That’s a toughie…but i’m going to vote for Vanderbilt…assuming academics are both stellar, Vanderbilt has a better dorm/living situation for its freshmen…and Nashville has become an amazing city…full of live concerts/great restaurants/ and an international population.
Duke: https://today.duke.edu/2014/12/ed2015
Vanderbilt: http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/vandybloggers/2015/01/ed-ii-decisions-available-online-january-30/
Duke ED: 25.6%
Vanderbilt ED: 22.5%
Duke has a slightly better academic(and overall) rep, but Vanderbilt’s increased selectivity lately – higher average SAT score than Duke, among other elite schools – has led to an improvement in its placement in the USN&WR undergrad ranking.
You’d have to ask someone who has attended both of them to discuss the quality of teaching; I presume they’re similarly excellent in the classroom.
I’ve never been to Durham, but Nashville is a beautiful city full of music. Its nicknames are “Music City USA” and “The Athens of the South”. It is home to Music Row (bordering Belmont University and close to Vanderbilt), an exact replica of the Parthenon (in Centennial Park), the Grand Ole Opry, and Ryman Auditorium. Famous bars/clubs include Tootsie’s, Bluebird Cafe, and Wild Horse Saloon. Pancake Pantry is the place to go for breakfast (walking distance from Vanderbilt).
If you are into pro sports, Nashville is home to the Predators of the NHL and the Titans of the NFL.
^ Vanderbilt also has higher test scores than Stanford though. That just reflects a different set of priorities.
@Dunboyne Vanderbilt could still have a higher rate depending on the number of students they accepted in the ED round.
For example: A school that fills 70% of its class in the ED round(s) is less selective than a school which fills 40% of its class in the ED round even if the first school’s ED acceptance rate is marginally lower. We know what percent of its class Duke fills in the ED round (approximately 49%). Can you provide those numbers for Vanderbilt?
^^^ Something tells me you really really want Duke to be more selective than Vanderbilt. LOL
^ Duke has been more selective than Vanderbilt for decades. I have nothing to prove to you or anyone else.
If you’re Asian, your chances are much higher at Vandy, which is actively trying to recruit Asians.
I see, would universities like Wash U or Rice be good prospects for me as well? I’ve been looking into them for a while and I think I’m going to apply there as well, should ED not go my way. I think being Asian only has a marginal impact on my application for some places but more for others