<p>I have just been accepted to Duke University and Bowdoin College and I have no idea which one I should choose. I could run track at Bowdoin and while I like being part of a team, I'm not sure I want that commitment. Bowdoin may be too small for me but I worry that Duke's larger size (and my lack of a defined career path) might make it harder for me to stand out and form a relationship with my professors. Most people at Duke seem to know exactly what field they want to pursue, and while I do think I want to go to Law school, I'm not as sure. However, Duke wins in the weather and overall fun category. What are your opinions on these two schools and how I might fit? I'd appreciate any help!</p>
<p>How do the two compare financially? Honestly, there is no bad option here. Either is perfectly fine for pre-law, or most other things for that matter. </p>
<p>Advantage Duke – Duke is larger and consequently has more going on, it’s closer to a decently sized city, it has D1 athletics, it offers both political science and public policy, the weather is nicer, and it offers graduate courses if you want to challenge yourself. </p>
<p>Advantage Bowdoin – Bowdoin’s coastal setting is quite nice, Brunswick is nicer than Durham, Bowdoin is known for good food and housing, and the government program is very reputable. </p>
<p>I will warn you that the most popular pre-law majors (poli sci, pub pol, econ) at Duke are also the largest majors on campus, and classes can be large and impersonal. Bowdoin has almost universally small classes and undoubtedly offers more personal attention.</p>
<p>Greek life is another significant difference. Although easily avoidable, it’s prevalent at Duke; Bowdoin has no frats or sororities, though the social houses there serve somewhat the same purpose.</p>
<p>Both are great choices what does the cost look like?</p>
<p>Duke has the complete package and has one of the best alumni networks. Bowdoin is a nice LAC of 1500 students.</p>
<p>bowdoin. or just visit both and pick which feels better. but bowdoin would be my choice, obviously.</p>
<p>DorB</p>
<p>Let’s start with the premise that both are excellent schools, and you’ll probably do great in life wherever you go.</p>
<p>They are obviously very different schools with very different feels. It’s one of these cases where intangibles may decide the day.</p>
<p>If you really couldn’t make a choice, I’d say go with Duke. Not to say it’s a better school, but it’s much better known, and has a stronger national reputation than Bowdoin.</p>
<p>
Taking advantage of opportunities at a medium-sized research university like Duke isn’t a zero sum game-you and your classmates will have far more resources at your disposals than you could even contemplate exhausting in a 4 year span.</p>
<p>Duke, although its a research university, does a great job of focusing on undergraduates and making them a priority right from the day they step on campus. As a freshman, you will be required to take a Writing 20 course (with many topics to choose from) that will be capped at about 12 students. In addition, you will have a mandatory Seminar requirement that again is offered in a wide variety of disciplines that will enroll no more than 15 first-year students for you to engage more closely on the subject matter with your classmates and professor.</p>
<p>In addition, Duke offers 12 FOCUS programs that you can choose to apply to and these interdisciplinary programs offer you a chance to explore your interests in a given field with some of Duke’s leading researchers right in your first semester of college. You will take 2 courses in your FOCUS cluster that will again have 12 or less students and you"ll all meet as a group for dinner with your professors once a week to discuss pertinent issues regarding the subject matter at hand. FOCUS can really shape your academic journey in college and I know that two girls in my Between Europe and Asia FOCUS now are pursuing PhDs in Eurasian/Russian Studies now as a consequence of an interest in the field that was kindled through their FOCUS classes first semester. At the very least, it is an enjoyable and intimate academic experience to transition yourself into college and in its highest form of utility, FOCUS can be a life changing experience.</p>
<p>All of this information can be found below:
[Duke</a> University Admissions: First-Year Learning](<a href=“http://admissions.duke.edu/jump/firstyearex/firstyearlearn.html]Duke”>http://admissions.duke.edu/jump/firstyearex/firstyearlearn.html)
[Duke</a> University | Trinity College of Arts & Sciences : First-Year Seminars Program](<a href=“http://trinity.duke.edu/first-year-seminars-program]Duke”>http://trinity.duke.edu/first-year-seminars-program)
[Duke</a> University | Trinity College of Arts & Sciences : Focus Program](<a href=“http://trinity.duke.edu/focus-program]Duke”>http://trinity.duke.edu/focus-program)
[Duke</a> University | Trinity College of Arts & Sciences : After Focus](<a href=“http://trinity.duke.edu/focus-program/about-focus/what-s-next]Duke”>http://trinity.duke.edu/focus-program/about-focus/what-s-next)</p>
