Predator

xSo essentially, after some pressure from mom, etc, I have decided to go to U of M. They originally gave me a 20k/year engineering scholarship (I'm out of state), and the executive director of student affairs arranged for my mother and I to fly up there (for free, kinda surprised me). She told me that she really wanted me at U of M and asked what she could do to get me to go there...my mom said maybe another 6 or 7k/year. The director said she will see what she can do and get back to me next week. (we talked to her last Friday). Yesterday (Tuesday), she emailed me saying...the College of Engineering (where I was accepted) was going to give me another 6k/year (as my mom had asked). So, we're getting a total of 26k/year (total for out of state is like 42/45ish?

As for Duke, they originally wanted us to pay for full price (like 50k/year). I sent my FA counselor an email saying we had a circumstance (stepfather's business was sold last year, it was added to our income making it really high). She replied back 9 days later (yes I hate to admit it....) saying that after consulting the director, they want documentation of the sale of the business in 2007 (the one my stepdad owned). So, we sent that around 4 days later...this Monday, we faxed it. Then I emailed her asking if she received it or not. Then, yesterday (after finding out U of M was giving me the extra 6k/year), I emailed the Duke lady and asked how long it would take for me to find out, since I was holding out on a scholarship from another school. She replied back today saying it would take 5-7 business days to get back with me on a final answer (she said this earlier in the previous email when she said that they wanted official documentation). Then an hour or two later, she replies saying that in light of the last email, they actually did not receive the documentation that my mother faxed to them.

This kind of ticked my mom off...because she really just wanted me to accept U of M's offer and she thought I was being arrogant by pushing off U of M and basically begging / waiting for Duke to give me money. Anyways, our family income was > 100k anyways (even if the business was not sold) but I just had hope they would give something. Even if they wouldn't match or get close to U of M, then I could finally just let it rest and accept that Duke wouldn't give me money.

My mom was already ****ed yesterday, but she kinda calmed down. After the Duke emails today, she started telling me that U of M might take their scholarship away if I take too long, etc. Anyways, she somehow convinced me and I wrote Duke Financial Aid an email saying I was not going to accept their offer of admission and I was disappointed in how long their admissions would take....

So now I feel a bit relieved, but also somewhat confused because I guess I turned down my #1 choice Duke, but U of M definitely isn't a bad alternative (still trying hard to convince myself of that lol).

Anyways, what do you guys think? I am in a complete mess in my head right now, but I am prbly going to pay my enrollment deposit tonight. Sorry for the whole story/long rant, just needed to get all this out.

I really hope I have made the right decision.

SeniorMom08

Sounds like you cut the strings with Duke so I say embrace UMich since that looks like where you'll be going It's a wonderful campus, my son and I visited last week! I'm sorry you felt pressured to give up on Duke though, I think it may have been premature. Typically these things take time, it's not as though one can expect a decision as soon as the FA office receives a fax from a prospective student.

As an aside - my son received an increase in his merit scholarship from UMich today (he too is deciding between 2 schools though is a different major). In the documentation they were VERY clear that he has until May 1 to make his final decision.

Alexandre

Predator, you cannot go wrong with Michigan, particularly if you intend to major in Business, Engineering, Mathematics or a Humanity/Social Science. Unless your folks are extremely well off, it is hard justifying paying an extra $120,000 over four years to attend a school that isn't better. In fact, in your intended major, it isn't even as good. Even if Duke had revised your financial aid package, it is unlikely that they would have knocked off enough money to make it competitive with Michigan's offer. Let us face it, Michigan really wanted you.

Besides, assuming you have visited both schools, you probably noticed that Ann Arbor is more fun, welcoming and pleasant than Durham.

By the way, I chose Michigan's acceptance over Duke's when I was a senior in high school, and cost was not even an issue in my case. I have never regretted my decision. From what I have seen, outside of the CC world, Michigan and Duke truly are peers in the academic/reputation sense. But in terms of campus life and setting, I think you will find Michigan more well-rounded than Duke.

Predator

Alexandre, why did you choose Michigan over Duke? Personally, if the cost issue was nonexistant, I would've picked Duke off the spot over Michigan.

The only thing here is I didn't wait for Duke's revised aid, but like you said, it most likely would not have been matching Michigan's anyways. At least if they gave me some amount that wasn't pleasing, then I could just say "OK Not going to Duke." It's more of an uncertainty thing, but yeah it appears I cut Duke short lol.

Any more thoughts?

Also, my major was BME (Duke was #2, Michigan #9 I believe)

Alexandre

As cliche as this may sound, it boiled down to fit. I really loved the Michigan campus and Ann Arbor. I was not as impressed by the Duke campus and I really did not like Durham. Although I found the Duke campus impressive architecturally speaking, something about neo-gothic design in the Carolinas just didn't ring true! LOL!

Also, I am international and Michigan has an excellent repuation internationally.

