Top Law Schools

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I'll always back Michigan on here. My insights aren't going to be anything revolutionary. I think the $75k+ makes it worth choosing Michigan or Duke. They're both great schools, and frankly there's some difficulty in distinguishing the two, aside from the fact the Michigan has always ranked higher (guess they're the same now) and Duke has the reputation of being more bro heavy, more firm focused, and warmer (literally). If you visited both, you should just chose whichever one you liked better. Michigan being $10k cheaper at the end of the day is worth a bit (probably $10,000 plus interest, which you can look at as an extra $10 you get to spend everyday for three years on food and drinks while you're at Michigan). It's like like always having a free lunch for three years straight.

would just consider D/M here, and I'd take Duke for DC

I have a similar background with very similar choices, so I'm responding in part to so that I can bookmark this thread.

I got a little less money than you at both Duke and Michigan, so I suppose that makes a difference. I'm leaning UVA, honestly. I really liked it there, they convinced me that I could get a job I want, and their clerkship numbers are terrific. The quality of life just seems really really high (higher than NYU, even), and having spent a few years working after college, that appeals to me a lot.

If the money's important to you then, well, the money's important to you. 75k isn't nothing. I'm inclined to think that given your career aspirations, you'd have the most company at UVA, but I didn't end up visiting Duke so I can't say for sure. Michigan seems like a fun school but the DC connection a tad more tenuous, and there's very little about it (aside from the fancy buildings) that would attract me there over UVA given what we're both interested in. I also had fun at NYU. I liked talking to the students, I liked hanging out in Greenwich Village, I liked being a train ride away from all the world's culture--cool things that aren't law school. For me, that's a big consideration, since I'm easily distracted. Plus, the things NYU is really good at (NY public interest, NY biglaw, an atmosphere of not selling out) are cool but not what I'm gunning for.

Let me know how it turns out!

Duke > Michigan >>>>>>>>>>NYU>UVA

Picking UVA would be insanity here.

For DC, Duke (Duke in DC program can help you make connections in DC while being a student). If you liked Michigan a lot more, Michigan would also be a fine choice.

3L2014 wrote:Picking UVA would be insanity here.

For DC, Duke (Duke in DC program can help you make connections in DC while being a student). If you liked Michigan a lot more, Michigan would also be a fine choice.

Out of curiosity, why is it insanity? Any reasons beyond the money, or is it just the money?

Duke >> Michigan > NYU > UVA

I've had the chance to visit both Duke and UVA, and they seemed somewhat similar to me in terms of student culture and quality of living. I don't think there's any way UVA is worth $100k more than Duke. Duke is worth the extra 10k over Michigan if you want firm work and/or federal government work, especially in D.C. NYU seems like an awesome school, but at sticker, if you're not going the 10-year PI route then I would take the money at a school like Duke.

reubenshapcott wrote:

3L2014 wrote:Picking UVA would be insanity here.

For DC, Duke (Duke in DC program can help you make connections in DC while being a student). If you liked Michigan a lot more, Michigan would also be a fine choice.

Out of curiosity, why is it insanity? Any reasons beyond the money, or is it just the money?

Its the money. Its a lot of money.

Michigan/Duke coa should be cheaper than what you listed

pick whichever one you like more

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Duke, but that's still a ton of money.

Seeing as they are peer schools, to make UVA "tcr" I would say that UVA would have to be 15-20k cheaper... (I think choosing a different school based off of perceived fit is fine if it is only around 15k difference). That being said, if you like UVA more than Duke, then if UVA was only 15-20k more expensive, than UVA would be a fine choice.

With the options you have, you would be a fool to go to UVA as it currently stands.

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