<p>So here's the deal, I REALLLLLLLY want to go to Stanford. I applied early and was fortunately accepted. However, I decided to let my other apps (Duke, Yale, Penn, Columbia) stay since I had already done all the work. Nonetheless I spent the last 5 months following stanford athletics (staying up late to follow bball games v washington, etc online) and learning as much as possible about IHUM and Stanford in general. </p>
<p>Last Friday, I found out that I am being offered the Robertson (full tuition, laptop, summer community service programs that seemingly change lives) at Duke. Now, my family is not uber-rich, but my dad says my decision shouldn't be based on money (I am not being offered any aid at Yale or Stanford). However, I think the Robertson program itself (especially the summer programs) are a can't-miss opportunity. Yet, I find many things about Duke unattractive (not quite as "intellectually stimulating," many spoiled kids on campus, social scene dominated by frats), and I know Stanford is the perfect fit.</p>
<p>Any advice on whether I should choose Stanford, Yale or Duke with the Robertson? Honestly, I'm incredibly blessed to get into all three, I really am not that talented, but now I'm in a quagmire. HELP PLEASE!</p>
<p>I don't know. Although I really like Stanford too, you can't go wrong with Duke at all. The academics are just as good, and I'm sure there are plenty of nice people at Duke, despite the atmosphere you picked up on. If I were you, I'd definitely go for Duke. Most of the time money shouldn't be an issue, but $160k for a negligible difference would be hard to justify. But that's just me.</p>
<p>wow. congrats. i'd go to duke. but thats just because duke and stanford are both great schools that i personally applied to, got accepted, and would go to either. right now i'm actually waiting for stanfords fin aid package. if its better than duke's im goin to stanford. if not, duke it is. i love both schools so much that it really wouldn't bother me to go to one and not the other. we'll see what happens. hope you make the right decision. i would actually visit duke one more time before deciding officially not to go. make sure you find out a lot more about the social scene than just the stereotypes.</p>
<p>as much as i love stanford, I'd have to suggest that you pick Duke. 160K is A LOT OF MONEY! Also, the special privileges that you get are very nice and hard to reject. Pick Duke.</p>
<p>Wow, I'm in a similar position. It's between Harvard and UNC-CH Robertson for me, though. Just curious, who are you? I might have met you at the weekend.</p>
<p>Okay, collegehopeful, a bit of honesty: Don't ask people on CC what to do. They're most often going to tell you to take the money because it's the easiest, most appealing answer. Truthfully, CC people don't know you or your situation, and shouldn't be a factor in this decision. It should be yours and yours alone.</p>
<p>That having said, I'm a Duke scholarship finalist as well. PM me if you wanna chat. I can tell you about my experiences at Duke and my ultimate decision.</p>