Top Law Schools

Hi, guys!

I currently have three schools that I'm considering: Duke, Georgetown, and Fordham. As of now, only Fordham is offering me some money ($25K/yr). Georgetown may offer me $10-15K if money frees up there (I got accepted there on Monday), and I haven't spoken to Duke yet about money, as I only got accepted there on Friday. (I will update the money situation when I find out more.)

My life is in NYC, and as an Orthodox Jew going to a place like Durham, NC will make my religious life very difficult. DC has solid Jewish life, as does NYC. I know that Duke is the best school on that list by far, but is it worth sticker over my other two options? If they give me any scholarship money, they're an easy pick, but without scholarship money?

My parents would most likely cover my COL in NYC, as there are areas here where it is not as expensive as one might think. I'm guessing I could convince them to pay COL in Durham, NC, and part of COL in DC. My girlfriend says I should go to Duke, even though she won't see me as often.

What's all your takes on my situation? I'm still hoping to get off NYU's, Columbia's, or Penn's waitlist, but none of those are anywhere near guaranteed.

I'm looking forward to hearing all your insightful advices on the matter. Thanks in advance!!

What do you want to do with your JD? Where do you want to do this?

sinfiery wrote:What do you want to do with your JD? Where do you want to do this?

Where?: I'm not actually sure. I've always wanted to work in NYC, but now I don't know if I still want to for sure do that. I would like the possibility of being able to work in other places besides NYC.

What?: I've always wanted to do ADA work for 3-5 years and then switch over to criminal defense, but I wouldn't mind doing BigLaw work or even litigation type work. I guess this is a question I'd be able to answer better once I'm in law school for a year. I get more and more unsure about these things with each passing week. It's rather annoying, but I'm guessing kinda normal. Eh?

Do those answers help at all?

I also figure that if I go to any school at sticker, I'd have to start off in BigLaw for 2-4 years to pay off my loans.

Not sure where you want to work but leaning toward NYC and not sure what path you want to take?
Duke is easily the correct choice here. Duke at sticker is a scary proposition but with your parents helping out on COL, it should be a tad more manageable.

As for your personal reasons preferring NYC/DC, I can't comment on what that's worth to you. Financially speaking, for your career, Duke is the correct choice.

sinfiery wrote:Not sure where you want to work but leaning toward NYC and not sure what path you want to take?
Duke is easily the correct choice here. Duke at sticker is a scary proposition but with your parents helping out on COL, it should be a tad more manageable.

As for your personal reasons preferring NYC/DC, I can't comment on what that's worth to you. Financially speaking, for your career, Duke is the correct choice.

I hear what you're saying. And to think that about a week ago, I was planning on paying Fordham their second deposit with the intent of going there...

You should come back once you have offers. GULC in particular is notorious for hinting that you'll get money and then stiffing you.

In any case, I would take take Duke at sticker over at Fordham 25/yr and GULC at 15k/yr just for Duke's better employment stats (and it also places really well in NYC). The lower COL in Durham saves your family 5k right off the bat over GULC.

Moving on up, be happy. NYC is Dukes main placement market and you will likely be back if you want to be back. Time to see what Durham is all about

I will definitely update when I have my offers.

Also, does anyone know what this means? Can I assume that it doesn't mean that I have to withdraw from schools I was waitlisted at?

"I certify that I have withdrawn from all other law schools to which I have been admitted."

MyNameIsFlynn! wrote:You should come back once you have offers. GULC in particular is notorious for hinting that you'll get money and then stiffing you.

In any case, I would take take Duke at sticker over at Fordham 25/yr and GULC at 15k/yr just for Duke's better employment stats (and it also places really well in NYC). The lower COL in Durham saves your family 5k right off the bat over GULC.

When does Breaking Bad resume?

I'm really starting to lean toward Duke.

sinfiery wrote:Moving on up, be happy. NYC is Dukes main placement market and you will likely be back if you want to be back. Time to see what Durham is all about

One giant positive of Durham is living on my own in an apartment or house for really cheap without having to worry about roommates. But then again, the negative is the lack of Orthodox Jewish life there that I'd struggle to find for the major holidays while there. Hmmmm...

