Hello CC!
I’ve been reading the forums for the past few months, and they’ve been a big help. This is my first post.
I got into Duke and Brown (and a waitlist from Yale and Chicago, but I’m not getting my hopes up). Can you help me choose?
----Academics----
This is my most important criterion. I have a 4.0 GPA and 1590 SAT and I’m looking for the best and most rigorous program. I am interested in majoring in STEM, but in that category I’m kind of undecided: 1/3 science/math, 1/3 comp sci, 1/3 engineering.
----Non-Academics----
I’m not sure what I’m looking for in terms of atmosphere and “fit” and the like; I’m going to the admitted student receptions, but maybe you can tell me a bit about the colleges.
----Pros of each----
Duke:
-More prestigious and well-known
-Stronger in engineering
-Good sports teams
-Not as crazy liberal as Brown
-Better weather
Brown:
-Stronger in math and science
-Open curriculum (vs. loads of requirements at Duke)
-Open institute (in Duke I would have to transfer from Trinity to Pratt if I wanted to do engineering)
-A bit closer to home (New York)
Thanks for you input!
@thymathgeek Congrats on two great options. I would decide based on your gut feeling based on admitted students visits. As for Brown, where I attended, I do not think it is “crazy liberal” if you mean that to apply to most students. A good number of students are definitely in that category, but most I would say are more moderate. Also, nearly all students who attend Brown are very happy there and also do well after Brown.
Duke is more “well known” than Brown? I think it’s not so clear, and I went to Duke for grad school. Duke may be better known for basketball, but among grad schools, employers and internationally, I think they’re about even. Duke is well known in Finance and on Wall Street. Brown better known in technology and Silicon Valley. Duke has a better med school, so people tend to believe it is stronger in the biomedical fields. Among academics, Brown has an edge.
You don’t mention the social scenes, but that’s where these two are really going to differ. Duke is much more Southern in this way–greek system, bros, drinking–while Brown is much more liberal, open and artsy. Both cultures have moderate effects on their academic rigor: I would say Duke is very competition driven (i.e., job oriented) while Brown is very internally driven. Depends on what kind of learner you are.
I think the engineering school division is an important consideration. Duke is clearly a better program but the question is whether you can opt into it. Brown is so open it is ridiculous, and Duke is closed. If you really wanted to be an engineer at Duke, you should have applied now for Pratt entry. I don’t know how easy if at all possible it is to move into it after you arrive on campus.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either. I also don’t think Duke is more prestigious and well known. Personally, I consider them pretty equal in that regard.
Both have a very different feel to them. All things considered (and if cost is the same or not a factor), for me it would come down to fit/where you would enjoy your experience the most. So I would say what someone above said: Go visit both, and then see which one you have a good feeling/vibe about. I think that once you visit, it will be clear.
Congrats!
Have you visited both? Visiting can help a lot. The two universities have totally different feels and as others have said, fit is the key. My son visited Duke and afterward didn’t even want to apply there. Can vouch for CS at Brown which is excellent and very well respected as far as TA opportunities, internships, camaraderie among students.