<p>I’m having a really hard time choosing between these four schools. I know I’ll probably be happy wherever I go, but any advice would be much appreciated. My family doesn’t qualify for financial aid but I got a full merit scholarship to Wake Forest. I like the location and the people, and the classes seem good but I still didn’t feel like I fit there, and the fraternity scene was a real turn-off. I visited UChicago and really wanted to like it, but I thought that the people there were very wrapped up in what they were doing, not haughty or arrogant but just so involved in their own studies that it wouldn’t occur to them to be social or extroverted. My fear is that Duke is too similar to Wake to justify the extra cost and Middlebury puts too much emphasis on the liberal arts and is very isolated. The most important things for me are academic prestige, strength of undergraduate teaching, and the creation of a community of scholars who are bright, interesting, and studios while still knowing how to have a good time. I know there is no such thing as a perfect college and I’m very fortunate to be in the situation I’m in, but I’m having such a hard time with the choice and it would be great to hear from anyone who was in my shoes recently. </p>
<p>You like Wake the best, and the cost is the best. What, exactly is holding you back from saying YES!!! to Wake? What is it that you don’t like about Wake?</p>
<p>At all of these schools, your undergraduate academic program will consist of a traditional liberal arts curriculum that’s really no different than Middlebury’s (unless you’ve been accepted into an engineering school). For instance, at Duke, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences is a liberal arts college within the greater university.</p>
I would say if you’re very wealthy, go to Duke since that seems to be the best fit for you. Duke is a much more ethnically diverse school than Wake Forest and its Greek scene reflects that-its a more inclusive environment and there’s a much more lively independent scene at Duke than at Wake. Wake Forest students are extremely nice though so if you don’t mind the homogeneity of the school, they’re definitely a welcoming bunch. </p>
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This screams Duke to me; its student body is much more fun-loving than Chicago’s and the university has more academic prestige than Middlebury, which admittedly has very strong undergraduate teaching.</p>
<p>If you have to take out more than 50K of loans to go to Duke though, then I second everyone else and say Wake Forest all the way.</p>
<p>The OP can’t take out 50k in loans on his/her own. The limits without a co-signer are the Stafford maximums, and that adds up to 27k. Not knowing the specific post-college goals, 50k could be much more than the OP should even be thinking of.</p>
<p>Don’t confuse general prestige with the strength of the academic program. You’ll find a lot more Duke sweatshirts in airports and mall kiosks than you will Middlebury sweatshirts, but that has more to do with Duke’s sports teams than the quality of academics. I have extensive personal experience with both institutions, and for undergrad, I’d go to Middlebury over Duke every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Feel free to PM me if you want more details.</p>
<p>If you are pretty sure you will be happy anywhere you go, then I think Wake Forest with the big merit is the obvious choice. You also seem to like it the best.</p>
<p>Am I missing something here? Everyone keeps commenting that OP should go to WF because he likes it best. Didn’t he say that he doesn’t feel like he would fit in there and that he doesn’t like the frat scene? Doesn’t sound like a great fit to me!</p>
Color me shocked. Find me someone who doesn’t favor his/her undergraduate alma mater over his/her graduate institution and I’ll buy you dinner next time I’m in Durham.</p>
<p>That really depends on where you did your undergrad and how you felt about your educational experience there. I know plenty of people who LOVE their grad school and never even mention where they went to undergrad. This is especially true when your undergrad institution is less prestigious than your grad school.</p>
<p>So, Ski0378 what did you decide? My S also got $$ to Wake, but not the full ride-more like half the coa. He, like you isn’t comfortable with the Greek scene there and since he wants to study physics and math (not what they are known for) will probably turn down the offer- although it is very tempting. Wish I had sent my daughter Wake, she would have loved it. My son, too, didn’t feel comfortable at U Chicago for undergrad, but may want to try it for Grad school, if he can get in. He will probably matriculate at Rice-lots of money, but it may be worth the investment. Good luck! I bet you two met at scholarship weekend. Congrats on winning!</p>
<p>I have friends that went to all of them, you will have a great time at Duke, Middlebury, or Wake Forest, but not so much at UChicago. I would personally save the money. If you are smart, which you clearly are from these acceptances you will excel and whatever college brand name you have wont make much of a difference.</p>
<p>Ski0378
Hello, I’m a raising senior who’s considering Wake Forest as one of my top choice for college. I can’t go to college anywhere without a full-ride, so I wonder if you can list some of your achievements (like SAT, ACT, GPA, activities, etc) and it’d be very kind of you to give me a brief story about your interview at Wake too… I know we’re strangers but I’d be really grateful because I cannot ask anyone else about it.</p>