Duke Class of 2017 Forum

[lawschool22]

Ya they seem to spread the money around well rather than concentrating it near the top as I've heard people claim about NYU.

I kind of like Duke's strategy better. It seems more helpful to students in general to give a lot of people at least some decent scholarship packages, as opposed to giving some people tons of $$ and a good portion of others $0.

[mylifeis24]

90K! 3.71, 172. Definitely makes me more interested in Duke, but still not sure if it outweighs CCN even at sticker.... Decisions, decisions.

Please please please do not turn down $90k (or more if you negotiate) at Duke to go to CCN at sticker. It isn't worth it.

I've also received $75K at UVA, which I think is better suited for my interests (clerkship, big law, preferably DC, preferably in an appellate lit practice, then BigFed). If I was able to either raise the $75K offer to match Duke, or even if I just stuck with the $75K, would you apply the same logic and take UVA over CCN and UVA over Duke?

[buffalo_]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered ITT already, but how long does Duke take to review financials? They notified me that they received my info about two weeks ago, but my status checker is still on "Decision Made."

[cotiger]

90K! 3.71, 172. Definitely makes me more interested in Duke, but still not sure if it outweighs CCN even at sticker.... Decisions, decisions.

Please please please do not turn down $90k (or more if you negotiate) at Duke to go to CCN at sticker. It isn't worth it.

I've also received $75K at UVA, which I think is better suited for my interests (clerkship, big law, preferably DC, preferably in an appellate lit practice, then BigFed). If I was able to either raise the $75K offer to match Duke, or even if I just stuck with the $75K, would you apply the same logic and take UVA over CCN and UVA over Duke?

The only one of those that I think UVA might have an advantage over Duke would be the DC preference.

But if you're really truly set on clerkship, DC, and bigfed, I think you know what the correct answer is.. (hint: it's none of the ones you've mentioned).

[lawschool22]

90K! 3.71, 172. Definitely makes me more interested in Duke, but still not sure if it outweighs CCN even at sticker.... Decisions, decisions.

Please please please do not turn down $90k (or more if you negotiate) at Duke to go to CCN at sticker. It isn't worth it.

I've also received $75K at UVA, which I think is better suited for my interests (clerkship, big law, preferably DC, preferably in an appellate lit practice, then BigFed). If I was able to either raise the $75K offer to match Duke, or even if I just stuck with the $75K, would you apply the same logic and take UVA over CCN and UVA over Duke?

Well now that you mentioned your interests, it becomes slightly more complicated. I forget, do you have a CCN offer yet? Or are you sure it's going to be $0?

[Trig]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered ITT already, but how long does Duke take to review financials? They notified me that they received my info about two weeks ago, but my status checker is still on "Decision Made."

[mylifeis24]

90K! 3.71, 172. Definitely makes me more interested in Duke, but still not sure if it outweighs CCN even at sticker.... Decisions, decisions.

Please please please do not turn down $90k (or more if you negotiate) at Duke to go to CCN at sticker. It isn't worth it.

I've also received $75K at UVA, which I think is better suited for my interests (clerkship, big law, preferably DC, preferably in an appellate lit practice, then BigFed). If I was able to either raise the $75K offer to match Duke, or even if I just stuck with the $75K, would you apply the same logic and take UVA over CCN and UVA over Duke?

Well now that you mentioned your interests, it becomes slightly more complicated. I forget, do you have a CCN offer yet? Or are you sure it's going to be $0?

$45K from Chicago, which people from last semester said they were able to negotiate up to around $60K. Still waiting on NYU and Columbia. I fairly confident I'm going to get something from NYU and Columbia- the sticker comparison above was a worse-case scenario hypo.

[mylifeis24]

90K! 3.71, 172. Definitely makes me more interested in Duke, but still not sure if it outweighs CCN even at sticker.... Decisions, decisions.

Please please please do not turn down $90k (or more if you negotiate) at Duke to go to CCN at sticker. It isn't worth it.

I've also received $75K at UVA, which I think is better suited for my interests (clerkship, big law, preferably DC, preferably in an appellate lit practice, then BigFed). If I was able to either raise the $75K offer to match Duke, or even if I just stuck with the $75K, would you apply the same logic and take UVA over CCN and UVA over Duke?

The only one of those that I think UVA might have an advantage over Duke would be the DC preference.

But if you're really truly set on clerkship, DC, and bigfed, I think you know what the correct answer is.. (hint: it's none of the ones you've mentioned).

Well obviously HYS would be ideal, but that's not on the table. From my five current options, (CCN,V,D), I think that order is representative of my chances at reaching those goals.

[lawschool22]

$45K from Chicago, which people from last semester said they were able to negotiate up to around $60K. Still waiting on NYU and Columbia. I fairly confident I'm going to get something from NYU and Columbia- the sticker comparison above was a worse-case scenario hypo.

If you can get to $60k at Chicago I would take that over Duke at $90k or UVA at $75k given your goals. I would likely take Chicago at $45k over Duke at $90k, although I'd have to think about it some.

Your situation is definitely a different ball game than $90k at Duke vs CCN at sticker as you initially implied lol

[Theopliske8711]

Clerkships are a crapshoot, I don't know if it pays to make law school decisions based on that.

[mylifeis24]

Clerkships are a crapshoot, I don't know if it pays to make law school decisions based on that.

