I guess for most people the choice would be easy, but I’m having some trouble deciding between Duke and FIU. I like both schools and I can see myself at both but I just want to know if Duke is “worth it.”
So I have a full ride to FIU and with the money left over from Florida prepaid I’d be able to buy a car.
Duke gave me great financial aid but we can only pay the first two years with the money we saved through Florida prepaid. The other two years are doable with loans (if our EFC doesn’t change too much), but I don’t want to cause any financial strain on my family. If I graduate from Duke, I’ll likely have a $20K debt which isn’t impossible for us to pay off, but not preferred obviously. My issue is that I’m interested in law school. Would it make sense to go to Duke for the prestige and risk a greater debt for law school or take the full ride (and car) to FIU? Do law schools care about where you went for undergrad?
I’m also worried about the weather; being accustomed to Florida weather all my life, I’m not sure how well I’ll handle NC winters. Are they that bad?
In the grand scheme of things $20K debt is not a major burden, all the more so if you do well at university and eventually in your career.
Duke is by far the better choice. Hopefully you can move beyond “a car” and perfect weather.
Is that $20K debt at Duke on top of the potential $27K in student loan debt? If in place of, off to Duke you go.
@Erin’s Dad The 20K is not including the loans.
In this case, Duke by far.
@fogcity Thanks for the response. It would be $20K + lawschool debt. I was thinking a car would allow me to work/intern without having to rely on public transportation. Not sure how good public transportation is at Durham.
So if everyone is saying Duke, does this mean law schools care about prestige?
I typically hedge with the lower cost option. However, $20k for Duke isn’t much when you end up adding law school debt. Btw, what is your intended major?
I went to Emory Law and U of West Florida undergrad. I don’t think law schools care where your degree is from as much as how well you do, what activities and internships you have, and LSAT. There is a ton more to do near FIU than in Durham. I wouldn’t waste money and go into debt for Duke. It’s tough to get a job in law and you want to have as little debt as possible after law school.
Most high schoolers enter college with the oh-so-typical intentions of becoming a doctor/lawyer/engineer/etc. Most haven’t been exposed to the enormous variety of academic disciplines and career fields that exist, so plans change.
Duke is a considerably stronger university than FIU, and $20K is a very reasonable amount of debt. I’d go for Duke without thinking twice.
I normally come down squarely on the side of lower cost but I agree with @warblersrule in this case. A nominal $20K for Duke is worth it, particularly if the OP learns he doesn’t want to attend law school after all.
@Frugal Something in the social sciences or English.
@warblersrule Thank you, I had thought about that but hadn’t given it much weight until now.
Thanks everyone! Off to Duke I go!
“There is a ton more to do near FIU than in Durham.” Spoken like someone who has never been to Durham. Miami, FL is nice, but Duke is the correct choice.