<p>This thread title comes verbatim from another post I just saw on another CC forum. What do you think? Is it generally agreed that Duke is better than Dartmouth, Brown, and Cornell where you live? Would you prefer an offer of admission from Duke to an offer of admission from any of those three Ivy League universities (at equal out-of-pocket cost) if you were admitted to all four universities?</p>
<p>It depends on…the intended program of study, preferences for climate, post-graduate plans, preferences for rural (New Hanover NH) versus medium-sized city setting (Durham NC), merit scholarship possibilities…You name it, whatever metric you mant to measure, the choice is very individual. Duke may be “>” for some, but not for others. I think these types of threads should not be framed as what is the “best” school, but what is the “best fit”.</p>
<p>Brown
Dartmouth
Cornell
Duke would be my order.</p>
<p>It really is a silly thread. For a big time sports-fan, Duke wins easily. For someone a little more artsy and desires curriculum flexibility, it could be Brown. Dartmouth offers a LAC-like experience with the resources of a major Uni, with huge Greek scene.</p>
<p>Same as vociferous here.</p>
<p>Duke is one of the most overrated schools in the country. Almost as overrated as BC. Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell are about equal. Duke would be next after that.</p>
<p>When I was applying, I thought Duke was regarded as slightly better than Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell. However, being from the northeast, I still preferred at least Dartmouth and Cornell (and probably Brown too) to Duke.</p>
<p>@BrownBear1:
In what way is Duke overrated? Please provide some concrete basis for your assertion.</p>
<p>agree with vociferous and here<em>to</em>help</p>
<p>brown
dartmouth
cornell
duke</p>
<p>I come from the Northeast, I thought Duke was good but not as good as the Ivies when I applied to colleges…</p>
<p>I mostly agree with vociferous… I’d say</p>
<p>Brown
Dartmouth
Cornell = Duke</p>
<p>Duke (BME, Law, Med, Business)
Cornell (Engineering)
Dartmouth (Business)
Brown (nope, couldn’t think of one)</p>
<p>An opinion from someone living less than half an hour from Duke.</p>
<p>EVERYBODY would pick Duke over the other three, mainly from lack of exposure. People know about the quality of those Ivies but in general are quite unfamiliar. Most people here either wish to go to NC State or UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke is for those really smart people and it’s very hard to get in.</p>
<p>Of course it depends on the field, but all other things being equal I probably would lean towards Duke.</p>
<p>I have a stepnephew just graduated from Duke. Academically, I wouldn’t put it even close (I’d put it a notch below Mount Holyoke), no less than the ones above.</p>
<p>There is no ‘correct’ answer to this question… all are undoubtedly great schools, though where one would rank them is completely subjective.</p>
<p>Where I live in the Northeast, I think people put Duke and other southern schools on a little bit of a lower level than top schools up north… it seems like many people I know think that Duke’s just good at basketball and throwing good parties (with strippers, of course), failing to realize that its academics are excellent as well.</p>
<p>But if you ask me, I’d rank them as such:
- Dartmouth = Cornell
- Brown
- Duke (I visited and didn’t like it)</p>
<p>I personally see it as Duke > Brown > Dartmouth > Cornell</p>
<p>I’d rank them:</p>
<p>Dartmouth = Cornell
Brown
Duke</p>
<p>But the gaps between them aren’t big at all, in the end they’re peer institutions.</p>
<p>Among the smart and *motivated<a href=“key%20words%20here”>/i</a> people here:
[ol]
[<em>]Brown=Duke
[</em>]Dartmouth
[li]Cornell[/li][/ol]
Most of the top students here would either like to go into BME, medicine, or neuroscience…</p>
<p>Cornell, I believe would have most resources in those areas as a large research university compared to the others which are smaller. In fact, I think Cornell would come out on top in all 3.</p>
<p>Cornell is last amongst the “smart and motivated”? I’d love to go to Brown, I would certainly not have to be motivated. I’d say:</p>
<ol>
<li>Duke=Dartmouth 2. Cornell 3. Brown</li>
</ol>