Duke is overrated.

<p>"I don't know what reality you're living in. Duke is better in most ways? LOL."</p>

<p>Like I said, Duke is SLIGHTLY better in some ways, but significantly better in some ways (Wall Street, social scene). </p>

<p>College</a> Search - Duke University - Duke - SAT®, AP®, CLEP®</p>

<p>Duke has (slightly) higher SATs in incoming students.</p>

<p>[scholars[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Scroll down to see Duke undergrad placement, again, SLIGHTLY better than Chicago. However, these scholarships are often considered to be "intellectual," not usually talked about as one of Duke's strong points.</p>

<p><a href="http://wsjclassroom.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://wsjclassroom.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf](&lt;a href="http://consider.k-state.edu/scholars/%5Dscholars%5B/url"&gt;http://consider.k-state.edu/scholars/)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This has significant statistical flaws, but the point is that Duke>Chicago in prof. school placement. Some of Chicago's own grad programs are used in this.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nationalmerit.org/07_annual_report.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nationalmerit.org/07_annual_report.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Duke has 90 National Merit Scholars in its entering class, Chicago only has 40.</p>

<p>Ok, the reality I'm based in relies on sources of factual information. I did my research before going to school. Also, why do you feel sadness for me? Because I'm proud of my school and can discuss why on a forum?</p>

<p>No,I feel sadness for you because you defend your school on the basis of superficial data and misconceptions of a school you know nothing about. The SAT scores are hardly better at Duke. Chicago has a higher CR average, and a lower Math average by the same margin. What exactly are you referring to? The ranks of colleges in the number of scholars are probably separated by very few in number. As for social scene, have you ever tried going to a Chicago party? Have you ever dormed in a Chicago house? Probably not. You have no right to say one social scene is better than the other. Sorry Chicago students dont like to get **** drunk weekend.</p>

<p>Dude, I've been to UChicago twice for social reasons and once for academic reasons. This means I've probably partied more at UChicago than you have. Partying at Chicago doesn't mean going to a house or an apartment, it means drinking with a small group of people and then going to a bar or club with lots of non-Chicago students. At Duke partying means going anywhere with anyone, there is a lot to do.</p>

<p>The data isn't superficial. How is NMS, placement, and international scholarships superficial? Its RAW data aside from unreported stats. </p>

<p>You can't lump all the students at a school together. Some Chicago kids go out, some don't. At Duke, though, in general things are more open and people are out and about more than Chicago. Chicago probably has better art and stuff, nothing Google can't replace (jk).</p>

<p>If I remember correctly, you initially said Chicago was better than Duke at certain things...what were those things?</p>

<p>I'm not gonna list them. You have access to USNWR and Gourman rankings too. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Partying at Chicago doesn't mean going to a house or an apartment, it means drinking with a small group of people and then going to a bar or club with lots of non-Chicago students.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No, it doesn't. I'm sorry to tell you you're wrong. </p>

<p>I'm done arguing here. Go on and keep feeling like you're school is greatest ever. You're in for a rude awakening.</p>

<p>Duke is overrated, to restate the title.</p>

<p>Duke > Chicago.</p>

<p>This is really not debatable unless you want to go into academia, in which case Chicago > Duke. But if you are into investment banking/management consulting/medicine/BIGLAW Duke beats Chicago by a significant margin.</p>

<p>Beefs, like I said, I've been to Chicago to party two times. My male friend there is in Sig Ep and my female friend there is in AOPi (or ADPi...) and I've been out with them throughout Chicago. It was a STRUGGLE to find a good place to party, especially because I'm under 21 and couldn't get into most of the 21-and-over bars and clubs. There are no big apartment or house parties, and most drinking is done in small groups in dorm rooms or smaller settings. Many students don't seem to know that many other students, and the Greek scene is extremely small and unorganized (not surprising since its in the middle of an awesome city). Both times I went to Chicago, the places I DID go with a lively event going on were not filled with primarily Chicago students.</p>

<p>You should take note of what I'm saying, I'm giving you some great first hand anecdotes. Anyone who has hung out with UChicago kids should be able to back up what I'm saying. </p>

<p>Also, beefs, why would I be in for a rude awakening about Duke? I'm almost finished here...I would have probably noticed Duke wasn't that great by now. I've done extensive research and have known Duke is better than Chicago in most ways for multiple years now, mainly relying on factual sources.</p>