True, and it is in no way the primary criterion that I'm basing a decision off of. That being said, I do like the institutional support the Columbia, NYU and UVA have in place to assist students in acquiring clerkships.

[mylifeis24]

$45K from Chicago, which people from last semester said they were able to negotiate up to around $60K. Still waiting on NYU and Columbia. I fairly confident I'm going to get something from NYU and Columbia- the sticker comparison above was a worse-case scenario hypo.

If you can get to $60k at Chicago I would take that over Duke at $90k or UVA at $75k given your goals. I would likely take Chicago at $45k over Duke at $90k, although I'd have to think about it some.

Your situation is definitely a different ball game than $90k at Duke vs CCN at sticker as you initially implied lol

You're right, that was misleading. I meant it more as a comparison, not my actual situation. Thanks for the advice!

[cotiger]

Clerkships are a crapshoot, I don't know if it pays to make law school decisions based on that.

True, and it is in no way the primary criterion that I'm basing a decision off of. That being said, I do like the institutional support the Columbia, NYU and UVA have in place to assist students in acquiring clerkships.

Outside of HYS, chances of clerking are pretty much even all the way around.

From 2007-2012, here are the average number of grads going into federal clerkships from the schools you mentioned:

Duke 12.2%
UVA 11.7%
Chicago 11.3%
Columbia 8.9%
NYU 8.4%

Smaller schools tend to do better for clerking because of the importance of professor recommendations to the hiring process.

[Pyromancer]

Three day turnaround on scholarship form received to scholarship mailed. Good or bad sign?

[barrelofmonkeys]

Three day turnaround on scholarship form received to scholarship mailed. Good or bad sign?

Scholarship form received 02/18/2014

[lawschool22]

Clerkships are a crapshoot, I don't know if it pays to make law school decisions based on that.

True, and it is in no way the primary criterion that I'm basing a decision off of. That being said, I do like the institutional support the Columbia, NYU and UVA have in place to assist students in acquiring clerkships.

Outside of HYS, chances of clerking are pretty much even all the way around.

From 2007-2012, here are the average number of grads going into federal clerkships from the schools you mentioned:

Duke 12.2%
UVA 11.7%
Chicago 11.3%
Columbia 8.9%
NYU 8.4%

Smaller schools tend to do better for clerking because of the importance of professor recommendations to the hiring process.

Also, for the "good" clerkships, grades are going to be the most important factor rather than where you went to school, outside of HYS. Which is a main reason we see relatively similar percentages across the board.

[Theopliske8711]

Yea, clerkships will likely go to those in the top 10-20% of their class. If you can get into that range at Duke you will likely have just as much a chance as at CLS.

[blink]

Three day turnaround on scholarship form received to scholarship mailed. Good or bad sign?

[milkandcheerios]

My scholarship letter was mailed on monday. Today, I was super excited to get this package from Duke in my mailbox thinking it was my offer only to open it and find a t-shirt from their blueprint to LEAD program. I can't even wear it because it's too big!

[yomisterd]

Lots of swag from Duke today. I like swag.

[PotenC]

My scholarship letter was mailed on monday. Today, I was super excited to get this package from Duke in my mailbox thinking it was my offer only to open it and find a t-shirt from their blueprint to LEAD program. I can't even wear it because it's too big!

Haha, did you get a large as well?

UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT A GIANT.

[milkandcheerios]

My scholarship letter was mailed on monday. Today, I was super excited to get this package from Duke in my mailbox thinking it was my offer only to open it and find a t-shirt from their blueprint to LEAD program. I can't even wear it because it's too big!

Haha, did you get a large as well?

UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT A GIANT.

yup I got a large. I guess I'll just give it to my uncle or something.

[KatyMarie]

My scholarship letter was mailed on monday. Today, I was super excited to get this package from Duke in my mailbox thinking it was my offer only to open it and find a t-shirt from their blueprint to LEAD program. I can't even wear it because it's too big!

Haha, did you get a large as well?

UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT A GIANT.

yup I got a large. I guess I'll just give it to my uncle or something.

+1 So excited for Scholarship money...but it turned out to be a giant t-shirt...they ought to start putting "T-shirt size?" on the application

Not to be super neurotic or anything, but has anyone gotten their t-shirt first then received scholarship info?

[lawschool22]

My scholarship letter was mailed on monday. Today, I was super excited to get this package from Duke in my mailbox thinking it was my offer only to open it and find a t-shirt from their blueprint to LEAD program. I can't even wear it because it's too big!

Haha, did you get a large as well?

UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT A GIANT.

yup I got a large. I guess I'll just give it to my uncle or something.

+1 So excited for Scholarship money...but it turned out to be a giant t-shirt...they ought to start putting "T-shirt size?" on the application

Not to be super neurotic or anything, but has anyone gotten their t-shirt first then received scholarship info?

Yep

[mylifeis24]

My scholarship letter was mailed on monday. Today, I was super excited to get this package from Duke in my mailbox thinking it was my offer only to open it and find a t-shirt from their blueprint to LEAD program. I can't even wear it because it's too big!

yup I got a large. I guess I'll just give it to my uncle or something.

+1 So excited for Scholarship money...but it turned out to be a giant t-shirt...they ought to start putting "T-shirt size?" on the application

Not to be super neurotic or anything, but has anyone gotten their t-shirt first then received scholarship info?

Yep

+1