<p>I’m torn between the 2. I know they’re completely different, and that I should just visit them to see which one fits me best, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to visit. So, fellow Brown fans, any opinions?</p>
<p>My impression is that I’d love Brown’s social scene and student body, but I’ve gotten the impression that Duke’s academics have a slight advantage. I’m undecided in terms of concentration/major, which makes it infinitely more complicated. If it helps, I’ve traditionally been more of a science person.</p>
<p>i actually have the same choice, and i also don’t know what i want to study but am traditionally a sciencey person. however, i am leaning toward brown for the social scene, because really i think the academics at the two schools are comparable. plus im from new york so the new england environment will be more comfortable to me than durham’s.</p>
<p>durham is not a hangout place. providence is.
theyre definitely comparable on academics, no question.
duke is more elitist, more frat oriented, more southern.</p>
<p>and then the big question: do you like duke basketball? for me as a UNC fan and acceptee, the answer is no ******* way</p>
<p>neither school has a significant academic edge. if you’re from the south you might find that people preference duke. however, if you’re from the NE or west coast brown is considered the better school hands down. it’s all fairly subjective.</p>
<p>my suggestion would be to choose based on fit. congrats!</p>
<p>I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how they like the social scene at Brown. What is the social scene at Brown like? Could anyone elaborate? Thanks</p>
Uh, isn’t college all about stepping outside of your comfort zone?</p>
<p>
I should add that Brown has a lot of quirky departments (Egyptology, Portuguese Studies, etc.) that many schools don’t have. The open curriculum is a great thing, as is the A/B/C grading system (+/- system at Duke) and option of pass/fail courses.</p>
<p>Ahh! I’m in the exact same boat as you. I went to visit Duke this past weekend and it was much more beautiful than Brown, but come on. Brown has the social life and I think I would just be happier there overall. Its a tough decision tho.</p>
<p>Duke is more beautiful than Brown?? It all comes down to personal taste. Colonial vs neo gothic. </p>
<p>Duke- Only Duke Chapel, the Allen Building and Page and West Campus Buildings- that’s it. If you happen to be at any of the two other campuses- nothing nice to see.</p>
<p>Brown- The Main Green, Van Wickle Gates and University Hall, Wayland Tower, The John Carter Brown Library, John Nicholas Brown Gates in winter, Marcus Aurelius statue and Sayles Hall…and I could go on, and on.</p>
<p>But anyway, I understand. It is New England vs the South (although neo gothic in the South seems completely out of place to me…) :)</p>
I am a HUGE Brown fan (see my post above), but I would definitely give Duke a significant edge in campus beauty. Brown’s campus is somewhat eclectic and, while reasonably attractive, definitely does not make it onto my beautiful list. Brown’s campus always feels very crowded/cluttered to me.</p>
<p>
Neo-Gothic anywhere in the US seems out of place to most people. None of the universities here are old enough to really pull it off.</p>
<p>and I absolutely hated Duke, and currently attend Brown.</p>
<p>All my life the plan was to attend Duke, but I had a chance to study there for a summer (for college credit with undergrads), and it was nothing to call home about.</p>
<p>At Duke I would have had a great education but that would be about it. The community was highly homogenous, competitive (in a neg way) and only interested in drinking and basketball. The surrounding community is a whole 'nother world, incidents of crime are high and filter onto campus. Let’s not even talk about the in your face racism. Professors seem really detached from the student body, and there really isnt a personal feeling to the education.</p>
<p>These last 3 years at Brown have been amazing! The education is comparable to Duke with the added advantage of being an Ivy. More importantly, most professors are accessible, care about their students and are genuinely interested in your success. There isn’t an atmosphere of competition but rather of collaboration and learning. Ppeople are so diverse here which enriches the social scene. Regardless of who you are, I feel like at Brown you will find your niche. Want to drink yourself into oblivion every weekend - done. Prefer to stay home or hang out with a small group of friends - done. Want to dress up like a pirate and sing sea shanties at 2am? -DONE! </p>
<p>I am so thankful I had the opportunity to test drive Duke, it really just wasnt for me.</p>
…in the summer. When courses are mostly taught by graduate students. When most students are off doing internships. Yeah…very representative. Heaven help us, the students kicked back and relaxed over summer. (Oh, and they watched basketball in the summer? Really?)</p>
<p>
Crappy sports and no merit scholarships? ;)</p>
<p>I really love Brown (I do study Egyptology, after all), but most of your post is pure nonsense. I know both Duke and UNC very well, and they’re great schools with warm, dynamic, and friendly student bodies.</p>
<p>Duke has a much better social life than Brown unless we differ on what exactly a social life entails. It is also just as diverse as Brown. The difference is that Brown students are weird(ahem <em>quirky</em>) while Duke students are more normal college kids.</p>
<p>Brown is also extremely, extremely liberal. Would you be comfortable in that sort of environment?</p>
<p>I am always amused at comments that are just based on old stereotypes. Brown is no MORE liberal than Columbia or Cornell or even the University of Miami for that matter.</p>
<p>My sister always attended all girl catholic schools. We really cracked up when she told us that she found herself being more liberal than most of her friends at Brown.</p>
<p>yeah Brown isn’t THAT liberal. but we do get worried about silly things like changing Columbus Day to “Fall Weekend”, with one idea being “Indigenous People’s Week” LMAO</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as all of you guys, and am having a LOT of trouble deciding. I went to duke’s blue devil days thing, and i liked it, and im going to adoch this week.</p>
<p>Im mostly undecided academically, but I’m leaning bio and maybe premed. I’ve heard that duke bio/premed is pretty competitive and very good, but I have no idea how good/competitive brown’s is.</p>
Duke has the stronger biology program, but I highly doubt there would be a significant difference at the undergraduate level (unless you want to study biological anthropology/anatomy). Reports of competition at Duke are highly exaggerated, from what I know of the school. The main difference academically would be the grading scale – Brown grades on the A/B/C/NC scale, whereas Duke grades on the +/- system. </p>
<p>I’m sure you’ll be able to make a decision fairly easily after ADOCH. Visiting really is the best way to decide.</p>
None of the universities here are old enough to really pull it off.</p>