<p>I got admitted to both Duke and Berkeley and I'm having a really hard time figuring out which one I want to attend. I know their academic rankings are similar and I'm not worried about that so I'm more interested in the social scene. I have several friends who are going to Berkeley and I don't know if it would be better to go with them or start fresh at Duke. Can anyone help or offer some advice?</p>
<p>i had an interview with a Duke prof, and Bates grad, for bates earlier this yr. his comparison: bates is a collective learning community whereas duke is extremely “cut-throat,” in the competitive sense. i have friends at duke, and whenever i visit i definately have fun, however this description is obviously true, even on the weekends > everything is a competition, and it seems like overall people dont really ever truely relax and just chill. my friends say the social scene revolves around going to a single bar. like i said, when ive visited ive had an awesome time, but at the same time, i know i could never go to school there. hope this was helpful.</p>
<p>What does Bates have to do with the OP?</p>
<p>Honestly, I think you should pick Duke based on the fact that its resources are superior. There are classes at Berkeley with 500+ people, and according to people I’ve spoken to there it’s easy to feel like just a number. Duke, on the other hand, offers smaller classes, more individualized attention, many small seminars, FOCUS, DukeEngage (they basically give you money to do anything you want for a summer), etc. I know a ton of Dukies (family friends, people from school), and they all are very happy with the social life. Although ultimately I’m going somewhere else, when I visited Duke I found that nearly every student I met was friendly and sociable.</p>
<p>Duke. California really isn’t doing too well.</p>
<p>I have to disagree that the Duke environment is highly competitive. Especially academically, I never felt that way.</p>
<p>What’s your intended field of study? </p>
<p>Do you prefer suburban or urban?</p>
<p>What will be your out-of-pocket costs at each?</p>
<p>please tell me where i said it did.</p>
<p>thats just what i had been told (by a prof and students), observed, and discussed. could be wrong, could only be sometimes/some of the student body.</p>
<p>If Cal is in state, then go to Cal. What does the financial situation look like?</p>