Berk/NYU/Penn(15k)/Mich(15k)/Duke(20k)
I am in at Berk/NYU/Penn/Michigan/Duke. I have a 15k/year from Michigan, and for the purposes of this thread let’s assume I also have 15k/year from Penn and 20k/year from Duke. Understanding that I’d love to be in the Bay Area, NYC, Miami or D.C., and that I really want Public Interest / Clerkship (Art.III?) / Government (DOJ/USAO?) which would you choose and why?
If you could narrow down area that would help. NYC → NYU. Bay Area → Boalt. DC → Penn or Duke, depending on which campus you like better.
Do you have ties to Miami or the Bay Area?
If you don’t then none of them is really going to get you Miami and the only one that would get you the Bay Area is Boalt.
Honestly in this case I’d lean towards NYU or maybe Boalt and intend on LRAP if you are aiming for PI.
I have ties to Miami/Bay Area. Stronger in Miami. I don’t really have ties to D.C./NY.
edit: Location preference order would probably be: DC/Bay Area, NYC, Miami.
You don’t need them for the latter two, but you’re gonna need some amazing grades for DC.
I’m not sure if this should be factored into the equation but Berkeley has fascinated me since I was 11 years old and visited the bay for the first time.
I’d avoid letting that influence you. 
oh but it’s so damn hard!
*feels bad for complaining that anything is hard given the awesomeness of my situation
I would choose NYU because 15-20k is not a large amount of money in the long scheme of things, especially considering your interests would qualify you for LRAP:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guide-to-lrap-new-york-university.html
In addition, NYU will open a lot more doors.
Those are some good choices. I would choose Duke, but that is just based on my own personal preference and love for the school.
You realize it’s 15-20k per year right and not just 15-20k total?
no clear winner… this is interesting.
those of you who chose berkeley… tell me why! if i end up there sticker i want to be able to justify it beyond that Berkeley is the happiest and favoritest of my favorite places.
my god… NYU’s LRAP is fantastic. any clues on the likelihood that it wont switch over to dovetail IBR? as it sits right now it’s purely institutional, which is awesome.
I chose Berkeley because you want to go there the most and because they will probably match any of those scholarships. http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6957.htm
i’ve heard it’s damn near impossible to get a matching scholarship.
I don’t think you can justify berk at sticker with your other options.
I think you should put totals in the poll. I just saw it and assumed 15k total, not per year.
Good options to have. Where ever makes you happiest. Though I wouldnt choose B at sticker over NYU at sticker. Even if they wont match fully, they might throw some money your way given your other money offers (via their matching program).
aw jeez this has not helped my decision one bit.
NYU leads public interest on the east coast above any of its peer schools (e.g. Columbia, Penn) - they hold an annual career fair that students of other schools will attend, and because of their relationship with the top PI employers, NYU students are known to receive first pick in that field.
Edit: Here are some school-specific commentary:
Berkeley: Would be 2nd to NYU since they have great LRAP. Choose only if you want to stay on west coast after grad.
Duke & Mich…I don’t think those are compelling options for your desired field.
Penn: Not for PI, and definitely not, considering that you have NYU.
If I were to rank em, I’d say:
Because of your commitment to PI, I don’t think any of those scholarship offers would be a game-changer. The fact of the matter is that you’ll have a great loan repayment program wherever you go - if you work many years in PI, your loans will all be nullified.