<p>Agree with everything YaleGrad said. Those decisions are not made in a vacuum and are highly dependent on the circumstances and perspectives of the students and their families. The often debated relative importance of college tuition vs. retirement fund is very subjective and personal. </p>
<p>So, not to tell the OP what to do, but if I were to choose, I’d take UNC (if it’s indeed computer science, not engineering) over the other two options. Full-ride scholarship at UNC-CH is a great badge of honor, and top graduate programs and employers know that.</p>
<p>definitely go to UNC. It sounds that you really love the sports culture at Duke, and you’ll find that more at UNC than you will at Wash U. Don’t turn down a full ride to take out loans, ESPECIALLY for undergrad.</p>
<p>In real life you need to do a cost and benefit analysis even if you can afford it. I would say UNC wins out unless you want to become an investment banker than it’s Duke.</p>
<p>In recent years, WUSTL has been even more selective than Duke, and as many as 25% of its students have received merit aid. So I hardly think you’d be such a big fish there. </p>
<p>Duke & UNC have big-time collegiate sports, but WUSTL is known for an especially high quality of student life. For the $124K you’d save over Duke, you and your friends could take in quite a few Rams and Cardinals games :). Is it worth $15K/year over UNC? Only you and your family can decide, but that amount should at least be manageable through a mix of “self help” (Stafford loans, summer jobs) and parent contributions.</p>
<p>That is complete factually inaccurate. WashU is not and never will be more selective than Duke. The only reason they appear to be selective at all is because of rampant yield protection. Get your facts straight before posting.</p>
<p>For computer science, there isn’t much of a difference between unc ch,duke, and washu. So I’d choose UNC CH.</p>
<p>But with your list of choices, USC half ride seems like a great option. It’s in california and with the alum network finding a job won’t be too much of a problem.</p>
<p>Utter and total BS. WUSTL has a waiting list as large as the entire enrollment of the PAC12 and SEC combined. That’s called “yield protection” in spades.</p>
<p>This is one of my favorite CC posts, by AdmissionsDaniel at Hopkins. It seems to be appropriate to post this here too. I wish I could post it on everyone of these threads:</p>
<p>"I noticed during my absence the proliferation of discussion threads asking for comparison of Hopkins vs. College X, University Y, Institution Z etc. I have always said the worst part of College Confidential is the chances thread I may have to correct that statement and add these comparison threads to the mix. </p>
<p>I do not find these threads to be helpful. Make your own decisions create your own personal pro/con lists do your own self-assessment it is YOUR OWN decision. You need to understand that many of the people who respond to these posts have their own personal agendas. The opinions they share are their own, and because this is an anonymous world how do you know that their opinions would even come close to your own opinions. And I say this for both the people who post extremely negative comments as well as those who post extremely positive comments.</p>
<p>A year or so ago I wrote the following about such discussion topics, and I feel it still pertains today:</p>
<p>(1) The best answers to such posts are from people who share the positives of their own school rather than attacking the other schools THAT THEY DO NOT ATTEND. Focusing on what is great about one’s school is much more helpful than attacking a school you probably don’t know much about from first-hand experience. And also avoid the dreaded someone I know said such-and-such </p>
<p>(2) Take everything you read/hear with a grain of salt. I am not a fan of many of these comparison threads since often people responding have their own personal agendas, like to extend untrue myths, and just don’t know anything. Feel free to question what I write as well, though I think my track record has proven that I provide an honest point-of-view.</p>
<p>(3) Make every opportunity to visit the schools you are considering and make the comparisons yourself. Absorb all the information that is out there. </p>
<p>(4) Do not focus on rankings or other stats. Focus on what school best fits what you want - and yes I said what YOU want. Not your friends, not your family."</p>