You don't have to withdraw from schools you were WL at.

Low COL is nice...I'm headed.from.that situation to NYC, not as awesome lol.

sinfiery wrote:You don't have to withdraw from schools you were WL at.

Low COL is nice...I'm headed.from.that situation to NYC, not as awesome lol.

What about Michigan? If I could get in there, where would that fall on the totem pole?

moshei24 wrote:

sinfiery wrote:You don't have to withdraw from schools you were WL at.

Low COL is nice...I'm headed.from.that situation to NYC, not as awesome lol.

What about Michigan? If I could get in there, where would that fall on the totem pole?

Lower than duke, higher than GULC

Go to Duke

moshei24 wrote:

sinfiery wrote:Not sure where you want to work but leaning toward NYC and not sure what path you want to take?
Duke is easily the correct choice here. Duke at sticker is a scary proposition but with your parents helping out on COL, it should be a tad more manageable.

As for your personal reasons preferring NYC/DC, I can't comment on what that's worth to you. Financially speaking, for your career, Duke is the correct choice.

I hear what you're saying. And to think that about a week ago, I was planning on paying Fordham their second deposit with the intent of going there...

Duke is good for NY for sure, and I can imagine that it's good for D.C.. The D.C. market is penetrable for top-10 schools. It just depends on how many jobs are available. Go to Duke.

moshei24 wrote:

sinfiery wrote:You don't have to withdraw from schools you were WL at.

Low COL is nice...I'm headed.from.that situation to NYC, not as awesome lol.

What about Michigan? If I could get in there, where would that fall on the totem pole?

For your goals + assuming near sticker...

D > M

Proximity ftw

What will you do for food at Duke? Any Kosher options? Fordham or Georgetown is tcr here. Pray for Columbia/NYU.

No, there are no Kosher options at Duke, jesus christ. And the grocery stores there absolutely do not sell kosher products. And if you go to Miami, you *must* speak spanish, or nothing works. Can't check out, not sure if turn right on red, etc

Point taken. Maybe I worded my post wrongly. Obviously there will be some Kosher options at Duke. However, depending on OP's level of orthodoxy, the wealth of Kosher food options in NYC should be a big factor in choosing a school.

Huluba wrote:Point taken. Maybe I worded my post wrongly. Obviously there will be some Kosher options at Duke. However, depending on OP's level of orthodoxy, the wealth of Kosher food options in NYC should be a big factor in choosing a school.

I kind of assumed OP was capable of keeping kashrut and cooking for himself? NYC is obviously going to have better QoL for an orthodox student, but I don't think QoL makes up for the big gap in outcomes between Fordham/GULC and Duke.

Just pick up a copy of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Japanese-C ... +cook+book

So to get things summed up:

-QoL shouldn't be taken into account because Duke is WAY better than GULC and Fordham.
-Duke is better than Michigan in terms of getting the kind of jobs it seems I want.

But question, Michigan is ranked higher than Duke, but Duke has better federal clerkships and biglaw, but would the QoL in Michigan for an Orthodox Jew tip it over Duke? I think there's a solid chance I could get off their waitlist. Is there a point of me trying to do so? CoL is much higher there, but why are they ranked higher if Michigan gives better job prospects? On ALT, Duke is ranked 6th, which is higher than even CLS and NYU...

Michigan is ranked higher than Duke

USNWR is a joke

Ignore them

Nova wrote:

Michigan is ranked higher than Duke

USNWR is a joke

Ignore them

So you're a fan of ALT and would choose Duke over CLS and NYU? Serious question, not sarcasm. Duke is ranked higher on ATL.

.

Regulus wrote:Forget about rankings and start using Law School Transparency instead. The only things you should be considering when choosing a law school are 1) cost and 2) outcomes in relation to 3) your goals.

Yup yup