<p>Ermm i posted this a couple of other places on collegeconfidential but i guess people who're already out of college will probably be able to better gauge this question than college students.</p>
<p>Which is better for premeds? Duke or dartmouth? Oh and which college has a greater degree of grade inflation? Thanks.</p>
<p>It is not a matter of which school is best for "pre-meds" as there is no pre-med tack (first year science/lab courses and organic chem are going to weed out students at both schools). Students who do well at either school will get into good med programs and those who do not do well regardless of what school they atttend will have an uphill battle.</p>
<p>Visit both schools. If financial considreations are not part of the equation see where you fit best.</p>
<p>i cant visit either. I live 5000 miles away :-(</p>
<p>Read the descriptions of both schools in guidebooks like Fiske, Insiders, etc. These books describe the student body as well as the school. I've found them to be very accurate. If climate matters at all, Dartmouth has cold winters--Duke does not.</p>
<p>thats cool, but i was wondering more about the premed programs at both more than the overall experiences.</p>
<p>If thats ALL you are worried about, then you should call the admissions office and see if you can get the name/names of advisors on campus who might give you some more information. </p>
<p>Quite honestly, however, if all you care about is pre-med, part of me just wants to say that you shouldn't go to either school. Neither school has a pre-med major or "program".</p>
<p>it isnt all i care about. But i've pretty much split even between the two schools at this point, and each has its pros and cons.</p>
<p>duke = research-oriented, slightly bigger name in the research world, a little too jocky, better weather, better campus, terrible roommate selection ( i dont want to live in a single), race/class tensions are high (i'm not saying this just because princeton review says so), classes are kind of big</p>
<p>Dartmouth = terrible weather and terrible atmosphere (rural new hampshire ick), roommate selection seems to be more meticulous, professors know you and teach every class so easier to get research opportunities, heavier drinking, slightly more selective.</p>
<p>As you can see its pretty much stalemate at this point. I need something to break it. I can't prioritize what i want more, since that keeps changing from day to day. I need something to break the stalemate. Thats where you guys come in :-)</p>
<p>If you are looking to a bunch of strangers (even though we are parents) it just goes to show that you really have not you due dilligence in researching your schools (this is also eveidenced by the fact that your post show sthat you have stated some gross inaccuracies about each school). </p>
<p>Think about what has attracted you to each school (other than its name) when you first applied. then think about how each school matches up to what you are ultimately looking for in your college experience.</p>
<p>I do agree with massguy's statement about pre-med because keep in mind that over half the entering class at many schools start out as pre-meds but only a small # finish and go on tp med school after graduation. Also keep in mind that med school is always going to be there so it is not unusual for people to now do other things for a few years before entering graduate/professional school.</p>
<p>It's unfortunate that you don't seem to appreciate the wonderful choices you have, when I am sure there are many highly qualified students living much closer to both schools who would be very happy to have been accepted at either one. It is not clear what made you apply in the first place other than the presumed fact that people in the larger world beyond the Eats coast of the U.S. have heard of these schools, or what you felt you would find there that you could not find elsewhere. I would agre that due diligence seems to have been a bit lacking. I also must point out that to characterize the weather in New Hampshire as terrible is inaccurate. Cold weather may offer some challenges if you are not used to it but it also offers beauty of surroundings and recreational activites. And autumn in New England can be extaordinarily lovely even if you do need to wear a jacket. It is also inaccurate to characterize the rural area so negatively--ick is not what comes to most people's minds when they think of that region: rural yes; highly cultured also--excellent museum, theater, and concerts in Hanover--also right off the interstate, which can take you to both Boston and Montreal in a matter of hours. </p>
<p>I would also suggest that to rely on Princeton Review for information that Duke is too jocky and class tensions are high is a bit naive. Surely you must have or could have been in touch in some way with people (either staff or students) at the school who could have spoken to you abut what yoiu might expect when you got there. Perhaps other students from your home country or region could have provided advice/input? Dartmouth is not much different (I happen to think both schools are terrific). Race has been an issue at Duke altely thanks to the long-drawn out lacrosse player persecution. You do not need PR to tell you that. </p>
<p>Frankly, the tone of your inquiry suggests that neither school is a good fit. Both pride themselves on academic excellence and well-rounded student body; the "trite work hard play hard" might well apply to both. If all you are concerned about is premed preparation you might find both Duke and Dartmouth lonely. Obviously there are many students at both schools who are taking premed requirements and will go on to med school but it is unlikely that they chose Duke or Dartmouth solely on that basis. One wonders if you might wish to reconsider other options you may have either in the U.S. or elsewhere that woud be more compatible and thus more rewarding.</p>
<p>Really-</p>
<p>I don't think the race-class-tension thing at Duke is true at all! That is media hype. S (who is Caucasian and culturally Protestant) has a close group of other freshmen friends: Hindu, Jewish, Internationals, African Americans, and I don't know what other distinctions, because it isn't a big enough deal to talk about--I've just met the kids referred to above.......and there is nothing unusual about it.</p>
<p>DO NOT got by any blogs on the Chronicle site! I have no idea where some of the Neanderthals who post there come from. Are there some bigots on campus? I'm sure there are. Are there some separatists of various perspectives? I'm sure there are. Do they predominate? Go post on the Duke site, but I think you'll find that they don't.</p>
<p>Oh- about room mates. I don't know what the talk on the street is, but S went in blind and ended up with a terrific room mate. The only reason they will not room together next year is that the room mate pledged a frat and S diddn't.</p>
<p>Hoping you end up in the best spot for YOU,</p>
<p>mafool</p>
<p>I realize my post sounded a little condescending. I can assure you it wasnt meant to be. Its because i like both schools so much that this decision is hard to begin with. The problem with getting into both is that i've started nitpicking, and i'm starting to sound like a prat. I apologize for that, but i also believe that weighing in the negatives right now will ensure unpleasant surprises dont come up at whichever college i decide to go to.</p>
<p>No it wasn't peoples opinions of Duke in my country that influenced my decision. Its just the fact that a lot of people there seem to insist there is racial self segregation, which would be a major problem for me. </p>
<p>Some people adore the landscape, others dont. I've lived all my life in an urban environment so i'd fall into the latter category.</p>
<p>Again, i've weighed everything i could think of, and the only thing i think is unaccounted for is the relative strength of the biology departments at both schools. If you have suggestions of what else i can take into account while choosing between colleges, i would be very grateful.</p>
<p>If you are not conviced that you can be comfortable in a rural setting then planning to spend your college years in Hanover is probably a mistake. It is an idyllic small town in a beaitiful largely rural region in a very white section of the United States and when you go off campus you will notice that no matter how unsegregated Darthmouth itself may or may not be. I would not expect people to be rude but you will be in a distinct minority and that may not be a good feeling. the Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill area is somewhat more diverse (large black population obviously and also larger schools so just more people from more places) and less rural.</p>
<p>Ask Admissions at each school whether they can put you in touch with current undergrads from your country, preferably pre-med students. Get in touch with them (email) and ask them about their experiences. It might help. It might also convince you of something that I think others are saying: these are great schools and either is a good choice.</p>
<p>I sympathize. It is hard to make a big decision and it must be much, much harder from so far away.</p>
<p>Congratulations on such wonderful acceptances.</p>