<p>I agree with you tokyo. Yale is a better option for most of the majors.</p>
<p>
[quote]
When schools are of this caliber shouldn't a person really be thinking about which fits their personality and not which one has "better academics" They are both good so pick based on how you like them and not based on the fact that Duke isn't ranked quite as high in USNEWS. They are both so good already.
[/quote]
It's no big secret that Duke loses out in cross-admits to HYPSM. Only about 8% of Stanford-Duke cross-admits enroll at Duke, and only 5% of Harvard-Duke cross-admits enroll at Duke. This thread demonstrates that quite clearly. The great thing about this, though, is that Duke is constantly trying to improve itself. Science facilities are being drastically updated and built, an entirely new library was built, a new student plaza was built, older dorms are being renovated, targeted professors are being lured away from Ivies and other top universities, etc. Competition keeps Duke on its toes.</p>
<p>I'm basically trying to decide where to apply early
thing is that Yale has early actions so I could keep my options open
but if I didn't get into yale early or duke regular, then I would have rather applied early to Duke
Being a cross-admit is something I don't have the luxury of</p>
<p>great insight in some of these replies</p>
<p>How about a little variation:
1) First thing you think of when you hear "UPenn"
2) First thing you think of when you hear "Cal Berkeley"
3) Would you rather attend Duke, UPenn or Berkeley?</p>
<p>side note: There's no ED at Berkeley right?</p>
<p>1.) snobby liberals
2.) smart athletes... and lacrosse
3.) Duke. More balanced political atmosphere, more balanced student&social life, I love athletes</p>
<p>1.) Wharton
2.) odd liberals
3.) Duke no question</p>
<p>1) Peanut butter
2) Jelly
3) Princeton</p>
<p>Just kidding. Just added that as a joke.</p>
<p>1)Ivy League
2) a king or duke
3) Yale, because i like CT</p>
<ol>
<li>business</li>
<li>asians</li>
<li>upenn</li>
</ol>
<p>Tokyo,</p>
<p>I hear ya. Not trying to accuse you of anything. I think you know more about these schools than me. I may just be a little anti-Yale cause I have some Harvard people in my family. :-) But both are amazing schools and Yale is always in the top 5.</p>
<p>My point is this: When people get lost in USNEWS rankings and prestige (i know this is not really one of these situations) they lose sight of what is really important in chosing a college: the fit to the individual. Yale most likely has some better programs than Duke but they are great schools at which anybody can get a superb education if they put in the work. I feel sorry for people who think the only schools they can attend are Harvard, Princeton and Yale because they are first in their class. Some just don't realize how great some non-ivies are. Again, I know this is not the current situation, but I have seen this type of thing come up a lot.</p>
<p>Good luck to anbody applying to either of these schools. If you are lucky and talented enough to get in to either, congrats.</p>
<p>-Mike</p>
<p>Yale: Bush
Duke: lacrosse</p>
<p>
[quote]
1) First thing you think of when you hear "UPenn"
[/quote]
Button/Philadelphia
[quote]
2) First thing you think of when you hear "Cal Berkeley"
[/quote]
Big/hot/paleontology
[quote]
3) Would you rather attend Duke, UPenn or Berkeley?
[/quote]
Duke for undergrad; Penn for grad.</p>