<p>Since you have an undefined career path, Duke is the perfect place for you to discover what you’re truly passionate since you"ll have access to all of the resources of a research-intensive university while studying in small seminar-like classes that at times resemble an LAC.</p>
<p>The introductory classes in the 5 most popular majors (Biology, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, and Psychology) will be large but after that, the course enrollments shrink rapidly and you"ll be on first-name basis with all of your professors.</p>
<p>You can also get lunch with all of your instructors on the university’s dime once a semester. This can be the beginning of a wonderful mentor ship and student-professor relationship.</p>
<p>[Duke</a> University | Student Affairs | OSAF (Office of Student Activities & Facilities) | FLUNCH](<a href=“Duke Student Affairs”>Duke Student Affairs)</p>
<p>To the contrary, most Duke students don’t know what they want to pursue. They"ll oscillate in a lot of directions their first year, most likely their second year, and maybe even their third year before deciding on a definite field of study and career path. That’s the beauty of studying the liberal arts at an undergraduate-focused research university with boundless opportunities.</p>
<p>Everything you say indicates that Duke is the better fit for you. Don’t look the other way because of the myth of large classes. Let me know if you have any other queries.</p>
<p>Duke offers more opportunities</p>
<p>In general, larger places will offer more “opportunities” but not everyone can access them, nor are they necessarily relevant to the OP’s wishes or needs.</p>
<p>Have you visited both places? Go with your gut. Personally I’d rather send my kid to Bowdoin rather than Duke but that is completely subjective.</p>
<p>Duke has better name recognition across the country and well established alumni clubs in all major cities-important for job placement and internships.</p>
<p>Obviously both good schools, so fit is critical here (unless money tips the balance decisively.)</p>
<p>What Bowdoin will offer that Duke won’t is faculty mentoring right from freshman year. Those close relationships can be life-changing. It’s not there there are no close relationships between students at Duke and the faculty, but you will have to make more effort to develop those relationships and are competing with grad students for the faculty’s limited attention. Duke faculty get tenure primarily because of their reputation as researchers, not because they are wonderful mentors. If you are pre-professional, they have even less incentive to invest time in you.</p>
<p>Socially, at lot depends on fit at Bowdoin. At Duke, because it’s larger, you are likely to find all kinds of social groups - but you’ll have to spend time finding yours. If Bowdoin is a fit for you culturally, you will have a largely ‘pre-selected’ group of people who are sympatico. For example, if you like to do outdooring, it is one of the most popular clubs at Bowdoin and I think I remember the tour guide saying that 80% of the student body participates. Obviously, if you hate hiking, skiing, rafting, kayaking and camping, and can’t imagine living with people for whom this is bliss, you might not fit in as well.</p>
<p>Weather alone-Duke!</p>
<p>Visit both, and go with your gut.</p>
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</p>
<p>How important? For what kinds of jobs? </p>
<p>You have two good choices. Is one significantly cheaper after aid? If not, go visit both then pick the one where you’d feel more at home. Size matters but keep in mind that the social dynamics at college will be different than what you experienced in HS. You’ll find 1,800 students at Bowdoin more interesting than 1,800 high school students. On the other hand, you surely wouldn’t be the only freshman at Duke who doesn’t yet have his entire life planned out.</p>
<p>You did not mention two factors which should be big ones in any decision:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Net cost after non-loan financial aid.</p></li>
<li><p>Strength of offerings in subjects that you may major in. (You can do any major to go to law school.)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Congratulations. Both are excellent institutions. You will not make a bad decision in matriculating at either school. But these schools are very different The best advice is to visit both schools and decide which feels best. You should remember that although well meaning, each of the comments above have a bias in them and that the comments concerning the other school may not be entirely accurate.</p>
<p>My best friend is at Bowdoin and he is very pleased with what the college has to offer, having said that, I would pick Duke without too much hesitation. Duke has an immense brand name, its alumni network rivals that of the top ivies, and the best part about Duke is that it is just the right size. Cozy, but not suffocating. I would go with Duke because it offers a good quality of life along with prestige.</p>
<p>Duke>>Bowdoin.</p>