NU ($0) v Duke ($54,000) v MN ($105k) - Update Forum

[rickgrimes69]

...

[Doorkeeper]

Have you tried to negotiate for a scholarship at Northwestern or Duke?

[flem]

I'd gamble on NU at sticker given UMN recent placement data. Also NU could certainly get you back to MN. Also I'd ride out the waitlist on Michigan. Duke is really far from where you are geographically so that gives me pause.

Nice options though bruh.

[rickgrimes69]

Have you tried to negotiate for a scholarship at Northwestern or Duke?

I just got into Duke so I'm still waiting to hear about my scholarship / fin aid package. I'm planning to call NU today to see if they can do anything for me.

[wiscohopeful]

I'd take NU. People here WITH TIES have no trouble getting into MN (and it sounds like you have ties). That market is incredibly insular but they do care if you went to T14 and have ties. Going to UMN basically for free isn't a bad choice if you want law firms in MN, but you'll be competing with all of your classmates for the same jobs so you better kill it grade wise. Going to a T14 means you are competing with many fewer students (think 5-10) from your school - basically the people from MN - as opposed to 180+ from UMN come OCI. Differentiating yourself can help but the question is if that is worth a full scholly

[rickgrimes69]

I'd gamble on NU at sticker given UMN recent placement data. Also NU could certainly get you back to MN. Also I'd ride out the waitlist on Michigan. Duke is really far from where you are geographically so that gives me pause.

Nice options though bruh.

Thanks. I was pretty surprised about NU.

If I get into Mich, should I choose that above all? I feel like it's got more of a national reputation than either Duke or NU, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[flem]

Thanks. I was pretty surprised about NU because I only have 1 yr work exp (although relevant - para in NYC biglaw) and am borderline with their numbers.

If I get into Mich, should I choose that above all? I feel like it's got more of a national reputation than either Duke or NU, but correct me if I'm wrong.

I think between Michigan and Northwestern there isn't really a "wrong" answer, so visit both and pick which one you like more.

[Aberzombie1892]

If you get into Northwestern and Michigan, I would vote Northwestern solely because you would have access to Chicago, as that's the only -real- difference between the schools. If you assume that they both can get you secondary markets (if you have ties) and NYC, then it doesn't make sense to choose Michigan over Northwestern unless you -know- that you don't want to seriously consider Chicago and Michigan is cheaper.

[rickgrimes69]

UPDATE

Called NU, was told all money has been allocated - no chance for a scholly.

Duke got back to me - received an amazingly generous $54,000, which I'm thrilled about. This would bring total COA for Duke down to roughly $155k vs roughly $240k for NU, making this choice a lot easier for me. Any real compelling reason I should still consider NU in light of this development?

[rayiner]

UPDATE

Called NU, was told all money has been allocated - no chance for a scholly.

Duke got back to me - received an amazingly generous $54,000, which I'm thrilled about. This would bring total COA for Duke down to roughly $155k vs roughly $240k for NU, making this choice a lot easier for me. Any real compelling reason I should still consider NU in light of this development?

Dook.

[rickgrimes69]

UPDATE

Called NU, was told all money has been allocated - no chance for a scholly.

Duke got back to me - received an amazingly generous $54,000, which I'm thrilled about. This would bring total COA for Duke down to roughly $155k vs roughly $240k for NU, making this choice a lot easier for me. Any real compelling reason I should still consider NU in light of this development?

Dook.

Not quite sure how to interpret this.

Edit: I just got it.

[flem]

UPDATE

Called NU, was told all money has been allocated - no chance for a scholly.

Duke got back to me - received an amazingly generous $54,000, which I'm thrilled about. This would bring total COA for Duke down to roughly $155k vs roughly $240k for NU, making this choice a lot easier for me. Any real compelling reason I should still consider NU in light of this development?

Duke it is. Congrats brah.

[bk1]

Duke got back to me - received an amazingly generous $54,000, which I'm thrilled about. This would bring total COA for Duke down to roughly $155k vs roughly $240k for NU, making this choice a lot easier for me. Any real compelling reason I should still consider NU in light of this development?

Duke debt at graduation (with interest, no tuition increases): 185k
NU debt at graduation (with interest, no tuition increases): 270k

The only thing that NU might give you over Duke is a better rep in MN. That being said, I don't think that's even close to being worth 90k. If you're okay with NYC biglaw, take Duke hands down.

