Duke ($$) v Notre Dame ($$$$) Forum

[keenanrevue]

I'm a graduating senior from Notre Dame with a 3.74,169
I'd like to end up in New York, DC, or Chicago, not necessarily in that order
I'm not completely decided between Big Law or public interest

Struggling to decide between two offers....

Notre Dame Law School
I was offered a full tuition scholarship that adjusts with rising tuition for the next three years
COA 23,000 per year, possibly less if I was an Assistant Rector for my 2L and 3L years

Duke Law
I am expecting an average scholarship from Duke (should find out in the next few days) which would roughly be
COA ~60,000 per year

I was waitlisted at pretty much every other 14 school with the exception of rejections from Berkeley and Harvard.
I keep flipflopping, sometimes within the same conversation with people

[Goldchain]

Easy Notre Dame in your situation. Duke is an amazing school but not 150k better than ND. If it was HYS it would be substantially harder but I see no reason to select Duke given your goals.

[existentialcrisis]

Well my first thought is to retake and reapply, or at the very least sit out a year and apply earlier and right "why x" essays. Even if you don't retake, sitting out a year is a good idea, and I really wish that I had done it myself.

If you are absolutely dead set on going this year, then I would pick Duke. I think it is defensible at 120k debt. It seems like people that aren't 100 percent committed to PI going into school, almost always end wanting biglaw, as it is the path of least resistance, and Duke gives you a much better shot at that.

[existentialcrisis]

Easy Notre Dame in your situation. Duke is an amazing school but not 150k better than ND. If it was HYS it would be substantially harder but I see no reason to select Duke given your goals.

What does this even mean? OP's goals are "PI or biglaw" which almost always means "big law." Duke has always given its students an excellent shot at landing a firm gig, the same cannot be said for ND.

[Clemenceau]

Premature. Come back with dukes scholly offer before deciding between these two

Retake/reapply is likely a better call either way, however. You mention liking Chicago and your numbers are prime for big money at NU. I'd consider applying ed there next cycle if I were you

[barkschool]

Premature. Come back with dukes scholly offer before deciding between these two

Retake/reapply is likely a better call either way, however. You mention liking Chicago and your numbers are prime for big money at NU. I'd consider applying ed there next cycle if I were you

I agree, just 12 easy months could mean the difference between $100k in debt and way way less. It would be like paying yourself $10k a month tax free just to take the lsat

[keenanrevue]

Premature. Come back with dukes scholly offer before deciding between these two

Retake/reapply is likely a better call either way, however. You mention liking Chicago and your numbers are prime for big money at NU. I'd consider applying ed there next cycle if I were you

I agree, just 12 easy months could mean the difference between $100k in debt and way way less. It would be like paying yourself $10k a month tax free just to take the lsat

Is it worth it to/ would it jeopardize the acceptances I already have?

[pittsburghpirates]

Premature. Come back with dukes scholly offer before deciding between these two

Retake/reapply is likely a better call either way, however. You mention liking Chicago and your numbers are prime for big money at NU. I'd consider applying ed there next cycle if I were you

I agree, just 12 easy months could mean the difference between $100k in debt and way way less. It would be like paying yourself $10k a month tax free just to take the lsat

Is it worth it to/ would it jeopardize the acceptances I already have?

If you retake in June it won't jeopardize any acceptance you have. Could even help you to get off a waitlist or two that you're on if you are able to raise your score!

[Clemenceau]

Premature. Come back with dukes scholly offer before deciding between these two

Retake/reapply is likely a better call either way, however. You mention liking Chicago and your numbers are prime for big money at NU. I'd consider applying ed there next cycle if I were you

I agree, just 12 easy months could mean the difference between $100k in debt and way way less. It would be like paying yourself $10k a month tax free just to take the lsat

Is it worth it to/ would it jeopardize the acceptances I already have?

The acceptances you have frankly aren't that great for your numbers. You should be accepted with money to a bunch of lower t14s.

[proteinshake]

if you were waitlisted at the other T14s you DEFINITELY underperformed.

[barkschool]

When did you apply? B/c waiting to resubmit when apps open again could also be a huge difference.

[keenanrevue]

Update***
Duke offered me 25,000 each year (75,000 total)

[keenanrevue]

When did you apply? B/c waiting to resubmit when apps open again could also be a huge difference.

I applied between Christmas and New Years for most schools

[20171203]

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