Also, what factor(s) make Brown so different from Princeton and Duke besides the open curriculum and pass/fail option? If this is the main factor, what makes it so impactful?
I’d recommend Googling ‘Real Talk Princeton’ and asking a question there. It’s a Blog run by current Princeton students.
I’ve read that the avg GPA for Princeton pre-med students average .2 points lower than the national average for students accepted into med school so it would seem med schools do recognize Princeton’s tougher grading. I have heard anythign similar for Law schools but it might just be that pre-law students have an easier time maintaining a high GPA because their courses are graded as harsh as the Natural Science and related departments do.
Princeton may not have formal grade deflation but average GPAs are still lower across the board. The average GPA for accepted pre-meds is always lower than the national average at elite universities. This is equally true of Duke and Princeton. The GPA of accepted Duke students is also lower. Med schools recognize the rigor of these universities and average MCAT scores at elite schools tend to be higher.
@Futurestudent18 - Regarding Brown, I don’t have a lot of personal knowledge to draw from so maybe others do. The reputation is of course as very chill for Ivy League and that came across in the info session and tour we did. As a parent, I didn’t like the lack of structure b/c it felt like they were saying “give over a lot of $$ and hope for the best.” I’m sure that’s not fair and I know a lot of students love it there. The whole vibe just didn’t appeal to my D. But if you’re looking for a more chill academic experience, it could be a great choice. As an obviously very high achieving and hard working student, maybe you’d like something less ‘go go’ for the next four years. And I certainly don’t hear a lot of folks saying their Brown degree held them back. . . Have you visited the campus? Posted on the Brown forum?
My impression is Duke has grade inflation – not deflation – generally. (I live near there and my husband has part-time taught - albeit at grad level). I think students work hard but expect – and do – get good grades. In fact, the ‘word on the street’ is that bio courses at UNC are tougher than Duke. (This comes from recent direct feedback from a UNC bio major whose long term boyfriend is a Duke bio major and they’ve been comparing notes for four years.) I think as a public flagship there’s a bit more weeding out mentality in the bio program at UNC than at Duke. But, now I’ve digressed, so forgive me. . .
Haha, thank you! Your input has helped a lot including the digression! It’s interesting to see how Duke operates compared to other schools. I definitely think my GPA would look a lot better coming out of that school than Princeton, but the environment and the learning experience itself is significant as well. I have not visited Brown, but I have spoken to alumni and posted on the forum page and have heard mostly good things. The autonomy of the school is a bit intimidating since I’m used to a structure and core curriculum, but I think it wouldn’t be too bad for me to gain a stronger sense of independence and self determination for my future. Not to mention,the chill yet enrichening academic experience is definitely a comforting addition! As of now I think my first choice is Brown, but of course I’d have to get off the wait list first and see how much money they offer! Out of my available options, Princeton seems to be the most beneficial. Thanks for your guidance 
it is appreciated!!
It’s nice to know that the rigor does not go unnoticed! Hopefully they are as understanding for pre-law students.
I’m definitely checking out the blog! I’ve been looking for a Princeton student initiated forum. Thank you so much! I’ll try and research more about the law schools as well.
Brown is a pretty polarizing school. People who like it are completely enamored by it. Others have a much less charitable view. Few people are ambivalent. Having said that, a lot of great schools are polarizing. Chicago comes to mind. Duke and Princeton do too.
The problem with going to a school like Brown is that it’s hard to distinguish yourself academically since virtually everyone is making straight As. That’s the problem with all elite schools to some extent (I’m looking at you Harvard) but Brown is a particularly egregious example (based on anecdotal evidence).
Brown is uber liberal. And a lot of smart tired students like every good college. Smart and activist mixing with preppy and smart. Chill it is not.
@JenniferClint, it’s actually not true that people at Brown are virtually all earning As and that it’s hard at brown to distinguish yourself academically, as you state. Unlike at Harvard where only the bottom 10% graduates without honors (90% of the class there graduates with some kind on honors), at Brown only the top 20% graduates with Latin honors:
https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/degree/commencement/honors
Since there is some disagreement about GPAs in the posts above - although I’m not sure average grades are an important criterion when deciding between such different universities - here are the average LSAT scores and median GPAs of law school applicants from the top 37 universities in 2017 (Boston U at #37 is OP’s lowest ranked option, per USNWR). OP’s options are bolded.
With the exceptions of Brown (higher than expected median GPA) and Princeton (lower than expected median GPA), LSAT scores and GPAs track each other pretty closely among OP’s options.
167.50 Yale
167.40 Harvard
166.10 Princeton
165.98 Chicago
165.72 Stanford
165.67 Dartmouth
165.00 Columbia
164.97 Duke
164.58 Penn
164.48 Tufts
164.31 Brown
164.30 Northwestern
164.05 Wash U
163.48 Georgetown
163.45 Vanderbilt
163.44 Rice
162.75 Notre Dame
162.65 Cornell
161.82 Johns Hopkins
**161.75 NYU CAS **
161.18 William & Mary
160.84 UVA
160.64 Emory
160.48 Michigan
160.30 Brandeis
159.44 Berkeley
158.94 USC
158.85 UNC Chapel Hill
158.70 Wake Forest
158.21 Boston U
156.96 UCLA
3.75 Brown
3.73 Yale
3.71 Stanford
3.70 Columbia
3.69 Duke / Harvard
3.68 Penn / Rice
3.67 Brandeis / Dartmouth
3.65 Georgetown / Wash U
3.62 Cornell / Tufts
3.61 Johns Hopkins
3.60 Chicago
3.59 NYU CAS / Northwestern / Notre Dame
3.56 Michigan / USC
**3.55 Princeton ** / UCB / UCLA
3.53 Boston U
3.51 Emory
3.49 Vanderbilt
3.44 William & Mary
3.43 UVA
3.41 UNC Chapel Hill
3.39 Wake Forest
Unless there is a compelling reason not stated, I don’t see why you would go to BU, NYU, Cornell, or UVA when you have the other options. For a traditional college experience, which you say you’d want, I’d point more to Princeton, Duke, Brown. I think all could be fine for social life, depending on what you want. Duke has the big time basketball, but I’m hard pressed to name a school with alumni that are much more loyal and supportive than Princeton. Brown has perhaps the highest grade inflation and fewest curriculum requirements, but I’m not sure that is a good thing.
While Duke and Brown are very good, I perceive Princeton as being a level above them in reputation and quality. Not huge differences, but significant.
If it were me I’d choose Princeton too.
Browns college experience is less traditional. Many of the buildings are spread outside of the main campus although close by. And the school Spirit around sports is sparse. More alumni are into it. It’s a very studious student body.
Princeton’s campus eating club experience and collegiate sports student involvement is much higher. It’s a full notch above. Imho
@Futurestudent18 – what did you decide!! I’m sure you’ll do great wherever you go!
Thank you for the stats! The results make sense; I just wonder how heavily law schools weight both factors.
Interesting! Recognition is actually something I hadn’t really considered. Thank you!
Excluding preppy, the description pretty much sounds like myself and I consider myself pretty chill so that’s probably why I think of it as “chill”. But you’re right, a school like Brown isn’t exactly chill!!
I’ve heard the students are Brown are more collaborative than Princeton students. Do you agree?
Haha, I appreciate the check up! I committed to Princeton but I will still consider Brown if I get removed off the wait list, of course. Thank you so much for your input, it definitely made accepting the admission a lot easier