[chasgoose]

UPDATE

Called NU, was told all money has been allocated - no chance for a scholly.

Duke got back to me - received an amazingly generous $54,000, which I'm thrilled about. This would bring total COA for Duke down to roughly $155k vs roughly $240k for NU, making this choice a lot easier for me. Any real compelling reason I should still consider NU in light of this development?

Not really. The only thing with Duke is that if you do end up wanting to work in Chicago or MN, you are going to have to do a bit more work to get a job with them since few Chicago firms do Duke OCI and I imagine no MN ones do. You won't have to do any better at Duke than NU to get a job at those firms and since you have ties at least to MN you won't have to prove why you want to go back there, it's just you will have to mass mail and hustle a bit more since those firms won't be coming to you. I couldn't tell if you had ties to Chicago or not, but if you don't, going to Duke probably will make it quite difficult to get a job there. The Chicago market is hard no matter what though and increasing your small chances there (even from NU it's a lot harder to get a job in Chicago than NYC) is not worth $100k. If you would only be happy in Chicago, NU might be worth the difference, but since you seem like you would be equally happy w/ NYC, go to Duke.

[crumpetsandtea]

Are you sure there's absolutely no way of getting more money? I've heard if you try to contact Johann Lee (Dean of Admissions) directly, you're more likely to be able to negotiate.

With that said, if you don't get $$ from NU, Duke is definitely the way to go.

[rickgrimes69]

UPDATE

Called NU, was told all money has been allocated - no chance for a scholly.

Duke got back to me - received an amazingly generous $54,000, which I'm thrilled about. This would bring total COA for Duke down to roughly $155k vs roughly $240k for NU, making this choice a lot easier for me. Any real compelling reason I should still consider NU in light of this development?

Duke it is. Congrats brah.

It's looking that way. Thanks

Not really. The only thing with Duke is that if you do end up wanting to work in Chicago or MN, you are going to have to do a bit more work to get a job with them since few Chicago firms do Duke OCI and I imagine no MN ones do. You won't have to do any better at Duke than NU to get a job at those firms and since you have ties at least to MN you won't have to prove why you want to go back there, it's just you will have to mass mail and hustle a bit more since those firms won't be coming to you. I couldn't tell if you had ties to Chicago or not, but if you don't, going to Duke probably will make it quite difficult to get a job there. The Chicago market is hard no matter what though and increasing your small chances there (even from NU it's a lot harder to get a job in Chicago than NYC) is not worth $100k. If you would only be happy in Chicago, NU might be worth the difference, but since you seem like you would be equally happy w/ NYC, go to Duke.

I don't have ties to Chicago. I just said I wanted to live there because it would be new and I've visited a few times and liked it. But it's not a big deal to me.

Are you sure there's absolutely no way of getting more money? I've heard if you try to contact Johann Lee (Dean of Admissions) directly, you're more likely to be able to negotiate.

I believe that's who I spoke with. She said that she didn't want to dissuade me from attending, but that there is very little chance of any money opening up. I very much appreciated her honesty on the matter. I would have loved to attend NU but sadly I think it's simply out of my price range.

[Aberzombie1892]

Duke solely because it's significantly cheaper. However, it's still pretty [expletive] expensive. I'm weary of that overall price.

[cactuarX3]

Are you sure there's absolutely no way of getting more money? I've heard if you try to contact Johann Lee (Dean of Admissions) directly, you're more likely to be able to negotiate.

With that said, if you don't get $$ from NU, Duke is definitely the way to go.

and what awesome person told you this information??? i'd love to meet him. hehehe

[woeisme]

If employment in Minnesota is your priority, UMN. If biglaw is your priority, Duke. If you're undecided on what your priority is right now, probably Duke.

Stay on Michigan WL I guess... to see if they ultimately offer you anything. If you get in with money, it'd be worth rethinking. I'd let NU go given the other options

[crumpetsandtea]

Are you sure there's absolutely no way of getting more money? I've heard if you try to contact Johann Lee (Dean of Admissions) directly, you're more likely to be able to negotiate.

With that said, if you don't get $$ from NU, Duke is definitely the way to go.

and what awesome person told you this information??? i'd love to meet him. hehehe

Oh just some random white girl I met at ASW. You know.