Duke [Full Scholarship] vs MIT [$77k/year]

[Anonymous]

Duke is an amazing school. Go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid won a merit scholarship at Duke which would give him a full tuition, room, and board scholarship. He was also admitted to MIT, but received little aid and we would have to pay $77k/year. MIT was one of his dream schools, but I am wondering if we should go with Duke and maybe just give him the college money we saved as a graduation gift? I love the thought of him at MIT, but it seems nonsensical to turn down a full ride at a T10 just to pay out the nose for a T5. What would you do in this situation?

Do Duke for undergrad, save the $$$$$$$$ and apply to MIT for graduate school in the future

No, MIT is not worth $320K more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow! I didn’t think Duke gave merit scholarships.

They give a few (like 10-20 each year). Have a relative who got one a decade ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd still take Duke. It's a T10 and honestly, your kid will have the big tech opportunities open if he wants them. $77k/year is insanely expensive, and that money can easily be used to pay for his future home.

1000% this! unless you can afford the $77K, save the money and apply to MIT for graduate school if he wants

[Anonymous]

Duke.

FWIW, my nephew graduated from MIT a year ago and has a very good, 120k job. which is what he'd have gotten out of duke.

[Anonymous]

MIT will reap more benefits

[Anonymous]

If STEM, definitely MIT

[Anonymous]

Everyone jumping straight to MIT, you do not know OP's financial situation, which is why what must be an easy choice for you might not be for them. If you can afford it, MIT is good.

[Anonymous]

I agree, it depends on OP's financial situation. If money is no object, MIT for CS. If the money will be missed, Duke is not shabby by any means! How does DC feel about Duke?

But OP, given that your kid won the lottery, would you be willing to share how he distinguished himself from a vast sea of CS applicants?

[Anonymous]

Given the major, MIT, no question.

[Anonymous]

What is your income?

[Anonymous]

In this economy? Full ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had the similar problem, it was a difference of paying roughly 200k at T20 vs paying $400k at a T10.

If you are going to give it to him anyways, give it to him for MIT, if you need it for retirement, let him go to Duke.

Duke is a great school but for CS, MIT gives a clear advantage.

+1 If you will not be negatively impacted by paying for MIT, then let him go there. If MIT would be a financial stretch, then Duke (obviously). My DC chose a very expensive school b/c it’s the right fit. If we couldn’t afford it, we would have said no, but we can so he’s going. Congrats to your kid!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does he want to major in? That should be deciding factor.

I'm OP. He wants Computer Science. MIT's legendary CS program is really, really hard to turn down. But Duke is free...

MIT is only choice if he wants CS degree.

[Anonymous]

MIT is in a completely different class for stem. The education will not be comparable at Duke.