Duke vs UC-Davis Round 2 Forum

[hanman]

After some very helpful feedback from other TLSers, I was 99% certain I would go to Duke; me and my spouse had decided the portability of the degree + personal satisfaction was important to us.

However, I finally got scholarship info from Davis so I now know my true COA and now the decision is up in the air again.

Duke would cost $90,000 over three years (this includes scholarship and parental help)
Davis would cost $61,000 over three years (again - accounts for scholarship, parental help etc)

Is Duke really worth 30k more than Davis (and worth the added stress of long distance)? I intend to practice in the Bay Area/CA.

I also got into UCLA but no word on $$ yet, they gave me v minimal need-based aid.

[msblaw89]

After some very helpful feedback from other TLSers, I was 99% certain I would go to Duke; me and my spouse had decided the portability of the degree + personal satisfaction was important to us.

However, I finally got scholarship info from Davis so I now know my true COA and now the decision is up in the air again.

Duke would cost $90,000 over three years (this includes scholarship and parental help)
Davis would cost $61,000 over three years (again - accounts for scholarship, parental help etc)

Is Duke really worth 30k more than Davis (and worth the added stress of long distance)? I intend to practice in the Bay Area/CA.

I also got into UCLA but no word on $$ yet, they gave me v minimal need-based aid.

Do you want to practice in California?

[PARTY]

After some very helpful feedback from other TLSers, I was 99% certain I would go to Duke; me and my spouse had decided the portability of the degree + personal satisfaction was important to us.

However, I finally got scholarship info from Davis so I now know my true COA and now the decision is up in the air again.

Duke would cost $90,000 over three years (this includes scholarship and parental help)
Davis would cost $61,000 over three years (again - accounts for scholarship, parental help etc)

Is Duke really worth 30k more than Davis (and worth the added stress of long distance)? I intend to practice in the Bay Area/CA.

I also got into UCLA but no word on $$ yet, they gave me v minimal need-based aid.

Do you want to practice in California?

RC fail.

[flem]

Is Duke really worth 30k more than Davis (and worth the added stress of long distance)? I intend to practice in the Bay Area/CA.

lol yes

[Golden Bear 11]

IMO, go to DUKE, just look at their respective employment statistics. I may be wrong, but you'll have a better shot at a good job Bay Area from Duke than Davis.

[msblaw89]

If you want to practice in California, go to Davis

[stillwater]

Go to Duke, not close. Davis just really narrows your options (and probably job prospects as well).

[beachbum]

Is Duke really worth 30k more than Davis (and worth the added stress of long distance)? I intend to practice in the Bay Area/CA.

lol yes

[Doorkeeper]

Is Duke really worth 30k more than Davis (and worth the added stress of long distance)? I intend to practice in the Bay Area/CA.

lol yes

[ilovesf]

Duke

[bk1]

I think only you and your spouse can answer the question of whether doing long distance is worth the job prospects of Duke. It seemed like you had already made this decision in favor of Duke and I don't think 30k changes that.

[005618502]

Davis is not a great school by any means. It isnt one of the best in CA (not even close). Duke is a great school by all measures and would easily get you back to CA. This is more a question of how hard would the long distance be on you and your SO? Duke is worth it if you can make it work.

[rad lulz]

Big law CA > big law anywhere > anything else in CA/anything else anywhere = Duke

Big law CA > anything else in CA > big law anywhere > anything else anywhere = UCD

HTH

[Mr. Somebody]

The long distance stuff is what you'll have to judge for yourself, but I think Duke is the easy choice here.

[Tadatsune]

Duke

[msblaw89]

Long distance IS NO JOKE. My fiance and I have been long distance for one year now and it is not fun...at all. If you are set on California I think it will be better for your relationship and wellbeing to be in California

[hanman]

i just received a scholarship from UCLA (total $$ aid is 71k over 3 yrs) ...! haha this is becoming impossible.

[msblaw89]

i just received a scholarship from UCLA (total $$ aid is 71k over 3 yrs) ...! haha this is becoming impossible.

That is probably the best balance right there

[hanman]

Long distance IS NO JOKE. My fiance and I have been long distance for one year now and it is not fun...at all. If you are set on California I think it will be better for your relationship and wellbeing to be in California

definitely, this is the only reason we are so indecisive. however my spouse will be exploring job options near Duke and could potentially be there 2L onwards. msblaw, i hope you end up at Duke too -- will you continue doing long distance there??

[Bosque]

i just received a scholarship from UCLA (total $$ aid is 71k over 3 yrs) ...! haha this is becoming impossible.

Change the title. You are now deciding between Duke and UCLA, UC-Davis should be out of the picture.

I would still pick Duke, but I would not count an argument for UCLA unreasonable.

[msblaw89]

Long distance IS NO JOKE. My fiance and I have been long distance for one year now and it is not fun...at all. If you are set on California I think it will be better for your relationship and wellbeing to be in California

definitely, this is the only reason we are so indecisive. however my spouse will be exploring job options near Duke and could potentially be there 2L onwards. msblaw, i hope you end up at Duke too -- will you continue doing long distance there??

If I can get into Duke, we would only continue long distance for a little while. I think its easy for most people on this situation to tell you "100% Duke" and no doubt Duke is a great school, but a long distance relationship is very,very hard.

[ilovesf]

Long distance sucks but it's doable. I've been dating my boyfriend for 4 years and we're long distance. You can make it work if you're dedicated. It's just a personal decision between best school possible and a year of not seeing each other as often.

[msblaw89]

Long distance IS NO JOKE. My fiance and I have been long distance for one year now and it is not fun...at all. If you are set on California I think it will be better for your relationship and wellbeing to be in California

definitely, this is the only reason we are so indecisive. however my spouse will be exploring job options near Duke and could potentially be there 2L onwards. msblaw, i hope you end up at Duke too -- will you continue doing long distance there??

If I can get into Duke, we would only continue long distance for a little while. I think its easy for most people on this situation to tell you "100% Duke" and no doubt Duke is a great school, but a long distance relationship is very,very hard.

And if you would like biglaw in California anyway, UCLA is going to give you some great opportunities

[flem]

How is UCLA's bay area placement? That would be the only (huge, in your case) drawback to that middle ground.

[ilovesf]

Long distance IS NO JOKE. My fiance and I have been long distance for one year now and it is not fun...at all. If you are set on California I think it will be better for your relationship and wellbeing to be in California

definitely, this is the only reason we are so indecisive. however my spouse will be exploring job options near Duke and could potentially be there 2L onwards. msblaw, i hope you end up at Duke too -- will you continue doing long distance there??

If I can get into Duke, we would only continue long distance for a little while. I think its easy for most people on this situation to tell you "100% Duke" and no doubt Duke is a great school, but a long distance relationship is very,very hard.

Nope. It's still easy for me to say Duke. If you guys had kids my answer would be different. But 1 year for better employment prospects? Still say Duke. UCLA though makes it harder.