<p>To be fair, the ranking under "Scholar" applies to 5 scholarships selected by K-State and while Rhodes/Marshall are the most prestigious, the other 3 aren't. These days, Cambridge Gates, which K-State conveniently omits perhaps because no one from there has won it yet, carries significantly larger award than Udall/Goldwater/Truman. They also didn't include Fulbright which again carries larger award than those three and K-State hasn't been impressive in winning that either. That site was meant to promote K-State and that list is not really a good ranking for the <em>most prestigious</em> scholarships. I thought Chicago has been among the very best in terms of # of Rhodes winners, based on what I've seen in the recent years.</p>

<p>like someone else on this board said, you're just making your school look bad.</p>

<p>haha, why, because I have so much school pride that I'm on Collegeconfidential arguing in favor of my school, and trying to help future Duke students by providing them advice?</p>

<p>I've also displayed a penchant for researching and using empirical evidence. I feel like those are pretty good assets. Duke rules. Not overrated. Chicago is def. overrated - I'd rather go to a school that is fun and can open up lots of opportunities to me without having to be put through an "academic pressure cooker." </p>

<p>IMO - with regards to the super-rigorous academics of Chicago - "Busy work is busy work." Also, like I said, I've likely gone out with UChicago students more often than you have...given you are a pre-frosh.</p>

<p>If it makes you feel better, saying you go to UChicago will likely still make you the most envied guy/girl in the room.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Duke > Chicago.</p>

<p>This is really not debatable unless you want to go into academia, in which case Chicago > Duke. But if you are into investment banking/management consulting/medicine/BIGLAW Duke beats Chicago by a significant margin.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>When comparing two high caliber universities like Duke and Chicago, this kind of statement as saying 'duke is superior' isn't a very well informed observation. ANY Stats Professor would laugh at the hilarity and lack of validity of arguments presented throughout this thread, in arguing for the superiority of Duke's placement into better jobs or better grad schools. There are just way too many variables that are missing, when you simply compare some raw data between two schools and go on from there.</p>

<p>I have 4 friends at UChicago and my uncle is working on his ph.D at UChicago. Not to mention, I've visited the school 3 times and have talked to several people there. One variable that may explain why Chicago might not produce as many Wall street analysts as Duke is due to the simple fact that the student bodies at 2 schools are vastly different. Chicago students are less worried about making big bucks or making the cut at the Wall. Plus, the Chicago education fosters this kind of attitude and fosters the atomosphere of 'intense' academics, one that stresses 'learning' for sake of learning, not learning for sake of jobs or rewards.</p>

<p>Really, the prestige isn't clearly defined at this level: both schools are excellent. They just tend to have different culture and diffrent student body. I am confident that when a Chicago student has all the personal qualifications that are sufficient for Wall placement, such as good gpa, good social skills, good work experience, good interviewing skills, etc., this person won't be at a disadvantage compared to an applicant from Duke with similar qualifications. Saying that Duke > Chicago w/o proper analysis of the data and all the variables that need to be accounted for is really spitting at the face of Stats profs.</p>

<p>However, I do agree with the posters here who say that Duke is better in social life, since I am a big fan of sports and especially enjoy watching college basketball. Also, I do agree with the point that Duke partying scene is much better.</p>

<p>Our</a> People Profiles: The Americas - Life At Lehman - Careers - Lehman Brothers</p>

<p>Check out how many MD's and VP's come from Duke and from UChicago.</p>

<p>Well, I'm talking about undergrad schools, not Business Schools. Obviously Chicago business is awesome, but I'm talking about undergrads. And its especially ironic you chose Lehman brothers...trust me, Chicago places VERY few analysts in NYC IB at Lehman. Duke places more than any but maybe 5 schools (Mich, Harvard, Princeton, Wharton, Dartmouth) </p>

<p>go to WallStreetOasis.com</a> | ...where monkeys come to play and browse around for a while, what you might learn about Chicago's access to Wall Street compared to Duke can provide you with some perspective.</p>

<p>Tsk awww.not standing by our "empirical data" anymore are we...?</p>

<p>Beefs...your reaction to factual knowledge is typical of people who don't know much about Duke. Duke has WAY more people at Lehman than Chicago. The fact that two of the people on a list of Lehman Associates went to Business school in Chicago says NOTHING about the undergrads of the two schools.</p>

<p>Chicago Business School compared to other business schools is MUCH better than Chicago undergrad compared to other undergrads. </p>

<p>Duke> Chicago in professional school placement, finance placement, consulting placement, and fun (this is subjective). </p>

