Duke 1L, hanging out on the internet Forum

[Bosque]

This thread's great! Thanks to the current Duke students for taking questions. This question may be most appropriate for 2Ls and 3Ls who have gone through OCI but I was wondering if you think Duke is worth sticker? I really love the school and am thinking of switching to ED Round II but I'm still hesitant to lock myself into so much debt. Thanks a bunch!

2L here. I'd say it is generally worth sticker (although even with ED, I bet you will get at least a small scholarship), although it depends at least in part on what you want to do of course. Where do you want to be, what do you want to practice, and who do you want to work for? The answers to those questions would help me answer your question more effectively (and maybe give some advice on how to get there).

[beachbum]

This thread's great! Thanks to the current Duke students for taking questions. This question may be most appropriate for 2Ls and 3Ls who have gone through OCI but I was wondering if you think Duke is worth sticker? I really love the school and am thinking of switching to ED Round II but I'm still hesitant to lock myself into so much debt. Thanks a bunch!

2L here. I'd say it is generally worth sticker (although even with ED, I bet you will get at least a small scholarship), although it depends at least in part on what you want to do of course. Where do you want to be, what do you want to practice, and who do you want to work for? The answers to those questions would help me answer your question more effectively (and maybe give some advice on how to get there).

Wait, Duke gives scholarships to ED applicants? I always assumed that the binding contract pretty much guarantees sticker price at most schools. I can't imagine Duke would pay for my GPA (I'd be ecstatic just to get in), but now I'm curious. Can you elaborate further?

[Bosque]

This thread's great! Thanks to the current Duke students for taking questions. This question may be most appropriate for 2Ls and 3Ls who have gone through OCI but I was wondering if you think Duke is worth sticker? I really love the school and am thinking of switching to ED Round II but I'm still hesitant to lock myself into so much debt. Thanks a bunch!

2L here. I'd say it is generally worth sticker (although even with ED, I bet you will get at least a small scholarship), although it depends at least in part on what you want to do of course. Where do you want to be, what do you want to practice, and who do you want to work for? The answers to those questions would help me answer your question more effectively (and maybe give some advice on how to get there).

Wait, Duke gives scholarships to ED applicants? I always assumed that the binding contract pretty much guarantees sticker price at most schools. I can't imagine Duke would pay for my GPA (I'd be ecstatic just to get in), but now I'm curious. Can you elaborate further?

Didn't say it was going to be big. But they might throw you a small scholarship (like, $6,000 total or something like that) based on need.

If you have any assets, than this is of course probably not going to happen.

[beachbum]

This thread's great! Thanks to the current Duke students for taking questions. This question may be most appropriate for 2Ls and 3Ls who have gone through OCI but I was wondering if you think Duke is worth sticker? I really love the school and am thinking of switching to ED Round II but I'm still hesitant to lock myself into so much debt. Thanks a bunch!

2L here. I'd say it is generally worth sticker (although even with ED, I bet you will get at least a small scholarship), although it depends at least in part on what you want to do of course. Where do you want to be, what do you want to practice, and who do you want to work for? The answers to those questions would help me answer your question more effectively (and maybe give some advice on how to get there).

Wait, Duke gives scholarships to ED applicants? I always assumed that the binding contract pretty much guarantees sticker price at most schools. I can't imagine Duke would pay for my GPA (I'd be ecstatic just to get in), but now I'm curious. Can you elaborate further?

Didn't say it was going to be big. But they might throw you a small scholarship (like, $6,000 total or something like that) based on need.

If you have any assets, than this is of course probably not going to happen.

Right on, I'll take whatever I can get. Thanks for the heads up, and hope to see you in Durham next year.

[quakeroats]

This thread's great! Thanks to the current Duke students for taking questions. This question may be most appropriate for 2Ls and 3Ls who have gone through OCI but I was wondering if you think Duke is worth sticker? I really love the school and am thinking of switching to ED Round II but I'm still hesitant to lock myself into so much debt. Thanks a bunch!

2L here. I'd say it is generally worth sticker (although even with ED, I bet you will get at least a small scholarship), although it depends at least in part on what you want to do of course. Where do you want to be, what do you want to practice, and who do you want to work for? The answers to those questions would help me answer your question more effectively (and maybe give some advice on how to get there).

Wait, Duke gives scholarships to ED applicants? I always assumed that the binding contract pretty much guarantees sticker price at most schools. I can't imagine Duke would pay for my GPA (I'd be ecstatic just to get in), but now I'm curious. Can you elaborate further?

Didn't say it was going to be big. But they might throw you a small scholarship (like, $6,000 total or something like that) based on need.

If you have any assets, than this is of course probably not going to happen.

Right on, I'll take whatever I can get. Thanks for the heads up, and hope to see you in Durham next year.

I saw an ED applicant get 50k last cycle, although his/her numbers were higher than you'd expect from a typical ED applicant.

[Jericwithers]

I saw an ED applicant get 50k last cycle, although his/her numbers were higher than you'd expect from a typical ED applicant.

Let us guess who it is. What fun!

[QuailMan]

Thanks so much to everyone who has been answering questions in this thread!

I'm really warming to Duke, but coming for the west coast I have a lot of friends and family who really see it as kind of a 'white-elite' type of place where especially a non-urm minority like myself would really stick out. Basically I think their vision of Duke is rooted in the lacrosse scandal. I'm open minded enough to realize that this view is probably seriously misguided and biased but I wanted to ask the viewpoint of people who go there. I guess I dont have a specific question, but curious what you think of Duke's general rep.

