I’m conflicted. Ever since last summer when I visited, I was convinced all the way I would apply ED to Duke and help improve my odds. I love it so much and I think I’d really fit in. I honestly cannot wait to write the Why Duke supplemental bc I know I can go on forever about it!
BUT
Today I received email confirmation that my school nominated me for the Morehead-Cain scholarship, UNC-CH’s premier full ride scholarship. I visited UNC on the same trip I took to visit Duke. It isn’t my #1 but I still really like it and I was planning to apply EA before receiving this news. With the Morehead-Cain Scholarship, you can’t apply anywhere ED
SO
Now I have no idea what to do. Both opportunities are risky, benefitting few of many, and have great pay-offs either way. Anywhere I end up, these school or otherwise, I would be receiving enough to make the family contribution comparable or below in state tuition at our state flagship. I prefer Duke but I love both schools and would be happy at either. Each offer great opportunities and the experiences I want to characterize my college years.
I have no idea what to do. If anyone can shed light (or loopholes lol) on this decision, it would be greatly appreciated. I know either way I choose, there are no guarantees, but I don’t know how to justify skipping out on either one of these opportunities. Thanks so much, let me know if you want stats!
Yes. I’m sorry i wasn’t clear before. With financial aid, both schools are comparable or cost my family less than our state flagship’s in state tuition. @suzy100
Boy, this is a conundrum so I hope others will chime in. I think posting your stats will help. Do you have any legacy at Duke? If so, that helps only in the ED round if I recall correctly. I don’t have stats on how many are nominated for Moorehead-Cain versus who get the award. Are you a NC resident? My initial thought is go ahead and apply ED to Duke if it looks affordable and it’s your true number 1, but I say that in a vacuum. I am not a fan of ED - this is a great example of why I think it is not beneficial to applicants.
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I am going to recommend that you ED to Duke since your posts suggest that you would be disappointed if awarded the Morehead-Cain scholarship at UNC.
FWIW, I believe that Morehead-Cain scholars at UNC can take courses at Duke–even if accurate, I do understand that it would not be the same as being a full time Duke undergraduate.
P.S. Curious as to why you are so enamored with Duke ?
If Duke is your dream school, and you can afford it, do ED there. You can also apply for the Robertson Scholarship program without a nomination and select Duke, UNC, or both as the school you want to attend. Speaking from experience with my daughter, Duke has been her dream school for years and she was lucky enough to get in through RD. With that being said, she refused to even look at UNC CH because of her love for Duke. Did you ask to be your school’s Morehead Cain nominee? At our kids’ school, you have to apply to be the nominee.
I am not familiar with the process for Morehead-Cain, but I know it is very competitive. For the Jefferson scholarships, every year there are multiple nominees failed to gain admission to UVA. If Morehead-Cain is running similar to Jefferson, nomination is just a very small step in the journey.
I’m bumping this up just to ask, based on the blurb presented about my stats (I can elaborate necessary), am I a good applicant for Duke ED? Do I have a shot?
Opportunity for a scholarship is not the scholarship in hand.
You should go where you want provided you weigh all the factors.
( I won a scholarship to which I did not apply for about 85% of costs to Syracuse U in a field I really had no interest in. I had applied to Syracuse as a safety only. Since the scholarship wasn't on my radar and really didn't appeal to me, I didn't really consider it. I ended up going to a place which was better suited to me. I don't think schools give out scholarships any more to their top applicants without someone specifically applying. But they may. Sounds like a tactic to get their best applicants to slow down their ED's elsewhere. Did it come with a letter saying you were in the scholarship applicant pool based on being one of their top candidates? I would go ED to Duke and apply to UNC regular decision if you think it interests you. Like others, I am not a fan of ED as it limits some great scholarships and plays your hand. Can be great if you really know for sure though.
You should also get the data. How many people are recommended by their schools? How many scholarships are there? How much money is given? Are all the scholarships the same? I’m sure you can find out this info.
Looking at the UNC-CH website about 20% of Morehead-Cain applicants become semi-finalists. Then about 130 finalists are chosen after interviews, and about half are offered a scholarship.
I do not know a lot about the specific schools that you’re considering, but -
Be aware that financial aid can include student loans (in addition to grants or scholarships) that you will have to pay back (but schools love to incle this to up their percentage of “need met.”
from our friend’s experiences, cost of living and other educations costs such as text books can be much more expensive at some higher-priced schools and those awarding financial aid amounts don’t seem to be aware of this.
my kids got lots of mailing along the lines of “you’re likely to get this scholarship!” Don’t count that as a definite. Keep your options open as you apply.
Great attitude! You will do well where ever you go!
Would you rather be an ordinary student at Duke or a Morehead-Cain very competitive scholarship winner?
How would you feel if you applied to Duke ED but didn’t get in?
How would you feel if you applied to the scholarship but didn’t get it and didn’t get in Duke RD?