Northwestern or Duke?

Tinfoyl
Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:11:15 +0000

I remember a short time ago when I was choosing between Duke and Northwestern (and even Cornell and Chicago for that matter) I kept leaning this way and that. Like I said, I’m going to be a Northwestern student, but I want to help you make the right choice, probably one of the most important choices of your live. There were times when I actually started to flip-flop; I began to tell myself that Cornell was the school for me or Duke, and it really became tough to choose one because, like you, I knew I’d be happy at all of them. So, let me help you illuminate your future a little bit.

Your absolutely right about the biomedical engineers going into business or law, but I would bet that a great deal of them do in fact go into medicine. You repeatedly bring up the words “business” or “law,” so I really do feel that those two career options are where you see yourself - i could be wrong, but your tone and diction would denote otherwise. So is BME really what you want to do? You may be better off going into mechanical or civil or electrical depending on your engineering tastes. I don’t know if you seem sold on the BME.

And by “Kellogg,” I was being much too vague - I simply meant that you could get that certificate or perhaps even get another major/minor in Northwestern’s economics program which is one of the best in the country. Northwestern is very lax about getting majors in two different schools as well. Yet, Duke has a top notch economics program as well. And if you are leaning more towards law (maybe even patent law with your science background) than any minute advantage can just be scrapped.

I live on the east coast by the way, and I can honestly say that at my public school, Duke and Northwestern are seen as equivalent. Duke isn’t really all that more well known than Northwestern - for its academics at least which is what you are talking about. Trust me on this: if you get a degree from Northwestern and a degree from Duke, they will take you to the same places. You can move back to the East coast and any employer will know the distinction that a Northwestern graduate has. The same goes for a Duke grad. moving to Chicago. Intelligent employers don’t look for intelligence in one pool - they go to the ocean.

Now, to how you “feel,” I think that you are confused about the choice, and in your confusion, you feel some regret. You don’t regret anything now, but you are dealing with some premeditated emotions; you are worried that one way or another your life could drastically change. Now, let me tell you my philosophy on the matter: let the fortune tellers worry about my future. No, I’m not some occultist, but rather that I can only see my future with what little foresight I have, so it’s best not to dwell on it. Weather isn’t the deciding factor, and I think you’re looking at how you “feel” too one dimensionally. It’s not necessarily about the campus but everything. Look in your heart of hearts and tell yourself why you like Duke or why you like Northwestern. No fluff, just raw emotions and thoughts. Logic and reason can only take one so far.