Duke vs Princeton

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Please help me choose!</p>

<p>I'm a finalist for a full scholarship at Duke and have been accepted into Princeton. I'd probably be charged about 6.5k a year if I attended Princeton. The full scholarship requires/funds I spend my fresh and soph summers doing community service, which could mess with plans for science or internships. However, they're supposed to be really great experiences and are funded by the school.</p>

<p>I'm interested in doing either Computer Science (with an emphasis on AI) or Neuroscience. I'm also interested in lots of other things, like politics, philosophy, applied math, economics, etc...but those are primary. I'm really nerdy and quirky, not particularly interested in sports, not at all interested in frats, and intent on doing more with my life than living comfortably.</p>

<p>Duke's factors seem to be its location and weather (I live in and like the weather of SC), its relative lack of elitism (right?), size (good in some ways, bad in others?), SLGs, focus programs, grade inflation, the presence of things like a medical school, cost, and the special attention I'd get for being on the scholarship</p>

<p>Princeton's factors include prestige, intellectual atmosphere, superior academics (it has a certificate program in AI! precepts! a senior thesis!), smaller size, an undergraduate focus, its eating clubs, diversity, better postgraduation stats (higher income, grad school admissions, prof school admissions), grade deflation, faraway location/colder weather, and more freedom to do as I please with my time</p>

<p>It's hard to compare their social scenes. Both seem preppy and more geared to an economic band that I'm simply not in. Duke, however, seems to have more of that work hard play hard bug I'm not sure if I like or dislike.</p>

<p>I just don't know...</p>

2

<p>Princeton at 6500 a year is a complete bargain and seems like it would be a better fit for you. You cannot turn that down, even for a school as good as Duke.</p>

3

<p>With just $6.5k, it is a no brainer, Princeton hands down.</p>

4

<p>Congrats on having such great choices. Given your description, I think Princeton sounds like the better fit for you.</p>

5

<p>

You need to honestly ask yourself if you are really into community service and what the scholarship program is about. I think ideally, you would be fully excited about it and shouldn’t feel like it’s a string attached. Only you can answer that yourself. If you really feel like it “takes away” your time for internships/research, maybe your interests just don’t align with the program. 6.5k a year is not that much for someone going into computer field, esp. with the degree from Princeton.</p>

6

<p>Most of your other factors are correct (probably overstated though) but Princeton doesn’t have better diversity than Duke. They are both excellent in that regard; I actually firmly believe that Duke has a stronger African American community than Princeton but the latter has a more tight-knit Hispanic community.</p>

<p>Princeton’s a bit more intellectual and has a stronger Computer Science program but I’m not sure if graduate schools and employers will differentiate all that much between a degree from Duke and Princeton. Both are seen as top-notch.</p>

<p>I agree with Sam that your interests may not align that well with the program though. I would probably choose Princeton though in your shoes though it would be a very close decision.</p>