<p>Go to wallstreetoasis.com - a forum about finance/consulting, and search for "best undergrads" or something and hear it first hand. I can vouch first hand (worked at a BB investment bank last sumer).</p>

<p>OR, I can use the same tactic as you and say, "Hey go to this random link which doesn't represent reality at all but instead represents photo-friendly people willing to talk about themselves on a recruitment website." Well, I guess I will:</p>

<p>Morgan</a> Stanley Corporate Governance</p>

<p>
[quote]
There are certainly flaws with the college (Ivy) my son attends, and I point them out as well

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Dude, she really does :P</p>

<p>
[quote]
What are you going to say when you're an analyst at your investment banking firm and have to report to U Chicago grads (that have the analytical skills you Duke guys can only dream of)...or rely on the data provided by your firm's chief economist who graduated from U Chicago School of Economics?</p>

<p>Yeaaah...I know what you'll say...you'll say that you're better because the CEO was a former fraternity brother and used to play lacrosse. Different strokes for different folks.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>UCBChemEGrad: I hope that was sarcasm. This isn't true at all. You have nothing to back up your argument except possibly that more University of Chicago grads are interested in i-banking in the first place..</p>

<p>Oh dear! As someone who got into Duke and Chicago (as I think was the case with thethoughtprocess).. if I only chose Chicago.. I would have superior analytical skills and would be spending my Saturday nights discussing philosophy over martinis and playing Risk instead of puking in a bathroom at Shooters and getting 3 STD's a week.. oh wait, I already do the former at Duke and not the latter! :rolleyes:</p>

<p>^ No, I don't have anything to back up my argument...just personal observations... :D</p>

<p>Mondo: Shooooters Rules!</p>

<p>Though I agree with you. People tend to stereotype Duke students as all frat bros with no intellectualism. Even though Duke students get just as many post-graduate academic scholarships as any other top U. </p>

<p>I'm not the most intellectual person, but I'm writing a thesis on social aspects of Turkey's EU integration, wrote for the Chronicle, lobbied for a new course in the Economics department, appeared on CNN as a freshmen, etc. while being in a fraternity. </p>

<p>Chicago might be more intellectual, but I feel like socially Duke is much more diverse.</p>

<p>"People tend to stereotype Duke students as all frat bros with no intellectualism. "</p>

<p>You should be aware that all your posts in this thread only support this argument. I know Duke, I know Duke isn't this cartoonish persona, but I have to say that as an upperclassman, you aren't exactly showcasing Duke's intellectual side. Somewhere an admission's officer is squirming.</p>

<p>So, yeah, bravo, you guys kick butt in drinking and Ibanking. Meanwhile in iconclastic thinking...people that set the game rules for others to follow? Check out alumni at both schools. BIG stage, Chicago. Smaller, business..I drank till I puked so I'm king of the institutional side..Duke. Go you.</p>

<p>

Dude, you're retarded. Duke is far superior to UChicago in almost any criterion that one can use in measuring a good college experience/education. Duke has a more diverse, intelligent and fun student body. Also, Duke kids contribute more to the business/law/medical/non-profit world after graduation than Chicago students. While Chicago students are busy philosophizing about human greed and thinking about their favorite existentialist as a result of their unfocused Core education, Duke kids are ACTUALLY changing the world through their involvement in the financial sectors that regulate international markets and through groups/organizations like the PeaceCorps/Doctors Without Borders/Genocide Intervention Network which are addressing dire 3rd world medical and poverty concerns.</p>

<p>UChicago students are nerdier and that's about it. They're not even smarter. Also, my sister goes to UChi and she complains about how freakishly ugly guys stalk her everytime she goes to a party and how she wishes she has gone to Penn/Duke instead. I actually went to a Chicago party with a friend last year since I live close to the area and it was a complete freakfest. This was apparently a "frat party" but no one knew how to tap the keg and there was maybe one attractive girl at the whole party and my friend ended up hooking up with her(he was a high school junior and she's a Chicago undergrad junior). It's that pathetic.</p>

<p>I have no stake in this debate since I'm going to Harvard next year. If I hadn't gotten into Harvard, I would have gone to Duke without a doubt. Obviously, Harvard doesn't have much of a social life but the prestige/employment opportunities post-graduation/financial aid makes it worth it for me over Duke.</p>

<p>Have fun reading Plato and sipping French wine in your dorm room on Fridays and Saturday nights next year with your bros at UChi buddy.</p>