Should I choose Duke?

am61517
Wed, 04 May 2016 07:03:15 +0000

Both schools have the “prestige” necessary to provide access to elite finance jobs and top business schools assuming you perform well - which will require more effort at Duke (my children found getting A*s on A-levels substantially less difficult than getting 5s on APs, and their UK System peers took fewer classes as well). Socially, you would most likely enjoy both, although the experiences are very different.

Were I in your shoes I would be thinking about two issues. First, how important is it to be immersed in and understand the American culture (having lived in the US and London, among other places, I found the two cultures far more different than they appear). Secondly, how important is it to get a “liberal arts” education as opposed to being totally immersed in one subject area. The US system provides two years of exploration before you select a major (unless you choose engineering), enables you to major/minor/get a certificate in more than one are of study, and enables an easy transition to another area of study if your interests change (which happens to a surprisingly high percentage of students in the US system).

If you are at all adventurous (which I assume you are or you wouldn’t have applied to US universities), I think you would find Duke a very positive eye-opening and life changing experience.

As an aside, I don’t think having an elite American degree (vs. a UCL degree) would in any way negatively impact you assuming you return to the UK to work. It would only serve to make you a more interesting, more broadly experienced and educated person.

You have an exciting choice to make with two excellent options. Best wishes with your decision.