ihavehope13

I just found out that I have been selected as a Robertson Scholar at Duke. I am completely thrilled, pumped, excited, and generally happy. However, this has lead me to my current decision, which I will outline below.

I like Duke a lot, but I'm pretty sure it is not the ideal place for me. I think it has a beautiful campus, but something inside of me says that I would have a little more trouble fitting in at Duke than other schools.

I got accepted to my dream school this year. It is a place where I fit in very well, and I think it would be an incredible place to go to school for the next four years. I got a decent financial aid package that would make it financially possible to attend.

So my dilemma is choosing between an incredible, outstanding scholarship and program at a school that doesn't seem to fit me and going to my dream school as a regular student. Money is not really the issue here, either, because I have saved enough and have the ability to earn enough to cover tuition at my dream school. I just want to make a choice that I will never regret.

Any advice from people who have had to make a decision like this before?

CNI

Unless you are getting around 40k in aid from your dream school, you would be borderline insane to to give up the Robertson, which this year is a full ride right?

phuriku

Go to your dream school. Just do it. There's really no point in attending a school where there's a possibility you'll be unhappy if there are no financial issues in attending your dream school.

CNI

Nevermind, I just read that you didn't have a problem paying. However, I'd still think really hard about the robertson.

ihavehope13

Yeah, it's really not about the money for me. It is cool to think that I could go to college on a full ride, but the really important thing to me is having an experience that gives life the most purpose and happiness. I just don't know whether that would be the Robertson or my dream school...

myndimcd

what's your dream school?
I say go to your dream school. this is not only the next four years of your life, it is also where you will be meeting your friends for life, and finding out what you want to be doing for your life. pretty important years right?

Shrinkrap

"There's really no point in attending a school where there's a possibility you'll be unhappy"

I don't have advice (but that is one great scholarship that goes way beyond money if I'm not mistaken), but surely unhappiness is possible anywhere.

incollege88

knowing both schools that seems pretty crazy to me but if that is what your heart is telling you then go ahead. no point in coming to duke if you don't think you are going to be happy--you should just make sure that the information on which you are basing that decision is actually accurate.

Predator

Which is your dream school?

ihavehope13

It is of no consequence, really. Am I crazy to feel this way? I am not concerned about things like prestige, and even money is not the issue here. I think the other school I'm considering can nearly match the grants and service opportunities that the Robertson offers because of its endowment, so I have to wonder if there's any other reason not to go to my dream school.

Any more thoughts on this? Anyone make a similiar decision?

ccd

I don't think anyone can really help you with a decision unless they have all the facts. So, what is your dream school?

franglish

Follow your dream. You will always know you received the Robertson, whether you take Duke up on it or not. Nothing can make up for unhappiness.

homers

Unless your dream school is Harvard, then I would take Duke.
Sorry, but Harvard just has a worldwide reputation that cannot be beat.

ncdewey

Follow your dream. The attitude you take into your college experience will color everything. You will second guess your choice anytime anything goes wrong or is unpleasant at Duke, the same things you'll chalk up as a learning experience at your dream school. Also, you are taking the spot of someone for whom Duke is their dream school. [Note, my S is on Duke's waitlist but that's not why I'm telling you this!]

icy9ff8

Go to Yale. Yale has a very different campus culture than Duke University. Yale has awarded you substantial financial aid. If Yale is your dream school, you would be foolish to pass it up for a merit scholarship to a school in which you have far less interest.