Duke [40k] vs Texas A&M full ride

tsbna44
Sun, 07 Apr 2024 05:23:26 +0000

Committing to a school doesn’t have to happen until their deadline - so if you enrolled at one and changed your mind, yes you can back out. But if you made a non refundable admission and /or housing deposit, you’re unlikely to recover them. But that’s a small price.

if you decide against a school you committed to, make sure that you don’t just cancel your admission but your housing contract too. Sometimes it’s two separate things - cancelling one doesn’t cancel the other.

Congrats on your acceptances.

Going away to college could be scary so it’s natural to get cold feet.

As for your Duke con, will income change - like it goes way up? If you have a feeling you did something wrong, it seems to me it’d have been caught before you got the offer. But if you’re that worried, make an appointment (have you mom) and go through your CSS with them line by line to assure accuracy. Of course, you might open up a can of worm…but it’s like you have a premonition that something is off…I wouldn’t do it but if it makes you happy.

As for A&M - if $40K is enough to allow your mom retire - well she’s your mom - so if you want to give her that - I get it!! When you say full ride you’re including room and board? And you don’t have to worry about the Duke need offer as you are.

As for engineering and rank - it’s overrated - sorry to say - if it were, for example MechE. You list other majors…but I wouldn’t worry about A&M.

Not sure about the Italy trip - is that through A&M? Otherwise why would the school choice impact your summer? And if it happens, you can always get to China later.

Also, since engineering has a 40-60% non completion rate depending on the study, there’s likely a path out of it - if you need to - but talk to the school and ask. Also note that A&M has secondary admissions - so you may not get the major you want. If you’re a Brown Scholar, it looks like you get guaranteed internships - that’s far better than any other school can offer - and where you go to school doesn’t matter (city vs. the sticks) - but in this case they are providing you employment if I read it right. Programs like this are outstanding - and it’s a huge win!!

Is Duke the right decision?

If you love mom and want her to retire - no!! But if mom wants you to go, then great.

But the reason not to go - prestige. The reason to go is that it’s the right fit.

But the full ride will allow them to save money for other things - including your grad school or helping you later in life - so that’s something to think about.

Really - you can’t go wrong - Duke or A&M but not just A&M, a prestigious cohort at A&M.

My daughter is in a like type program at a lesser school (and in a social scienc) - and she loves all the enrichment - but everyone is different.

As for a gap year - why? Why would you know in a year what you definite want? Few 18 year olds know what they want…thats’ why so many kids change majors and that’s why you take classes in many areas.

There’s no wrong decision here - but I think the A&M program, with assured internships, is a really strong opportunity.

Best of luck.