Duke vs. UCLA; scholarship info in OP. Forum

[06102016]

..

[jbagelboy]

Voted Duke.

Absolute value wise, Duke @ 160K blows UCLA @ 140K out of the water. No question. I'm surprised UCLA didn't raise your scholarship to at least 90K if not $120K to compete (I assume you've tried). I understand the commitment to LA area, but the placement power just isn't that strong since the market is so bloated. If your goals are really prestige driven (AIII clerkship + NLJ250), then you have to go to Duke here. If you make it back to CA, great; and with some ties you have a decent shot; if you don't, then you do NYC biglaw for a couple years and try to transfer. This is still better than being $140K in debt and working shitlaw.

[Micdiddy]

How is the answer not slam dunk Duke?

Sinfiery question seem appropriate here to kick things off:

Which would prefer, Big Law in NYC or Starbucks barista in CA?

But seriously, lets focus more on what you would "accept" and less on what you would "prefer" because Big Law in so Cal seems difficult basically no matter where you go, and clearly Duke has a much nice cushion for all your potential "un-optimal" outcomes.

[Dr. Dre]

Don't go to the soon to be TTT you see L.A

[06102016]

..

[mr.hands]

This is not a hard decision

[06102016]

..

[jbagelboy]

This is not a hard decision

Fair enough.

I understand how the choice could give pause for a CA resident. For a long time I thought of UCLA law as a good option for myself before taking a hard look at the data.

In the LA area, UCLA brand has a big appeal. It's beautiful, it's well located, and people have fun. it's law school is just not placing near the same level as the T13 since the recession, and not worth that much money

[quakeroats]

After NY and DC, CA is Duke's biggest market. The most difficult part of getting a CA job from Duke is actually being from CA. Here's what you should do. Email admissions or the career center and tell them to put you in touch with students who summered in CA. Even better, they'll probably be willing to give you the sheet of student employers that goes around (they gave this out at admitted students' weekend my year). If you get that, then email random CA people. I'm sure they'll be able to tell you what it's like to get a job in CA.

[06102016]

..

[Micdiddy]

I have a feeling you made this thread because a parent or loved one in LA kept pestering you to go to UCLA and you told them "no sane person would go to UCLA over Duke in this spot," and will link them to this thread to prove it?

[06102016]

..

[LittleTree]

I'm just really surprised that you couldn't negotiate UCLA up higher. Did you say something to upset someone during the negotiation process?
People have negotiated UCLA to a full tuition scholarship with worse offers in the t14. I would try again with different approach - this isn't a slam dunk for duke if you get a 150k offer from UCLA...

[06102016]

..

[bruin91]

OP. how'd you calculate COA for UCLA? 140,000 seems a bit high, no?

[bruin91]

I'm just really surprised that you couldn't negotiate UCLA up higher. Did you say something to upset someone during the negotiation process?
People have negotiated UCLA to a full tuition scholarship with worse offers in the t14. I would try again with different approach - this isn't a slam dunk for duke if you get a 150k offer from UCLA...

I don't know what to tell you, but my interaction with UCLA staff have been nothing but pleasant. I even went to the school in person and leveled with them about this. It may have something to do with being a splitter. There's just no way for me to know.

The reason is that you were accepted late in the cycle (last week) and they don't have as much money to give out. 75k (you) is the most I've heard anyone get off the WL.

I don't know why they initially WL-ed you. Maybe YP? Doesn't make much sense.

[06102016]

..

[JamMasterJ]

Duke, this isn't close

[LittleTree]

I'm just really surprised that you couldn't negotiate UCLA up higher. Did you say something to upset someone during the negotiation process?
People have negotiated UCLA to a full tuition scholarship with worse offers in the t14. I would try again with different approach - this isn't a slam dunk for duke if you get a 150k offer from UCLA...

I don't know what to tell you, but my interaction with UCLA staff have been nothing but pleasant. I even went to the school in person and leveled with them about this. It may have something to do with being a splitter. There's just no way for me to know.

The reason is that you were accepted late in the cycle (last week) and they don't have as much money to give out. 75k (you) is the most I've heard anyone get off the WL.

I don't know why they initially WL-ed you. Maybe YP? Doesn't make much sense.

Both of these reasons - late acceptance and splitter make more sense. Sorry, I was just trying to understand. Sounds like Duke is the answer here. Congrats, it sounds like that's what you want anyways.

[rickgrimes69]

Dear TLS is a T14 worth $20k more than the school who leaves 30% of their graduates underemployed? thx in advance

[bruin91]

Dear TLS is a T14 worth $20k more than the school who leaves 30% of their graduates underemployed? thx in advance

Yeah the underemployment numbers don't look good right now for UCLA. But I'd rather be top 1/3 at UCLA than median at Duke if my goals were LA BigLaw. (personally)

[Dr. Dre]

Dear TLS is a T14 worth $20k more than the school who leaves 30% of their graduates underemployed? thx in advance

UCLA will soon become TTT bro. If it was some other skewl, probably not.

[sinfiery]

How is the answer not slam dunk Duke?

Sinfiery question seem appropriate here to kick things off:

Which would prefer, Big Law in NYC or Starbucks barista in CA?

But seriously, lets focus more on what you would "accept" and less on what you would "prefer" because Big Law in so Cal seems difficult basically no matter where you go, and clearly Duke has a much nice cushion for all your potential "un-optimal" outcomes.

+1

Enjoy Duke. With the COL difference, you'll likely have less debt...not to mention the chance difference at a 2L SA.

[BigZuck]

Just wanted to echo on into the chamber that Duke is the right call here. As you know I passed on Duke for UT with a larger discrepancy in cost and I second guess myself from time to time. We won't really know if we made the right call until OCI rolls around I guess but I think that passing on all that Duke provides for only a 20K difference and the ability to stay in LA for those three years is not worth it.

But of course when it comes to things like proximity to family, a SO, etc. we can't put a price on that and that's a personal decision. Just saying that objectively speaking I think Duke wins here by a mile.

[mr.hands]

I'd like to know who the five are that voted for UCLA? (On the Duke waitlist?)