Top Law Schools

COA:
Duke: $208K
Vandy: $115K

Financing primarily through loans and some savings (~10k).

Career goals are Big/MidLaw, preferably in a secondary market like ATL/ TX although it would be nice to have NYC to fall back on. Considering clerking after graduation if I can snag one.

3.46/ 169 with one LSAT take.

I haven't attempted to negotiate with Duke. I was accepted at Michigan as well, but offered $0 so not much leverage there. Any input is appreciated.

ETA:

Using GULC's calculator, on a 10-year repayment plan I'd be looking at:

Vandy: 147,529; Payments ~$1229/mo
Duke: 278,440; Payments ~$2320

you add interest?

Is 5 spots in the ranking worth 100k to you?

baal hadad wrote:you add interest?

I did not. Thanks for pointing that out.

Using GULC's calculator, on a 10-year repayment plan I'd be looking at:

Vandy: 147,529
Duke: 278,440

mynameismyname wrote:Is 5 spots in the ranking worth 100k to you?

No, but doubling my chances at Big Lawl might be.

I would pick Duke. Big boy/girl debt means you will need a big boy/girl job to pay it off. Your career will likely last 40 years. Go with the school that will set you up the best for a long term career.

Is it really double the chance at working at a big law firm though?

mynameismyname wrote:Is it really double the chance at working at a big law firm though?

Looking at the 2014 ABA disclosures, if you add Fed Clerkships to 250-501+ firms, then yes.

mynameismyname wrote:Is 5 spots in the ranking worth 100k to you?

This is a dumb response. It's not about Duke being ranked higher, it's about Duke doubling OP's chances at Big Law/Clerkship. The real question would be "Is doubling your chances of your desired outcome worth 100k?" . Only OP can answer that question.

Personally, I would not take either of these outcomes- it is too much debt for my taste. OP, you have only taken the LSAT once. Even a two point increase would substantially improve your outcomes. If you refuse to retake, the correct response (with your goals) is probably Duke. But $200,000 is a LOT of debt, and retaking the LSAT would probably be your best move (at least wrt the options you have given).

It was a half joke post... Rankings are not that serious. Only thing we care about is if there is a good chance that I can get a lucrative and or prestigious job from this university with as little debt as we can take. Vandy is a great school and if the coa was under 90k in this scenario it would win.

WaitersIsland wrote:

mynameismyname wrote:Is 5 spots in the ranking worth 100k to you?

This is a dumb response. It's not about Duke being ranked higher, it's about Duke doubling OP's chances at Big Law/Clerkship. The real question would be "Is doubling your chances of your desired outcome worth 100k?" . Only OP can answer that question.

Personally, I would not take either of these outcomes- it is too much debt for my taste. OP, you have only taken the LSAT once. Even a two point increase would substantially improve your outcomes. If you refuse to retake, the correct response (with your goals) is probably Duke. But $200,000 is a LOT of debt, and retaking the LSAT would probably be your best move (at least wrt the options you have given).

Thanks.

A retake is not out of the question and it's something I'll consider. I remember really hitting a wall towards the end of my LSAT study. I had been at it for about 4-5 months. Not sure if it was burnout or what, but it didn't leave me very confident in my ability to improve.

WaitersIsland wrote:

mynameismyname wrote:Is 5 spots in the ranking worth 100k to you?

This is a dumb response. It's not about Duke being ranked higher, it's about Duke doubling OP's chances at Big Law/Clerkship. The real question would be "Is doubling your chances of your desired outcome worth 100k?" . Only OP can answer that question.

Personally, I would not take either of these outcomes- it is too much debt for my taste. OP, you have only taken the LSAT once. Even a two point increase would substantially improve your outcomes. If you refuse to retake, the correct response (with your goals) is probably Duke. But $200,000 is a LOT of debt, and retaking the LSAT would probably be your best move (at least wrt the options you have given).

It's $278,000 not $200,000. I just can't grasp borrowing that much money for a degree. What is the monthly payment on a standard plan without refinancing or PAYE? It's close to $3,000 a month, if not more.
How can this be a good plan?

I'd retake. Both are too expensive. Duke is DEFINITELY too expensive

jumbocolumbo wrote:
A retake is not out of the question and it's something I'll consider. I remember really hitting a wall towards the end of my LSAT study. I had been at it for about 4-5 months. Not sure if it was burnout or what, but it didn't leave me very confident in my ability to improve.

I would retake if you can, but I don't think Vandy is a terrible choice here if you want to work in the South. I am trying to make a similiar decision but with Michigan instead of Duke and Michigan coa being the same as Vandy. If Michigan was as expensive as Duke is for you, it wouldn't even be a decision, Vandy all the way. From what I hear Vandy has almost as good of placement power in the south as lower t14s, maybe not quite as good, but certainly not over 100k worse.