school, however much you want to buy into that. I like the sense of community that comes from living in the Lawyers Club at Michigan and Ann Arbor seems like a cool town. I like the weather at Duke though, and Durham seems like a really cool place too..

[Commonwealthman]

I have extremely similar choice as OP, except $ is more even. Also undecided.

[Bumi]

Unfortunately I have been working all Spring and was unable to visit either. That makes it a pretty difficult choice in my opinion, but probably pushes me slightly towards Michigan as it's a "better" school, however much you want to buy into that. I like the sense of community that comes from living in the Lawyers Club at Michigan and Ann Arbor seems like a cool town. I like the weather at Duke though, and Durham seems like a really cool place too..

Yikes. No visit?

TLS wisdom is going to say that it's really close and to ignore USNWR and that there's no wrong answer. The poll is bearing this out so far. I voted Michigan in the poll because, while Ann Arbor is a whore, my last exgirlfriend went to Duke and screw her.