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I would appreciate any thoughts from anyone...

I was offered deferred admission from UVA (so I would be starting next fall). Today I found out I got pulled off the waitlist at Duke and was offered admission for this fall. I have some options for a gap year so I don't mind taking a year off. I'm actually looking forward to a gap year but I really would like any thoughts on why you would pick one over the other.

Career wise I'm interested in public service/policy/government/human rights. Location wise I feel that I would be happy in either Charlottesville or Durham. Are there any other factors I should be considering?

Particularly with the field you're interested in, it won't matter. Only thing is I'd go to the school with the better LRAP. Beyond that it just won't make a difference (assuming that you don't want to work in one of VA or NC).

without context there's not a ton anyone can tell you. If you want to take a gap year anyway, why not retake for money? Taking a year or two off to work will do you a lot of good, and if you come back to your second admissions cycle with some work experience and a better LSAT you will likely have much better (cheaper) options on the table.

I was accepted to Duke at near sticker but instead I opted to be a free-rider at a far lessor ranked school. I am a now a well-paid associate at a respected Fla firm. Cannot express what a relief it is to have zero tuition debt (actually made money on the deal due to SA income). If you are honestly looking for options, consider leveraging.

Are you debt averse? How much would Duke cost? Are they offering you any money? Is there any way to figure out how much UVA might cost you if you start next year?

In the interest of disclosure, I'm on the waitlist for both of these schools. Though it might not matter for UVA since your offer is for deferred admission. However, I do think these questions are relevant.

twenty 8 wrote:I was accepted to Duke at near sticker but instead I opted to be a free-rider at a far lessor ranked school. I am a now a well-paid associate at a respected Fla firm. Cannot express what a relief it is to have zero tuition debt (actually made money on the deal due to SA income). If you are honestly looking for options, consider leveraging.

Congratulations - seriously - but I'm guessing roughly 90% of your classmates did not have such a good outcome.

I agree that sticker at either school is not worth it. But anecdotes like yours are dangerous without a healthy disclaimer noting how rare your outcome is.

Thanks for all the input. Completely ignoring finances/scholarship/loan stuff, would you say one has a better national or international reputation than the other? I feel that UVA would be better for public interest/government/DC placement - is that wrong?

bluebonnetss wrote:would you say one has a better national or international reputation than the other?

No, except among laypeople, and they don't count

I feel that UVA would be better for public interest/government/DC placement - is that wrong?

Marginally. But honestly, your goals are so lofty you probably won't achieve them from either school.

Also, to reiterate, neither school is worth sticker.

bluebonnetss wrote:I would appreciate any thoughts from anyone...

I was offered deferred admission from UVA (so I would be starting next fall). Today I found out I got pulled off the waitlist at Duke and was offered admission for this fall. I have some options for a gap year so I don't mind taking a year off. I'm actually looking forward to a gap year but I really would like any thoughts on why you would pick one over the other.

Career wise I'm interested in public service/policy/government/human rights. Location wise I feel that I would be happy in either Charlottesville or Durham. Are there any other factors I should be considering?

Cost. You should be considering cost. That being said, unless you already have several years of experience (read: not college internships) in pub service/policy/government/human rights and you can speak at least one foreign language, I would take the gap year and work for an NGO and network like crazy. If you're going to law school with some vague sense that you'd like to do something Good and Important, you already are way behind the 8-ball for PI work.

Well, I may have a conflict of interest (since I'm on Duke's WL) so take my opinion with a grain of salt. But if you are not concerned about finances (you have money, parents, etc.) then based on what I can tell of your situation (especially since you seem to be looking forward to a gap year) my gut feeling would be to stick with UVA. But in the end, I suppose it's up to you. Maybe do some more research on the two schools.

UVA definitely has a bit more clout then Duke if you're looking at clerkship opportunities.

let.me.in.please wrote:UVA definitely has a bit more clout then Duke if you're looking at clerkship opportunities.

uh no it doesn't

rickgrimes69 wrote:

let.me.in.please wrote:UVA definitely has a bit more clout then Duke if you're looking at clerkship opportunities.

uh no it doesn't

four percentage point better fedclerk numbers isn't "a bit more clout"?

rickgrimes69 wrote:

let.me.in.please wrote:UVA definitely has a bit more clout then Duke if you're looking at clerkship opportunities.

uh no it doesn't

Loves the Blue Devil.

Ricky-Bobby wrote:

rickgrimes69 wrote:

let.me.in.please wrote:UVA definitely has a bit more clout then Duke if you're looking at clerkship opportunities.

uh no it doesn't

four percentage point better fedclerk numbers isn't "a bit more clout"?

Ok maybe literally "a [tiny] bit" but it's dumb to pick a school over another for such an insanely marginal difference. Also, C/O 2011 would like a word.

let.me.in.please wrote:UVA definitely has a bit more clout then Duke if you're looking at clerkship opportunities.

Well, based on this logic, Duke definitely has a little more clout for big law placement.

I apologize for the superfluous comment... was based off this info http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/news/2 ... kships.htm

But it appears that in terms of percentages, Duke is higher http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/c ... clerkships

Really clerkships don't matter, nor does big law placement in deciding schools since if you do well at either, you will have a number of good opportunities at graduation. Based on the us news rankings UVA is higher, but between the two there is really not a substantial difference in my inexperienced/I've never hired a law student opinion.

Go to whichever school you like better. Both are in great locations with comparable opportunities. If you want to take the year off and relax, do it. If you are eager to jump into school, do that. Really any advice people give is obsolete since the decision is yours alone.

let.me.in.please wrote:UVA definitely has a bit more clout then Duke if you're looking at clerkship opportunities.

yeah "definitely"


OP, they're basically identical in nearly every respect. UVA probably has a better LRAP, though. Go with the money