Duke $$ vs. Cornell $$$ vs. Virginia $$$ vs. Penn $$$ Forum

[zoomama]

Hello all,

I'd like to hear some debate. I currently have offers for: 90k to Duke, 150k to Cornell, 135k to Virginia, and 105k to Penn, still waiting to hear from UChicago, NYU and Harvard on admittances/denials and from Northwestern on a scholarship.

What do you all think the way to go is? I have prior finance work experience, with a securities/financial litigation career goal.

I guess you could say I was unfamiliar with the whole scholarship process as I thought I'd be paying sticker at any school I got into. I already feel like I know where I am going to go, but I want to see some objective analyses as mine clearly are biased.

[Tiago Splitter]

Hello all,

I'd like to hear some debate. I currently have offers for: 90k to Duke, 150k to Cornell, 135k to Virginia, and 105k to Penn, still waiting to hear from UChicago, NYU and Harvard on admittances/denials and from Northwestern on a scholarship.

What do you all think the way to go is? I have prior finance work experience, with a securities/financial litigation career goal.

I guess you could say I was unfamiliar with the whole scholarship process as I thought I'd be paying sticker at any school I got into. I'm trying to now feel out where the best value is and where I'd be happiest. All while considering the final career goal listed above.

Without more info it's pretty clearly between UVA and Cornell. Where are you from and where you do you want to work?

[pppp]

I wouldn't throw out that Penn offer so fast. The only offer that seems a little off is Duke at 90. I think you could get them to increase that, let them know about the 135 to UVA

[Tls2016]

So how much would you owe at graduation at each school?
Is your final career goal biglaw securities litigation?
Do you care where you live?

[zoomama]

Current career goal is biglaw securities litigation as in barring any major changes I will be hoping to get a securities litigation biglaw job at graduation. I don't know if i would say that it is a "final" career goal.

I am going to be able to fund living expenses so my real concerns are tuition/school related specifically, not room board etc. Essentially all four of these schools are between $56 and $60 per year, so when you add in extra things like books and fees, I am going to conservatively say $65k per year regardless of school. $65k x 3 = 195k in total tuition cost. Subtract the scholarship figures and you get to the debt at graduation for each option.

I don't exactly care where I live, but all four of these options place in essentially the same locations.

I have my own personal feelings on where I am thinking about heading, I just want to gauge what an objective person would do in my situation.

Additionally playing into the mix is that my fiance, a first grade teacher, will be coming with me, so ease of her getting a new teaching job also factors into the mix. This puts the smaller cities like Ithaca at a disadvantage simply because there are less people and thus less teaching jobs available. Something to consider. But her job and our combined current savings are helping to make living expenses a non-issue.

[03152016]

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[lymenheimer]

This all may be moot if you are going to attend H/C/N if you get accepted. Wait for all of your options. In the meantime, negotiate. I can all but guarantee you that these are not your final offers. That being said, NC isnt a bad place for a teacher. There are quality schools and districts in and around Durham. People like to bitch about the pay in public schools, but its not bad. There are a number of charter schools and private schools too.

[James.K.Polk]

This all may be moot if you are going to attend H/C/N if you get accepted. Wait for all of your options. In the meantime, negotiate. I can all but guarantee you that these are not your final offers. That being said, NC isnt a bad place for a teacher. There are quality schools and districts in and around Durham. People like to bitch about the pay in public schools, but its not bad. There are a number of charter schools and private schools too.

Agreed - Chicago or NYU may shoot you an offer of 60k+, in which case I think you ought to consider it.

[Tls2016]

You have no idea where you want to live while in school or after you graduate? Are you planning on NYC?

I don't agree at all that these four schools are essentially the same location.edit: misread you said place in the same location. But that's because NYC is the biggest market. Is that what you want?

Agree that it's premature if you are still waiting for schools that you would consider attending.

