<p>I am so conflicted right now... First and foremost, I would like to say this is really the biggest decision of my life thus far, and would appreciate any positive feedback. Thank you</p>
<p>I have received the A.B. Duke Scholarship at Duke University, which is not just a full-ride awarded to 15 individuals out of all the 30,000+ applicants, but also an opportunity to attend oxford and receive increased attention from Duke faculty and mentors. </p>
<p>However, turning down Harvard is very hard for me, as it has been my dream to go there ever since I was a kid.</p>
<p>Yet, my brain tells me to go to Duke - BY FAR - but my heart tells me to go to Harvard.</p>
<p>Essentially, (I plan on going to grad/med school) I need advice in deciding whether I should follow my heart or my head with this one.</p>
<p>I would choose Harvard over Duke. Harvard would provide enough financial aid to you so you can afford a Harvard education. Regardless what scholarship you get from Duke, you would be associated with Duke for the rest of your life. We all know that Duke is no Harvard. Follow your heart and do not get into the situation of thinking what if later on in life. In any case, you cannot have a bad choice.</p>
<p>I must say I agree with Waverly. Duke is almost on par with Harvard as it is. But Duke + $200k is a much better deal than Harvard. Unless the OP comes from a very wealthy family, Duke over Harvard in a minute.</p>
<p>@Wavelet: Do we know if he qualifies for much aid from Harvard? We all know that H gives great aid, but there’s a good number of students that get little or zilch. He could be one.</p>
<p>Everyone keeps on talking about the money, but I don’t think that is a huge factor in this situation. With an education at either university, 250k will not seem like such a burden in the future.</p>
<p>Are you saying that $250k debt wouldn’t be a burden? Oh yes…even for a H grad. You want to be a doctor. Those who go to H for undergrad do NOT earn more than the other MDs.</p>
<p>Although this is the most difficult decision you’ve had to face in life SO FAR, the good thing about it is that there is no wrong answer. Both are excellent schools.</p>
<p>FWIW – I don’t think that attending either of these schools provides a material advantage in getting into Grad School over the other. Both are fantastic places. </p>
<p>As to the decision – Go to your first choice school (and pay a lot of money) or go to a truly excellent alternative (and get a free ride). It’s a tough one. I’m sure you’ve discussed the economics with your family (and if you haven’t, do so) to understand whether Harvard will be a hardship and how much of one on your family. Otherwise, there’s really nothing that anyone can say that you haven’t thought of on your own.</p>
<p>What is your reaction to my statement? Relief? Joy? Then it’s the right choice. If instead you think – no wait – I really want to go to Harvard – then you’ll know. </p>
<p>Choose one – live with it – see how you feel.</p>
<p>Tough choices, between excellent schools. May this be the worst thing that happens to you :)</p>
<p>One of my daughter’s friends turned down Harvard for a very prestigious scholarship at our state flagship. The school had 18,000 applications last year - 20 kids are selected for the scholarship. Besides being a full ride, recipients get many fully funded travel opportunities, a generous annual stipend plus research and conference grants.</p>
<p>She loves it. At Harvard she would have been just another fish in the sea, albeit a very accomplished one.</p>
<p>As a parent, I say DUKE and it is not just a money thing. </p>
<p>Duke has already highlighted you as a rising star with the scholarship. This will provide far more than financial benefits. You will have a more personalized relationship with movers and shakers.</p>
No, I don’t think so. OP cannot understand the adult reality of trying to maintain a lifestyle where 40% of his/her disposable income is earmarked for the monthly payments on a student loan.</p>
<p>Therefore, OP cannot possibly know “how it feels” when it truly matters… in ten years.</p>
<p>Part of becoming an adult is learning responsible financial planning. OP has not indicated how much debt H would require. Each person reading this will have a different point of indifference when combining “dream of H” and $x amount of future monthly student loan payments.</p>
<p>For person A, $300/mo student loan payment is that point of indifference.
For person B, $100/mo. And so on.
For person C, the AB Duke scholarship is even money with H – that is, even if H were free, they would have trouble choosing.</p>
<p>Incidentally, this is not hypothetical for so many on this Board right now. My cousin’s son is in at Wharton, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and a full ride at USC (my cousin’s dental school alma mater). My sole input in reply to the financially difficult situation (he makes just enought to not get aid) was to take the amount of cash previously earmarked for college (let’s say $100,000), and commit to put it into either payments to H,Y,S, C, or if he chooses USC, to put that amount into his son’s bank about to use as he pleases upon graduation. His son too has an eye toward graduate school, and entering that phase of life with $100k in the bank vs. $100k in student loans is not a trivial thing.</p>
<p>As a scholarship winner, you will have first dibs on EVERYTHING Duke has to offer. Unless you are low income and Harvard is essentially free as well, this is a near no-brainer. </p>
<p>With your skill set, H for grad school is the obvious choice.</p>