Duke vs. Emory (full-ride)

Paying for College
1

<p>I’m having the hardest time of my life choosing between these two schools. My parents don’t qualify for financial aid, so the difference in price is $35K/year – 44K for Duke vs. 9K for Emory (I have 20K in outside scholarships). For the past year or so I’ve been thinking about pre-med, and if I do become a doctor I would definitely pursue a specialty like immunology or endocrinology, which means I would need to get into a good med school…and pay for it. So if I went to Duke, I could make it through undergrad without loans, but there would be $0 left for medical school. </p>

<p>BUT then again, I’m not completely set on med school, so I feel that it’s important I go to the best school that would prepare me for whatever path I choose. Duke’s departmental rankings are definitely better than Emory’s, and I feel like there’s also a big difference in the overall quality of the student body. I REALLY like being around smart people, and throughout my life I’ve always identified with and become best friends with the smartest people at my private school. I was looking forward to being stretched and engaged by my peers in college, and I really don’t want to be at the very top of the class. </p>

<p>Other than academics, I guess I’m most concerned with the social life. I’m not a big partier and don’t drink, although I might want to go to a party every once in a while. I’m kind of a serious, sometimes introverted person, and it usually takes me longer to make friends. I REALLY like to have fun though, but my idea of fun is usually just hanging out with a really close, small group of friends. </p>

<p>I LOVE the school spirit at Duke (live in Raleigh and been a Blue Devils fan all my life) and feel that I would be really proud to say that I go to Duke. However, I’m not sure I can say the same of Emory. Duke really has that prestige, name-factor thing going on, and I guess that’s really important to me. I know people say not to pay attention to rankings, but there’s something very alluring to me about going to one of the best universities world-wide. If the schools were the same price, I would choose Duke. </p>

<p>I have visited both: I went for the Emory Scholars weekend and also for a scholarship weekend at Duke. I was SO close to getting a full-ride at Duke, and I’m still very disappointed I didn’t get it. A few small differences I noted were that the dorms at Emory are much nicer, and I would also have the perks of the Emory scholars program including first choice in classes and housing. </p>

<p>Sorry this was so long, I’m just very confused. Help anyone? (BTW, I also got into Penn and JHU and waitlist at Harvard, Yale, and Brown)</p>

2

<p>do you really not think that emory holds a similar reputation and prestige like that of duke? they are equally excellent schools and emory is extremely well known for its premed program. thats a big difference between 50k and 9k compared to the very small difference between the two schools.</p>

3

<p>Emory, without a second thought.</p>

4

<p>dude its a no-brainer--Emory.</p>

5

<p>Go to Emory. I wouldn't worry about the prestige of your undergrad school. If you are destined for great things, you'll excel no matter where you get your education.</p>

6

<p>I have to agree you should go to Emory. Full ride is very prestigious.</p>

7

<p>Emory. Duke is <em>not</em> all that, particularly in the south. It may have the prestige factor where you live, but in the larger environs, Emory is not something second-rate. </p>

<p>Do your future self a favor, and go where the money is. You will be glad you did.</p>

8

<p>Emory, definitely.</p>

<p>My son has 2 top 20 schools full-tuition merit scholarships(not Duke). If Harvard didn't initiate new financial aid policy, my son would have gone to the school giving full-tuition merit scholarship.
If the school gives free ride(inlude boarding, book), my son will go there definitely.
Better name, lower cost, lower cost always comes first. A little bit more prestige dosen't worth $35K/year.</p>

9

<p>Ok...well coming from Alabama, Emory is not second-rate. It's seen as an elite school around here that not many students from my area can even get into. On the other hand, Duke is not known around here for academics... basketball, of course. A full ride at Emory is something so many students dream of and not something to be frowned upon. By the way, how did you like scholars' weekend? I was there too and thought it was awesome.</p>

10

<p>Without knowing much about Emory in particular, I'm going to say that I doubt you will be all that isolated intellectually. It isn't Backwater State College.</p>

<p>My son is at "another well-known private in the south often spoken of in the same sentence", on a similar merit scholarship. I made the serious mistake of worrying just a little bit that he might not be in his 'intellectual element' (and I am quite embarrassed to admit that). I was even so dumb as to ask him, part way through his freshman year, if he had gotten to know any of the other full scholarship awardees. My answer was a scornful look and the rejoinder "Do you honestly think we talk about who attends on merit scholarships!" He has had no trouble finding other students who are just as serious about scholarship as he is, no trouble finding (very) rigorous courses, and no trouble finding friends who do not think regular partying is the best way to spend their time. I'll bet your experience will be very similar.</p>

<p>Avoid the debt. It is totally unnecessary in this case.</p>

11

<p>No matter where you live, Emory is not second rate. I've been to both campuses and each has it's own merits. Trust me, you won't be the smartest one in the class at Emory. And the research opportunities with the CDC down the street, is a huge plus! You can still root for home town Blue Devils.</p>