Page 1 of 1
Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:43 pm
by so.it.goes
Hi there TLS -
Trying to resolve a dilemma for "a friend" ;)
The basics:
-no undergrad debt
-no real preference of after-graduation market (other than NYC-avoidance, maybe?)
-generally interested in environmental law/land & resource use/property/development
-not opposed to biglaw but would like to keep options open
-as laid back as a Type-A person can be
-visited both places, loved them both
Obviously feel super #blessed to have these options, but would love any input/advice from a source that is not my cat.
Thanks in advance.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:50 pm
by leslieknope
I would take Duke in your situation, tbh, and I'm not necessarily opposed to sticker debt at HYS. Since you don't really have well defined career goals that Stanford specifically could help you get, sticker debt at Stanford is probably going to be way more limiting to you than any loss of opportunities from going to Duke. It's an awesome school, congrats.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:52 pm
by jemthey17
Have you received aid information for SLS?
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:58 pm
by so.it.goes
thanks for the responses so far!
no, not yet - allegedly should be receiving SLS aid info very soon though.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:10 am
by so.it.goes
I guess one question could be -
What amount of aid $ would make Stanford a good bargain? (like...I would be stupid not to jump on it. Or am I being stupid not to jump on the Mordecai? Haha. I obviously need help here.)
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:13 am
by Mack.Hambleton
If you get full need aid maybe Stanford but Duke is probably the better choice
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:14 am
by chuckbass
I think you should figure out what you want to do before you go to law school tbh.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:26 am
by so.it.goes
To clarify, I guess...I expect to go biglaw after graduation. I just don't want to completely exclude the possibility of doing government work or something less lucrative. I have some experience in both the public and private sectors, so I could see myself deciding either way.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:04 am
by chuckbass
so.it.goes wrote:To clarify, I guess...I expect to go biglaw after graduation. I just don't want to completely exclude the possibility of doing government work or something less lucrative. I have some experience in both the public and private sectors, so I could see myself deciding either way.
Then Duke no question.
(Plus you should still try to think more about what you want to do)
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:37 am
by ILoveYou
Congrats on your excellent cycle; enjoy Duke!
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 5:01 pm
by name of user
ILoveYou wrote:Congrats on your excellent cycle; enjoy Duke!
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 5:23 pm
by muskies970
Stanford is a defensible decision here.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:39 am
by Instinctive
If you truly want to do environmental law work, Stanford is far and away an easy choice. Additionally, one can do a JD/MS in Environmental Resources (the exact name escapes me) without adding an additional year (still finish in 3, no summer classes still).
It doesn't sound that way though for you. I'd have a much clearer picture of why I was going to law school if I was in your position before making this kind of decision (which I did). If you're not certain about what to do, and you don't have a clear goal in mind, taking the money and eliminating the risk of being stuck in BigLaw seems to make a lot more sense.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:49 am
by rpupkin
Instinctive wrote:If you truly want to do environmental law work, Stanford is far and away an easy choice. Additionally, one can do a JD/MS in Environmental Resources (the exact name escapes me) without adding an additional year (still finish in 3, no summer classes still).
It doesn't sound that way though for you. I'd have a much clearer picture of why I was going to law school if I was in your position before making this kind of decision (which I did). If you're not certain about what to do, and you don't have a clear goal in mind, taking the money and eliminating the risk of being stuck in BigLaw seems to make a lot more sense.
I basically agree with this. If the OP had a very specific environmental law/environmental policy goal in mind, then I think SLS would make sense (though I wouldn't go so far to say that it's "far and away an easy choice"). But with only a vague environmental law interest and an expectation of big law, then Duke with a Mordecai is the way to go.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:00 am
by pancakes3
rpupkin wrote:Instinctive wrote:If you truly want to do environmental law work, Stanford is far and away an easy choice. Additionally, one can do a JD/MS in Environmental Resources (the exact name escapes me) without adding an additional year (still finish in 3, no summer classes still).
It doesn't sound that way though for you. I'd have a much clearer picture of why I was going to law school if I was in your position before making this kind of decision (which I did). If you're not certain about what to do, and you don't have a clear goal in mind, taking the money and eliminating the risk of being stuck in BigLaw seems to make a lot more sense.
I basically agree with this. If the OP had a very specific environmental law/environmental policy goal in mind, then I think SLS would make sense (though I wouldn't go so far to say that it's "far and away an easy choice"). But with only a vague environmental law interest and an expectation of big law, then Duke with a Mordecai is the way to go.
I would "basically agree" if the OP had WE with environmental issues or substantial UG coursework but genuine interest doesn't cut it.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:53 am
by so.it.goes
Thanks everyone!
As far as my academic background goes, my undergraduate majors were environmental studies, political science, and urban planning. I have work experience with community development non-profits, city government, environmental education, and oil and gas.
Long-term goals: Work on environmental compliance issues; real estate development; energy law. Basically environmentally and economically responsible land use (whether on the policy end or the business end).
Also now looking at ~$40,000 in fellowship aid from Stanford, supplemented by loans.
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:05 am
by OhBoyOhBortles
Stanford
Re: Stanford versus Duke (with Mordecai $$$)
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:10 am
by kcdc1
Cost of living is super cheap in Durham and super expensive in the Bay Area. I'd go Duke for sure. 200k is a huge deal when you're starting out your career. With compounding interest, it's retirement 5 years early.