<p>I'm really rather stuck between these two schools right now, and would really appreciate comments from anyone who feels they know anything about how Duke and Vandy compare as far as premed and English (Creative Writing, specifically) go. I know that Duke's medical acceptance rate is higher (85% of premeds vs Vandy's 60%, I believe?), but I keep getting the feelings that the professors and classes at Vandy are a little more personal (rather important factor to me).</p>
<p>Both campuses are beautiful in their own way, but I'm a little concerned about Durham? I've heard stories about it not being that safe, and generally not the place to be like Nashville is. If that is completely ignorant, please no bashing, eh? I'm not from the area and just relying on stories.</p>
<p>However, I'm also a little concerned about the racial diversity at Vandy (I'm Chinese). I'm not exactly looking for a huge asian crowd (I was probably one of like 5 chinese people in my graduating class, if that), but my high school is like 85% minority, so I'm used to that. </p>
<p>Also, the huge sorority/frat thing is a bit of a downer for me, but I hear that that sort of thing is huge at both Vandy and Duke, so whatever. I really don't know that much about the process, so I suppose I shouldn't judge until I learn more. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up liking it.</p>
<p>Of course, Med school chances are important to me. How are Vandy/Duke's grade-deflation? Are premeds cuthroat or cooperative and helpful? Also, I have lots of AP/IB credit hours. Which school would allow me more room in planning my own path?</p>
<p>So...anyone have any comments? Suggestions? I'm open to anything!</p>
<p>Though its not my area of interest, it is my understanding that Duke is one of the premier premed Universities in the US. The resource of having a hospital right on campus makes premed students come out very well educated and sought after by top med schools.</p>
<p>I think Duke’s classes especially the English ones are pretty small and intimate. I think you would get quite a bit of attention in those courses from the profs. Most English classes are under 20 people with seminars going down to around 5 sometimes. Durham is not the safest place in the world for sure. However, there’s a pretty strong division between Duke and Durham especially when you’re on West, so you don’t really feel that much at all. Especially with more housing initiatives that open West to upperclassmen and renovations that will probably be done when you’re junior, being able to stay on West for your junior and senior years should be pretty easy, so you don’t have to move off campus or to Central where it’s definitely less safe. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt is definitely not very racially diverse, especially for Asian Americans from what I have heard from friends. Duke’s Asian populations is around 1/4, so you’ll definitely have people you can identify with. The sorority thing at Duke is pretty big though most Asian Americans don’t join in. You’ll definitely still find friends if you don’t join a sorority. </p>
<p>All of Duke’s premed courses are curved to a b- median, so half the kids get a b- or lower. At most schools it’s like this, I’m sure. in terms of AP/IB credits, you can definitely use all of them to skip out intro pre med classes like bio 25, chem 21/22, physics. Those probably won’t be accepted by med schools ultimately, but they’ll free you up to take other upper level classes. </p>
<p>I don’t know about their respective English departments, but I do know that Duke’s pre-med programs––especially its advising––is awesome, which is why so many get in out of Duke.</p>
<p>Also, as someone who lives in Durham and is going to Duke next year, you don’t need to worry about the crime problems/Durham’s rep. Sure, it sounds bad and sometimes hits duke, but SriverFX is right, the (occasional) problems are only on Central, which will hopefully be demolished soon. And Durham is currently rebuilding itself. It used to be pretty bad right next to East campus (which is kind of downtown), but we just built a really nice performing arts center and Brightleaf Square is like a swanky, nice place that’s completely protected by police; its restaurants are also really popular with Duke students, and you certainly wouldn’t feel like you’re in a city with a bad rep’s downtown while there. There are police everywhere, and downtown Durham (the “bad” part) also has some really cool social justice and volunteer places, which are popular with Duke students, in case you’re into that stuff.</p>
<p>As for greek life, it’s honestly probably worse at vanderbilt. I’m biased, sure, but I know some people at Vandy and they are completely wrapped up in greek life; it’s very typical for Vanderbilt students to dress up for football games and bring a date to them, so in that sense it’s very, very southern. Whereas at Duke, football games could be confused for halloween parties, and greeks are very, very open about accepting others. There also aren’t designated frat and sorority houses at duke (at least not official ones) so greeks don’t live by themselves (especially the females–it’s considered a brothel in NC, I do believe), they just live in sections of dorms. </p>
<p>From a student at Rice…go to Duke. Vandy’s great, but Duke is more selective and more respected. Yeah, maybe Durham’s a pretty crappy college town and worse than Nashville, but Duke just has better programs, and overall, a more talented and intelligent (although not by a whole lot over Vandy) student body.</p>
<p>Didn’t see you were Chinese…that probably makes the decision a bit easier if I was in your shoes. Vandy, although theyre doing a good job of attempting to move away from this image (that will probably stick with it forever), is full of of rich southern kids that are heavily involved in Greek life-they’re the geeks of the SEC, but they still carry the southern image like they were at U of Alabama. Also, it’s not as if Nashville is the bastion of cosmopolitan culture either.</p>