<p>Would you really want to spend the next 4 years of your life in Hanover? I'm talking weather, isolation, etc. Sure, Durham sucks, but Duke's weather is great and it's close to a number of other great universities and college towns (Chapel Hill is awesome, downtown Raleigh is even better).</p>
<p>Duke has different weather, some would say better, but not if you are an avid skier. The biggest advantage to NC's weather is that you will be on campus during the best weather of the year, whereas at Dartmouth you will miss the lovely summer, except for soph year.
Duke has D-1 sports, and is overall slightly "jockier".
Duke is not a particularly "Southern" school, but the frat system is alive and well, and the sororities are a little more traditional and Southern in flavor than Dartmouth's. BUT, both have some Greek houses that are more traditional, and some that are less traditional. They do not have actual houses at Duke, and the admins at both schools would be happier if the Greek system didn't exist I think. At Dartmouth, though, the admin seems to be beginning to try to accept the frat system, and build on its strengths, rather than trying in subtle and unsubtle ways to undo it. When we visited Duke in 2004, admin had made changes in housing that the frats didn't like, and there was the general sentiment that this was an attack on the system (which includes a number of coed houses).</p>
<p>One big negative we noticed about Duke was the location of freshman housing. It came across as really isolating the freshmen.</p>
<p>As for Dart's location, you either like it or you don't, it is as simple as that. Most people love the intimacy and the "bubble nature" of Hanover once they are students, and actually hate to leave.</p>
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When we visited Duke in 2004, admin had made changes in housing that the frats didn't like, and there was the general sentiment that this was an attack on the system (which includes a number of coed houses).
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Yes. One of the suggestions in the new Campus Culture Initiative is the elimination of housing for frats and selective living groups- a proposal that has not gone down at all well with either group. </p>
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One big negative we noticed about Duke was the location of freshman housing. It came across as really isolating the freshmen.
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I initially had my doubts (most do), but this is actually a huge plus. Living on East fosters a wonderful community without sacrificing the proximity to the main campus (5 min by bus, 15 walking). East has its own dining facility, library, and gym. In fact, I miss living on East. :(</p>
<p>i'm taking my 9 months off from dartmouth right now, which is possible because of the D-plan (love it!). I'm pre-med too, applying to med school this year. I didn't love dartmouth when I first when there, wanted to transfer to duke. BUTTTT...i can't even begin to tell you all of the opportunities dartmouth has offered me these 3 years. Research opportunites are available for freshman, yes. I've worked with 3 professors already, published a paper. Competed in Miss USA/teen usa pageants during college, founded a sorority. Worked for a clinic for 6 months and in China. It's been worth it. The kids there are so smart. be prepared to study at least 30 hours a week, esp if you're premed. I would love to go to duke for med school, but dartmouth has been a great undergrad school. Small classes for upper level sciences. Most classes are less than 20 people if thats a concern</p>
<p>I've always thought that Duke absolutely blows Dartmouth away in pre-med. The hospital is world-renown in research--my father's friend has cancer and flies into Duke for treatment, even if he's not exactly nearby.</p>
<p>Originally Dartmouth was one of my top-choices, but the more I've looked into Duke the more I see what it has to offer. It seems to be a very forward-thinking school, always adding more programs and initiatives... plus, IMO, the Focus program is unparalleled anywhere. Duke also established a new program that'll start Summer 2008 where students can get funding for independent community service initiatives.</p>
<p>In general, though, the campus is probably what's the most different. It's a matter of warm weather v. freezing cold weather--whether you're for skiing or outdoor sports like tennis year-round. I really don't think you could go wrong with pre-med at either school, so this seems like a more logical thing to base your decision on--you do have to live wherever you go for four years, after all.</p>
<p>Spharistic, that's simply not true. Duke is known for its med school (which is why your Dad's friends might have recommended it), but Dartmouth places into the top programs equally well. Don't confuse the med school and the undergrad program. Dartmouth has countless resources to help undergrads get into programs like the Nathaniel Smith program and you have a better likelihood of knowing your professors. I would pick on fit between these two, not med school placement.</p>
<p>what about business school placement? duke or dartmouth?</p>
<p>Both rate incredibly high with MBA placement and do very well with business recruiting.</p>
<p>I believe that a lot of people put an unnecessary emphasis on "pre med". A lot of medical schools are actually interested in taking students for their freshman class that have a liberal arts background ( with completion of the premed reqs of course..) I know of music majors, history majors, art majors, etc who have gotten into the top Medical Schools in the country.Their philosophy is no different than the first round of acceptances that we go thru for undergraduate as well. If we are going to take the anatomy, biochemistry courses etc in med school....do you want your undergrad education to be the same??? Not even the medicals schools want us to be THAT boring....!</p>
<p>I think that choosing an undergrad univ because of their "premed" program is an overkill. After all, remember that a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Premed is just worthless...A lot of top universities do not even have nor believe in such a thing.</p>