You have to understand that when I chose colleges, there was no CC. For advice, I turned to my parents and highly educated family members and family friends. By and large, I got the same advice I give to students here on CC. If universities have similar academics and reputation, go for fit. Academically and reputationally, Michigan and Duke are at the same level. By and large, corporate recruiters from exclusive companies and/or graduate school adcom from elite programs are not going to favor a Michigan alum over a Duke alum, or vice versa, based on where they went to college. Those two schools are viewed as peers. Every single survey conducted by academe and industry clearly shows that. The top graduate schools and most exclusive companies accept/hire students from both campuses in great numbers. So I went for fit. Michigan was a better fit for me.

evil_asian_dictator

You can't really go wrong with this decision. I had this same decision along with some other schools last year but the difference between UM and Duke was only 5k so by the grace of god and my parents, I was able to pick the school I liked more.

Alexandre is absolutely right regarding choosing college based on fit. In my case, I wasn't too thrilled about UM's two spread out campuses and I didn't find it as aesthetically pleasing as Duke's West Campus. I also got the feeling right away that Duke's faculty deeply care about their undergrads and that I would get a lot of personal attention from professors, which is a vibe I didn't get at Michigan. Also, the weather was a MAJOR plus for me(I grew up in the Middle East and Australia and let's just say Michigan isn't exactly the same) and I definitely like basketball more than football. The social scenes at both schools are similar with Duke's being a little more Greek-oriented. The absolute clinching point for me was the fact that Duke was located in the Research Triangle, a location which is bustling with innovation, medical breakthroughs, business and technology. For a biomedical engineer, it must be like heaven. One cannot say the same about Ann Arbor and I was afraid that I would end up embroiled in the terrible job market that Michigan currently has. Your mileage may vary.

Although I disagree with Alexandre's assertion that Michigan and Duke grads are viewed the same by employers, I think he is absolutely right when he says that you will have opportunities to succeedd in all the top 25 universities. Regardless of whether you go to Harvard or Michigan, it's your performance in college that will make the difference.

My friends at Michigan are having the time of their lives. I'm sure you will too.

mam1959

My spouse and I are both Duke graduates and our daughter turned down Duke for Michigan.

Michigan was the right choice for her academically (yes, she received a prestigious scholarship, but we would pay anywhere), and she is receiving a fantastic education (and is working, I might add, far harder than the average student).

She would have done well at Duke - too - but I would say this - the resources at Michigan are mind boggling - if you are a self starter - and this is more of a factor at U Mich - than Duke - there is real opportunity to take advantage of those resources at Umich.

mam1959

And one more thing - while I think the world of Duke - be careful about your long term goals when choosing any of the top tier schools like Duke in fields other than engineering. Today's world is different than that of 25 years ago - and as challenging as it may be - Duke's liberal arts approach is great for preparation for graduate schools but it is not nearly as vocationally helpful as Michigan can be, with its huge number of majors and resources. This may not have mattered much in the last 5 years as investment banks and consulting firms have been hiring Duke (and Ivy League) econ and public policy and liberal arts graduates because of the fact that they are bright and the cache of the names, but for the next few years at least the significant structural change in the economy and in my view recession will significantly slow down that activity. And I mean significantly. I did while I was attending Duke wish that they had some majors outside of engineering that had career utility - they certainly had nothing like a Ross for undergrads. Like I lot of Dukies, I went on to grad school and did well, but at the same time, felt I had to do so - I was not prepared to make a living.

LaLaLa12345

^^But wouldn't that be the same at UofM if you chose degree other than something "business" or engineering?

Alexandre

Not quite LaLaLa. Michigan has top 10 (arguably top 5) programs in Architecture, Education, Music and Nursing.

But But even if it were just Business and Engineering, the fact that Michigan has top 5 programs in Business and Engineering already gives students interested in professional careers the upper hand.

Multitasker

Predator: Congratulations! UM grat school and you'll love it over Duke
Good luck

ruca

Duke is overrated.

Rationalize it by reading that thread haha

Alexandre

Hehe! Good one ruca!

dsmo

I was also strong-armed into Umich, similar situation...very happy that I am here. I know I would be broke attending elsewhere. At Michigan, I have money to spend and really can do whatever I want. Went to every football game but Illinois and Wisconsin, planning on every game in 2008. Just bought a new 32" Sony LCD, a Wii and some games, etc. Having that kind of financial freedom is great.

In a field like engineering at Michigan, you are pretty much guaranteed a job after school. Just think, you will enjoy yourself more while in college, and after school, you won't have to work off a ton of debt. You will be happy you are coming here.

Predator

yea I get ya man..if I went to Duke I probably wouldn't have as much spending money (I'd still have to take out a loan for UMich but not as much as Duke). But the thing is, if I go to Duke, I wouldn't mind having to make some sacrifices...argh.

Anyways, I still hadn't offically paid my deposit or anything, but I most likely will be doing it tonight.