Making Choices

Now that you've aced all your interviews, offers start coming in. The real fun begins.

I'll be honest, when choosing which college to attend, I didn't visit all the colleges, compare their programs online, make spreadsheets or call the offices to get answers to the tough questions. Duke just felt right. In the last 2 years, I've been giving tours to prospective students and their families; one of my favorite stories, as the students are listing off their other options and what they're looking for in a college, is how I never visited Duke during high school; I hadn't even stepped foot on East Campus (where all the freshmen live) until move-in day. As far as the tangibles went, i knew Duke had them, but i hadn't really encountered any of its strengths firsthand. Having finished my last final exam this week, I can honestly say that I never had a second thought, not in four full years of papers, exams, classes, professors, friends and experiences.

Interestingly enough, the same sort of thing happened when i made my choice to study abroad last summer. I talked to one of my professors who was from the U.K., I asked him where he might know someone who would be willing to have a free research assistant for the summer, and I ended up in Edinburgh. A year later, I still miss Scotland every day, and can't wait to have the means to return!

And now, another big decision: which job to take? I don't have a "gut" feeling this time, so i'm stuck calling the offices, asking questions, making spreadsheets and researching the cost of living. From all my mulling, i have a few questions one might like to keep in mind:

• Location: Where will you be working? Is the cost of living something you can afford on the salary you've been offered? Will you be able to find roommates? Do you know safe places to live in the area?
  
• Quality of Life: Will you have enough money for a gym membership or to save for a vacation? Are you content with the ratio of work-hours to salary? Will you have satisfying benefits?
  
• Job: Does this position provide the professional development you're looking for? Does it move you toward your career goals? Can you stand your potential coworkers? Is the office vibe/philosophy something you can live with?