<p>ok...so i found out yesterday that i had gotten into duke and i found out that i was accepted a few weeks ago into unc....so what is the main difference???????</p>
<p>Cost for one..depending whether IS or OOS. Each has their own pros in terms of academics although many will say that Duke is superior because they can be more selective (and I mean this only in minimal terms as UNC is very selective. Also, Chapel Hill is a nicer place in my opinion compared to Durham when venturing away from campus. In terms of the big sport teams, UNC tends to be at a higher level (I'm talking basketball, football, baseball, even soccer) Not to say that Duke is a slouch in sports except for maybe their football team. Of course UNC is a much bigger school than Duke. Compare and contrast what you want in a school.</p>
<p>If you're looking at academics solely, Duke is by far the winner. Also being that it is a private school you will have more personal attention(although not much) since you are paying much more to go there. Prestige, Duke easily wins too.</p>
<p>There's reasons to go to UNC over Duke but the only big one I can think of(not that there aren't any others) would be cost.</p>
<p>You just need to think about which one is best for you. Both Duke and UNC have positive and negative aspects. What size do you want? What location? Is the major you're considering better at one or the other? What is the cost? Where do you feel most at home? Don't choose a school based on what other people think; you probably won't be happy. Where do you want to be for 4 years?</p>
<p>Both schools are very fine schools but they are VERY different schools with very different personalities. If you ask people at UNC who have taken classes at both schools, they will tell you that there is very little difference in the quality of academics so I would subtract that out of the equation unless you are looking for a major that doesn't exist at the other.</p>
<p>You have gotten good advice from others already; don't make a decision based on other people's thoughts and obviously biased opinions especially in a UNC vs Duke debate because you will be hard pressed to get much objectivity. It is also very important to not be swayed by someone else's perception of prestige because YOU have to be happy wherever you decide to attend, not them.</p>
<p>If finances are in any way a consideration understand that there are many people at UNC who have turned down Duke, Yale, Harvard , Stanford and others because financially the bang for the buck at UNC is so good and in today's world where most everyone is going to grad or professional school, overall cost can and should be be a very important consideration.</p>
<p>If you can, do visit both schools when classes are in session and try to observe everything you can from student interaction to location to simply the "feel" of the two schools. You have to consider what your undergrad experience for four years will be like at either school so keep in mind things like what happens AFTER classes end, happiness of student body, social dynamics etc. I was going to try to compare the two but am resisting because I really think you need to see for yourself. All I can say is observe the students as they go about their daily lives because that will tell you far more than any view book or review.</p>
<p>Once you understand as best you can all these factors the choice should be much clearer for you. Good luck.</p>
<p>Biggest asset that UNC-Chapel Hill has: Quality of life. Students are intelligent and hard-working, yet also laid-back and HAPPY. Academics are amazing, but students also put their hearts into student groups, love athletics, etc.</p>
<p>Biggest asset that Duke has: National brand value. In North Carolina, people love Chapel Hill a lot and often actually despise Duke. But in other regions of the country, while people respect UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke's name has more weight.</p>
<p>The differences are more than just happiness vs. brand value, and as a student at both universities I have a lot more thoughts on the differences, and I wish I had more time to write a longer post. But for now the above will have to do...</p>