Hey everybody,
I've been admitted to Duke and Columbia via our local state program. I don't have application procedure like you,but have diffeter one in local scope hold by the Ministry of Education.
Anyway the reason of my post guys, is to know why I should to chose Duke or Columbia.
I know about reputation, brand, international well-known, academically excellence etc.
But I would like to ask ones who appled there for some reason, what is the reason to apply there?
What kind of factors played significant role for your choise?
I suppose most of your have wrote something in your application so it's easier for you to indicate your reason here.

It's important for me in order to do right choise,because after selection I'll not have a right to change university.

Columbia my friend !

Columbia!

I think the most important factor should be yourself! What are your goals...where do you see yourself in a few years. Further, it is important how much funding you have available...
I mean that if you are into prestige and so on, CLS should be your choice. But still, Duke is a great school with a long tradition. So, is it important for you to be in NYC? Or do you rather like the southern charm? There are so many factors beside Ivy League and prestige and rankings that only you can answer. I'd chose CLS because it's a great school with a great reputation and its campus is in NYC which is an expensive but great city...

I attended Columbia.
All other factors aside, believe me: for a small town guy from old Europe like me, one year in New York City has been like dying and being born again in paradise.
If you do not come from another world capital, in my humble opinion you should definitely consider this.