BYU full tuition, Duke 60k, WUSTL 120k?- Advice please! Forum

[Nestico87]

I have full tuition at BYU and 60,000 at Duke. I haven't heard back yet from WUSTL, but I am hoping it will be around 120k (I applied middle of January to WUSTL with a 169/3.82 and decent softs; do you think 120k is an accurate prediction?)

I have other offers, like 90k at UCLA and 1/3 in-state tuition at Texas, but it seems BYU, Duke, and WUSTL are my best options (correct me if I'm wrong).

I am torn on what to choose, please offer constructive input!

More about me:
-I am very debt adverse. I am married, my wife will not be working, and we have a seven-month-old daughter.
-I am nearly positive I want to work at a small firm in southeastern Idaho, and my chances of working there will not be affected by which of these schools I choose, apart from my debt load and a small firm salary's ability to support that debt.
-But the experience of a federal clerkship or big fed for a few years after law school is important to me.
-I like the idea of having a prestigious school such as Duke attached to my name for the rest of my life, and as for WUSTL I am a sucker for going to a school with beautiful architecture.

I am leaning toward BYU. (I am Mormon, but the LDS-factor there doesn't persuade me either way.)

Any constructive thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[bk1]

Clerkships and prestigious fed jobs are hard to get, even from Duke. I'd avoid the debt and take BYU, especially since you're going to be supporting a family off a single salary.

[goldenflash19]

If you get the 120k from WUSTL, I'd take that. As bk187 said, clerkships and prestigious fed jobs are tough, so Duke probably wouldn't be worth the debt. WUSTL is still a prestigious school and is more reputable than BYU, so that would sorta cater to what you'd want. Although still an outside shot, you could still feasibly possibly score a clerkship or bigfed from WUSTL. Considering it sounds like you already have a job lined up, you can't go wrong with BYU or WUSTL.

[thexfactor]

I have full tuition at BYU and 60,000 at Duke. I haven't heard back yet from WUSTL, but I am hoping it will be around 120k (I applied middle of January to WUSTL with a 169/3.82 and decent softs; do you think 120k is an accurate prediction?)

I have other offers, like 90k at UCLA and 1/3 in-state tuition at Texas, but it seems BYU, Duke, and WUSTL are my best options (correct me if I'm wrong.)

I am torn on what to choose, please offer constructive input!

More about me:
-I am very debt adverse. I am married, my wife will not be working, and we have a seven-month-old daughter.
-I am nearly positive I want to work at a small firm in south eastern Idaho, and my chances of working there will not be affected by which of these schools I choose.
-But a federal clerkship or prestigious D.C. government work experience for a few years after law school is important to me.
-I like the idea of having a prestigious school such as Duke attached to my name for the rest of my life, and as for WUSTL I am a sucker for going to a school with beautiful architecture.

I am leaning toward BYU. (I am Mormon, but the LDS-factor there doesn't persuade me either way.)

Any constructive thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Based on your goals I would say BYU. WUSTL doesn't place well for big fed and fed clerkships. Both schools would likely need to be in the top 10% to get those two jobs. Duke would prob need someone to be in the top 20-25% to be competitive.

I would only recommend BYU if you are absolutely sure you don't want biglaw. If you might change your mind at all, I would go to duke.

[IAFG]

Prediction: you'll get to law school, the competitiveness bug will bite you, you'll want big prestigious firm work (which, you'll realize, helps you get big prestigious gov't work) and then you'll be glad you chose Duke.

[Nestico87]

How does WUSTL place in 9th circuit clerkships, if at all?

[bk1]

How does WUSTL place in 9th circuit clerkships, if at all?

CoA clerkships are very competitive. Even for students at the best schools they are difficult to get.

[2014]

Given your religion and money considerations I would go to BYU. Your family would probably be better off in terms of being surrounded by other families as well as financially and BYU has solid placement given its rank.

[rad lulz]

.

[lionelmessi]

OP - I am Mormon, went to BYU, have a 169/3.78 and am facing almost identically the same set of decisions. Seriously, it looks like we have the exact same result from every school. And I'm going to attend with my wife and 3 kids.

I'm leaning HEAVILY toward Duke b/c I actually want to do Biglaw, and would be happy to do it North Carolina or a variety of other places we have ties.

From your description of your goals, it sounds like BYU is your best bet. Although, if you don't have a direct hookup to the firm you reference (I'm assuming you do), BYU is a risk due to the lack of great prospects for anyone outside of their top 10-15% - and the hyper-competitive legal market in Utah/Idaho/Arizona due to all of the T14 Mormons graduating and coming back to raise their kids, etc...

All of which I'm sure you are aware of.

Wish you the best.

PM me if you want to discuss any specifics.

[romothesavior]

Chances of bigfed and AIII from WUSTL and BYU. VERY low. Especially since bigfed is basically not hiring now.

Duke will give you a best chance at biglawl, which helps for bigfed hiring (there is more hiring from firms than entry-level). However, it's not a smart financial decision with a kid and wife who's not working.

So pick your favorite of WUSTL (assuming you get that 120) and BYU, then adjust your career goals.

I agree with this.

Your odds of a clerkship in the 9th Circuit COA are approximately zero from all of these schools. Your odds of an AIII clerkship at all are pretty damn low from all of these schools. If 9th COA or even 9th DCT are "must-have" goals for you, then you are going to need way better schools than these (see: HYS), or you'll need to be like one of the very top people in your class. Even that might not be enough.

I mean, if you want to work in a small firm in Idaho, I don't understand what a federal COA clerkship would even really do for you. The firm probably won't value it like a big firm would, and they're probably doing mostly state work anyways. I mean, anyone who has a shot at a COA clerkship should jump at it, and I'm not telling you that you shouldn't dream big. I'm just saying that you need to be realistic, and this probably shouldn't be a driving factor in deciding between these three schools.

Your looking at basically a full ride to both BYU and WUSTL. I'd go to the one you like more.

[skers]

Decide whether or not you really want to practice in Idaho. I don't know if there's a point in going to Duke/WUSTL if that's your practice area.