State school (with $$) vs. Duke

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Which one?

  • State school

    Votes: 14 23.7%

  • Duke

    Votes: 45 76.3%
  • Total voters
    59
  • Poll closed .
2

2013er

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From perusing the website, this seems to be a common topic, but I am still having a very hard time deciding. I was 99% committed to Duke Med a week ago. I LOVED everything about the school (including the bball!) plus I have family in the area that I will be able to live with and have free rent. They gave me generous financial aid and will be about 20k in loans a year. It's been my dream school since high school.

My state school just offered me enough money to pay for tuition. This school was my safety and I would lie to say that I was excited about this school at the interview. Nothing terrible about this school, but nothing special either. I know there are differing opinions on the rankings, but fwiw, this school is not ranked.

Total differential over the 4 years is about 60-80k.
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Which state school?

Also, what are you looking at majoring in? How do those programs compare between those two schools? Ex: If that particular state school has a strong program in what you want to study then that would be an advantage on top of the $$ savings.
 
I guess I was not clear. This is for medical school, thus no majors. . .
 
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Depends on which state.
 
2013er said:
From perusing the website, this seems to be a common topic, but I am still having a very hard time deciding. I was 99% committed to Duke Med a week ago. I LOVED everything about the school (including the bball!) plus I have family in the area that I will be able to live with and have free rent. They gave me generous financial aid and will be about 20k in loans a year. It's been my dream school since high school.

My state school just offered me enough money to pay for tuition. This school was my safety and I would lie to say that I was excited about this school at the interview. Nothing terrible about this school, but nothing special either. I know there are differing opinions on the rankings, but fwiw, this school is not ranked.

Total differential over the 4 years is about 60-80k.
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I voted for Duke, but mostly b/c of all the other factors- you liked Duke much more as a school, proximity to family *and* free rent, and that Duke also gave you some fin aid. Going to any private med school for $20k a year is a great deal! Most ppl at my state school take out ~$30k per year (with tuition and rent/living expenses).
 
Normally I'd just say stick with the cheapest.... but I think I'll lean towards Duke here.

Mostly because you seemed to enjoy the school more AND you have family there = built in support group. I know that can be a big deal, I've really enjoyed being within an hour or two of most of my family.
 
For me.,..it really depends on the state school
 
I'd just head straight to Duke. Unless the state school is something like say, UNC or UCLA or something like that.. and even then I'd find it hard to say no to Duke when you've got a generous package like what you described and a built-in support system.
 
You said that your state school didn't excite you, while Duke is your dream school. 20K isn't bad at all, especially considering the opportunities that you'll have when you graduate from a powerhouse med school. OP, I'd be doing the same thing as you - giving each option its fullest consideration - but I think you already know the answer to your question. Go for it!
 
You sound like you will be significantly more excited and comfortable at Duke for 4 years. Although there will be added stress of paying the $60-80k (especially during residency), I suspect you will be more successful in the long run somewhere you feel better about yourself.

You won't get another chance to attend your dream school. Ditch the money and go to Duke.
 
RoadRunner17 said:
I'd just head straight to Duke. Unless the state school is something like say, UNC or UCLA or something like that.. and even then I'd find it hard to say no to Duke when you've got a generous package like what you described and a built-in support system.
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completely agree.
 
Duke is my dream school too.I think Duke is worth the extra 60k.I love the fact that you get to do your clinicals in your 2nd year.Freeing up your 3rd year to relax and do research.</p>
 
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Duke happens to be one of those brand-name schools that will open doors for you so unless you want to go into primary care I'd say go with the reputation esp since you have all those other positives (family, free rent etc).
 
Thanks guys. I am leaning towards Duke, I guess that I just feel like a fool for turning down such an amazingly generous opportunity at a decent school I could be happy at, as opposed to one that could cost me upwards of 100k in the end. It sounds easy to say "Just go to your dream school" but has been harder to actually do it.

Thanks for all the responses - more are definitely welcome.
 
If the state school happens to be UNC, then I would choose it. If it was Brody, then I would head to Duke.
 
Keep in mind that a lot of students end up getting some scholarship money for 3rd year (>$20,000), making the difference in tuition between the two schools even less.

Here is a thread I started a few months ago for situations just like yours. I know there was a scholarship-specific post in there somewhere. Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=604761
 
Just to be clear, the difference is 60-80k even AFTER factoring in free rent?
 
This decision sounds relatively easy to me. In what I consider the order of importance:

1. Duke is your dream school
2. You have close ties in the area
3. You are getting a good financial aid package
4. It's one of the few private schools that opens enough doors to make it worth the additional tuition cost
5. You consider the state school a safety and use words like "decent" to describe it
6. Do you need any more reasons? Go to Duke.
 
Duke with the free rent. Sounds like the money would be a wash, and you have family in the area. do it
 
You seem to want Duke so go for it. Maybe if you don't go to Duke you will always regret it! the money is not important here.. everybody will be paying lots of $$$ and u will still be paying significantly less than the majority i believe.
 
ChubbyChaser said:
ill agree there...sorry brody peeps.
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Oh don't get me wrong, Brody is a great school, and I would go there in 1/3 of a heartbeat given the chance. However, it is newer than UNC and not as well established. I have friends at both schools who say great things about each.

To the OP, it sounds like Duke is really tickling your fancy. Just go there and don't look back.
 
Don't know if anyone is still interested, but I decided on Duke. thanks for all the advice and encouragement. For me, the school's worth the money. good luck to all others making tough decisions in the next couple of days.
 
jtimmer1 said:
Oh don't get me wrong, Brody is a great school, and I would go there in 1/3 of a heartbeat given the chance. However, it is newer than UNC and not as well established. I have friends at both schools who say great things about each.

To the OP, it sounds like Duke is really tickling your fancy. Just go there and don't look back.
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TO each his own.
 
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