MysticCrusader

I just finished visiting both, and still, I can't reach a decision between Harvard and full-ride at Duke.

My interests: applied mathematics, possibly pre-med route (particular interest in bioinformatics/biophysics etc...)

Duke benefits: Summer at Oxford (6 weeks expense paid), President's Scholar Grant (5,000 stipend), more contact with professors

Harvard: Name, network, more opportunities based on funding?

If there are any more, please add them.

I have some concerns about Harvard: competitiveness, little undergraduate attention, how difficult it is to rise to the top and be competitive for top graduate and medical/law programs

Concerns about Duke: I get the impression that it's a party school (but that's probably wrong); perhaps I won't get the same competitive push I will at Harvard, but maybe that won't matter if I'm independent enough

It's difficult to say, since I'm not very sure of what I want to do career wise/even after undergraduate.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I feel as though I don't know enough of both sides of the story (especially concerning research) to make a sound judgment.

Mondo

You are going to get more opportunities from Duke as an A.B scholar than you would from Harvard. You can avoid the party scene if you want to. Many people don't drink at Duke and still find fun people to hang out with.
I think you would do very nicely at Duke. Duke has a strong enough name and strong enough alumni network that you won't be left out of any future job opportunities. Unless you are getting a very strong financial aid package from Harvard, I would go for Duke.
Congrats on AB,

padfoot

Money puts Duke over the top like a pole vaulter.

CNI

I'd definitely go with the AB Duke. The difference between harvard and duke, when applying to med schools, will be negligible. However, the 200k and title of AB Duke Scholar certainly won't be.

danielhstennis08

considering, i know multiple people who have turned down harvard for duke with no aid from each, i'd go with the full ride to duke...

duke has the name too... and a greatttt premed program... maybe not as good as harvard's but still...

incollege88

Personally I would choose Duke over Harvard even without the scholarship, but I'm probably in the minority. With the AB, this decision is really a no-brainer, though. There is no way that you will get better funding opportunities as a normal undergrad at Harvard than you will as an AB Duke--that is absurd. Unless you find Duke repellent for some reason (ps--there are TONS of kids here who do not party at all-check out Bostock library on a Thursday night), come to Duke. For med school, you can't really get better than Duke (the average MCAT for students coming out of Duke is >33, which is better than any other college I have heard of) and you will find the opportunities afforded by the AB program pretty spectacular.

incollege88

PS-Duke does have structural biology/biophysics, if you are interested in checking out the department:

Duke SBB: Structural Biology & Biophysics

screwitlah

interesting one year ago another person was in the exact same situation as you...

AB Duke vs. Harvard

it might help to know that he/she chose AB Duke in the end.

jct30

omg pick duke. i have a friend who had a similar choice - robertson v. yale. She choose Duke and honestly i've never met someone who could possibly love a school more. when you to an elite university and are in the most elite program around, life goes just the way you want it.

MysticCrusader

Thanks everyone! I think Duke it is.

irishforever

Congrats on your decision--the AB Duke is awesome!