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Duke with $45k vs. UVA (unknown $)
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:08 pm
by Tarheel10
Was all set on Vanderbilt but got the Duke offer. From Nashville and might want to end up there but also interested in doing the kind of work (environmental PI/gov) that isn't readily available in Nashville. Interested in working on the west coast, south, or mid atlantic. Id have a good support system in Nashville and like the school but Dukes LRAP is much better, they have an enviro clinic, and generally place slightly better. Marginally more expensive. Thoughts anyone? How much better is the Duke environmental law program? How do the student bodies compare? Social life? I have a pretty good feel for employment differences already (reL but not hugely significant). Thanks.
EDITED to reflect new situation.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:11 pm
by ndirish2010
If you're from Nashville, you should be fine going back if you want from Duke. In that case, take Duke.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:23 pm
by bk1
Duke because the costs are close and Duke is definitely more prestigious than Vandy.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:36 pm
by Borhas
Tarheel10 wrote:Was all set on Vanderbilt but got the Duke offer. From Nashville and might want to end up there but also interested in doing the kind of work (environmental PI/gov) that isn't readily available in Nashville. Interested in working on the west coast, south, or mid atlantic. Id have a good support system in Nashville and like the school but Dukes LRAP is much better, they have an enviro clinic, and generally place slightly better. Marginally more expensive. Thoughts anyone? How much better is the Duke environmental law program? How do the student bodies compare? Social life? I have a pretty good feel for employment differences already (reL but not hugely significant). Thanks.
ask Vandy for more money
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:38 pm
by duckmoney
d00k
The differences in employment are very real. You have a much better shot at a high-paying job from Duke, no question.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:40 pm
by beachbum
bk187 wrote:Duke because the costs are close and Duke is definitely more prestigious than Vandy.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:58 pm
by ahduth
Borhas wrote:ask Vandy for more money
Otherwise Duke. Only because Dean Hoye is so nice though.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:22 pm
by thickfreakness
ahduth wrote:Borhas wrote:ask Vandy for more money
Otherwise Duke. Only because Dean Hoye is so nice though.
I call your Hoye and raise you a Levi. Best dean in the country, yo.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:24 pm
by quakeroats
thickfreakness wrote:ahduth wrote:Borhas wrote:ask Vandy for more money
Otherwise Duke. Only because Dean Hoye is so nice though.
I call your Hoye and raise you a Levi. Best dean in the country, yo.
Having a widely respected former federal judge as dean is about as good as it gets.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:44 pm
by Tarheel10
Can anyone speak to differences in school culture, student body, social life, etc?
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:28 pm
by HeavenWood
beachbum wrote:bk187 wrote:Duke because the costs are close and Duke is definitely more prestigious than Vandy.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:33 pm
by quakeroats
Tarheel10 wrote:Can anyone speak to differences in school culture, student body, social life, etc?
http://realserver.law.duke.edu/ramgen/s ... 3232010.rm
Fast forward to 1 minute 17 seconds through.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:10 pm
by fingersxd
Duke is TCR here. (And I'm on their wait list).
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:25 pm
by Tarheel10
.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:22 am
by fingersxd
Tarheel10 wrote:Wow, I guess I'm making a mistake, but I'm going with Vanderbilt. It just feels right to me.
Not a mistake. You should go wherever you thought was the better fit. You will likelt do better if you are happier.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:26 am
by boom_cs
Judging by your user name I do not think you could have a clean conscious if you had to spend 3 years at Duke. Plus Durham sucks
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 11:42 am
by Tarheel10
Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:22 pm
by bk1
Tarheel10 wrote:Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...
You should really be making the choice based on job prospects and considering Duke has a significant edge over Vandy in terms of finding you jobs, this is an easy call.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:59 pm
by quakeroats
bk187 wrote:Tarheel10 wrote:Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...
You should really be making the choice based on job prospects and considering Duke has a significant edge over Vandy in terms of finding you jobs, this is an easy call.
Job prospects? Who cares about those when he can't get into the spirit of things?
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:07 pm
by dabbadon8
I think they may be going through something I went through. I was set to go to mich got in at duke off the WL. Even though I initially had duke tied for my number one choice and it fit much better for me personally and my career goals, I almost decided to go to mich. After deciding on a school you probably have gotten yourself all psyched up for it, searched out and focused on the positive. Pretty much convinced(or brainwashed) yourself that it is the right place for you. Looking at things objectively can be tough after convincing yourself why someplace may be better for you. Just remember you are going to professional school, which is a stepping stone for securing a job. Don't make a choice based off a relatively vague sense of fit when there are more important factors, like getting a job.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:10 pm
by TheFactor
quakeroats wrote:bk187 wrote:Tarheel10 wrote:Yeah, I have to admit that's part of it. I want to be able to completely buy into the school spirit and whatnot and be a part of that bonding and whatnot. Being a Carolina grad will make that tough. Plus, Vanderbilt has so much more stuff right there around campus, whereas Duke feels isolated...
You should really be making the choice based on job prospects and considering Duke has a significant edge over Vandy in terms of finding you jobs, this is an easy call.
Job prospects? Who cares about those when he can't get into the spirit of things?
But he's a Carolina fan.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:14 pm
by fingersxd
Duke is clearly the better option for job placement.
OP, did you have any success negotiating more $ out of Vandy?
I suppose if Durham is a place where you would be truly miserable I can understand the logic of not attending (I had no interest in Cornell for this reason), but objectively speaking, it will make your career path that much more difficult.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:24 pm
by Tarheel10
Its not just because Im a "Carolina fan." Thanks, though. There are other considerations that I haven't gotten to in this thread. Close family ties to Vanderbilt and Nashville, interest in Nashville government, the potential to work part tme and cover most of my debt at Vanderbilt. Plus Duke will still cost about $14,000 more. Close research match wit a Vanderbilt professor and the ability to work with him.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:36 pm
by Tarheel10
Please excuse my grammar, structural, and spelling mistakes. I'm using my phone.
Re: Vandy with $50k vs Duke with $45k
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:47 pm
by Tarheel10
And I already turned down Penn, Northwestern, Cornell with money, Texas with money, Georgetown, and others, so this ain't the first time I will have made what is conventionally considered a dumbass decision.