<p>Hello all,
I've already posted this message on the Duke forum, but I figure I'll get a more balanced perspective if I post here as well. I've been studying chemistry as a freshman at the Imperial College of London for the past year, and am trying to figure out as fast as I can (hopefully before I have to dole out the 200 dollar deposit for Duke) where I want to be next year.
Sometime around November, it occurred to me very suddenly that I needed a break from chemistry. Actually, what I needed badly was variety - British schools focus on one topic, which means fast degrees (masters in 4 years is standard, and that's including a year of research) but, regrettably, not much in the way of novelty. As it is, I have roughly 22 hours of class a week, all chem. Needless to say, that can get to your head pretty quickly.
Anyway, I decided that, just on the off chance I would want to transfer to the US (I'm a citizen, but I haven't lived there since I turned 3), I would submit a few apps. Literally, I applied only to UNC and Duke (my mom has an apartment in the triangle area, I figured it would make things easier, and give me a place to go when (/if) I need some peace and quiet) and got into both. I found out about UNC around the end of March, and I just found out about Duke last week. I visited both during my spring break, because I'm fairly certain at this point that I will indeed be transferring.
I visited UNC first, and liked it very much right off the bat. It helped that the two tour guides I had were young and enthusiastic girls, who both adored the place. Then I visited Duke, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed. On the other hand, my tour guide was quite lethargic and apathetic. I'm positive this affected my perception of the school.
So where do I go? I have absolutely no idea what I want to study anymore. I've been convinced for quite a few years that chemistry is what I wanted. It may still be, and I plan on trying out at least one chem course in the US to see how the teaching approach compares, but beyond that, I don't know what I intend to major in.
Financially, UNC is giving me a laptop and $15000 worth of grants. I'm still waiting on Duke. Assuming I get a package that lets me even consider Duke (which would have to be at least $25000 in grants), I'm still torn about how much importance I should give to the school's academic ranking. I know Duke is considered more prestigious, but I'm also a bit worried about the kind of people I would meet there. If only 40 percent of students there require aid, that says something about the social status of the other 60. I don't know that I would feel comfortable surrounded by that much money.
I would be very appreciative if some of you could provide relevant comments to my situation, especially if some of you have had to make the same choice as I am faced with now.</p>
<p>Hopefully, other students will respond with more personal experiences...but I can relate my daughter's thoughts on the two schools. </p>
<p>She did not even apply to Duke (despite the massive amount of mail she has received from them since 7th grade when she participated in the Duke [TIP] talent search). Duke is fantastic school, but Carolina provided the opportunity to have the academic prestige of a highly selective and the wonderful American college experience of a nice-sized university. Her Carolina visit confirmed she had made the right choice...she met students who were outstanding both academically and socially. And she said everyone just seemed so happy and well-adjusted at Carolina. The gorgeous campus was the cherry on top.</p>
<p>I like the advice I've read here many times before...'when it's right, you'll know it'. Duke is perfect for some...and Carolina is perfect for others. Both are excellent choices, so it's just about where you fit.</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools, but what I would say it comes down to is the student body. I have several friends who were accepted to Duke, but none of them went. One friend didn't go because Duke barely helped her with financial aid and so she went to a school that gave her a full ride instead. Another one of my friends complained that when he visited the campus the students seemed stuck up. One complaint Carolina students have about Dookies is that they are all work and no play, where at Carolina if you act that way your friends will usually step in and force you to take a break and have fun.</p>
<p>Students at Carolina are very diverse, enthusiastic and they really love Carolina. </p>
<p>On a final note, I was working at a Duke Alumni event a month or so ago and I was talking with of the people who've worked them in the past and they all said that the older Duke alumni of about 40 or so years ago, the ones who paid for their college from GI Bills are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, but as you get to the younger and younger alumni, the ones who their rich parents paid for their college, then they suddenly get very rude. The old Duke alumni were sweet to me even when they knew I was a carolina student and the young ones were just jerks.</p>
<p>I just finished my freshman year and I can honestly say that the only thing I was really disappointed with was the student body. Despite what you may have heard, there are a LOT of students from nowhere, NC who are very conservative, very religious, and couldn't care less about being active in the community and leave you almost feeling embarrased that you go to the same school as they did. Granted you don't have to hang out with people like them, but it's certainly discouraging.</p>
<p>^ Not that I'm conservative or the overtly religious proselytizing type, but why would anyone be embarrassed by the differing belief systems of another? That, in and of itself, is intolerance. To equate one system of belief with all that is bad or negative just isn't right.</p>
<p>Really, most of the "very conservative, very religious" folks I have met have been more active in the community, as a rule... And in all my contacts with people from UNC - I haven't met one that would be in any way an embarassment to themselves, their peers, or their school...</p>