<p>I was checking out Duke today, and I am completely confused. I am going to apply to MIT, Harvard, etc. next year, but I was looking at Duke's ED stats. They take significantly more applicants early, but it is binding. So if I were to get accepted there and then at Harvard, I wouldn't be able to go to Harvard. This kind of bothers me, so I am wondering... is Duke worth the ED? Or should I apply to those other schools and Duke RD? I plan to major in pre med with an emphasis on physics. After that, I hope to get into a joint PhD/MD program (preferably the one at Harvard). So, what should I do?</p>
<p>lol .</p>
<p>This is really up to you. How much do you like Duke? There is a significant difference between the ED stats and RD stats, that’s for sure. And let me tell you, getting into to Harvard, MIT, Duke, etc is getting incredibly difficult. Just for example, Harvard accepted a little more than 6% of its applicants and it’ll probably go down again next year. By applying RD to Duke, like I did, you assume the risk of getting rejected to all these schools. I took that risk and got rejected everywhere but Duke and UCs, waitlisted at Princeton, UPenn, and Cornell (although I wouldn’t go there over Duke in a million years). The process is sort of random. Looking back, I am truly very lucky to be accepted by Duke. How much are you willing to sacrifice?</p>
<p>Ok, makes sense. I’m just kind of worried that if i do go for ED, I’ll be accepted my MIT and Harvard, whereas if I don’t I’ll be rejected by all of them and Duke. I guess it would make sense to go for it seeing as if I do ED the worst case scenario (just about) is that I go to Duke, whereas one of the UNCs is the worst case scenario if I don’t. How well known is Duke’s physics program? I know they are well known for medicine and mathematics.</p>
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<p>It’s true that the students drink too much sometimes, with predictable consequences.</p>
<p>If you get accepted into Duke ED, you would have to rescind all of your applications anyway so you WON’T get into Harvard or MIT. However, don’t just be a prestige whore. MIT and Harvard have VERY different atmosphere’s from Duke. I would visit all three and decide which one you like best. If you like Duke best, apply ED. If you don’t, then don’t.</p>
<p>Since you are planning on going to grad/med school, I’m fairly sure the ranking/prestige factor at that level is pretty much negligible to grad school admissions people. </p>
<p>Go with where you FIT! Of course… if you fit better at Harvard and MIT that’s a bit tough but if you like Duke better, apply to Duke ED.</p>
<p>The acceptance rates at MIT and Harvard are brutal and looking back, and even forward at the time, I loved Duke’s atmosphere. Plus it appears the weather isn’t as harsh. I feel like from Duke (seems like you’re pretty confident getting in ED) to UNC is too big a risk to take.</p>
<p>Good point, also to cadillac: I don’t mean to sound like an arrogant jerk because I know that even ED Duke’s acceptance rate is only 35%, but the point of contention is if I get in. So I feel like I’ve made up my mind. I think I’ll apply ED. Thanks.</p>