I know these are so annoying, but Duke vs Northwestern (Econ Major)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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<p>I apologize for adding yet another comparison thread, but I'm absolutely torn. I love both Duke and NU. I plan on studying economics (I love econ) with a minor/possible double major in math. I also definitely want to add other cool courses too (like philosophy, etc). Basically, I want to study econ, math, and other intriguing courses. </p>

<p>I am also looking to get a job in finance after graduation, so job recruitment is important to me.</p>

<p>At NU: Econ department is probably a bit better than Duke's. The Kellogg Certificate is really appealing as it is very quantitative, and I heard it looks good to employers as well. But I heard it's competitive to get into (I'm up for the challenge, but I don't want extra stress in college).</p>

<p>The quarter system seems nice as I can take a lot of classes, but I've heard it is very demanding and stressful due to many more midterms, etc. Also, the quarter system kinda messes up the school year.</p>

<p>I love NU's location (Evanston is nice and Chicago isn't far away.. I took the train to Chicago when I was there) and the campus/lake is really nice. However, it gets REALLY cold (I dont love the cold but I can survive).</p>

<p>I also heard that NU is segregated based on what school people are in (from people with friend there), but I dont know how true this is.</p>

<p>Three of my close friends are going to NU, so it would nice to already have a few good friends and not going into college not knowing anyone.</p>

<p>At Duke: Although the econ department might not be as good, the job recruitment definitely seems to be better. I won't be able to take as many classes due to the semester system, but there are less midterms and the school year is normal in terms of start/end dates.</p>

<p>I do like, however, the PPE certificate and other options for me to explore my interests. Still, Duke has some annoying foreign language requirements (will I able to get out of them since I am native in Polish?).</p>

<p>The weather is MUCH better, but Duke isn't very urban. I love the campus, but it seems annoying to travel between east and west campus the entire time. I would also like to visit restaurants and malls in the city, and it seems like this is possible at Duke with the buses, etc. but I'm not 100% how easy it is.</p>

<p>I LOVE DUKE BASKETBALL! It seems like an amazing experience as I am an avid basketball fan. </p>

<p>I'm also not 100% about the social vibe of Duke. When I was there I met a lot of really nice and open people, but I also got the rich, white southern vibe a little bit. I'm not sure if Greek Life is for me, and I'm not sure how overwhelming Greek Life can be Duke (I've spoken to many people about this, and most say its not too bad).</p>

<p>Any insight please? I can see myself going to both colleges. Thanks in advance. </p>

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<p>Fellow senior deciding between Duke and Northwestern here. (My thread is Northwestern ISP vs. Duke.) Here’s my perspective:</p>

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<p>I agree with this. You get 48 classes on average (4 per quarter), but then that many final exams and midterms. Northwestern move-in isn’t until mid-to-late September (exams end in early June), whereas Duke’s is around late August (exams end in May). That’s a matter of which you would prefer. From the thread I posted, someone said:</p>

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<p>which seems to be in line with your thoughts. It’s honestly a matter of personal preference here.</p>

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<p>I think dorms are segregated to some extent, but it’s not very bad. Bienen students often live in Shepard, math/science students on North campus, etc. mainly due to proximity of classes. I have heard one person suggest you live away from the part of campus your clasess are so that you see more of campus (if you don’t mind walking more).</p>

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<p>I would be careful with giving this too much consideration. It’s not hard to meet people in college, especially if you do pre-orientation programs that both NU and Duke offer. Even without that, I’m sure you’ll meet great people anywhere.</p>

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<p>On Blue Devil Days, the bus ride between east and west was only a couple of minutes. They come every few minutes, so it’s not really a problem. After freshman year, we rarely go to East anyway. I think that going into Durham is fairly easy. (Same with going into Evanston and Chicago at NU, though.)</p>

<p>Both are great choices. I’m making the same decision as you, but (as cliche as this sounds) I don’t think we can go wrong.</p>

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<p>Duke Basketball and the warm weather will be more integral parts of your undergraduate experience at Duke than Chicago will be to your college experience at Northwestern. Sure you could take a train out to the city every weekend but I imagine most NU students will be socializing on-campus most of the time so the benefits of having a major urban center nearby are somewhat diminished. A lot of kids at Duke have cars so you can easily get a ride to nearby Southpoint and Northgate malls to go shopping.</p>

