Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$) Forum
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
174/3.94, only took the LSAT once.
Would be debt financing everything. The debt calculator in the stickied post is gone, is there another good place to calculate COA?
Looking at Harvard with likely no or little aid for the first year, but will be eligible for at least small grants in year 2 and 3. 75k aid at Chicago, haven't negotiated yet. 120k aid at Duke, told them about UT, Chi, and Harvard and am waiting to hear back about possibility of more aid. Full ride at UT, I have until April 1 to tell them if I'm taking it. Hopefully will hear aid offers from NYU soon. 150k to NU but I'm not really interested in going there.
From Texas and went to UT for undergrad but live in Chicago now doing consulting. Would be fine living anywhere I listed in this post.
Goals are kind of amorphous rn, but would like to do an article iii clerkship and eventually public interest law in consumer financial protection (like in the CFPB or DOJ). Maybe that's a wildly unrealistic aspiration but it's what my background is in. I'm comfortable doing biglaw if that's what it takes to service debt for several years.
I'd like to work in DC after graduating but very very long term would probably move back to Texas.
Would be debt financing everything. The debt calculator in the stickied post is gone, is there another good place to calculate COA?
Looking at Harvard with likely no or little aid for the first year, but will be eligible for at least small grants in year 2 and 3. 75k aid at Chicago, haven't negotiated yet. 120k aid at Duke, told them about UT, Chi, and Harvard and am waiting to hear back about possibility of more aid. Full ride at UT, I have until April 1 to tell them if I'm taking it. Hopefully will hear aid offers from NYU soon. 150k to NU but I'm not really interested in going there.
From Texas and went to UT for undergrad but live in Chicago now doing consulting. Would be fine living anywhere I listed in this post.
Goals are kind of amorphous rn, but would like to do an article iii clerkship and eventually public interest law in consumer financial protection (like in the CFPB or DOJ). Maybe that's a wildly unrealistic aspiration but it's what my background is in. I'm comfortable doing biglaw if that's what it takes to service debt for several years.
I'd like to work in DC after graduating but very very long term would probably move back to Texas.
Last edited by carlos_danger on Thu Mar 30, 2017 11:53 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- trebekismyhero
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Fri May 22, 2015 5:26 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Have you gone back to Chicago with the Duke offer? Probably wouldn't make a huge difference, but if you could get another $20-25k from them I would pick Chicago over Duke.
As things stand I think Duke is the right call
As things stand I think Duke is the right call
-
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 4:21 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Make a poll. I would have said Texas without hesitation until I got to "I'd like to work in DC after graduating". Duke has ~10% DC employment, and Texas only ~3%. Chicago is not going to help with this at all, and even Harvard is only 12% DC.carlos_danger wrote:174/3.94, only took the LSAT once.
Would be debt financing everything. The debt calculator in the stickied post is gone, is there another good place to calculate COA?
Looking at Harvard with likely no or little aid for the first year, but will be eligible for at least small grants in year 2 and 3. 75k aid at Chicago, haven't negotiated yet. 120k aid at Duke, told them about UT, Chi, and Harvard and am waiting to hear back about possibility of more aid. Full ride at UT, I have until April 1 to tell them if I'm taking it. Hopefully will hear aid offers from NYU and NU soon.
From Texas and went to UT for undergrad but live in Chicago now doing consulting. Would be fine living anywhere I listed in this post.
Goals are kind of amorphous rn, but would like to do an article iii clerkship and eventually public interest law in consumer financial protection (like in the CFPB or DOJ). Maybe that's a wildly unrealistic aspiration but it's what my background is in. I'm comfortable doing biglaw if that's what it takes to service debt for several years.
I'd like to work in DC after graduating but very very long term would probably move back to Texas.
If you are dead set on DC for a bit, then it may be worth taking some debt and choosing Duke, but I still think you choose Texas given your long term goals.
