Hi there,

Hope you guys are all well.

Understand that there have been a lot of related discussions in previous years but still want to get some advice from you guys.

Cornell offered me admission the earliest and is an Ivy. Not so far from NYC but heard that really cold from Oct to March. Also heard that Cornell doesn't care its LLM students that much (which I know from some graduates and also from the emails they sent). But it's initially my favourite one.

For Duke, first question is that is it regarded as "peer law school" to Cornell (or other lower T14) in US? Understand that its LLM is much more selective than Cornell's and NW's and it seems it has more students with professional experience than Cornell (which admits many undergraduates each year). Really like Durham's weather, Duke's sportive culture as well as the chemistry among students and professors. Rationality tells me to go for Duke.

Have no particular feelings about NW but know that it is also a great law school, quite strong in business law and has good location comparing to the other two.

In terms of cost, it seems Cornell ties NW which both cost around USD 7000-8000 more than Duke?

Any idea for these three? I would say follow my heart I would go for Cornell but Duke seems to be a better one (in terms of reputation in law firms, corporate law, selectivity, weather and the experience etc.)? But it seems Cornell has much better reputation throughout the world than Duke? My plan after graduation is to work in a US firm's overseas office.

Thank you so very much!

Duke.

Duke.

I think Cornell is better to choose than Duke for these reasons:
1) IVY league (there are only 5 ivy league law schools, you will get social elitism both in the eyes of Americans and employers.
2) LLM is all about brands. I understand you wanna have a cool experience, but at the end only your degree will last forever. It is okay to endure the cold weather and enjoy the nature there as well when the weather is nice.
3) in terms of selectivity, Cornell should be more selective. And even if, in reality, Duke is more selective, Cornell will look as if it is more selective than Duke as it is an IVY league and this term is associated with the selectivity connotation.
4) Carl Sagan was there. ( It might be a silly reason, but imagine yourself going to the same place where Carl Sagan was teaching Cosmology)
5) Idk about Duke, but Cornell's class size is perfect for the program.

The one effective drawback that I hate as well is they don't care that much about LLMs. But I think this is the same in the rest of the ivies. If you want the best LLM treatment, go to Michigan.

Duke, absolutely.

In my country, both Northwestern and Cornell have better name than duke, but I guess that changes from place to place...

In my country, both Northwestern and Cornell have better name than duke, but I guess that changes from place to place...