Duke degree vs. Rice degree

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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<p>I also posted this on the main board and the Rice board, and all my concerns have been assuaged. However, I just want to get a Duke perspective on this as well so I can rest assure completely.</p>

<p>In April, I was accepted to both Rice and Duke. I am currently a student at Rice University, and I love it here (although it has been quite a slow transition). However, it is quite disheartening to discover that Rice is a relatively unknown university compared to Duke, Stanford, Ivies, and MIT.</p>

<p>When I was making the decision between Duke and Rice, I was fully aware that I was turning down an internationally-acclaimed university for another excellent but more unknown university. However, Rice was $25k/year cheaper for me, I was offered a 2 year research apprenticeship here, the people here seemed friendlier, and the atmosphere here was more accepting and collaborative (less pretentiousness and cutthroat feel). I realized that many of the negative stereotypes about Duke were blown out of proportion, but I could still sense a slightly more cutthroat feel. I visited both schools last April, a week apart from each other, so these were my observations (not just what other people told me).</p>

<p>However, even though the profs here are excellent and the people here are amazing, I am beginning to wonder if I made a mistake of turning down the prestige and opportunities affiliated with a Duke degree. People on CC make it seem that Duke is this university that will get you any opportunity in life as long as you work hard there... as if Duke, Stanford, the Ivies, and MIT are some "God-like" universities. Although Rice's engineering and science programs are world-class, I am wondering if a social science degree here will offer as many career opportunities as a Duke social science degree.</p>

<p>Even though my parents were willing to pay for the $25k/year tuition and board for Duke, I didn't want to put my parents in $120,000 extra debt when I could go to another top 20 university for half that price. Plus, grad school will be expensive too. Anyway, if I did go to Duke, I mainly wanted to just go for the name, the excellent environmental sciences program offered by the Nicholas School of the Environment, and the brilliant/interesting/social peers (although Rice seems to have attracted the same type of people). I wasn't into the frat/sorority culture and the drinking culture at Duke.</p>

<p>Do you really think there is that much difference between the career, networking, and life opportunities given by a Duke degree or a Rice degree? I know Rice is king in Texas, but I plan on moving back to Ohio or to the Southeast after grad school. Very few people I know consider Rice as good of a school as Duke back home and on CC, even though personally I think it is (which is why I selected it).</p>

<p>I plan on going to med school, business school, or an environmental science grad program after graduating from Rice.</p>

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<p>Dude, you’ve already gotten like 20+ responses saying to not worry about it. Rice is a very good school and you like it; that should be enough. Not sure why you need 100 of the same responses telling you that you didn’t make a mistake going to Rice…but I’ll further gratify that desire. You made a good decision (for your particular circumstances) and should enjoy your experience at Rice!</p>

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<p>You can go to a state school and obtain the same jobs if you are able to network well and market yourself! Today, obtaining a job is basically knowing someone who can hire you… Most of my family went to state schools; they make nice amounts of money. If you’re looking for prestige or something then go to Duke. </p>

<p>But, I go to Emory, which isn’t well known in Tennesse, but do I care? No because my college experience shouldn’t be affected by the ignorance of others to my school. Most are just impressed that I am in a four-year institution! I’m sure it’s the same with you.</p>

<p>Your parents are saving money, you’re happy, and it sounds like you’re after recognition and want to look like hot ***** (“Anyway, if I did go to Duke, I mainly wanted to just go for the name”). You also mention how the people on CC make the Ivies and Top 10’s out to be god-like schools, which they aren’t. Rice is just as good in my opinion.</p>

<p>Enjoy your time at Rice for these next four years, intern during the summer, make high grades, network with people in the area, get alumni connections, ENJOY your next four years at RICE.</p>

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<p>slik nik…I remember your decision time last spring, and VandyPrayer, you need a new handle on CC, seriously. :slight_smile: Be true to your school. Emory is a GREAT school in a great city. Come back as EmoryPrayer, please. </p>

<p>I have a son in the class of 2013 at Vanderbilt…Also…a son who graduated 2009 at Duke. He loves loves loves Duke and had great teachers and friends…but this means he is also sports crazy and he joined a frat and the frat was part of his life there, a big part. There certainly are a majority of students there who are not Greek but off campus in Durham is lacking compared to off campus in Houston or Nashville or Atlanta for independents looking for things to do who do not pledge or join Greek world. You are all blessed. </p>

<p>You are wrong about Rice not being equally respected although I will concede that the Duke brand is stronger nationally and internationally but Duke and Stanford run Amazon-like sports programming and have much more breadth in graduate schools right on campus. They have more mega research dollars…but Rice is an amazing corner of the USA. Stunning options for research within steps of Rice campus, and where else could you do better for internships in business or medicine…can that many hospitals really coexist in three blocks…thought I was hallucinating…</p>

<p>…and my friends in law in Atlanta claim the best law clerks they EVER had were Rice undergrads. Rice students are known for their exceptional work ethics and smarts. All you have to do is max out your opps at Rice and you will have the same opportunity than anyone has…max out all that Houston offers re internships.</p>

<p>My second son would have gone to Rice if he had won merit money there. Why? He loved Rice Village, Rice campus, the incredible and I do mean incredible assets of belonging to your house for Residential College purposes. He could no more vote pledge wannabe guys in or out of a frat than he could jump over the moon, and he appreciated Rice’s egalitarian culture which is so very much kinder than many other colleges socially. Rice and Yale’s residential colleges are benchmarks. That said, Vandy’s new first year Commons is thrillingly great. (Duke also has a very good first year campus.) My second son is where he feels he was meant to be, walking his own walk. He loves his teachers and his new friends. We wear our black and gold now for him and and our blue for Duke.</p>

