<p>Hey guys...I just got off the waitlist to Columbia yesterday so now I'm torn between Duke and Columbia. I want to study biomedical engineering and eventually go to med school. These are some of my current thoughts: I think Columbia SEAS is a bit harder to get into than Duke Pratt and I've been told that the ivy-league name can get me some mileage(personally i dont really care bout this whole ivy league thing and it definitely is not a deciding factor) I'm pretty set on studying BME(not because its great as a pre-med route but because I'm very interested in this particular major and seems to be a great fit for me) and I know Duke has a very good reputation in that field. However, I'm worried that I won't be able to stand out among the BME students at DUke because it is such a popular and strong major. but then..my friend whose currently attending Columbia SEAS said the competition at Columbia is also very intense juz because the ppl who come to Columbia are all pretty crazy(academically) I guess it may juz come down to superficial things like campus/location, weather, # of koreans?? etc....Any more input would be greatly appreciated!!! please help me.. Ok so back to studying for IB English exam which is tomorrow...crap =(</p>
<p>I was on a campus tour with someone who was in at both Duke and Fu Foundation, and he ended up choosing columbia for the sheer fact that he wanted to ChemE. He only applied to duke BME bc. he said his parents forced him to, and he was pretty shocked when I told him that duke didn't have a chem E major. However, he did say that if he was to do BME, he would've chosen duke.</p>
<p>Here's why:</p>
<p>1) Some critics may think Durham is dangerous... but wait til you get to Harlem. Haha the people who think NC is at all a "ghetto" haven't seen **** yet. </p>
<p>2)Duke BME slightly more respected than Columbia's program, but then again, columbia as an overall school may gain the edge prestige-wise. Since you said that you were intent on studying BME, I'd think that Duke would be the better place, academically, for you.</p>
<p>3)I've never heard that Columbia kids were any more cutthroat than students at similar intitutions, so I don't know where you're getting the idea the Columbia students are super-intense. I guess with the Core? </p>
<p>Anyways, when I visited, Duke seemed much more laid back than I thought it'd be. Of course, this was on a saturday morning at 11 AM, so that might explain why the library wasn't exactly packed, but nevertheless, Duke would definitely provide a better social scene, provided that you aren't absolutely CRAZY about living NYC.</p>
<p>4) Koreans? Duke has a ton of asians in general. End of story.</p>
<p>5) The Ivy League name sure will get you places, but it's not like Duke's won't. The fact that there's an 86% (I believe) med school acceptance rate should settle all ideas that Duke doesn't garner the same sort of respect as mid-level Ivies like C, Upenn, or dartmouth. I personally would never pick a school based off of what athletic conference it was in, but while we're on that topic, the tipping point is Duke basketball. </p>
<p>Although you've been presented with a wonderful opportunity, I would still argue that Duke is the better choice.</p>
<p>As you already know, BME is more highly regarded at Duke than Columbia. Both schools will be extremely tough academically, have a lot of Koreans and give you a terrific shot at the top med schools given that you put in the effort. But that's where the similarities between Duke and Columbia basically end.</p>
<p>Columbia is located in New York City, perhaps the most culturally prominent and vibrant city in the world. The social lives of many Columbia students revolve around the resources of The Big Apple and the campus is very urban. This can be great because there are obviously great restaurants, clubs, professional sporting venues, operas, etc. available to Columbia students. However, the flip side of being in the midst of a major city is there isn't at all a "campus feel" at Columbia and thus there isn't too much cohesiveness among the student body because everyone is off doing their own thing. Duke, on the other hand, gives you the traditional campus experience with phenominal school spirit, big-time athletics and a college party scene. Also, the Duke campus is more gorgeous and serene than the Columbia campus. Weather is also a major plus for Duke. The city of Durham also caters more to college students than a city like New York, which is more of a playground for professionals.</p>
<p>As far as medical opportunities go, I would suggest Duke because students have access to a world-class hospital system nearby for internships. I'm not sure about the differences between BME/pre-health advising between the two schools so perhaps someone else would like to chime in.</p>
<p>In conclusion, both schools are academic powerhouses and will serve you great as a pre-med. It should come down to fit as the schools are located in radically different environments. Personally, I would choose Duke since you can always enjoy the benefits of living in a major city like New York sometime later in your life. You can only have a "college experience" once. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>There is no difference academically, but there are huge social differences. Choose based on that (personally it would be Duke for me).</p>
<p>Just to echo what evil<em>asian</em>dictator stated. I completely agree. I chose Duke over Columbia's Fu Foundation for that reason. I thought it was much more likely I'd be not find my place in Columbia's social scene as there is very little campus culture, cohesion among the student body, and school pride. It's a NYC experience rather than a "traditional" college experience. At Duke, it is completely different and basketball helps the student spirit tremendously. Columbia requires somebody who is more independent and can find their place more easily in perhaps more difficult circumstances. Also, to be honest, while in high school, living in Manhattan somewhat intimidated me (although now I'd be cool with it). If you are the type of person who is more of an independent spirit and really love large cities, then perhaps Columbia is a better place for you. Academically and prestige-wise, they're fairly equivalent (I'd say Columbia College has a bit more prestige than Trinity, but Pratt and Fu are equiv). Both schools are major feeders into NYC firms as well. It all comes down to fit from the social perspective.</p>
<p>Edit: Not to be stalker-ish, but just looked at your other posts. How is it that you're applying to prep school and college at the same time?</p>
<p>thanks for all the info..I'm leaning towards Duke but I'm flying up with my parents to Columbia on wednesday to visit. Hopefully, I will be able to make a solid decision after the visit. My sister is telling me to go to Columbia because of the quality of professors, the opportunities in NYC, and the ivy league recognition. It is a very difficult decision for me but I am extremely grateful that I am in this situation. Any other opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you thank you! Oh to bluedog: this is my cousin's ID. I was too lazy to make a new one...</p>
<p>Quality of professors: Duke is as good, if not better, than Columbia</p>
<p>Opportunities in NYC: Like what? All the major finance, consulting, and engineering firms recruit based on campus- interviews. What advantage does Columbia have? Its a myth.</p>
<p>Ivy League Recognition: Stanford, Duke, and MIT are essentially defacto Ivies. </p>
<p>IMO it would be a huge mistake to choose Columbia for any of the reasons your sister states.</p>
<p>I agree with slipper (who I believe transferred out of Columbia, FYI). I chose Duke over Columbia largely because of how I felt when visiting each institution. Hopefully your visit to Columbia will make this decision easier for you either way. They are very, very different experiences...</p>