Yes, but at this stage in the OP’s son’s career, we cannot just ignore the effect of GPA. What if he wants to go to grad school right after undergrad (some entrepreneurs chose to pursue a JD, Master in Business Analytics, MFin, MFE, etc.)?
Also, applications of entrepreneurship extend beyond the startup world. I find it interesting that you mentioned startups. One of the most important players in the startup world are VC/PE (Venture Capital/Private Equity) firms and Investment Banks (who handle M&A, IPOs, underwriting, etc.). These firms care a lot about GPA for the limited undergrad recruitment they do. Financing (both buy-side and sell-side) play a huge role in the startup world and the OP’s son may be interesting in pursuing that as someone studying Econ. Both schools are excellent choices for this career path and have different strengths in this regard. One of Brown’s strengths is less worrying about GPA. OP + son should weigh the benefits of each school and decide accordingly.
I think we are splitting hairs here. Both institutions offer more than enough opportunities for the student to pursue a variety of careers in business, entrepreneurship, etc. What would make the difference is the extent to which the student immerses himself in the many opportunities available at both institutions. And so perhaps the deciding factor would be how the student perceives the environment at the two institutions. References to alum who are celebrities in business and other walks of life seem a highly suspect and circum circuitous way to judge an institution.
Both are great schools and I know nice and successful people from both. I do not think there is a measurable difference in outcomes. I would focus on social fit. I think the strong Greek presence at Duke compared to Brown is a distinguishing factor, as is the bigger-time sports. Brown’s sports teams on balance are not strong, though some are obviously better than others. Brown is more like a LAC with its strong undergraduate focus (no law school, no business school). Brown students are known for being happy there.
The Wall Street Journal ranked Duke first (tied with Harvard) for student outcomes. Brown doesn’t make the top 25. I would argue that there is a measurable difference in outcomes but I understand that my opinion is an unpopular one.
"Postmodern Thank you for responding with a request for clarification instead of a knee-jerk reaction "
@JenniferClint it was a sincere question. I can’t have a proper reaction if I don’t understand. And I greatly appreciate your in-kind response! I have a kid heading to Brown in the fall which is why your link and the one Ciervo kindly pointed me to were of interest.
@yikesyikesyikes Brown is 11th overall (Duke is 5th) but it doesn’t make the top 25 in the “outcomes” category. This is what that category measures:
"Does the college generate good and appropriate outputs? Does it add value to the students who attend? The Outcomes area represents 40 per cent of the overall ranking. Within this we look at:
Graduation rate (11%)
Value added to graduate salary (12%)
Value added to loan default (7%)
Academic reputation (10%)"
Brown won the day by a slight margin based on fit. To be honest lots of discussion about results but my kid is pretty confident that he can be successful from either school. Loves the idea of Brown’s open curriculum and believes that the classroom environment will have kids that all want to be in the room. Hated the idea of 3 semesters of language when he could engage in other subjects of greater interest.
These are academic peers but they’re so different overall, as the pages of well informed knowledge have reflected.
Duke will likely be harder – you can’t take classes P/F, they don’t have nearly the level of grade inflation that Brown has, and the academic vibe is more competitive generally. How you think about Brown’s laid-back academic vibe is up to you. I like rigor, and you can find it at Brown, but to do so would mean having a plan to not take any classes P/F, to take hard classes per se, and to work hardinspite of the inflation.
Sports: Duke is huge; Brown is not.
Greek life: Duke has it; Brown either does not or it is limited.
Weather differences are obvious.
Brown is quite liberal; Duke is more balanced.
In context, Brown is like a cross between a liberal LAC and Cornell or Princeton. Duke is essentially a cross between Dartmouth and Stanford on the Atlantic Coast.
They are very different schools.
If it were my decision I’d choose Duke for the (more…) real-world rigor and competition, balanced vibe, sports atmosphere, and because I might not trust myself to design my own curriculum and decide whether to take courses P/F or actually work for a grade (“work” being used relatively and nominally).
But that’s just me – your preferences and weaknesses may be different.