[DallasCowboy]

Non-issue. People are down-to-earth.

[los blancos]

Non-issue. People are down-to-earth.

This^, though I would say that the law school is very white demographically, especially when compared to the undergrad population. Hopefully they'll do a better job recruiting URMs this year.

[quakeroats]

Non-issue. People are down-to-earth.

This^, though I would say that the law school is very white demographically, especially when compared to the undergrad population. Hopefully they'll do a better job recruiting URMs this year.

I think we're something like 20% non-white at the law school.

[tipler4213]

tag

[prezidentv8]

Non-issue. People are down-to-earth.

This^, though I would say that the law school is very white demographically, especially when compared to the undergrad population. Hopefully they'll do a better job recruiting URMs this year.

Just realized how your name goes well with the Duke student population.

[thickfreakness]

Non-issue. People are down-to-earth.

This^, though I would say that the law school is very white demographically, especially when compared to the undergrad population. Hopefully they'll do a better job recruiting URMs this year.

Just realized how your name goes well with the Duke student population.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chZsmKZ9Rjw

"Nice catch blanco nino, but too bad your ass got saaaaaacked."

[Eyetalian]

I am torn between schools on the east coast like Duke and UVA and schools on the west coast like Berkeley and UCLA. I live in NJ now but would like to work in Cali.

What are the west coast employment/recruiting prospects like for Duke students? Do a lot of LA firms come to campus?

[Bosque]

V8, you want to take this one?

[Shooter]

"Nice catch blanco nino, but too bad your ass got saaaaaacked."

Hahahahaha!

Porkchop Sandwiches!!!!

[mrmangs]

"Nice catch blanco nino, but too bad your ass got saaaaaacked."

Hahahahaha!

Porkchop Sandwiches!!!!

Last one there's a penis pump!

[prezidentv8]

I am torn between schools on the east coast like Duke and UVA and schools on the west coast like Berkeley and UCLA. I live in NJ now but would like to work in Cali.

What are the west coast employment/recruiting prospects like for Duke students? Do a lot of LA firms come to campus?

V8, you want to take this one?

Bosque - sure thing, although admittedly my "expertise" is more Bay Area oriented.

Couple of things for ya Eyetalian.

First, common wisdom is that for California and the West Coast generally, connections of some sort are very important. My understanding is that San Francisco in particular is notorious for this. With that being said, I have seen at least one person (really, probably two) with zero connections to California network like MAD and get a good firm gig in Palo Alto.

Second, rumor has it that around 10% of all Duke Law alums are in California. I can't verify that figure, but I feel like I heard it from a reputable source. Take that with a grain of salt though, because (a) we're pretty small, (b) we used to be smaller, (c) California is huge and populous, and (d) a ton of people from other schools try to get to California.

Third, I'll touch on a beef (one of few to be honest) that I have with the law school. A very significant portion of our school is from California or attempting to work there. Yet - and this is for a number of very reasonable reasons - there are not very many firms with significant California offices at OCI, relative to the number of people trying to get there. Probably half of the firms that do show up are, for lack of a better way of stating it, extremely fancy firms that maybe 10-20% of the California folks even have a shot at. The upside to this is that Duke and UVA host an annual OCI-style event in LA. The downside of that is that you only get a few firms with LA offices to show up.

Lastly, I'll say that, even given the issue I have with OCI bidding options, the Duke name travels very well and can earn you some interviews if you're willing to hustle. I haven't been able to turn any into a job yet, but I've received close to a half-dozen callbacks (Edit - yeah I know, total aspie yadda yadda yadda), only one of which was through OCI. So the take away is that you have to hustle for your work in California, although that's true pretty much at any school you go to outside of the particular California metro area that you eventually want to work in. Duke is generally going to open more doors for you, but without connections to California, you're probably going to have to do something to establish a presence where you want to work. Duke or UVA can allow you to do that, but USC or UCLA have a physical advantage (that is, if you're looking at LA). The thing with the more local schools is that networking and traveling to meet people is going to be easier, while Duke and UVA should open doors more broadly, and generally be very well-received anywhere you go.


TLDR: Either way, you're going to have to work hard for a California job.

[Eyetalian]

Does you find it's much easier for Duke students to find biglaw jobs in NYC rather than CA?

[prezidentv8]

Does you find it's much easier for Duke students to find biglaw jobs in NYC rather than CA?

Yes, although my feeling is that that's going to be true at most schools. New York is just a massive market.

[QuailMan]

did anyone here attend admitted student events? was it worth it? I've never been to the campus before and I'm coming from the west coast, so I feel like I should get a sense of the place before I make a commitment.

[thickfreakness]

did anyone here attend admitted student events? was it worth it? I've never been to the campus before and I'm coming from the west coast, so I feel like I should get a sense of the place before I make a commitment.

ASW sealed the deal for me. Strongly recommend visiting the ASW (failing that, a regular visit) of any school you're considering attending.

[Blindc1rca]

Overall attractiveness of the Duke Law student population?
Overall nerdiness of the Duke Law student population?
(not mutually exclusive)

[3ThrowAway99]

Haven't read through all the pages of this thread, so please excuse me if this has been asked: how is the environment in terms of competitiveness? For some reason I have the idea that Duke involves a strong feeling of competition and is somewhat gunnerish. I'm not sure why I have that impression but wondering if it is at all true.

[DallasCowboy]

.