iwishiwereblack

I'm interested in pre-med and was planning on going to Duke, when all of a sudden I got a half-tuition scholarship to Emory...I really don't know which one to decide. I like the idea of the city with Emory, but I like the community environment of Duke. Does anyone have any advice?

Duke (Trinity)
Emory (Half-tuition scholarship)

siri4fun

oh wow tough decision. out of curiosity, how did you get a half-scholarship "all of a sudden?" were you a Scholars semifinalist/finalist?

iwishiwereblack

it is a music merit scholarship...so lots of cool benefits, including those of the Emory Scholars...

amadani

Duke is a great school so you have a tough decision to make. Did you get any aid from Duke? If not, it would be difficult to turn down that much money from Emory (along with the perks of being a scholar - first choice for housing and classes).

You should visit if you haven't already since they are pretty different. Emory is about 15 min from downtown while Duke is in Durham. It might be helpful if you list some things that are important to you that might set the two schools apart more.

iwishiwereblack

Duke:

Pros:
-Nice research facilities
-nice campus environment with freshman on the east side
-nice gothic style
-diverse
-harder to get into this year than ever before
-frats...jk
-college unity through basketball
-very notable
-durham allows for easy access to community service

Cons:
-felt as though the gothic style was a little over-bearing
-ultra-competitive
-frats...jk
-terrible city
-expensive, but my parents say it is alright with them if I chose to go to Duke
-lots of pre-meds
-music program stinks

Emory Scholars

Pros:
-THE ATL BABY
-a slightly more developed music program
-reputable
-lots of opprotunities to research
-housing and class choice

Cons:
-no true campus unity
-slightly less appealing for an environment
-lots of pre-meds
-no frats...jk, actually I have no clue
-in Georgia which is where I'm from...so I kind of like the idea of getting away

so...what should I do now...probably cry

amadani

I can only add a few thoughts:
- Emory does have frats (about 30% of students are involved I think). It's not overbearing but it is a presence if you choose to participate.

- Emory may not be united around sports but I think there is a sense of community. I would suggest visiting on a Wednesday for Wonderful Wednesday (a weekly celebration in the center of campus).

- You won't see cutthroat competition at Emory. I think this is a major plus, especially for people who are pre-med. The students are much more likely to collaborate than anything else.

- Last, even though your parents are willing the pay, it might be nice to save money for medical school in the future. Just a thought.
Good luck with your decision.

pakjan6

it depends on the type of person you are..

if your "popular" or like to go out a whole lot and stuff go to duke

If your fine staying in and enjoying a book go to emory

emory has a rep. of being isolated... and i hear Coco-cola runs the town


both are great schools ... congrats...

you really cant go wrong... if you don't like a school just transfer

patience1

choose duke man... duke is waay harder to get into and if you want to get away and at the same time go to a great prestigious school go tot duke. plus dukes amtosphere and student body is incredible...you feel like you are enjoying the fruits of your labor by attending duke

amadani

I would definitely disagree with that assessment of Emory. Being surrounded by the Virginia Highlands, Little Five Points, and downtown Decatur means that there are numerous opportunities to go out if you choose. I've never heard anyone at Emory complain about it being isolated. I can't speak to what Durham is like.

afitscher

Don't pick a school because one is more selective

DC20005

Congratulations, iwishiwereblack, on your options.

I was a really engaged Emory undergraduate and followed that with 6 good years in a doctoral program at Duke.

Both schools offer all of the ingredients necessary to help you create the kind of college experience you want. If money were no concern, and the 1/2 tuition scholarship not in the equation, I would chose Duke. In the real world, I'd chose Emory, and in a heartbeat.

You'll save $80,000 over four years, and if you are a good enough student (or artist) to distinguish yourself from your peers, you should be able to write your ticket to any graduate or professional program of your choosing. If it's cachet that concerns you, that's the level at which it becomes professionally relevant.

Good luck!

patience1

why not...you can feel like you are in a school that you deserved to go to after all your hardwork in highschool

iwishiwereblack

Hey, I should probably go ahead and say this...when I visited Duke, there was nothing I didn't like, but there nothing that "spoke" to me. I know, that is a weird thing to say and probably has no relavence in real life, but when it comes down it, I don't think Duke engaged (no NOT THE FREAKING STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM AND YES I KNOW ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NO RELEVANCE TO FRESHMAN YEAR) me well when I was there. Maybe I was having a bad day. Maybe I was pmsing after spending the night in a frat house and sleeping on a couch with a cow pillow and half(you know what).
In regards to more scholarship, if I were to go to Duke, scholarships that I would definitely been considered for would just vanish (hope and Georgia scholarship whatever for Star Student). So that being said, I would save my parents about 100,000$. Really enough said. Even though my parents happen to be "better" off than most, I could see them clenching their teeth when I told them this estimate. Hey, if I went Emory, I could ask for anything I want for all that money saved...LIKE A FREAKING NEW CLARINET!!! GREAT IDEA! Thanks for ALL of the advice. Very much appreciated in this "hard" time for me. You know what, I'm pretty lucky for all this to happen. And now I need to shush because I think I might be bragging...but hey, a word of advice to all...(connections are awesome, they might help you when you least expect it). Ok bye

sampole108

hmmm....Iwishiwereblack too!

iwishiwereblack

OK, I've made up my mind, Duke class of 2013!!!!!!!!