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<p>Duke is better than Northwestern for undergrad. Duke Econ is a really strong and popular department. Kellogg is better than Fuqua, but you don’t really experience that at the undergrad level and banks and consulting firms recruit Duke heavier than Northwestern. </p>

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<p>Let me clear some misinformation from patriotfan.</p>

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<li><p>Kellogg certs are from Kellogg and the graduate level classes are taught by Kellogg profs; the students in the program have access to Kellogg recruiting resources. While most NU undergrads don’t experience Kellogg, the ones that want to can do so through Kellogg cert programs. </p></li>
<li><p>Consulting firms don’t recruit heavier at Duke. Booz co founder went to NU undergrad. McKinsey website shows they are recruiting at NU for class of 14 & 15 but only class of 15 at Duke. Kellogg is a top feeder to top consulting firms (Booz, Bain, BCG, McKinsey) and I bet the recruiting trickles down to undergrads. </p></li>
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<p>OP,
Kellogg cert is actually not very hard to get in. The admit rates have been around 75-80%. The quantitative nature of the pre-reqs and the program itself discourage a lot of people. So it’s pretty self selecting and for you, it may just be the right fit if you like math. Also, I heard PPE is more like a joke for Econ majors at Duke whereas Kellogg cert is the only undergrad biz-related (finance or managerial analytics) program that challenge the students at the graduate level. But in the process to go through Kellogg cert, you may have to give up some leisure time (the students in the program seem to collaborate and embrace the challenge as a team). It really depends on what you want. </p>

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<p>^ you’re wrong. Booz is semi irrelevant now anyway after their merger. If you’re talking about MBB, more Duke students are hired than Northwestern. Look at Wall Street Oasis, Duke is in a higher tier than Northwestern at the undergrad level. </p>

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<p>Since when MBB have started tallying “undergrad represented” numbers and making them available? If the numbers were really out there, they would have been all over this site! Seems like you pulled something out of thin air. Wall Street Oasis? Even the people posting there accuse each other of posting false info!! My feeling is that hardly anyone making far enough in the IB world would waste time on the little website. They have far more important priorities and it’s just not in their genes to bother! Instead, the site seems to be full of Wall Street wannabes and short timers in the field; neither of them comment much on management consulting for obvious reasons! </p>

<p>Like I said, Kellogg cert kids have recruiting resources from Kellogg. They even have a full time career advisor at Kellogg working with them on their job search. I doubt Econ majors at Duke get that kind of support (to be fair, neither do regular Econ majors at NU but the OP probably will get into Kellogg cert based on his interest and strengths). </p>

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<p>With respect for the previous participants in this thread, I suspect an important point may have been lost. Yes, Duke’s/Trinity’s undergraduate programs are generally ranked SLIGHTLY ahead of Northwestern’s, but the differences are essentially inconsequential. These are both superb universities.</p>

<p>What may not be virtually identical for YOU is YOUR “cultural fit” with Duke and Northwestern, with their many constituencies, with their communities, and with much more. The probability that any undergraduate will come close to capitalizing fully upon all the resources available at – and through – either institution is EXTREMELY remote. However, the possibility that an individual might hate – or love – something as pervasive and uncontrollable as Chicago Winters or Durham’s distinct “four seasons” is much greater.</p>

<p>Were I to make your decision, the first and most critical area I’d research is simply where would I be happier for the next four years. In terms of the pure academic/intellectual elements of Duke and Northwestern, I respectfully suggest either alternative will be outstanding, will serve you very well throughout your entire life, will be a substantial element of great pride forever, and will provide significant career and graduate/professional school advantages. </p>

<p>One other point you may wish to consider is, even if you remain focused on Economics, you will necessarily take other (principally liberal arts) courses as an undergraduate. To illustrate, I can’t imagine an Economics major not needing – and wanting – to undertake some studies in public policy, political science, mathematics, history, and so forth (and, believe me, your capabilities in “economics per se” will be greatly enhanced by doing so). Therefore, I suggest you widen the aperture of your considerations slightly, recognizing that your most important learning just might be affiliated with, but not taught by, the economics faculty. </p>

