<p>I realize that Duke is one of the top universities in the country (and world), but how does pratt stack up against the other engineering schools? I know that they're strongpoint is in BME, but i'm more interested in doing electrical engineering. I'm strongly considering going to UT-Austin because their engineering program easily outranks Duke's. But is there something I'm missing? Am I wrong to be going just by the rankings?</p>
<p>well........ i don't know. i am having the same trouble, actually. well, apparently Berkeley <em>my safety</em> has THE BEST chemical engineering program in the whole country, but if i am accepted to both, i really do not know where i will be going . DUke has THE GREAT overall academic curriculum but Berkeley has THE BEST chem eng. program............. i guess i will choose DUke...... well...... still don't know yet..... maybe i will be rejected by duke. then there will be no trouble.</p>
<p>grrrrrrrrrrrrrr, i just found out that DUke doesn't EVEN HAVE A chemical engineering program............grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
maybe i will switch to material science........</p>
<p>Duke's engineering program is as vigorous as any of the top programs; however, it only focuses on 4 major areas of engineering, which is quite narrow compared to other engineering schools.</p>
<p>Those 4 areas are: biomedical, enviornmental & civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.</p>
<p>okie........ now i am switching to mechanical..............</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I applied to BME, so I am not going to get in...it is way too competitive at Duke (if I applied to another engineering major I mighta had a shot....o well)</p>
<p>i'm sure they don't take your PROSPECTIVE major into account as much - after all, it's not definite. since you applied to pratt, you are probably competing with the others who also did so, not just with the people who filled out BME on their app.</p>
<p>I heard that they are a little bit tougher on Pratt applicants with their math and sciences scores and grades.</p>
<p>they do, but they also want well-rounded student with interdisciplinary interests. math and science isn't everything.</p>
<p>do you guys think i should choose Duke over UT Austin?</p>
<p>lithiumbromide - i thnk you should definitely choose berkeley over duke. i mean, it might have a less of a reputation overall, but it outranks duke in engineering by far. but if duke is the school you want, go for it. what's more important is your gut feelings. where do you wanna spend your 4 years of college? you should take weather and other stuff into consideration too. </p>
<p>runhard - i think it depends on where you wanna spend your 4 years at. i mean, nc and tx are very different. maybe you wanna stay in tx. maybe you wanna try somewhere different. but i personally think ut austin will be a better fit for you b/c its engineering is better than duke's and you live in tx.</p>
<p>College is a lot more multi-dimensional than you're making it out to be, misty. I think it is very important, especially for someone from Texas or California, two of the most provincial states in the US, to get out of their comfort zone and meet kids from all over the place. I know Texans here who turned down engineering honors or business honors at UT who are VERY happy they did because they have already learned so much from interacting with the students here. I would definitely say get out of Texas. The engineering is great here and Duke is building up the program a great deal--have you seen the new Engineering/science buildings?? As for Berkeley, I know plenty of kids in Pratt here from Cali for whom Berkeley was a safe bet and came to Duke because 1) Duke's engineering is excellent for a private, non-technical, research university (Stanford, Cornell, and Princeton are the only ones that top it) and 2) there's a lot more to their college experience.</p>
<p>i refuse to believe that engineering at UT austin is better than a place like duke... just because duke isnt known for engineering doesnt mean it sucks... besides the overall environment at duke is probabaly tons better.</p>
<p>
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Texas or California, two of the most provincial states in the US
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This is so very true. People that I know here from Texas just LOOOOOVE Texas. If you're one of that type, maybe you don't want to leave. But as incollege said, it's important to get out of your comfort zone so you can grow as a person, and college is the perfect time to do that.</p>
<p>bsbllallstr8: According to the US News & World Reports 2005 ranking, UT-Austin's Engineering department is #12, whereas Duke's Engineering department is #30. Nevertheless, for my prospective major (BME), I would choose Duke in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Actually, for overall undergraduate engineering UT-Austin is #10 while Duke is #22. These rankings are silly though, would you really choose Purdue over Harvard because its engineering program is more highly ranked?</p>
<p>incollege, you made a great point. well, if anyone <em>like me</em> wants to major in engineering but actually wants to study pre-med, then Duke is a good choice, right?</p>
<p>I dont care about the us news rankings for engineering, like incollege said, there is no way i would choose purdue or ut austin for engineering over any elite private school that is ranked lower... duke, harvard, ect</p>
<p>those rankings are just peer assessment rankings anyway, it is ranking the programs there, but it doesnt mean you end up smarter when u graduate... when you goto college with a buncha average students you will not learn as much as you would have at a place like duke where everyone is smart and you get pulled along...</p>
<p>i like the idea of being challenged by my classmates to keep up</p>
<p>Duke is a perfect choice. 100% of pre-med BME majors get accepted to medical school...</p>