<p>I have to make the most important decision of my life thus far in a few days, and I want to make sure all my bases are covered so I can decide and never look back.</p>
<p>My options: Duke University, with the AB Duke Scholarship, or Harvard.</p>
<p>Pros/cons of both? Disregard money for tuition, but consider the money that I'd receive for research as an AB Duke. For those of you who don't know, the AB Duke is a scholarship given to about 15 students each year at Duke and includes full tuition, funding and grants for research, one or two semesters of Study Abroad, and a six-week summer experience at Oxford the summer after my freshman year.</p>
<p>Some things to consider:
1. I haven't decided on a major yet, but I'm interested in medicine, especially with a global health/humanitarian angle.
2. I'm from Charleston, SC. Harvard would be an entirely new region of the country for me, which could either not matter or be a good thing, depending on how you look at it. I'm already at home at Duke. My sister graduated from there a few years ago, and I'm been on campus during the summers and such. I know people there, and I know the campus. Again, it could be something that either works for or against Duke.
3. This isn't a significant factor, but I need to at least acknowledge it -- name/prestige. Yes, Harvard is certainly more prestigious than Duke, but would the benefits of being an AB Duke outweigh the benefits of being a normal, undistinguished undergraduate at Harvard? Keep in mind that I'd be looking to attend medical school, potentially.</p>
<p>Any advice would greatly be appreciated! Thanks!</p>
<p>P.S. I've posted this in other sections too, so I can hopefully get as much advice as possible. Hope that's okay.</p>
<p>Sports- Duke
weather- Duke
City- Harvard
Sister Duke Alum- Harvard
parties- Duke
campus- Duke
prestige- who cares/you wont a week after you get on campus.</p>
<p>You really should not ignore the $200k cost savings unless you are related to Bill Gates. Think about what you (or your parents) could do with $200k four years hence -- pay for four years at Harvard/Hopkins med? You will be treated royally in Durham courtesy of the honor award and given first dibs on nearly everything they offer, whereas at H you'll be just one more high achieving student.</p>
<p>Do you really think there is that big a discrepancy between Harvard and Duke academics that you would not immediately snap at the opportunity for full-ride to the latter? Unless there is some factor to Duke that would make you despise enrolling there entirely, my opinion is that AB Duke would be the obvious (and financially intelligent, especially) choice.</p>
<p>I would choose Duke over all schools of HYPSM fame if awarded that kind of monetary package, tinam233. Congrats!</p>
<p>Seriously though, I'd pick Duke. The difference in prestige is not that much. And like others said, you probably be better off at Duke. Looking forward to meeting you there.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any opinions on the opportunities I'd have post-graduation, coming from either school? In this case, I guess it's a battle of the AB Duke name against the Harvard diploma.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think too that Duke would be the more logical and realistic choice since the Harvard grad status will be no better than the AB Duke's benefits.........still tough to decide, if especially, if u've always dreamed in ur life to go to Harvard.......well, but still, I guess more logical decision would be Blue Devils!</p>
<p>A friend of mine turned off H,M for AB Duke. He went to Mckincey & Company right after college. Now he got his MBA from Stanford and returned to Mckinsey. Mckinsey paid/lended part of his MBA cost, Stanford awarded him a scholarship ( $25k/year to only 5 students per MBA class). I guess not many Harvard graduate can be that "lucky". You can check his name out through the clues I provided. There are only 15 AB Dukes each year, so grab this wonderful opportunity.</p>
<p>But if you and/or your family are huge fun of a Harvard name, nothing real wrong with going to Harvard.</p>
<p>Ok, then if money is same, would you turn down Harvard over Duke?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm from Charleston, SC. Harvard would be an entirely new region of the country for me, which could either not matter or be a good thing, depending on how you look at it. I'm already at home at Duke.
</p>
<p>Sometimes, person needs to get away from his/her comfort zone for change. Without change, something sleeps inside and never wakes up. & the sleeper must be awakened.</p>
<p>Over the years, there have been many Duke Robertson Scholarship winners (probably offered almost same benefit packages as AB duke scholarship) who chose other schools over Duke. </p>
<p>Likewise, almost 25% of the UVAs full-ride Jefferson Scholarship Winners have been tuning down to go schools elsewhere. </p>