Duke ($45k) v Michigan (45k)v Vandy (75k)--> UPDATE Forum

[TMC116]

I want to work in the South and I have excellent ties. I'm concerned about cost and portability.

I wasn't crazy about Vandy when i visited it last week. I really liked Michigan when i visited, but i'm unsure how a UM degree will be viewed in the South. Here's what i've been thinking...

The cost of attendance at Michigan and Vandy are basically the same (right at 150). GULC is above 200k, I think Duke is just under 200.

Duke
+ Strong in the South
+ Small class size
- Sticker is really expensive
- Not sure that last year's NLJ data justify paying sticker

Edit: Duke matched 45k last week.

Michigan
+ Inexpensive (basically a year of free tuition w my scholarship)
+ Beautiful campus
+ Strong LRAP
- Last year's NLJ data was a little scary
- Cold as hell

VandyH
+ Inexpensive, basically 1/2 tuition
- Not really in the same class as Duke or Michigan
- Felt a little tepid when i visited campus, meh
+ Nice weather
+ Respected in the South

GUCL
+ Located in DC (which i love)
- BigLaw opportunities limited
- REALLY expensive
- Class size

Any and all thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[JasonR]

Change your poll choices to be like the title, reflecting only scholly amounts, not a mix of schollies and COA.

Michigan wins here, imo. You didn't care for Vandy, and you said COA would be the same at both. You won't have any problems getting back to the South with a Michigan JD. No-brainer, really. I don't get the votes for Vandy.

[law2015]

The easy choice is Michigan, especially after you have visited and really liked the school.

[cjcregg]

Buy a good ski-jacket and head to Ann Arbor. No reason for you to seriously consider GULC anymore. Michigan's national prestige+ scholarship+ the fact you liked the campus > Duke's strength in the South. Michigan>Vandy>Duke>GULC

[ahnhub]

There's probably only like 6 or 7 schools which didn't have outright awful employment statistics for c/o 2011 (and even those, if you examine them closely, are frayed around the edges). I would take Michigan.

[rad lulz]

You're gonna need to hit biglaw whether your debt is $150k or $200k, and Duke's a better bet for the South. More Southern employers at OCI. Duke bro.

I would have suggested taking a hard look at Vandy too, but you don't like it.

[IAFG]

Have you tried leveraging your schollies for Duke $$?

[TMC116]

Thanks for the responses guys. I probably can't get any money out of Duke. I'll keep trying, though.

I wonder if this is a game changer: I will get about 50k help from my family.

With this, the COA at Vandy and Michigan are just under 100k, Duke will be 150, and GULC would be 160-175k.

Does that change anything? I fixed the poll so voters can change their responses if that makes any difference

(the reason i didn't include this info in the original post is because i didn't want to have this play too big of a factor in my decision. I'd rather look at the 50k as a bonus and not something i should rely on in making my law school decision. That way, if things fall through and I don't get that money, I won't be completely screwed because i was relying on it to pay off loans)

[rad lulz]

With $50k parental assistant, I'd REALLY consider Vandy bro. Under $100k debt? If you don't get biglaw, you won't be sunk. What exactly didn't you like about it?

[rad lulz]

Vandy or Mich basically.

[JasonR]

Thanks for the responses guys. I probably can't get any money out of Duke. I'll keep trying, though.

I wonder if this is a game changer: I will get about 50k help from my family.

With this, the COA at Vandy and Michigan are just under 100k, Duke will be 150, and GULC would be 160-175k.

Does that change anything? I fixed the poll so voters can change their responses if that makes any difference

(the reason i didn't include this info in the original post is because i didn't want to have this play too big of a factor in my decision. I'd rather look at the 50k as a bonus and not something i should rely on in making my law school decision. That way, if things fall through and I don't get that money, I won't be completely screwed because i was relying on it to pay off loans)

Still an easy vote for Michigan, imo. Paying the same COA for Vandy as you would for Michigan is just madness. You have deep ties to the South, so you're not going to have any problems getting back there after Michigan.

[roaringeagle]

Maybe try and get more money out of Vandy....I could see you getting at least 20-25k more if you speak very candidly about your options.

[Doorkeeper]

If COA is the same at Mich and Vandy, definitely go Michigan.

[005618502]

I am glad the Poll is giving the right response, Michigan without a ? The only change to this would be if Duke gave you similar moniessssss

[Bosque]

I really think if you ask, Duke will at least try and match the Michigan Scholarship at least. I'd tell them about the Vandy one too, and when you do emphasis that Duke is your first choice but you just need more money to be able to afford to go.

If Duke gives you money, I think the choice is clearly Duke. If not, then the choice is clearly Michigan. You will be able to get back south just fine from Michigan if you have ties, you just might have to try a bit harder around OCI time since not as many southern firms travel that far north. But that doesn't mean they won't be interested if you send a letter.

[NinerFan]

Michigan unless Duke matches makes the most sense.

[msblaw89]

I would still say Michigan over Duke any day. If you have strong ties in the South already...go to Michigan. If you decide not to work in the South...you wouldn't have a problem either way

[thelawyler]

Vandy or Mich. I say Mich.

[TMC116]

So duke matched. I emailed them last week and they agreed.

Does this change anything? Should I go with Duke or stick w UM?

[CanadianWolf]

Duke since you're targeting The South.

P.S. Update your poll options to reflect Duke's scholarship offer.

[duckmoney]

So duke matched. I emailed them last week and they agreed.

Does this change anything? Should I go with Duke or stick w UM?

d00k

[The Fiend]

Buy a good ski-jacket and head to Ann Arbor. No reason for you to seriously consider GULC anymore. Michigan's national prestige+ scholarship+ the fact you liked the campus > Duke's strength in the South. Michigan>Vandy>Duke>GULC

+1

[jrthor10]

I had to make the same decision btwn Duke and Michigan with 45 each. I chose Michigan. I am from the Midwest, so it was closer to home. Also, though, Ann Arbor is a pretty cool place to go to school and seemed like Michigan's personality fit me best.

Both are good options, though, and I think you'll be fine whatever you decide.

[TMC116]

Is there a wrong decision here between Duke and UM? Does the fact that duke isn't in the same T14 "tier" as Michigan make any difference

Thanks for the input

[beachbum]

Is there a wrong decision here between Duke and UM?

Nah, especially at equal cost. Duke is the stronger school in the south, but I can certainly see going to Michigan if you like the feel of Mich better. (And the "tiers" of the T14 are largely meaningless, particularly as we get outside the T6). I think this really comes down to where you'd rather be for the next three years. If it's a close call, advantage goes to Duke for southern placement.