<p>From The Princeton Review</p>
<p>Duke University</p>
<p>Academics:
"Duke University “is the complete package: great academics, fun students, exciting athletics, and school spirit,” all enjoyed in “an almost Mediterranean climate.” Undergraduates choose Duke because they “are passionate about a wide range of things, including academics, sports, community service, research, and fun,” and because the school seems equally committed to accommodating all of those pursuits; as one student puts it, “Duke is for the Ivy League candidate who is a little bit more laid back about school and overachieving (but just a bit) and a lot more into the party scene.” Academics “are very difficult in the quantitative majors (engineering, math, statistics, economics, premed)” and “much easier in the non-quantitative majors, but still take a lot of work not to fall behind.” In all areas, “the laid-back atmosphere makes competition practically nonexistent. It’s the norm to have large study groups, and the review sessions, peer tutoring system, writing center, and academic support center are always helpful when students are struggling with anything from math homework to creating a resume.” Professors’ “number one priority is teaching undergraduates,” a situation made more remarkable by the fact that many are engaged in “groundbreaking” research. Because “the school has a lot of confidence in its students,” it offers them “many research opportunities,” one of many manifestations of Duke’s “commitment to the undergraduate experience. Duke doesn’t ignore its undergrads in favor of its graduate programs.”</p>
<p>Student Body:
"The typical Duke student “is someone who cares a lot about their education but at the same time won’t sacrifice their social life for it. To go to school here is to find the perfect balance, even if that means some late-night cram sessions or last-minute papers. Everyone’s focused on success, but that includes social success as well.” They tend to be “perfectionists, very involved in seeking out a ‘type A’ career (read: investment banking or consulting), and go out two to three times a week and always looks polished, even when wasted.” An “overwhelming number” are athletes, “not just varsity athletes…but athletes in high school or generally active people. Duke’s athletic pride attracts this kind of person.” The student body “is surprisingly ethnically diverse, with a number of students of Asian, African, and Hispanic descent.”</p>
<p>Campus Life:
“Life at Duke “is very relaxed,” with “a great balance between academics and fun. People typically work Monday through Thursday and then go out and enjoy themselves Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.” Because “The student union and other organizations provide entertainment all the time, from movies to shows to campus wide parties,” there “is always something to do on campus.” Indeed, “people usually stay on campus for fun,” as hometown Durham “has a few quirky streets and squares with restaurants, shops, clubs, etc., but to really do much you have to go to Raleigh or Chapel Hill,” each 20 to 30 minutes away by car. The perception that “Durham is pretty dangerous” further dampens students’ enthusiasm for the city. Undergrads’ fervor for Blue Devils sports, on the other hand, can be boundless; sports, “especially basketball, are a huge deal here,” and undergrads “will paint themselves completely blue and wait in line on the sidewalk in K-ville for three days to jump up and down in Cameron Indoor Stadium.” Greek life “essentially runs the party scene, but almost all the parties are open so it definitely isn’t hard to get in to a party.” A solid contingent abjures the Greek scene; some turn to the “several very active Selective Living groups on campus, which are like a watered-down version of a fraternity or sorority. Several are co-ed and some have special themes like service and foreign language, but many are just social groups to join.””</p>
<p>Dartmouth College</p>
<p>Academics:
"Dartmouth College “has a reputation of being like summer camp, and it’s true: Students take their academic work very seriously, but they’re also all extremely happy to be here, and they have a lot of fun, no matter what their idea of fun is.” A school that is small “without being suffocating or lacking opportunities, challenging but not too competitive, has good academics and access to professors, and has its own ski hill” obviously has a lot to offer; how else could it entice “artists, athletes, musicians, and future leaders to all gather together in the middle of nowhere?” Students love that Dartmouth is “very undergraduate-focused, unlike the other Ivies that neglect their undergrads to only concentrate on research.” They also love the D-Plan, which divides the academic year into four 10-week terms in order to provide maximum flexibility and study abroad opportunities (“Many students use the D-Plan to study abroad up to three times”). On the downside, it “makes being friends with members of other classes difficult,” since “D-Plan means consistently being on campus . . . is tricky.” Dartmouth professors “are some of the greatest minds in the country, and they’re almost all willing to just sit and chat if you feel like it. I’ve had at least one professor each year who’s invited the whole class to her/his house for dinner and discussion (sometimes with famous guests). It’s a great way to learn information that is above and beyond what you’re learning in the classroom.” No wonder “everyone is happy here.”</p>
<p>Student Body:
"The typical Dartmouth student “is hard to define. If I mashed them all up into one person, it’d be a kid from Jersey driving a Lexus with a kayak on the top. His collar popped but his pants torn. In his bag there’d be the works of Marx next to those of Friedman. We’re all so different, but at the same time, we’re just all here to learn, to love, and to live.” Dartmouth “strives to create a world of very different people,” and its reputation allows it to cherry-pick top students from all around the globe. The school has a reputation for political conservatism that some argue is overblown: “There are very liberal students at Dartmouth, and there are very conservative student s. . ., but most tend to fall in between.” Also, while the school “has a stereotype of being a big party school full of jocks,” it’s “not really that way” and “That should be more recognized.” Across the board students tend to be “well-balanced” and “outgoing,” and everyone from the “sweet frat dude to the library dweller all find a place to fit in.”</p>
<p>Campus Life:
"Dartmouth’s greatest strength, students tell us, “is its incredible sense of community and tradition,” traditions that include “singing the Alma Mater, dancing the Salty Dog Rag, and running 100-plus laps around a 40-foot bonfire.” One undergrad notes, “[Students] have a ton of school spirit,” and “From the first day on campus, students are learning all about what it means to be a Dartmouth student.” Situated in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, Dartmouth has “a great location for skiing and outdoor activities,” and it’s a place “where the student body is very active, both outdoors (i.e., hiking, biking, rock climbing, ice climbing, and skiing) as well as indoors partying. Whatever you want to do, you can find it here.” That is, unless what you want is constant big-city entertainment; hometown Hanover is a “very small town,” and “Boston and Montreal, though available, are rarely sought.” Students are more likely to flock to the campus’ popular Greek scene: “Most people like to go drink at frats on weekends and attend parties. I think like 20 percent of the student population abstains from drinking, but everyone else is pretty into it.” Students are also “very involved in on campus organizations and sports teams.” As one junior explains, “There’s always more to do than can ever be done, and the hardest thing is making time for sleep along with classes, clubs, and friends.”</p>