<p>So I visited both Princeton and Duke, and am torn between the two. I thought they both were great schools with a great campus and atmosphere. However, I saw Duke ED for Pratt had an acceptance rate of 36% vs Princeton's SCEA rate of 18%. Which one should I apply to with these stats? Would applying to Duke Early greatly increase my chances? Is Princeton well worth the extra risk? Do I have a good chance in Duke RD for Pratt too? Thanks in advance!:</p>
<p>GPA:3.8UW 4.34W</p>
<p>Class Rank: 3/300</p>
<p>Senior Year Courses: AP European History, AP Chinese, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, Math course at Princeton University</p>
<p>SAT II: Physics: 800 Math Level 2: 800 US History: 760</p>
<p>Awards:
-National AP Scholar
-At least National Merit Commended award</p>
<p>ECs: Governor's School summer program where I had a research paper published
-Comp sci summer program at an ivy league institution
- 4th in state and 3rd in region awards for Science Olympiad
- FBLA member where I got a state award
-volunteered at a cultural organization's summer camp for 70 hours
- tutored kids at the library for 30 hours
-Science and Engineering Club member
- tennis team member</p>
<p>You should apply to where you think you’d like to attend more. If you view them equally, definitely applying to Duke ED will increase your chances of admission. Certainly, admission to Pratt ED is less selective than Princeton SCEA. I think you’re a competitive applicant for both, but there are way more qualified candidates than available spots, so your chances still may not be that great, although perhaps higher than the overall acceptance rates. </p>
<p>Princeton is worth the extra risk if you think you’ll enjoy it that much more - otherwise, it probably won’t make much of a difference as to your eventual success in obtaining a job and the like. Your chance to Pratt RD is likely a bit less than Pratt ED - I feel that Pratt is more “numbers based”/objective than Trinity, though, so I think that’s in your favor as it’s perhaps more predictable and your numbers look good. That certainly doesn’t guarantee admission, though. The middle 50% range for Pratt’s accepted students on the ACT is 33-35, so your (fantastic!) score of 35 is simply “in the range.”</p>
<p>In reality, nobody on this site really knows your chances or what you should decide…only you can make that decision. But, having visited both, didn’t you view Princeton’s (also Gothic) campus as just a smaller and less pretty version of Duke? (Mostly kidding, but I’ve heard people who attended both - one for undergrad, one for grad - describe Princeton’s campus in that way.)</p>
<p>Quick anecdote re Duke EA. Both twins applied to Duke from same HS. Daughter applied ED with perfect GPA, 11 APs, good but not eye popping ECs, and 1430/2170 SAT. Twin brother applied RD with 2 b plusses and rest A’s, 11 APs, fewer ECs but more depth, and 1540/2290 SAT. Daughter accepted, son wait-listed (did not get in).</p>
<p>Definitely helpful! Out of curiosity, which school does your son end up attending muckdogs07? Also, any other opinions from fellow CC’ers for or against Duke ED would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Congrats! Those are amazing schools. Btw, what is your guy’s opinions on the prestige of both schools, something important in the corporate world? Obviously both are very prestigious but how do they compare?</p>
<p>In my experience, prestige’s value in the corporate world is minimal. Having either “Duke” or “Princeton” on your resume will help get you interviews for your first job after graduation. After that, it has little impact - you are evaluated on your actions and accomplishments.</p>
<p>Connections formed through a Duke or Princeton education has far more durable value than prestige. You will meet bright, successful people while on campus and in local alumni clubs. These people will aid your professional development and allow you to find new opportunities.</p>
<p>Heard from daughter last night. She is very happy at Duke. Tells me one of her best friends from her public HS , who goes to Princeton, called the day after the USNWR rankings came out (lol). In any event, her friend likes Princeton too and work (both liberal arts majors) seems comparable per daughter. Only difference I noticed was daughter involved with community service run through an advanced french class she is taking that also addresses global health issues while her friend has not yet had any service opportunities and did not notice a service vibe at Princeton. Caveat–just an anecdote.</p>
<p>2500 apply to duke ED. 750 are admitted. 31% acceptance rate. for RD: 11% admission rate. 45% of class filled ED. I suspect this is similar at many schools.</p>
<p>this is from a princeton reviewer who has been interviewing for 30 years… when her son asked about Princeton…he had a 34/36 on her ACT, SATs in the mid 700s, lots of APs and
extracurriculars, but was probably only in the top 5% of his class at a very tough good public school…he was not at all likely to get in even as an alumni kid (and heavy donor) to Princeton, even if he did, would not want his confidence to be crushed there.<br>
Confidence crushed meaning that due to grade deflation, which is very bad at Princeton more than Harvard (easy As) or Yale, it is difficult enough to excel. I’ve interviewed probably close to 100 kids over the past 25 years and only had a handful get in,many were recruited by the football or crew or lacrosse and were scholarship level athletes at Division 1 programs. Otherwise a few valedictorians seem to get in, but even that is absolutely no guarantee.</p>
<p>probably better that he save ED for another school and apply to Princeton regular admission as a stretch school. ED is a very valuable statement to a school and acceptance rates ED vs. regular admission usually reflect that fact. our son got in ED at xxxx, we know several applicants who were probably stronger who got rejected regular decision.</p>
<p>Totally random. I haven’t figured out who gets in and who doesn’t. All I know is that very few get in, so many kids that I think are incredible don’t. </p>
<p>alumni connections matter, a hook is an alumni connection OR a sibling, which helps even more.</p>
<p>Apply where you like better? Let me just pull a plug for duke though. It’s amazing. Academics are great. Great friends. Friendly, accessible professors. Beautiful campus and facilities. Lots of research opportunities. It’s kind of my perfect place.</p>
(Mostly kidding, but I’ve heard people who attended both - one for undergrad, one for grad - describe Princeton’s campus in that way.)</p>