<p>Basically I have been accepted at UNC with a full scholarship (Carolina Scholars), Notre Dame (Reilly Program), Northwestern, and Duke and have been waitlisted at Columbia and Cornell. </p>
<p>I need help deciding where to go next year. </p>
<p>I am interested in business/finance and am looking to get internships on wallstreet during my 4 years of college and a job on wallstreet after college (preferably at the bigger banks such as GS and JPM). I would especially like to get into private equity and hedge funds straight out of undergrad which I know is very difficult. Would these schools give me the opportunities to do so? Will UNC (considering i work my ass off) give me these opportunities? </p>
<p>I really need help deciding where to go, especially since the deadline is in 11 days. Thank you and I appreciate all feedback both positive and negative.</p>
<p>If you’re interested in Economics/Business then you really should come to Duke. Our Economics and Public Policy programs speak for themselves. The largest and second largest majors on campus, economics and public policy at Duke offer resources and opportunity like no other. Most top consulting firms recruit from Duke not only because of past excellent performance but also because of the academic credibility of our programs. The career center on campus and the e-recruitment programs will definitely help econ. and/or pub pol majors land internships around the world through top consulting firms (JP/Jane St./Goldman/McKinsey) or also on wall st.</p>
<p>^ Umm… Jane St. is not a consulting firm… and I’ve never read anywhere that they recruit at Duke.</p>
<p>I say take the scholarship. Tuition at Duke is over 50k a year, and 200k in debt is too much to take on when you have an alternative. Duke is only a 20 minute bus ride away and I’m pretty sure there are opportunities here that are open to UNC students as well. At the very least, you are free to come here during the career fairs and meet all the recruiters from the big firms same as any Duke student. UNC is still a very good school.</p>
<p>^How do you know how much Duke costs to the OP? Maybe he was given some financial aid. Alternatively, maybe his parents have a college fund set up for him and paying full tuition is not a problem. So, saying he has to go into $200k in debt is probably not true. Having said that, if you do have you go $200k into debt to go to Duke, choose UNC! </p>
<p>I’m not familiar with the Carolina Scholars program. Does it offer special opportunities besides money? For example, going to UNC on a Morehead is certainly different than just going to UNC for free - the Morehead provides you opportunities that other UNC students simply don’t have.</p>
<p>Just looking at the schools, Duke is the clear choice as the best target for Wall Street. Notre Dame and Northwestern get recruited more heavily by Chicago firms, and UNC is a lower target. Having said that, if you do well at UNC, you certainly could get a top job in finance. It’s just not as many people do it. I think it comes down to how much the full ride means to you and simply where you see yourself enjoying more. I think if money was equal, Duke would be the clear choice for your intended career path. (Or maybe Northwestern; they just don’t have as big of a presence on Wall Street because more alumni stay in the Midwest.) But UNC certainly isn’t a bad choice either, especially since it’s free. Nobody knows your family’s financial situation, so you have to discuss it with them and make an informed decision. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I completely echo bluedog. If Duke is affordable for you then it’s an easy choice, Duke. However, if you will incur a significant amount of debt, UNC. To get into a top firm from UNC you will have to work you a$$ off since it’s almost completely off Wall St’s radar</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Actually, I agree with bluedog. I made some quick assumptions and I apologize.</p>
<p>@mathematicism,</p>
<p>Jane Street may not be a hedge fund, but they are a HUGE proprietary trading firm on and off the stock market.</p>
<p>The other schools besides UNC are not giving me any aid since my family is pretty well off and I did not apply for aid. </p>
<p>I am also in the honors program at UNC and have received assured enrollment in their business school. The social life and sports there are also fantastic. I am therefore kinda leaning towards UNC.</p>
<p>Will UNC provide me the opportunities to get on wallstreet with a solid job out of undergrad? Is paying an extra 200k for Duke worth the added advantage after graduation? Isn’t UNC honors just as good as Duke? </p>
<p>To be honest I do like Duke as much as UNC if not more but the money plays a difference even though we could pay. I really need advice about what to do… This is the next 4 years of my life.</p>
<p>@k10kekail</p>
<p>Sorry for not being clear in my previous post, Jane Street being a top prop trading firm, as opposed to a consulting firm (which post #2 stated) was exactly what I implied.</p>
<p>That said, I’m still very curious as to whether or not Duke is a target for Jane Street. Can anyone provide any info on this?</p>
<p>Duke is definitely a target for Jane Street Capital. I’m a current senior and they’ve been at the Career Fair every year that I’ve been here and I know 2 current seniors who are going to be Assistant Traders there. They haven’t updated their US Campus Recruitment Calendar yet for the 2011-12 recruiting cycle but they definitely have a pretty strong presence at Duke.</p>
<p>Guys, Please read this paper.
[The</a> $555,000 Student-Loan Burden - WSJ.com](<a href=“The $555,000 Student-Loan Burden - WSJ”>The $555,000 Student-Loan Burden - WSJ)
If you have to take out a loan for going to Duke, forget about it. This lady, Dr. Bisutti, serves as an example of why student loan is not the way to go for your undergrad or graduate degree.
On the tother hand, if you have plenty of money for education, that is another story for another day.</p>
<p>Duke is as good as UNC in terms of education. It is splitting hairs.</p>
<p>In order of selection: Duke, UNC(free-ride), NU, ND</p>
<p>yeah UNC honors is definitely not Duke’s equal in terms of recruitment and other opportunities (extracurriculars here are a lot better than UNC)</p>
<p>If you have the money (aka don’t need to take out loans) the Duke experience trumps anything you’d find at UNC (I toured and applied to both so I’m not saying this because I hate UNC or something, I actually think it’s a really good school. Duke’s just better, especially for Finance (by a lot).</p>
<p>Hey OP, I was also in the same situation. For me, it was between University of Michigan (my state school) or Duke. I honestly feel like I worked my ass off and deserve Duke (my top choice) more than anything else. I did not get any aid either, but I have decided to go there. Just remember that you reapply for aid every year. What you get this year is not necessarily what you will get next year. Because I have a younger sibling entering college my senior year, my tuition will be significantly less (the financial aid office specifically told me this). </p>
<p>Overall, I think the Duke experience is unparralled. I wouldn’t want to miss out on such a great chance. And I know I will get aid throughout most of grad school as well because my sibling will still be in college. Don’t be scared off by the 200K stories unless they will actually apply to you. Go to Duke if you feel it is the best place for you.</p>
<p>YAY CLASS OF 2015!</p>