Columbia/Duke

<p>I'm currently trying to decide between Columbia and Duke. I'm a biomedical engineering major, but I'm interested in business or law for grad school and so I really want to get a more well-rounded education and take lots of humanities courses. I'm not really familiar with how these two schools are ranked, except that Duke isn't an ivy league, but it has a better bioengineering program. </p>

<p>The things I'm most concerned about are the internship/research opportunities and student life at the two schools. It seems like Columbia would have more internship opportunities since it's in New York, but I don't know how easy it is to actually obtain an internship position, especially in something business/law related if im an engineering major. Another thing is that Duke happens to be in the middle of nowhere, but because of that there seems to be a better sense of community and school spirit on campus. I love NY, but I heard it's kind of difficult to meet new people and there really isnt a sense of community at Columbia. </p>

<p>I would love ANY kind of input on internships/student life or just anything about the two schools. Thanks guys!!!</p>

<p>Not so sure about Duke, but the fact that Columbia's in NYC means that there are internships practically everywhere, at least more than you'd ever need. Most of them are very competitive, though, but that'll probably happen at most places. The fact that you're an engineering major won't preclude you from getting a business/law internship, especially if you have substantial experience in either one.</p>

<p>From what I've heard, Duke definitely has better school spirit than Columbia; in fact, most schools have better school spirit than Columbia. It's a product of being in the city, kind of a trade-off students here are willing to make.</p>

<p>It is extremely difficult to meet people here at Columbia. I've been here for years now, and I can honestly say I don't know a single person, at all. I struggle through every sorrowful moment of my miserable existence in total despair. I can only take solace in the fact that, in my isolated single, I can weep silently to myself; it helps ease the pain, except when people see me and laugh. That kind of exacerbates the pain.</p>

<p>But honestly, put some thirteen hundred 18-19 year olds all in one campus, and you'll inevitably get some meeting, greeting, and social activity. In my freshman year it was remarkably easy to start up conversations, learn names, and eventually become good friends, because all of you have at least one thing in common: you guys know almost no one else in your school. Columbia just doesn't have that "omg we love columbia so much itz lyk better than evry other skewl ~<em>LOL</em>~!!?" feeling to it, which I kind of like since it would probably get on my nerves after a while.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Columbia just doesn't have that "omg we love columbia so much itz lyk better than evry other skewl ~<em>LOL</em>~!!?" feeling to it, which I kind of like since it would probably get on my nerves after a while.

[/quote]

It does, however, seem to have a good sense of humor</p>

<p>a strong school spirit doesn't mean you can make more friends or be more social</p>

<p>A lot of people here made the decision between Duke and Columbia in favor of Columbia, including me. This, of course, doesn't mean that there aren't tons of Dukies that chose Duke over Columbia. I guess both schools have similar admissions criteria, since I know so many people here that were admitted to both schools and had to make the choice between them. It's ironic though, because the schools are so different. Oh, and I don't know what people are talking about, but I've seen tons of school spirit here (maybe because I'm in a frat, which tend to be more RaRa, Go team)...especially at basketball games. They're no Duke games though!</p>

<p>I went to Columbia for a year and transferred to Dartmouth. Career wise they were 100% on par, unless you are going to go into something random like fashion, 99% of the time Duke will get just as many recruiters on campus as Columbia. But Duke is a far more community oriented college experience, and for that reason I would pick it. Columbia is a great school, but Duke's spirit and equally great academics are a no brainer for me.</p>