<p>Hi people,
Accepted from Duke's Waitlist...
So it comes to Duke and Williams College.
I love physics. I like biology. I plan to continue to study after this 4-year and get a PhD somewhere either about physics or astronomy.
Money is not an issue.
any thoughts??
Thanks.</p>
<p>Both spectacular, but incredibly, completely different so it'd come down to personal preferences.</p>
<p>I agree with gadad. I'd personally go to Williams way before I'd even think of going to Duke.</p>
<p>Actually, I think Williams and Duke are very similar except for size and weather. They appeal to the same students. Both have major emphasis on athletics as a source of campus identity. Both have study hard/party like a Kennedy reputations. Both tend to tilt pre-professional in career orientiation.</p>
<p>I agree with interesteddad on this as I see Duke and Williams have a lot of overlap in their appeal to students. They both have superb academics and prepare large numbers of students for professional careers. Athletics are a large part of campus life at both schools with Duke's more visible basketball and overall Division I athletic scene a major difference. </p>
<p>I would also say that the location and weather are major differences. Some will prefer the isolation and cold temps of Williamstown while others will prefer a more urban, active college neighborhood (eg, Chapel Hill is only 8 miles away) and a warmer climate that will have students in short pants and flipflops by early March.</p>
<p>Duke definitely has a more southern feel while Williams definitely has a more New England feel. If you're looking for the prototypical New England college experience, it's hard to do better than Williams. If you're looking for a college in the south, Duke's your best option. While you'll find drinking at both schools, Duke definitely has more of a frat boy party reputation than Williams...that's either a good or a bad thing, depending on what you're looking for.</p>
<p>I also want to reiterate that the size of the two schools will make a big difference. Duke will likely feel busier than Williams--there's tons going on at both schools (you're unlikely to get bored at either), but Duke is bigger. The flipside, is that you'll get more individual attention at Williams as well as have smaller classes. </p>
<p>If you've visited both, go wherever feels best to you, in your gut. Both provide wonderful educations and wonderful experiencces.</p>
<p>idk why, but every1 on this board seems to be getting off Duke's waitlist this year.</p>
<p>Something to consider is that Williams's and Duke's social scenes differ greatly. Duke is more Greek dominant, and sports scene is very large. I heard that Williams's social scene is more inclusive, a bit quieter, and there is less drinking. Since both schools are very good, u should choose based on subjective variables, such as the campus feel, where you feel more comfortable at, etc.</p>
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While you'll find drinking at both schools, Duke definitely has more of a frat boy party reputation than Williams...that's either a good or a bad thing, depending on what you're looking for.
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<p>The actual surveyed binge drinking rates at Williams and Duke are similar -- both above the national average. The prominence of the drinking cultures is one of the things that, I think, makes the two schools similar.</p>
<p>You can't go wrong either way. Have a child who is a first year at Williams and loves it. Teachers are great with lots of individual attention. Has had the opportunity to interface with board members, past state governors, recruiters, and profs. Made lots of friends some athletes and some not. Currently participating in a NCAA division III championship. The one complaint I have is my child is too happy to come home much, and is going to spend a lot of the summer there as a research asst. They work hard and play hard. Clearly Duke's athletics are top notch and steps above div III.</p>
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I agree with gadad. I'd personally go to Williams way before I'd even think of going to Duke.
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<p>I know a classmate who was admitted to Georgetown, Duke, and Amherst, and personally ranks both G-town and Duke above Amherst: which is ridiculous. He will be attending Duke next year. Not to equate Amherst and Williams, but they are similar in many respects.</p>
<p>I also agree with gadad, that Duke and Williams are very, very different schools.</p>
<p>There are many academically strong students who just apply to the best unis and colleges, hope for whatever comes their way, and are confused all of a sudden when they don't know what they want.</p>
<p>gadad and kwu,
I'm one of those who think that Duke and Williams have a lot of similarities, especially in the type of student who is attracted to each campus. But maybe my perspectives are outdated. I'd like to understand better how you and others see the major differences between Duke and Williams and why you feel these are such different places.</p>
<p>How about physics in both schools...
Academically, which school is stronger in science area.
I know both schools are not known for physics. But unless I get off MIT's Wait list I have to choose between these two.
Anyway thanks to all of you...</p>
<p>My S was faced with this choice last month and chose Williams. A couple of things he noted -- athletes at Williams seem to be more integrated into the culture, both academic and social, and do not seem to be placed on a pedestal the way some of them are at Duke. He thought something about the social structure at Duke reminded him a bit much of high school. He also felt he'd get more attention from professors at Williams. At the preview days at Williams, he sat in on a class that he described as how he'd always imagined the perfect college class to be. There are, of course, great classes at Duke, but he didn't happen to sit in on one.</p>
<p>There were other personal factors, such as the fact that we live in NC and he wanted to experience another part of the country (and snow).</p>
<p>I assume you've checked out the schools' physics department websites. Here's a link to Williams'. I noticed that there is a link from the webpage that shows what some physics majors are doing beyond Williams. There seem to be a good number that go on to strong graduate programs, including MIT.</p>
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I know both schools are not known for physics.
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My understanding is that Williams is very strong in physics. Small department, but excellent track record in awards, research opportunities and graduate school admissions. </p>
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[Duke has] a warmer climate that will have students in short pants and flipflops by early March.
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No argument about the "warmer climate" part but you'll see plenty of Williams students in shorts and flipflps in early March (what's a little snow?) :)</p>
<p>liyang, these are both terrific choices. If you were able to visit you'd know which one appeals more to you and your style of learning and living. </p>
<p>As others have said there's a good deal of social overlap but they are very different in environment and atmosphere. For international prestige, far more Asians have heard of Duke than Williams, so if that's a factor for you choose Duke. If you want intensely personal face time with brilliant people, choose Williams.</p>
<p>Lots of thanks to momrath...
I want to know how good Duke's physics department is..
I do not care about the name regconition.</p>
<p>Williams and Duke are peer schools and both have great physics departments that have strong undergraduate focus. Duke has a slightly higher international reputation I believe. Duke has extremely visible and strong athletics programs(nationally-renowned basketball, soccer and lacrosse teams). This leads to Duke students having a tremendous amount of school spirit that is unique to the school. Also, sunny North Carolina is far more favorable to most people than cold Massachussetts.</p>
<p>When it comes to education leading to Ph.Ds in astronomy/astrophysics, I don't think these two schools are even close. (It was more competitive when you were comparing Berkeley.)</p>
<p>If you're interested in doing summer research, more comfortable summer temperatures (and humidity) tilt in Williams's favor. But differences in the weather between these two are less of a factor than if you were choosing between, say, Rice and Williams.</p>
<p>Weather is not a problem for me... I used to live in the north.
I will visit Duke next week to check out the school...
BTW, I am a science person.... But I do not think that is Duke's strength...</p>