<p>He won the miraculous privilege of merit at Vandy, and he is now completely and totally happy in Nashville, walking his own pathway, and grateful every day and we love Nashville. Was the merit money the deciding factor? You bet. He was admitted to Rice without merit selection–while you got the golden ticket. His fate was elsewhere. </p>

<p>Love the school you are in…give it your heart. Give it your everything. </p>

<p>You won merit money to Rice!! Do not believe for a second that many Duke students paying full fare would have considered turning that down. OK…there may be a few very wealthy people who would ignore that fabulous honor. But I would never admit to such folly, and I am glad you didn’t make that error.</p>

<p>Do you really comprehend how much graduate school costs??? We sort of failed to consider this as we should have. Our state business grad schools cost 45 grand a year…The average debt for Vandy law grads last year was 150 grand. The debt load to med schools…auurrrrhgh!! Plus you get to job hunt in a recession with a huge debt on your back. If your parents can now better help you with grad school, you have no idea how important that is. JOB is the word that should be consuming you, not empty phrases like “internationally acclaimed.” Duke grads are suffering in the recession, people are not recruiting like they were at Yale or MIT either. Many jobs rescinded…my own Duke’s son’s job at graduation was rescinded. Many of his classmates had to scramble…this is a huge recession.</p>

<p>OK slik nik…I know it is hard for you to grasp now…but graduate school matters much more than undergrad and then how you run your life matters much more than graduate school. I see lawyers for instance all the time who make tons of money and have thriving practices who went to very easy to enter and pay for…undergrad state colleges. Life is so much more about social IQ than you may appreciate at this time. Ditto my local doctors who went to our state colleges undergrad and had a clue that they were going to need a quarter of a million dollars to get through medical training later. They were pretty smart!</p>

<p>Trying not to come down on you like a ton of bricks but you can only succeed when you give Rice 200% in loyalty and love. Concentrate on growing socially whereever you land. Duke, Rice, Vandy and Emory all offer great opportunities to grow on multiple levels that will make you stronger in grad school and in life. </p>

<p>One thing I appreciate about Rice is the preprofessional outlook in the college …everyone gets that education is tied to employment…at the same time the social life is very liberal artsy and homey, and the campus is simply stunning and unique. </p>

<p>OK…hoping this thread dies soon and you fall in love with Rice and become a big die hard alum for them…I hope this for everyone no matter where they land.
Duke and Vandy Mom…from a family that thinks Rice is also a Jewel in America.</p>

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<p>The decision is done. You were very lucky to have two great choices, and you could not have made a bad decision.
Now you need to embrace your choice and make the most of your next four years.</p>

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<p>Faline2, I commend you for your response since it contained a lot of information that will be useful to many students who are currently in the same situation as he/she is. I wish for everyone who has vacillating feelings in their college choice needs to read this.</p>

<p>I would also like to address that I have no need to change my name to EmoryPrayer. I created this account over a year ago, and I refuse to create a new account simply for the fact that I attend a different school than my screen name. I have all the school spirit in the world; I wear my Emory hoodie every chance I get. Thanks for you concern. :)</p>

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<p>Where you did your undergraduate work matters very little for graduate/professional school admissions.</p>

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<p>VandyPrayer, you are sweet to compliment my post…I shouldn’t have teased you. Nothing is more dumb than my own screen name!! I won’t bore you with that story. I am sure you are contributing to life at Emory and that you are giving it 100% because I remember this was your outlook when we were on the Emory boards last year. We have the greatest respect for Emory…I used to work on Clifton Road in an Emory connected program. So impressed last fall with the caliber of the teachers at Emory…and may I also say that class sizes at Emory are unusually good and outstanding for a famous research university with tons of hard core research taking place in labs. Son was passed over for merit money there while you were among the chosen. Funny how things happen, yes? Internship options in Atlanta are impossibly good no matter what your major is at Emory.<br>
And your problem is choosing to stay on campus most nights…with all the incredible cultural and sports options the city has to offer.
Hope all your days at Emory are golden and new doors swing open for you at the right time and right next place.</p>

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<p>Faline - I appreciate your comments; I can agree with everything you are saying. It’s fine for teasing me about my name. I know that it’s awkward, but it’s a wonder how God can choose our destinies for us? Thank you for your last paragraph! I speak that and hope that is comes true!</p>

<p>I remember my acceptance. Everyone said that I would struggle. I have no problems here! Ha, it’s easy if you can manage your time and not stress, but the coursework is tough! Very worth it! Thank you again for your polite comments.</p>

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<p>I think the prestige of Duke is only important if you’d like to work on Wall St. or get into a top professional school, although even then Rice still looks great on paper. The ties Duke has in the realm of finance are undeniable; however, since that isn’t your goal I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. </p>

<p>fyi, I was also accepted by Duke and Rice 6 years ago and chose Duke.</p>

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<p>For med schools at least, where you go for undergrad has very little to do with your chance of admissions. Just do a search of the top med schools and look at their statistics. I know that they don’t publish them for regular MD, but search for MD/PhD or MSTP (which is definitely much more competitive) at some of the top schools like UCSF, Cornell, Harvard, Hopkins, UW, WashU, etc. and look at where the students come from. You’ll see that a number of them do come from state schools or relatively unknown schools. Yet they still manage to get into top programs which hand out <20 acceptances a year. </p>

<p>The process is all about you as a person: how you did in school, whether you did research or ECs, whether you fully pursued the opportunities available to you, etc. It’s stuff that you can do at any school.</p>