<p>My top two choices are Duke and UChicago. I want to double major in Econ and Public Policy.</p>
<p>My main concerns:</p>
<p>-Academically am I taking a big loss to do Econ at Duke or PubPol at Chicago?</p>
<p>-Will they provide the same internship and post-grad employment opportunities?</p>
<p>-I feel like the classes at UChicago would just absolutely slaughter me. I have a 4.0/5.6ish GPA, but they sound pretty intimidating.</p>
<p>Im sure Ill be happy at either. Cost/location/social scene are not an issue (Id fit better socially at UChicago, but Im sure there are intellectual people at Duke as well). Im mostly worried about the reputation of the school in the context of getting a good job after I graduate (not for the name on the diploma).</p>
<p>This may be difficult to offer insight on, but I would greatly appreciate anybodys suggestions. Im very torn </p>
<p>I believe both Universities have similar academic reputations as far as future employment. You should find wider internship opportunities close by in Chicago, simply because of the larger and much denser metropolitan area.</p>
<p>Take a good look at the neighborhood around U. Chicago before you decide. People say it has gotten much better, but some people may still feel uncomfortable there.</p>
<p>No, I don’t think so. Economics is a popular major. Nearly any top university or LAC will have a decent department. I doubt that what distinguishes Chicago from peer schools like Duke would make a huge difference to the average undergraduate.</p>
<p>As for “the reputation of the school in the context of getting a good job”, there are many variables involved. Your own efforts would matter more than any differences of reputation between the two. So apply to both. If you get into both, visit both, then go wherever you feel most comfortable.</p>
For getting a job, definitely not. For PhD studies, eh, maybe. </p>
<p>
Yeah, Hyde Park is super dangerous compared to Durham.</p>
<p>
They’re very different, actually. Duke’s undergraduate public policy program is housed in the Sanford school and is by far the [largest</a> of its kind](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12910286-post7.html]largest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12910286-post7.html); students take courses with Sanford professors and can take graduate courses. Public policy at Chicago is a separate undergrad program with a handful of lecturers that seem to be unaffiliated with Harris.</p>
<p>Ultimately I want a career in journalism analyzing politics, but I think a background in econ would be good also (I don’t have any interest in banking, etc.) Chicago seems more wired politically, especially to the machine there. But I’ve also heard the grade deflation there is frustrating if you’re trying to get into grad school. Are these both valid?</p>
<p>Honestly both are top notch. If you want a career in analyzing politics then I would say go to Georgetown. By far the leader. If you’re analyzing economics then maybe Chicago. If you’re looking for a job then Duke.</p>
<p>I’m not disagreeing (or agreeing), but how do you know this?
What does it even mean? Are there 3x more rich Duke alumni standing by, waiting to take your call for help when you start up your next tech firm?</p>
<p>Crime reports are available for both schools. The statistics seem to be similar for campus+non-campus+public property crimes in and around both schools in the past several years. No murders in/around either school; a few more burglaries in/around Duke; a few more motor vehicle thefts in/around UofC; a few more aggravated assaults and forcible sex offenses in/around Duke. I’m no expert in interpreting crime statistics, but I don’t see clear evidence that either school is a more dangerous place to be than the other.</p>
<p>It was sarcasm, yes. Durham has a fairly high crime rate and a corrupt police force. It’s worsened by the lack of easily defined “bad” and “good” parts of town; the city is sort of like a patchwork quilt of good and bad areas that switch off every few streets or so. Campus is very safe at all times of the day/night (except the area around the Gardens at night), and Durham is pretty safe by day.</p>
<p>Wandering off campus by yourself (or in a small group) at night is definitely taking a risk, though. I usually received at least four or five emails a week about some idiot who’d been wandering around off campus at 3 AM and gotten mugged. One such example is the guy who decided to impress his girlfriend by trying to wrestle a gun away from his assailant. Needless to say, he got shot in the leg.</p>
<p>If you want to go into academia and get a PhD in Econ, then Chicago is incredible, however Duke is not too far behind. On the other hand, until recently Chicago was less selective than Duke (it still is) and is considered to be more of a niche school that caters to a certain kind of student. Duke is far more versatile and has a better reputation with employers (not suggesting that UChicago is a slouch by any stretch of the imagination). I know that this is anecdotal evidence but most of my friends chose Duke over Chicago without too much hesitation. So while neither of them is definitively better, I would have to give the edge to Duke, even though I could be biased.</p>
<p>Duke and Chicago are way different! Chicago is more intense academically and has a more intellectual vibe. Duke has a more laid back atmosphere, more school spirit and a great athletics tradition.</p>
<p>In terms of professional and graduate placement, contrary to what some have been saying on this thread, both schools are equal. Duke has a slightly larger undergraduate population and a more professionally minded student body, but where individual opportunities are concerned, both schools excel.</p>
<p>I would go for fit rather than perceived excellence in Economics and/or Public Policy.</p>
<p>for academia, i believe chicago provides better training grounds than duke. you don’t have to look further than the number of nobel, fulbright, rhodes/marshall scholarships at chicago vs duke. for jobs in high finance, i can tell you (having recruited at chicago and duke) that both chools are on equal footing. generally, there are more students pursuing the banking route at duke but you’ll find similar similar representation of students from each school at all the major banks.</p>
<p>I always thought of Duke as Stanford-lite. Well rounded that has something for everyone, but academics is what UChicago is all about. I mean this is a school in the same league as Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, et al. Unless I’m missing something, the academic quality of the undergrad student body is probably the only area where Duke can compete with Chicago. </p>
<p>To answer the OP’s question however, you can’t really go wrong with either school. They’re both good and your employment prospects will not depend on attending either school. At this point, you should go with where you think you’ll flourish. Asking advice from your friends and family-the people who know you well might be a good start.</p>