<p>I got into Duke and UCLA. I would love to go to Duke but it cost so much. Also, on the Princeton Review, its quality of life rating was 75. UCLA's quality of life rating was 95. When I visited Duke for BDDs, many of the Duke students were studying a lot. Would this be the reason for low quality of life? If anyone could respond that would be great.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, you came probably right after the national championship (which automatically suggests a high quality of life, but I digress), which means two things:</p>
<p>a) everyone was catching up on missed work
b) it was midterm season</p>
<p>Soo that explains the studying haha. I can assure you that PR is highly subjective - Duke’s quality of life is probably one of the highest. :)</p>
<p>Don’t look too much into the PR’s ‘quality of life’ ratings. Students study everywhere; thats what they do.</p>
<p>Dude, I’m in the EXACT same position with Caltech added into the mix. I just visited UCLA today.</p>
<p>I’m choosing Duke over these jokes ;P</p>
<p>I’m in the same position. Im from New York state and I was kind of looking forward to UCLA’s weather and all the things going on in LA. Durham doesn’t seem too exciting, but neither does the California budget cuts and pricey out of state tuition. I think I’m going to have to make a PROs and CONs list for myself.</p>
<p>@Nicnac151: Um, UCLA? Non-resident tuition? Really? No. Just no.</p>
<p>If you got into Duke and UCLA and it’s going to be the same price, go to Duke, no question. </p>
<p>Most people who ask “Berkeley or Duke” or “UCLA or Duke” are CA residents worried about the cost difference. If they were the same price they wouldn’t even ask. </p>
<p>By the way, Durham weather is exactly the same thing as LA weather, but less pollution, and it snows for like a week out of the year. </p>
<p>The only thing you’re right about is LA > Durham in terms of the city. Not even Raleigh/Chapel Hill can compete.</p>
<p>it should be noted that durham is a big up and coming city, and already has a pretty high status in regards to accolades</p>
<h1>1 Place to Live and Work (Employment Review)</h1>
<h1>1 Best City for Jobs (Forbes)</h1>
<h1>2 Best Area to Start a Business (Forbes)</h1>
<h1>4 City for Entrepreneurs & Small Business</h1>
<p>(National Policy Research Council)
Top Ten Hubs for Creative Class (Fast Company)
Top 5 Towns Where People Most Love to Eat (Food & Wine)</p>
<h1>1 Best Cities for Education (Forbes)</h1>
<h1>1 Boomtown in America (Business 2.0)</h1>
<h1>2 Healthiest City for Women (American Health for Women)</h1>
<h1>2 Best Green Cities (Country Home)</h1>
<h1>3 Most Enlightened City (Utne Reader)</h1>
<p>Hmm, that’s pretty cool. Go Durham, I guess!</p>
<p>phoenix7, haha i know im pathetic, but i really love ucla. your probably right, well i did get a scholarship at ucla for around $12,000 tho. i dont know what my financial aid is yet at duke because my dad was late getting his official financial documents together. it will probably end up cheaper than ucla because my family has a lot of need and ive heard duke is pretty generous with financial aid. i dont know what i have against duke and the south, but im not sure if its for me.</p>
<p>Nicnac151: Keep your hopes up for the financial aid. When I was applying to colleges, Duke wasn’t even remotely my first choice. But then the financial aid packet came in, and Duke’s packet was absolutely amazing (it made coming here cheaper than going to my flagship state school). After that, the decision was a no-brainer.</p>
<p>Please keep in mind that even if coming in, Duke isn’t your top choice, you will learn to absolutely love it. Two years in, I’m so happy here that I couldn’t even imagine myself anywhere else.</p>
<p>Thanks ketty! That is really good to know. I’m going to Blue Devil Days this week so maybe that will win me over.</p>
<p>you were spot on, ketty. i got the financial aid today- wow!!! well, that made the decision a no-brainer. duke 2014!</p>
<p>Yayzors! Me, too! </p>
<p>I have to admit, it kinda hurt clicking the “no” button on my Cal SIR today, but I think I made the right choice.</p>
<p>Trust me, you guys made the right decision. :). I never looked back towards CA again after being here</p>
<p>Yeah? I think I’ve come to that realization, too. I mean, come on, it’s DUKE!</p>