Duke at sticker (with money saved up)? Forum

[Real Madrid]

I've been going back and forth on whether or not to ED this coming cycle, so I thought I'd pose a question to the great people on TLS.

I'm sitting at a 168 (multiple LSATs) and a 3.82, so getting into Duke even with ED isn't a certainty. But I have about 80k in an annuity that matures soon that I could spend on law school, and a school like Duke would thus leave me with ~130k in debt after graduation (assuming I was accepted at sticker price). Is that a super risky thing to do, or is that a pretty manageable debt to leave a T14 with?

I'd like to do big law if possible, and have ties to Alabama (i.e. secondary market in Birmingham) if that didn't work out. Of course, I wouldn't mind PI if that was the only way to pay the bills with LRAP.

Advice?

[ndirish2010]

Bama for free might be better than Duke at sticker if you don't mind Birmingham. Duke at sticker is risky, but not insane.

[duckmoney]

If you're worried about debt, there's always the full ride at bama option. Those options put you in the running for the dean's scholarship, which is guaranteed full tuition + $2000 / year. If you wouldn't mind Alabama and have ties, that could be a great a alternative to debt.

[ran12]

You never know what you might end up wanting to do or where you want to practice once you're done with law school. 130k of debt out of Duke is not insane. I would do it if I were you.

[ndirish2010]

Duke also loves high GPAs so those numbers will probably get you in. Are you opposed to going elsewhere for school? Michigan would be worth the app and places better than Duke.

[bk1]

130k is pretty good for a T14. If you want biglaw and don't mind NYC then I'd do it.

[Real Madrid]

Actually, Michigan and Duke are pretty much tied as my favorites. I'll be teaching in Spain through the middle of next summer, though, so I can't ED Michigan (required summer start), and I'm afraid if I don't ED to either I'll strike out entirely.

Thanks for the responses so far. Please keep them coming!

[ndirish2010]

You really don't need ED to get either, but it would probably lock them in. I might just apply RD Michigan, Duke, Vandy, and Bama.

[FeelTheHeat]

130k is pretty good for a T14. If you want biglaw and don't mind NYC then I'd do it.

+1

[dabbadon8]

I am going to duke for around ~130k (hoping to pay some of that down with a SA). It is expensive but no that much more then even some of the cheapest options. For instance I got into UF instate with 24k. Their tuition is something like 16k set to raise 15% each year. That plus cost of living at 19k a year means that Duke is costing around 50k more. As for duke vs. michigan. I chose duke over michigan at equal cost but they are both great schools and I wouldn't write of michigan because of the summer start. Check lsn for your chance but I think you stand a shot RD. That being said I would think carefully about your goals before you ED. What do you need a duke degree, as opposed to a cheaper one, for?

[Deuce]

You really don't need ED to get either, but it would probably lock them in. I might just apply RD Michigan, Duke, Vandy, and Bama.

~3.85 168 is pretty solid WL territory for Michigan, Duke and Vandy


Trust me

[Nicholasnickynic]

If you're worried about debt, there's always the full ride at bama option. Those options put you in the running for the dean's scholarship, which is guaranteed full tuition + $2000 / year. If you wouldn't mind Alabama and have ties, that could be a great a alternative to debt.

Take the 80k use it on COL and come out of law school virtually debt free.

Big chance at big law (bama dominates their big law market, no?) + 100% debt free= complete win?

[Nicholasnickynic]

also, if you are thinking about t-14 in the south, uva still throws money to early decision people- so they might be the better choice.

[Deuce]

also, if you are thinking about t-14 in the south, uva still throws money to early decision people- so they might be the better choice.

Still below both medians, likely WL

[Nicholasnickynic]

I am going to duke for around ~130k (hoping to pay some of that down with a SA). It is expensive but no that much more then even some of the cheapest options. For instance I got into UF instate with 24k. Their tuition is something like 16k set to raise 15% each year. That plus cost of living at 19k a year means that Duke is costing around 50k more. As for duke vs. michigan. I chose duke over michigan at equal cost but they are both great schools and I wouldn't write of michigan because of the summer start. Check lsn for your chance but I think you stand a shot RD. That being said I would think carefully about your goals before you ED. What do you need a duke degree, as opposed to a cheaper one, for?

Does 130k include COL? Do not count on getting a summer associate job.

[bk1]

Big chance at big law (bama dominates their big law market, no?) + 100% debt free= complete win?

Just because a school dominates its market doesn't give someone a big chance at biglaw when you factor in the number of biglaw positions in that market each year compared to the number of kids at the school. Bama will definitely not give someone a big chance at biglaw.

[dabbadon8]

I am going to duke for around ~130k (hoping to pay some of that down with a SA). It is expensive but no that much more then even some of the cheapest options. For instance I got into UF instate with 24k. Their tuition is something like 16k set to raise 15% each year. That plus cost of living at 19k a year means that Duke is costing around 50k more. As for duke vs. michigan. I chose duke over michigan at equal cost but they are both great schools and I wouldn't write of michigan because of the summer start. Check lsn for your chance but I think you stand a shot RD. That being said I would think carefully about your goals before you ED. What do you need a duke degree, as opposed to a cheaper one, for?

Does 130k include COL? Do not count on getting a summer associate job.

Yes it does though I said approx. 130 (between 130 and 140 but should be much closer to 130). Obviously I am not counting on anything, like I said, just hoping.

[ndirish2010]

OP: can you register for a stupid class and get an A to raise your GPA to 3.85- then you'd probably get into UVA.

[Real Madrid]

Unfortunately, no. That's my LSDAS GPA after graduating this spring.

Does Cornell seem like a safe bet if I don't get UMich or Duke? I'm also thinking about applying day 1 for UMich and HOPING I get some notification from them before Duke would decide for ED.

[ndirish2010]

Seems like you should be fine for Cornell if you apply very early.

[dabbadon8]

Unfortunately, no. That's my LSDAS GPA after graduating this spring.

Does Cornell seem like a safe bet if I don't get UMich or Duke? I'm also thinking about applying day 1 for UMich and HOPING I get some notification from them before Duke would decide for ED.

I applied literally day 1 at umich and go a decision the day before thanksgiving. I got into cornell weekend too. That doesn't seem too late to ED but I wouldn't count on it. I would use lsn to try to see what money, if any, you are eligible for and then decide whether to ED or roll the dice.

[Real Madrid]

I just searched for people who used ED at Duke and one was accepted with a 167 and 3.83 and another was accepted with 166 and 3.83. The former got 8k/year. But there was also a 167, 3.9 that was WL before later being accepted.

[ran12]

Your chances at Duke will go up if you can demonstrate you're a good fit for Duke. Duke as a whole is all about team and things related to that sort of thing. Since you could go either way with Duke ED, your best chance is to demonstrate why you would fit in well at Duke in your application.

[glewz]

Essentially paying sticker right? The annuity can be used for other things?

[Real Madrid]

Essentially paying sticker right? The annuity can be used for other things?

Well, yes, but if I'm 210k in debt, I think I should probably use it to start paying off loans. Don't you?