Duke or Northwestern?!

College Search & Selection
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<p>Well, if Duke is in Troy, NY with cold weather, I am sure its appeal would take a hit. Durham is no Evanston, let alone Chicago, but its weather is definitely better, as you already mentioned.</p>

<p>One has better weather and one has better location. Not everyone minds Chicago winter just like “Not everyone likes big cities”. I came from Hong Kong and the weather is even warmer than California’s. I didn’t like Chicago winter but I would not trade Chicago/Evanston for most other places. Making a big deal about one while downplaying another is a double-standard.</p>

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<p>Sam, it’s not a double standard. Several people in this thread have specifically said “Apply to Northwestern.”</p>

<p>You’ll note that I made no suggestions whatsoever in my post. I said that <em>I</em> would <em>personally</em> choose Duke because <em>I</em> prefer warm weather.</p>

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<p>nice post, bluedog</p>

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<p>I constantly hear comments about Duke’s outstanding academics, but I’d like for someone to comment on which departments at Duke that are rated in the top 10. This is not meant to start an argument over which school is better than another, it’s just a curiosity on my part. I always hear about BME at Duke, I’d like to hear about other top 10 areas as well.</p>

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<p>I don’t really know where to find undergrad major-specific rankings, but here’s what I’ve got. Mostly grad rankings, which usually translate to undergrad. Also included professional schools and note that some of these might not be the latest rankings…</p>

<p>Literary criticism and theory = #1 USNWR
Philosophy of biology = #1 Philosophical Gourmet Report
Biomedical engineering = #2 undergrad, #5 grad USNWR
Ecology and evolutionary biology = #5 USNWR
Statistics = #6 USNWR
Medical school = #6 USNWR
Political science = #8 USNWR, #14 Reputational Ranking
Business school = #8 BusinessWeek, #12 USNWR
Law school = #10 USNWR
English = #12 USNWR
Sociology = #14 USNWR
History = #15 USNWR
Nursing school = #15 USNWR
Computer Science = #20 USNWR
Mathematics = #21 USNWR
Economics = #21 USNWR
Physics = #29 USNWR</p>

<p>You have a Northwestern list? ;)</p>

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<p>^^^^What can I say except, this is a top ten school?</p>

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<p>apply to both… one extra application is not going to hurt.</p>

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According to College Board and IPEDS, by far the most popular majors at Duke are the following 8. </p>

<p>Biology 9% – #12 overall, #5 Ecology
BME 11% – #2
Economics 14% – #19
English 9% – #10
History 6% – #14
Political Science 8% – #9
Psychology 9% – #23
Public Policy 10% – #5</p>

<p>These 8 majors make up 75% of all undergraduates. You can also add in people studying in departments like:</p>

<p>French 0.5% – #3
Classics 0.5% – #15
Computer Science 0.5% – #20
Literature 5% – #2
Math 2% – #21
Ocean Science 1% – #14
Religion 1% – #4
Sociology 3% – #14
Spanish 0.5% – #2</p>

<p>So of all Duke undergraduates…</p>

<p>At least 27% are in a top 5 department.
At least 58% are in a top 10 department.
At least 80% are in a top 20 department.</p>

<p>I say “at least” because some Duke students are studying in other departments like Biological Anthropology, Medieval Studies, and Women’s Studies that are not ranked.</p>

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<p>bluedog,</p>

<p>I have the Northwestern list (top-30 from USNWR): :)</p>

<p>African History 1st
Material sci & engineering 3rd
Business school 4th
Industrial engineering/Management Sci 5th
Education school 7th
Law school 9th
Chemistry 9th
Economics 9th
Sociology 9th
Mechanical engineering 12th
Biomedical engineering 13th
Civil engineering 13th
History 14th
Chemical engineering 15th
Psychology 17th
Math 18th
Environmental engineering 19th
English 20th
Medical school: 20th
Poli Sci 21st
Computer engineering 25th<br>
Physics 26th
Bio Sci 29th </p>

<p>USNWR don’t have rankings for schools of journalism, music, communications (theater, film, com sci and disorder) but they are generally considered among the best.</p>

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<p>“One wonders how Northwestern, Columbia, and Georgetown would fare if moved.”</p>

<p>I actually do wonder how Northwestern would fare if moved to either coasts. Probably a lot better than now.</p>

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<p>"Beautiful slaves to be taken advantage of at your beck and call. Feast, drink, pot–a veritable Dionysian paradise. "</p>

<p>Reading this is like listening to Boonhower on King of the hHll…I have no idea what it means, but it’s funny as h*ll nontheless</p>