<p>InIQuuS, why did you apply to Duke if you knew your parents were opposed to you leaving NYC, or did you know beforehand your parents would be against your choice? Did you apply to Columbia?</p>
<p>If your parents are still unflinching that you remain in NYC, then just go to NYU and do your best, or try to transfer to Columbia in the future.</p>
<p>I think you need to really advocate for yourself with your parents. You have a lot more power than you think. If you want Duke (and, for the rest of your life you will impress people - including med school adcoms - with that), make it happen for yourself. If you don't, you will aways resent your parents and yourself.</p>
<p>Well, I did apply to Columbia and I got deferred than rejected. All my schools only got one teacher recommendation because one of my other teachers didn't do it...it's a long story and he said he would do it so many times. I just gave up, and I was going through some personal difficulties in senior year, so I did like no college research. I'm lucky I made Duke and NYU.</p>
<p>If I had made Columbia, I wouldn't be posting here...haha.</p>
<p>I always knew my parents would be opposed, but I personally feel this is my decision. I don't feel like I should be restricted to where I should go, dictated what major to follow...if you get my drift. Besides, I had no idea they would resort to underhanded tactics to have me be near home. It's one thing to be disapprove of my college decision, but to impede it is wrong.</p>
<p>InIQuuS, your parents are opposed to you attending Duke, so my advice is to attempt to convince them about that university. Do as much research as possible about the school. You will have to, at least temporarily, be a Duke marketer. If this plan doesn't work, then you have a problem. If you currently live under your parents roof, then you have no choice. If you are on your own, then you can make your choice without much consequences other than strained relations with your parents. Nevertheless, you are fortunate that you have two good schools from which to choose, so if you ultimately attend NYU, it would still not be a bad choice.</p>
<p>I e-mailed asking for an extension to the response time.</p>
<p>My brother worked his magic and my family plans to head down to North Carolina this weekend to visit.</p>
<p>I got an AP this Friday, just the distraction I needed.</p>
<p>"Thanks for the great feedback, I mean in my school halls, the NYU name is being trashed. People are saying I'm dumb to be deciding over two schools when Duke is the obvious choice."</p>
<p>i was in the same position you are (well, NYU being the better school), and i chose the "lesser" school. academically, duke is better, esp for premed i think, but NYU is not terrible either. if you're tied down by financial matters, you could consider living at home if you go to NYU, which would not be an option at duke. it's good that you're planning a trip down to NC. when i first visited NYU junior year spring, i absolutely loved it, but when i visited again senior spring, i could NOT see myself there at all. i got that "gut feeling" at the other school, which i did not expect to like and had considered a safety for me. however, the school i chose was also better for my academic pursuits. i dont think you could go wrong with either decision, but dont base it on prestige alone - you can do well wherever you go if you want. i doubt slackers at harvard would get hired over a hard working person with great internships/character references at the top of his/her class at a less well known school.</p>