- trebekismyhero
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Fri May 22, 2015 5:26 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
You are mistaking self-selection for what is easier to get a job from. There is no doubt that it will be easier to get to DC from Harvard than Duke and it would likely be easier to get DC coming from the University of Chicago than Duke, especially for clerkships and prestigious Gov't jobs.saf18hornet wrote:Make a poll. I would have said Texas without hesitation until I got to "I'd like to work in DC after graduating". Duke has ~10% DC employment, and Texas only ~3%. Chicago is not going to help with this at all, and even Harvard is only 12% DC.carlos_danger wrote:174/3.94, only took the LSAT once.
Would be debt financing everything. The debt calculator in the stickied post is gone, is there another good place to calculate COA?
Looking at Harvard with likely no or little aid for the first year, but will be eligible for at least small grants in year 2 and 3. 75k aid at Chicago, haven't negotiated yet. 120k aid at Duke, told them about UT, Chi, and Harvard and am waiting to hear back about possibility of more aid. Full ride at UT, I have until April 1 to tell them if I'm taking it. Hopefully will hear aid offers from NYU and NU soon.
From Texas and went to UT for undergrad but live in Chicago now doing consulting. Would be fine living anywhere I listed in this post.
Goals are kind of amorphous rn, but would like to do an article iii clerkship and eventually public interest law in consumer financial protection (like in the CFPB or DOJ). Maybe that's a wildly unrealistic aspiration but it's what my background is in. I'm comfortable doing biglaw if that's what it takes to service debt for several years.
I'd like to work in DC after graduating but very very long term would probably move back to Texas.
If you are dead set on DC for a bit, then it may be worth taking some debt and choosing Duke, but I still think you choose Texas given your long term goals.
But they're not worth the extra costs as they stand since Duke can still get you there and is more affordable.
-
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 4:21 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Completely disagree with the self-selection argument on CHi, Duke, and UT, however, spending 300K for Harvard is about as dumb of a choice as you could make when UT is free and your long term goals are to end in Texas. No school is worth more than 100K debt-financed with his goals. So to me its still a no brainer.trebekismyhero wrote:
You are mistaking self-selection for what is easier to get a job from. There is no doubt that it will be easier to get to DC from Harvard than Duke and it would likely be easier to get DC coming from the University of Chicago than Duke, especially for clerkships and prestigious Gov't jobs.
But they're not worth the extra costs as they stand since Duke can still get you there and is more affordable.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 985
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:55 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Also FYI OP Duke this year is sending a really large chunk of the 2l class to DC for their SA's compared to the last 5-10 years. Duke generally feeds NY extensively for biglaw with like 10% DC biglaw, but I believe this year's class has significantly more going to DC than usual.
All that is to say getting DC wont make much difference between Chicago and Duke. If OP wanted Chicago/midwest, then its a no brainer. But as long as you are an competitive candidate, DC is by no means harder to get at Duke than Chicago.
All that is to say getting DC wont make much difference between Chicago and Duke. If OP wanted Chicago/midwest, then its a no brainer. But as long as you are an competitive candidate, DC is by no means harder to get at Duke than Chicago.
- existentialcrisis
- Posts: 712
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:23 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Yea but the important question is what makes someone a "competitive candidate?" DC is super prestige and especially grade focused. I'd be willing to bet that DC firms have lower grade cutoffs for Chicago than Duke. It doesn't necessarily seem like OP wants to do biglaw anyway though. Although if it's DOJ that he wants then biglaw litigation is probably the way to get there.grades?? wrote:Also FYI OP Duke this year is sending a really large chunk of the 2l class to DC for their SA's compared to the last 5-10 years. Duke generally feeds NY extensively for biglaw with like 10% DC biglaw, but I believe this year's class has significantly more going to DC than usual.
All that is to say getting DC wont make much difference between Chicago and Duke. If OP wanted Chicago/midwest, then its a no brainer. But as long as you are an competitive candidate, DC is by no means harder to get at Duke than Chicago.
That being said, I'd still take Duke here unless you can get more money out of Chicago.
