Harvard v. Duke (35k/yr) Forum

[MissElphaba]

Sorry, I already made one of these, but I was just accepted at Harvard this week so my choices have changed quite a bit. Everyone I have spoken to has strong feelings on this, they just don't agree. Is Harvard worth sticker when I have $105,000 at Duke?

[flem]

That's dependent on your goals. What are they?

[CanadianWolf]

Don't you have any better options ?

P.S. Any expectation of financial aid from Harvard ?

[Tadatsune]

That's dependent on your goals. What are they?

[CanadianWolf]

Based on the limited info. in this thread, you're just asking whether or not Harvard is worth $35,000 a year more than Duke Law School. The answer is that it depends upon your priorities/goals.

[StrictlyBusiness]

I'm very interested to see what you decide here. I had basically the same offer at Duke and my thought process was something like:

105k Duke < 120 Northwestern < 90k Chicago =< Harvard if I manage to get in.

I thought those were all pretty comparable though and there were certainly days when I was leaning towards Duke. I think Harvard is a total wildcard for most people (myself included) because it just carries a bit more than the logical value of the degree.

[CanadianWolf]

OP also has/had $50,000 per year at Northwestern as a deferred admission offer.

[flem]

OP also has/had $50,000 per year at Northwestern as a deferred admission offer.

Depending on your career goals (ie, if you don't want academia or the ACLU) then free law school at Northwestern is TCR.

[MissElphaba]

My career goals are a good clerkship, biglaw for a while, and eventually public interest.

[flem]

My career goals are a good clerkship, biglaw for a while, and eventually public interest.

If you're really, REALLY serious about clerking and know that's what you want to do, Harvard is going to give you the best shot at AIII clerking.

[Tiago Splitter]

P.S. Any expectation of financial aid from Harvard ?

This is the big question. Harvard tends to be pretty generous with need based aid. If you get any, Harvard wins, but I wouldn't hold it against you if you chose Harvard regardless. I would.

If you really like Duke negotiate with them using the Harvard acceptance and the Northwestern full ride to snag a bit more cash.

[CanadianWolf]

Agree that if a federal clerkship is your immediate goal after finishing law school that Harvard offers the best odds. Nevertheless, the question remains: At what cost ? How much are you willing to pay for increased odds of obtaining a federal clerkship ?