Hi all!! I know these are annoying, but I’m really having trouble deciding and I need some words of wisdom from the CC community. I’m an Ohio resident, and my intended major is Biochemistry, with a Pre-med track. I’m really concerned primarily about the social scene, as I’m a vibrant guy who likes to party and I need to make sure that there’s enough to do on the weekend to keep me busy. But partying is obviously a second to academics, and I do enjoy chill movie/board game nights. All of the schools are top notch academically, but if anyone has any input on that aspect please do tell!
Also want some word about the extracurriculars? I’m a tennis + soccer player (maybe club?), state qualifier in mock trial (love debate in general), really into volunteering in Habitat for Humanity, classical french horn player, and dabble in newspaper.
Full List of Acceptances:
UC Berkeley
UC Los Angeles
Cornell
Duke
Johns Hopkins
UNC Chapel Hill
Northwestern
UPenn
Ohio State
Vanderbilt
UVA
WashU St. Louis
Thanks! Big problem for me is that I live in Ohio, very far away from California, so I’ve kinda discounted all Cali schools at the moment cuz flying is gonna be a pain.
Duke is a great school for both sports and academics, which really gives it a vibrant atmosphere - something that seems to match your personality. The social scene at Duke will fit you and you will be challenged academically. It also matches the prestige of the Ivies and other top schools so you won’t be comprising anything by attending Duke. The feeling I got when I visited Duke was that the community is tightly knit and supportive. I think you’d enjoy the Duke experience.
PLEASE TURN DOWN YOUR OFFER AT UPENN. I was waitlisted and it’s my first choice, so I’m relying on people turning down their offers there. Based on your description, you’re more of a Duke kind of guy.
Not sure how you’d be worried about “enough to do on the weekends” at Northwestern when downtown Chicago is a $3 train ride from campus. Also not sure why you wouldn’t just go to OSU if partying is such an important part of the college experience for you.
What about costs?
Med school is extremely expensive. So even if your family is quite affluent, you may want to think about that. Perhaps narrow them down to the 2 or 3 with the lowest net costs, then go visit just those schools.
If money isn’t a factor, then Duke seems to have the best mix of undergraduate academics, sports, and “work hard, play hard” atmosphere (plus relatively small classes and mild weather.)
I have quite a few friends at Duke. It has a good party scene and is nearby with other schools that party hard as well. UNC and NC State, are just right down the road to increase your party spots. East Carolina is not too far away and even they were rated by Playboy a year or 2 ago as the #1 party school in the nation. I’d say Duke all the way. It’s in the ‘party state’
