Comparison between Duke, Northwestern, Cornell and some LACs

Colleges & Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hi, I am an international student from China and I would like to hear your advice on Duke, Northwestern and Cornell.</p>

<p>My interest of study is psychology, economics, linguistics and languages(maybe not major in foreign language, but I do take it seriously because I love learning languages). They are somewhat related and I understand that I might change my mind during college about what to major. But for now, I am trying to finalize my ED option.</p>

<p>Weather is not that important but descriptions on that will be helpful since I really have no idea of the climates in the states. I did spend my junior year in MN as an exchange student though.</p>

<p>I lean to Duke more for now, but that's just because the score on students review is really good. I know that basketball is a HUGE thing at Duke, will that let people underscore the academic ability of Duke? I like how Duke put "study hard, play hard" as their pride, and that is one thing that I always hope to pursue, but I don't want so much parties and drinking that people will look down on me if I study a lot.</p>

<p>Northwestern sounds good too with a great location near to Chicago. I saw on students review that Northwestern is more pre-professional, and some said the competition between students are too fierce.</p>

<p>I don't know much about Cornell; it just sounds too big for undergrad, and it is kind of in the middle of nowhere.</p>

<p>I am considering LACs too such as Pomona, Wellesley, Middlebury, Bowdoin. I am not sure about girls' college because I never had such experience and I don't know whether people feel biased about girls' college. I do know the locations of the three are pretty different.</p>

<p>In all, I will appreciate any pros and cons for any of the schools, I especially want to know the drawbacks.</p>

<p>P.S. what is the difference between economics and business school? Sorry I don't know much about this. Thank you! </p>

<hr>

<p>Hi, I am an international student from China and I would like to hear your advice on Duke, Northwestern and Cornell.</p>

<p>My interest of study is psychology, economics, linguistics and languages(maybe not major in foreign language, but I do take it seriously because I love learning languages). They are somewhat related and I understand that I might change my mind during college about what to major. But for now, I am trying to finalize my ED option.</p>

<p>Weather is not that important but descriptions on that will be helpful since I really have no idea of the climates in the states. I did spend my junior year in MN as an exchange student though.</p>

<p>I lean to Duke more for now, but that's just because the score on students review is really good. I know that basketball is a HUGE thing at Duke, will that let people underscore the academic ability of Duke? I like how Duke put "study hard, play hard" as their pride, and that is one thing that I always hope to pursue, but I don't want so much parties and drinking that people will look down on me if I study a lot.</p>

<p>Northwestern sounds good too with a great location near to Chicago. I saw on students review that Northwestern is more pre-professional, and some said the competition between students are too fierce.</p>

<p>I don't know much about Cornell; it just sounds too big for undergrad, and it is kind of in the middle of nowhere.</p>

<p>I am considering LACs too such as Pomona, Wellesley, Middlebury, Bowdoin. I am not sure about girls' college because I never had such experience and I don't know whether people feel biased about girls' college. I do know the locations of the three are pretty different.</p>

<p>In all, I will appreciate any pros and cons for any of the schools, I especially want to know the drawbacks.</p>

<p>P.S. what is the difference between economics and business school? Sorry I don't know much about this. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Given your interests and because it’s a phenomenal place in general, have you considered Georgetown?</p>

3

<p>LOL hoyasaxa, every single one your posts is anti-duke, and i read in one of your posts you transferred out – what exactly did the school do to you?</p>

4

<p>Deter, I am not anti-Duke, and the school didn’t do anything to me–I just made a mistake in determining what was important to me for my undergraduate experience. Duke didn’t do anything–other than being Duke–which many students choose happily and enjoy their experience there. I did not, because I was swayed by other factors (merit scholarship) and didn’t really consider certain elements–location, campus environment, social aspects, and academic focus–I was influenced by the merit scholarship I received, the beauty of the campus, and the Duke spirit–but did not realize how important other things would be to me (like being in a more urban environment, having more social options, having a more introspective and intellectual environment, etc.). So, I am not anti-Duke, and I don’t blame Duke in any way for my discontent–it was about my wanting something different from my undergraduate experience. Your reaction, though, is something that I found and find at Duke which is concerning–that people there have a very hard time with people being critical or unhappy with their Duke experience–I think a big part of it is because of the inferiority complex that so many people at Duke have that they cannot tolerate anyone being critical of the place.</p>

5

<p>hoya is a well known Duke hater, however as a Duke student, I would not recommend Duke for international students looking not to party (like it is their job) over some other schools, whether that school is Cornell or Northwestern, I don’t know. I am not saying that is totally void of the kind of environment that you are looking for, it is just that there are more suitable schools out there.</p>

6

<p>Noobcake–“well known Duke hater”–really? I didn’t know I was well-known.</p>

7

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=24866798[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=24866798&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Well, I’ve read some of your posts. At least you are not denying the second part.</p>

8

<p>All of the schools you’ve mentioned will have great offerings in the areas you’re considering studying and I don’t think academics should be the major consideration in your choice. </p>

<p>If “the middle of nowhere” doesn’t appeal, I’d nix not only Cornell but Middlebury (even moreso) and Bowdoin as well. </p>

<p>Wellesley is a great school with a particularly strong economics dept and Boston at its feet but, yes, all girls. </p>

<p>Pomona is about 1 hour outside the heart of LA but, this being LA-LA land, access is not easy and though the surrounding town is cute, it is still quite small town suburban. The college itself may be tiny but the Claremont consortium is very integrated. You’d regularly eat and take classes with students from all 5 colleges with a total population of around 5,000. This certainly expands opportunities. </p>

<p>Duke will obviously offer a much larger single unified campus and, with that, even more opportunities. But don’t expect Durham to be LA or Chicago. It’s still a small, fairly impoverished city with few cultural oppportunities. Most students don’t venture much into town. Fortunately on-campus offerings are abundant. </p>

<p>Northwestern is in a very different setting with Chicago access easy. There are kids who’ll venture into the city every week for internships or clubs, movies, theater, etc. Others venture in all of once a term. As far as competitiveness is concerned, you’ll find it as you will at any top ranked school, but if anything Northwestern is midwestern in character and less intense a place than its northeastern breathren, Cornell included. </p>

<p>I’d think hard about how important location and a co-ed student body are and go from there. All are great schools that will offer up a great education. Consider, most importantly, where you’d best enjoy yourself!</p>

9

<p>I’m a current Pomona freshman, so if you have any questions about Pomona that will help you decide whether or not to apply, feel free to hit me up.</p>

<p>Also, if you are thinking about women’s colleges, I strongly recommend Scripps (it was my close second choice after Pomona). I did a lot of research on Scripps during my process, and I still spend a lot of time on their campus, so I can tell you about them, too. :)</p>