-
- Posts: 985
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:55 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Sure but DC is going to require competitiveness at either school. I know at least 10+ Duke kids that got DC biglaw this year at or below median. But regardless, WC will probably take someone at Chicago with a 3.65 and a Duke kid with a 3.7, but the GPA cutoffs can't be that different.existentialcrisis wrote:Yea but the important question is what makes someone a "competitive candidate?" DC is super prestige and especially grade focused. I'd be willing to bet that DC firms have lower grade cutoffs for Chicago than Duke. It doesn't necessarily seem like OP wants to do biglaw anyway though. Although if it's DOJ that he wants then biglaw litigation is probably the way to get there.grades?? wrote:Also FYI OP Duke this year is sending a really large chunk of the 2l class to DC for their SA's compared to the last 5-10 years. Duke generally feeds NY extensively for biglaw with like 10% DC biglaw, but I believe this year's class has significantly more going to DC than usual.
All that is to say getting DC wont make much difference between Chicago and Duke. If OP wanted Chicago/midwest, then its a no brainer. But as long as you are an competitive candidate, DC is by no means harder to get at Duke than Chicago.
That being said, I'd still take Duke here unless you can get more money out of Chicago.
- Clemenceau
- Posts: 940
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 11:33 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Duke is a pretty good offer here. I think it's worth some extra debt vs UT.
I can't help but think someone with your numbers should have gotten a few more $100k+ offers from the lower t14. Have you heard back from everywhere already?
I can't help but think someone with your numbers should have gotten a few more $100k+ offers from the lower t14. Have you heard back from everywhere already?
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Didn't apply for aid at Georgetown or Berkeley because I heard they lowball (and observed it on LSN), so I figured it wouldn't help for negotiation purposes. For Cornell I think they need this year's tax returns from your parents, and mine haven't filed yet. WLed at UVA and Michigan, so can't apply for aid there.Clemenceau wrote:Duke is a pretty good offer here. I think it's worth some extra debt vs UT.
I can't help but think someone with your numbers should have gotten a few more $100k+ offers from the lower t14. Have you heard back from everywhere already?
Still waiting on aid offers from NU and NYU.
- existentialcrisis
- Posts: 712
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:23 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
I think Duke is fine at that price, but it sucks that you got YP'd out of negotiating power with UVA and Mich. What about Penn and CLS? I feel like money at either would've been great bargaining chips. Seems like you definitely got lowballed, so I'd try to negotiate with both Duke and Chicago as hard as you possibly can.
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Didn't apply for aid at either Penn or CLS bc I was really busy at work and wasn't interested in going to either (I knew when I didn't get a Butler from CLS I couldn't afford to go). Is it too late?existentialcrisis wrote:I think Duke is fine at that price, but it sucks that you got YP'd out of negotiating power with UVA and Mich. What about Penn and CLS? I feel like money at either would've been great bargaining chips. Seems like you definitely got lowballed, so I'd try to negotiate with both Duke and Chicago as hard as you possibly can.
And I'll go back to Chicago with my Harvard offer. I was trying to wait for Duke's counter offer and NYU's initial offer but I guess I don't really have time for that.
- existentialcrisis
- Posts: 712
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:23 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Is April 1 just for the UT offer? I think waiting for Duke's counter and NYU's is actually probably a good idea, but I'm by no means a negotiation expert.carlos_danger wrote:Didn't apply for aid at either Penn or CLS bc I was really busy at work and wasn't interested in going to either (I knew when I didn't get a Butler from CLS I couldn't afford to go). Is it too late?existentialcrisis wrote:I think Duke is fine at that price, but it sucks that you got YP'd out of negotiating power with UVA and Mich. What about Penn and CLS? I feel like money at either would've been great bargaining chips. Seems like you definitely got lowballed, so I'd try to negotiate with both Duke and Chicago as hard as you possibly can.
And I'll go back to Chicago with my Harvard offer. I was trying to wait for Duke's counter offer and NYU's initial offer but I guess I don't really have time for that.
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Yeah, April 1 is just UT.existentialcrisis wrote:Is April 1 just for the UT offer? I think waiting for Duke's counter and NYU's is actually probably a good idea, but I'm by no means a negotiation expert.carlos_danger wrote:Didn't apply for aid at either Penn or CLS bc I was really busy at work and wasn't interested in going to either (I knew when I didn't get a Butler from CLS I couldn't afford to go). Is it too late?existentialcrisis wrote:I think Duke is fine at that price, but it sucks that you got YP'd out of negotiating power with UVA and Mich. What about Penn and CLS? I feel like money at either would've been great bargaining chips. Seems like you definitely got lowballed, so I'd try to negotiate with both Duke and Chicago as hard as you possibly can.
