Why Duke is the Right Choice

Colleges & Universities Duke University
1

<p>A year ago I was skeptical. I had nearly 9 schools lined up, many of which were Ivies, and many of which I was familiar with - and yet, I ultimately chose Duke. My decision was not financially motivated, quite the contrary, I had merit scholarships to schools like Hopkins, Columbia, and UPenn. Rather, my choice was made on a whim. </p>

<p>One year later, I have realized that this was the best decision of my life. </p>

<ul>
<li>We have incredible academics; Duke has one of the top 2 programs in the world for my major (BME). </li>
<li>We have incredible facilities; we are one of the largest campuses in the country, have the largest college botanical garden, cameron stadium, incredible libraries, incredible gyms etc. etc. </li>
<li>We have amazing professors, laureates, faculty, and coaches. </li>
<li>The weather is perfect. </li>
<li>The campus is literally one of the most beautiful in the U.S / World. </li>
<li>We are one of the best top grad school feeder schools in the WORLD: ( <a href=“http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf[/url]”>http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf&lt;/a&gt; )</li>
<li>We are top 10 in U.S News. </li>
<li>We get incredible jobs (i landed a goldman sachs internship as a FRESHMAN). </li>
<li>Oh, and did i mention, we have the best basketball team in the NATION. </li>
</ul>

<p>With that said, take a risk, make a gamble, and end up like me, satisfied, enlightened, and blessed to be in such a wonderful institution.</p>

2

<p>

</p>

<p>The ivies do not offer merit scholarships.</p>

3

<p>^ hahahaha.</p>

4

<p>Columbia and Upenn do offer merit scholarships/scholar’s programs to a select few applicants. These applicants are most commonly underrepresented minorities. I believe this is what the poster is referring to.</p>

5

<p>"Does Columbia offer merit scholarships?</p>

<p>No. There are no academic, athletic or talent-based institutional scholarships. University grants are offered on the basis of demonstrated financial need."</p>

<p>[Financial</a> Aid | Columbia University Office of Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/faq/aid.php#3]Financial”>http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/faq/aid.php#3)</p>

<p>Type in Q re: “merit scholarships” in askBEN: </p>

<p>“Like other Ivy League universities, Penn awards scholarships and grants based solely on financial need, and does not offer scholarships/grants based on athletic and/or academic merit.”</p>

<p>[Need</a> based Financial Aid for Prospective Undergraduate Students](<a href=“http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/paying/paying-pro-need-based-aid.htm]Need”>Submit My Documents | Penn Student Registration & Financial Services| Penn Srfs)</p>

6

<p>My dilemma is Duke vs. UMd (for free) … I’m having a very difficult time with this … and to make things even more complicated, I’m still “waiting” on Harvard … :(</p>

<p>Opinions welcome …</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>Sure, this year. :p</p>

8

<p>plumazul, what’s the price difference.</p>

<p>UMd is amazing. The principle investigator of the lab where I work went there, and he is rich as sin. He went UMd-> Johns Hopkins grad-> MIT post-doc He is ridiculously smart. UMd is really good, and you can always go to Duke for grad school. If the price isn’t all that different, the really go with your gut and where you feel comfortable. But, if it’s going to be over 20k in debt, I would think really hard about putting that on yourself and your family when you have a full ride elsewhere.</p>

<p>Good luck on the Harvard WL!</p>

9

<p>I am in the exact same dilemma as you pumazul except I’m deciding between a full-ride at NYU and Duke. I’m also waitlisted at Harvard!</p>