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<p>OP, this is the Duke board, so you will obviously get biased answers.</p>

<p>I think TopTier posted a balanced response that you should heed. Duke and NU both have peer assessment scores of 4.4, so they are essentially looked at as equals by academics.</p>

<p>The overall strengths of the A&S programs are more or less equal, but I think in your case the economics program and Kellogg certificate may be differentiators. The ability to major at a top 7 department and take a quarter’s worth of classes at a top 5 business school is a pretty rare opportunity. Also look into the MMSS program, which is a tight-knit program taught by the IO, micreconomics and econometrics faculty at NU. To give you a sense of how strong NU is in these areas, check the rankings below:</p>

<p><a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/industrial-organization-rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/industrial-organization-rankings&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/econometrics-rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/econometrics-rankings&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/microeconomics-rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/microeconomics-rankings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you’re into policy, you may also want to join NU’s Fed Challenge team, which has won the most number of national titles, only tied with Harvard.</p>

<p>Finally, while Duke is slightly more represented in finance than NU is, NU will mostly open the same doors for you. For example, I have friends from my NU class who are currently private equity associates at TPG, Carlyle, Warburg Pincus, Hellman & Friedman, Madison Dearborn and New Mountain Capital (and these jobs are considered very difficult to get). I get the vibe that more Duke undergrads are more interested in finance than are NU undergrads (akin to how Princeton undergrads are more interested in finance than Yale undergrads), so this may be one of the drivers why there are more Duke ppl in finance; not necessarily an indicator a quality of the school.</p>

<p>OP - nothwitsthanding what is mentioned above, you cannot go wrong with either choice; as a NU alum I have a lot of respect for Duke. While you should take into consideration the different factors going for and against each school, I think you should mainly go with your heart on this one.</p>

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The Kellogg certificate programs consist of only graduate-level courses from one of the best business school in the world. Please don’t call it “worthless gimmick” when you don’t have access to the programs. A little class isn’t too much to ask.</p>

<p>Stanford is ranked higher (significantly in many cases) than Duke in just about all disciplines whereas Duke and Northwestern are fairly even. Your “analogy” simply FAILED. </p>

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<p>kimfuge88 mentioned College Fed Challenge. NU is a 4-time national champion (tied with Harvard for the most). Everyone on the 2013 team pursued one of the two Kellogg cert programs. <a href=“Northwestern Wins Regional Fed Challenge Competition - Northwestern Now”>Northwestern Wins Regional Fed Challenge Competition - Northwestern Now;

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<p>ChaChaan, at the undergrad level, Duke and Northwestern are roughly similar, but Duke is better at a lot of disciplines. Kellogg for an MBA is better than Fuqua no doubt, but this isn’t an MBA discussion. The Kellogg certificate is nice, but it is still not a Kellogg MBA experience. Firms recruit Kellogg MBA students more than Fuqua students, but recruit Duke undergrad more than Northwestern. </p>

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<p>Firms don’t recruit Northwestern more then Duke. They don’t recruit Harvard more then Duke. They have a top 10 - 15 list of which all of these schools are a part of. After that it is about you. It is when you are outside of the top schools they recruit that your chances greatly diminish.</p>

<p>If you want the most respected econ degree go to the University of Chicago. You like big cities and can handle the cold to NW. Like a warmer climate and more social campus go to Duke. You can’t go wrong with a top 15 school except not perform. </p>

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<p>^Read some insider posts on WallStreetOasis</p>

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<p>Don’t have to. I can ask my brother or some of his friends to know versus having to pretend to know.</p>

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<p>Patriotfan,</p>

<p>You may think Duke is better at “a lot of disciplines” (e.g. BME, French, biology, public affairs, etc.) and that’s probably true only because there are just so many disciplines out there; but Northwestern is better at lot of disciplines too (e.g. most engineering disciplines, chemistry, economics, art history, etc). And that doesn’t even include those in specialty schools (music, theater, film, communications, journalism, education, etc) at Northwestern. No one dominates the other. They are roughly even. </p>

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ArenasField,

Just out of curiosity (I’m pretty much the same exact position as you were, I’m even Polish too), what did you end up choosing and why? Are you happy with the choice you made?