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Need to choose among Cornell @ 150k vs Duke @ 120k vs Michigan @ 120k by 4/15.

My short-term goal is big law, long term I want to be a judge.

Slight location preference and school preference for Duke, but not sure if it is worth about 20k more than Cornell.

Interested to hear some perspectives of current students or alumni about this too.

Cornell assuming these are scholarship amounts and not COA. If COA, Duke since you like the feel of it more.

UVA2B wrote:Cornell assuming these are scholarship amounts and not COA. If COA, Duke since you like the feel of it more.

Scholarships, will edit my OP later for my COA

Hey, check out my thread, it's very similar (same schools and career goals!) You just got more money than me Interested in following your decision!

First of all, congratulations on all of the great offers!
I think that these scholarships are so similar numerically that the decision is ultimately up to your personal preference (location, culture, etc.)
In terms of your future aspirations, I believe that Cornell's very high placement into biglaw will afford you the best opportunities to fulfill those aspirations, as well as it being 30k cheaper than the other schools.
To me, with your goals in mind + scholarship offers, Cornell would be the no-brainer (aside from the less-than-exceptional weather). Duke comes very close, but taking into account prestige (strict T-14 rankings), Michigan's offer is very attractive as well.

Wow congrats on the excellent choices!

I honestly would choose Duke since it basically has the same market at Cornell (assuming you want NYC Biglaw), similar employment numbers, but IMO Duke would just be a more chill/fun school.

Because you just said biglaw generally, I would say Duke here. Gives you access to more markets than Cornell. If you were deadset NYC biglaw, then go to Cornell. If you want a shot at DC, Atlanta, west coast, etc, I would say Duke hands down.

xtremenite wrote: Slight location preference and school preference for Duke

Then go to Duke.

grades?? wrote:Because you just said biglaw generally, I would say Duke here. Gives you access to more markets than Cornell. If you were deadset NYC biglaw, then go to Cornell. If you want a shot at DC, Atlanta, west coast, etc, I would say Duke hands down.

Yeah, I was assuming biglaw generically would mean NYC is acceptable to OP. If OP wants other markets, Duke becomes more worth it to me. It's not $30k better than Cornell for NYC biglaw, but it's probably $30k better if anything other than NYC biglaw.

UVA2B wrote:

grades?? wrote:Because you just said biglaw generally, I would say Duke here. Gives you access to more markets than Cornell. If you were deadset NYC biglaw, then go to Cornell. If you want a shot at DC, Atlanta, west coast, etc, I would say Duke hands down.

Yeah, I was assuming biglaw generically would mean NYC is acceptable to OP. If OP wants other markets, Duke becomes more worth it to me. It's not $30k better than Cornell for NYC biglaw, but it's probably $30k better if anything other than NYC biglaw.

I agree. If he's NYC biglaw or die, then Cornell for the proximity and being slightly cheaper. But given general biglaw, Duke is significantly better, with the better weather (f&%$ cornell winters).

Thank you everyone for all the quick responses.

I am struggling on whether or not Duke is worth about $20k more. I haven't posted the COA yet but according to LST Cornell and Duke have very similar COL. There is about a $10k difference in tuition so Cornell in the end is about $20k cheaper. Will edit the true COA as soon as I have time.

I have two questions about posts in this thread:

1) Is Cornell really better for placing into NY big law? My impression was always that they are peer schools and both have strong national reach, especially in NY.

2) I am also interested in SF big law. Is Duke really better than Cornell here?

xtremenite wrote:Thank you everyone for all the quick responses.

I am struggling on whether or not Duke is worth about $20k more. I haven't posted the COA yet but according to LST Cornell and Duke have very similar COL. There is about a $10k difference in tuition so Cornell in the end is about $20k cheaper. Will edit the true COA as soon as I have time.

I have two questions about posts in this thread:

1) Is Cornell really better for placing into NY big law? My impression was always that they are peer schools and both have strong national reach, especially in NY.

2) I am also interested in SF big law. Is Duke really better than Cornell here?

1) No.

2) Perhaps marginally. There are more Duke alumni out here than Cornell alumni, so that helps at the margins. But the schools have roughly similar reputations when it comes to big law hiring.

Most of the placement difference you see between Cornell and Duke can be explained by self selection. But seeing as how you have a slight geographic preference for Duke over Cornell, and considering that Duke has a slightly better network in a non-NYC market that you're interested in, I think Duke is worth the extra $20K. Either choice is fine, though. And Michigan would be fine too if you'd prefer to live in Ann Arbor for three years.

xtremenite wrote:Thank you everyone for all the quick responses.

I am struggling on whether or not Duke is worth about $20k more. I haven't posted the COA yet but according to LST Cornell and Duke have very similar COL. There is about a $10k difference in tuition so Cornell in the end is about $20k cheaper. Will edit the true COA as soon as I have time.

I have two questions about posts in this thread:

1) Is Cornell really better for placing into NY big law? My impression was always that they are peer schools and both have strong national reach, especially in NY.

2) I am also interested in SF big law. Is Duke really better than Cornell here?

1) Both have great reputations for placing into NY, but Cornell probably has a slight advantage.

2) It's a wash between the two. This will come down to grades, ties to the region, and interviewing skills/luck. Berkeley would be a much better choice for SF big law if that's what you really want.

Just put down my deposit at Duke. Thank you for everyone for all the incredibly helpful advice.