And I'll go back to Chicago with my Harvard offer. I was trying to wait for Duke's counter offer and NYU's initial offer but I guess I don't really have time for that.
- UVA2B
- Posts: 3570
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2016 10:48 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
If you're really interested in working in DC, let UT lapse if you must and wait on Duke/NYU offers. Duke at 120k is much better for DC than a full ride at UT, IMHO.
ETA: If you're all in on federal work like DOJ and CFPB, Chicago should come into play. Depending on cost and how bad you want it, Chicago will give you a sizable boost in fed gov and Art. III hiring that shouldn't be ignored.
ETA: If you're all in on federal work like DOJ and CFPB, Chicago should come into play. Depending on cost and how bad you want it, Chicago will give you a sizable boost in fed gov and Art. III hiring that shouldn't be ignored.
- Dcc617
- Posts: 2734
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:01 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Did you apply late or something? You have killer stats and it seems like you should have more money on the table.
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
No! I was kind of surprised too. Applied first day of the cycle. 2 years W/E too. Was my app just weak, you think?Dcc617 wrote:Did you apply late or something? You have killer stats and it seems like you should have more money on the table.
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 7791
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:05 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Don't give up your negotiating position with Duke and Chicago for your UT offer. Duke is your best choice now and has upside, whereas that UT offer is never getting better.
- Dcc617
- Posts: 2734
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:01 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Maybe it was. I'd have expected you to kill most of the T14. Where all did you apply?carlos_danger wrote:No! I was kind of surprised too. Applied first day of the cycle. 2 years W/E too. Was my app just weak, you think?Dcc617 wrote:Did you apply late or something? You have killer stats and it seems like you should have more money on the table.
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
The T14, Vandy, UCLA, and UTDcc617 wrote:Maybe it was. I'd have expected you to kill most of the T14. Where all did you apply?carlos_danger wrote:No! I was kind of surprised too. Applied first day of the cycle. 2 years W/E too. Was my app just weak, you think?Dcc617 wrote:Did you apply late or something? You have killer stats and it seems like you should have more money on the table.
- Dcc617
- Posts: 2734
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:01 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
I don't know, if negotiations don't pan out like you hope and you don't hate your job, it may be worth redoing your cycle with fresh recommendations and new personal statement.carlos_danger wrote:The T14, Vandy, UCLA, and UTDcc617 wrote:Maybe it was. I'd have expected you to kill most of the T14. Where all did you apply?carlos_danger wrote:No! I was kind of surprised too. Applied first day of the cycle. 2 years W/E too. Was my app just weak, you think?Dcc617 wrote:Did you apply late or something? You have killer stats and it seems like you should have more money on the table.
Anyone else, please interject if I'm mistaken.
All being said though, full ride at Duke is pretty sweet.
Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.
Register now, it's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Yeah, I was wondering if reapplication would be worth it. It would be a ton of money to reapply with no fee waivers this time, though. And super bummed after all the time I spent on my application.Dcc617 wrote:
I don't know, if negotiations don't pan out like you hope and you don't hate your job, it may be worth redoing your cycle with fresh recommendations and new personal statement.
Anyone else, please interject if I'm mistaken.
All being said though, full ride at Duke is pretty sweet.
And unfortunately not a full ride at Duke, just 120k.
-
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 8:04 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Any cycle that involves admission at h and admission/money at chi cannot be considered anything but a success. I would recommend picking between those two, and not even think of reapplying.
- carlos_danger
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:21 am
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
Also, followed up with NYU and bc I'm a finalist for Jacobson I won't hear back on aid until I do my interview (later this month). Also waiting to hear back on Doctoroff from Chicago.
-
- Posts: 31195
- Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:23 pm
Re: Harvard v Chicago ($$) v Duke ($$$) v UT ($$$$)
If you can get more money from Chicago then definitely go there.
Seriously? What are you waiting for?
Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!
Already a member? Login