Duke (72K) vs. Vanderbilt (105K) Forum

[redhead335]

With deposit deadlines fast approaching I am stuck between these two. After law school I am shooting for corporate job in Texas Big Law, but am also open to the South and DC.

Aside from the scholarship differential between these two schools I have found them to be very similar (class size, culture, facilities, etc). My main concern is if the Duke advantage as a T14 is enough to justify paying an additional 46K.

Is there anything I am missing (as far as clinics, journals, etc) that really sets one school apart from the other? Any advice is appreciated.

[BigZuck]

With deposit deadlines fast approaching I am stuck between these two. After law school I am shooting for corporate job in Texas Big Law, but am also open to the South and DC.

Aside from the scholarship differential between these two schools I have found them to be very similar (class size, culture, facilities, etc). My main concern is if the Duke advantage as a T14 is enough to justify paying an additional 46K.

Is there anything I am missing (as far as clinics, journals, etc) that really sets one school apart from the other? Any advice is appreciated.

I'm assuming you have ties to Texas?

I think it's probably worth the 46K difference.

[catlawl]

Nashville >>>> Durham

[redhead335]

I've been in Dallas for the last four years for undergrad. My other ties would be to the South in general.

[catlawl]

I suggest attempting to find out how much further the Texas firms dip down in Duke's class. Duke has a decided advantage over Vandy in NY and DC firms. However, if Texas firms impose substantially the same grade requirements for both schools then seeking a lower debt load would be advisable.

Edit: For what it is worth, the large Texas firms at Vandy's 2L OCI sought and hired applicants in the top 20% and on a journal.

[CanadianWolf]

No wrong choice, in my opinion. I'd probably recommend Duke due to your willingness to work in The South.

[GMGP]

Duke places VERY well in Texas. The big three heavily recruit here, our first and largest 1L interview/reception was one with Baker Botts that had at least 10 of their Texas lawyers there. Without connections, it'll hard but if you have a degree from Rice, UT, Baylor, SMU, ect. (it seemed like 90% of the lawyers there undergraded at one of these schools) matched with a t-14 JD you're in since it really is an "old boys" network. I have a couple close friends that got a multiple 1L summer offers before grades were even released.

Don't know about Vandy's placement but I would think it doesn't have the same T-14 pull of Duke. Another comment said Vandy only hired top 20% and on journal so if that is true then Duke is the clear bet. That being said I'm from Murfreesboro and I gotta say Nashville is incredible. CoL both places are low, good money both places, I'm obviously biased to Duke but can't go wrong with these choices.

[hephaestus]

I think Duke is worth the money here. With the Texas ties you are virtually guaranteed something coming from Duke. You have a good chance of landing on your feet from Vanderbilt as well, but I think the security is worth the money.

[rad lulz]

I've been in Dallas for the last four years for undergrad. My other ties would be to the South in general.

Every non ATL Southern market is really parochial. For a lot of these markets, being from there is practically a requirement and ties to "the South" won't cut it.

What is total CoA at each? Include interest and cost of living.

[islandrose0913]

Did you apply to UT?

[Ti Malice]

Duke is easily worth the extra money.

[PRgradBYU]

Duke is easily worth the extra money.

This. Definitely Duke.

[Elston Gunn]

Duke is easily worth the extra money.

[Br3v]

Duke

[redhead335]

I did apply UT. Got in state there plus 45K, so 93K total. Maybe I should consider them more, but the larger class size and initial feel of the school didn't feel right to me.

[sinfiery]

Would you take biglaw in NYC over some random firm job/PI/Govt/low salary work in TX/the south?

[22461016]

.

[Ruxin1]

I'll put a vote in for Vandy. I'm not much of a poster on here, but I was in your exact shoes last year (105k vs. 72k), and I am very happy that I chose Vanderbilt. I'm going to stay in the South, and it's nice having Vandy grads everywhere you'd want to go (for example, all six of my interviewers at one of my callbacks went to Vandy. I know they purposely stacked the deck, but having a large amount of alumni at most firms is helpful.)

How good were your grades tho

[22461016]

.

[rad lulz]

Bigtex has a pretty hard top third (3.3) cutoff from Vandy

[islandrose0913]

I did apply UT. Got in state there plus 45K, so 93K total. Maybe I should consider them more, but the larger class size and initial feel of the school didn't feel right to me.

K I was curious to see how their costs would compare because they tend to err on the affordable side, and if Duke and Vandy are giving you money, pretty safe to assume they would be too. But I completely understand your sentiments about UT not feeling right.

In all honesty though, I think Duke is the clear choice over Vandy in this case. I think there's another thread that's recently been talking about how Texas BigLaw dips pretty deep into Duke's class ranks, and if at Vandy you have to be on the top % and on a journal, just doesn't seem like it's worth the risk. Also, Duke's numbers on LST seem better all around regardless. I say it's worth the $$.

P.S. pretty sure we go to the same UG.

[redhead335]

Would you take biglaw in NYC over some random firm job/PI/Govt/low salary work in TX/the south?

Other than possibly picking a more regional firm in TX/the South, I would definitely lean more towards NYC biglaw over the options you listed. I figure the experience I would gain at NYC would give me the opportunity to eventually move into big law in Dallas, Atlanta, etc.

[sinfiery]

Duke it is! Even if you said otherwise, it would be hard to justify UT or Vandy but given your response, 100% Duke.