Should I go to Duke or Brown for an undergrad? I want to study CS, EE, and I want to apply it to entrepreneurship. I do not need the most technical education, but I’d like to study the technical to develop ideas and work on the first stage startup. Plus, I’d like to take econ classes as a backup plan to be a hedge fund manager
Considering location, academics, social life, etc, which is the best fit?
I do not like to drink or do drugs, but I am all right with sports. I am originally from Alabama, and I think Brown might have a better location. Both schools have similar entrepreneurial opportunities.
They are about the same for CS, while Duke is the better school for EE. If you are from Alabama, Duke is closer, and the area may have a more similar culture (North Carolina in the SE, versus Rhode Island in the NE for Brown). I would say that Brown is likely more intellectual, and Duke more technical. For engineering, Duke has the advantage of being in NC’s “Research Triangle”.
My son’s final decision last year was between Duke and Brown. Both great schools and no bad choice.
He is currently a very happy and challenged applied math and Econ major at Brown. He is heavily involved with several entrepreneurial projects and has received extensive intellectual support, financial backing and mentorship from the entrepreneurial studies departmental at Brown. He describes the social scene to be welcoming and “can’t imagine in hindsight going to a school without an open curriculum”.
Ultimately his decision was driven by “soft” factors as the schools were largely equal across most measures. Brown just felt like a better fit. For example he wasn’t sure if he was interested in fraternities and felt Duke’s culture required it while not the case at Brown.
I suspect he would have enjoyed either school but he is very happy with his decision.
Specific to Brown, they do have substance free housing. They will also begin offering a “certificate in entrepreneurial studies” shortly (Brown doesn’t have minors) and the entrepreneurial studies department just occupied a state of the art brand new building on Thayer street that has a Shake Shack at ground level.
He has been involved in several weekend “hacks” sponsored by various consulting firms and IBanks, and been part of an Ivy League team of entrepreneurs that share project ideas and work collaboratively. He managed to get an externship over mid year with a top investment bank through an alumni member he met on campus. In other words the network building is amazing.
Lastly the city of Providence is great and the proximity to Boston and NYC is worth considering for future access to internships and career opportunities.
We loved Duke and the faculty, students and staff we met couldn’t have been more impressive and kind. At some point in January if you choose Brown you will undoubtedly think about Durham’s warmer climate.
OP: Based on your post which started this thread, it seems as though academic flexibility should be an important factor to you because you want to take courses in CS, EE, economics & entrepreneurship.
Also, why do you think that Brown has a better location ?
OP what amazing choices!!!
Duke is also committed to entrepreneurship and offers a certificate in it and has fabulous alumni connections. I truly think each school is comparable in terms of the opportunities they will give you. Both are incredible.
You might think that Duke is out of the way, but they fly speakers in all the time and the strength of the research triangle park is surprisingly strong. Duke’s location will in no way negatively impact your opportunities.
While you might think that Brown holds the cards with regard to academic flexibility because of their open curriculum, that is not necessarily true. Whatever you concentrate in at Brown has prerequisites and corequisites. If you want EE or CS, I think you’ll find that a lot of your schedule will be filled with required classes. Why don’t you look at that and chart out your classes at both schools to get a better idea for yourself? At both schools you take 4 classes a semester. One academic difference is that Brown lets you take whatever classes you want pass/fail.
To me, the biggest difference is the social vibe. Have you visited both? Where do you feel more comfortable?
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either. I don’t even know you and I’m getting excited for you because of all the opportunities that lie ahead of you. Once you make your choice, don’t look back. Dig in and take advantage of as many of the opportunities you can. Your 4 years is going to fly!
did @shehzanm get into Pratt at Duke? or is this someone asking where to apply? Pratt at Duke is going to be a much different experience than Brown. it’s a different college than Trinity and I’m not sure how easy it would be to change into EE/CS at Pratt which typically has even stronger students than Trinity, they have even higher test scores at Pratt