[deepseapartners]

I would negotiate with Penn and get them up closer to UVA's offer. Your fiancé should have an easier time getting a job in Philly, and after 1L it's a lot more fun to go to law school in a city with stuff to do. That said, if these numbers are final, Cornell for nearly nothing with basically the same (solid to guaranteed) shot at Biglaw as Penn is pretty tempting.

If I were you, I would start thinking a little more about the next job. If your background is finance, you probably have a better idea than a lot of incoming law students about the shitshow your life turns into once you start working, and you can probably gauge how long you're going to last and how ambitious you are. I think Penn makes more sense if you're not worried about the next job, but if you are, you're going to be very thankful that you paid off your loans in <2 years taking the $$ at Cornell.

[zoomama]

You have no idea where you want to live while in school or after you graduate? Are you planning on NYC?

I don't agree at all that these four schools are essentially the same location.edit: misread you said place in the same location. But that's because NYC is the biggest market. Is that what you want?

Agree that it's premature if you are still waiting for schools that you would consider attending.

I didn't say that I have no idea where I want to live after I graduate, I said I don't exactly care, which what I meant was that I would be open to anywhere, but understand that NYC is probably the most realistic option for my interests.

I am essentially not considering Uchicago, got a bad vibe from the interview and don't want to go back to the midwest. (EDIT: originally from Chicagoland and now live on east coast). That and Northwestern are there more for scholarship negotiating purposes. I don't think I'll get in to harvard (169/4.05) but I may hit the waitlist and then we have trouble in that I'd probably have to accept a scholarship before I'd get off the waitlist (if ever). NYU is tough due to highest cost of living.

Happy to hear all these viewpoints.

[Tls2016]

You have no idea where you want to live while in school or after you graduate? Are you planning on NYC?

I don't agree at all that these four schools are essentially the same location.edit: misread you said place in the same location. But that's because NYC is the biggest market. Is that what you want?

Agree that it's premature if you are still waiting for schools that you would consider attending.

I didn't say that I have no idea where I want to live after I graduate, I said I don't exactly care, which what I meant was that I would be open to anywhere, but understand that NYC is probably the most realistic option for my interests.

I am essentially not considering Uchicago, got a bad vibe from the interview and don't want to go back to the midwest. (EDIT: originally from Chicagoland and now live on east coast). That and Northwestern are there more for scholarship negotiating purposes. I don't think I'll get in to harvard (169/4.05) but I may hit the waitlist and then we have trouble in that I'd probably have to accept a scholarship before I'd get off the waitlist (if ever). NYU is tough due to highest cost of living.

Happy to hear all these viewpoints.

Some people are against NYC or have home secondary markets they prefer. With your work experience which will help you get a biglaw job, go to Cornell if those numbers stick. You will have manageable debt no matter what you decide to do out of law school.

[Auxilio]

I don't think I'll get in to harvard (169/4.05) but I may hit the waitlist and then we have trouble in that I'd probably have to accept a scholarship before I'd get off the waitlist (if ever).

Just want to point out that being accepted while having accepted a scholarship is another opportunity to negotiate

[zoomama]

Update: Northwestern gave me $60k per year, $180 total

[hopefuljumbo23]

Update: Northwestern gave me $60k per year, $180 total

I'd take the Northwestern offer and never look back.

[Auxilio]

Update: Northwestern gave me $60k per year, $180 total

Enjoy chicago unless you get a Levy out of nowhere

[KiltedKicker]

I'd argue that the difference between 135 and 150 is pretty minimal in the long run. It is a factor, but if I were you its be a relatively small one. Negotiate with all of these schools and factor cost of course, but consider which one would make you happiest because these are all good schools at good prices and will likely give you a good outcome

[Auxilio]

I'd argue that the difference between 135 and 150 is pretty minimal in the long run. It is a factor, but if I were you its be a relatively small one. Negotiate with all of these schools and factor cost of course, but consider which one would make you happiest because these are all good schools at good prices and will likely give you a good outcome

Did you see his update? 180k at NU

[fliptrip]

Update: Northwestern gave me $60k per year, $180 total

That's a lot-o cheddar, duder, I'd take that and be done with it.

Congrats!