<p>Paying for it is often as big or a bigger problem than actually being accepted</p>
<p>First off, you should examine what you're looking for in a social scene. I am having a great time at Duke, I go to plenty of parties, but it's really the people here who make my experience what it is. If you're looking for a more homogenous student body, my friend at Vanderbilt plus its statistics can talk about that. Perhaps Vandy students get drunk more and Vandy's frat scene is definitely more of a presence than Duke's but these all seem like not necessarily positive qualities to me. Duke has a great social scene, athletic scene, artistic/cultural scene, and academic scene combined. </p>
<p>I don't believe Vanderbilt is "in the same league" as Duke in terms of academics or selectivity though, as much as its students might say differently. Though I realize it is a great school, in terms of selectivity it is at a different level from Duke, which is not necessarily bad but, you must realize, does have an effect on your experience there. For example, last year three people who applied early to Duke from my school ended up at Vanderbilt, two of whom were rejected early decision and then subsequently got into Vandy and one of whom was deferred/rejected and got into Vandy with a full scholarship, so I simply do not believe they're in the same league in that regard. </p>
<p>However, if you believe you will be more comfortable at Vanderbilt you should go there, but go for the right reasons. Vanderbilt is definitely very well-respected but it is a very different institution from Duke. Do some research, visit both schools, and then find out if you get into both or either before making your decision.</p>
<p>You seem to be largely concerned about study load, and I would advise you to visit both schools and talk to as many students as you can about this issue before really basing any major decisions on it, alone. I go to one of the top "Students Never Stop Studying" schools in the country, and I personally don't find it to be a problem. I have more free time than I ever did in HS, am not at any lack for socializing, and still manage straight A's. On the other hand, I know people who live in the library. This is why I'd recommend talking to a variety of students as well as evaluating yourself: has HS taught you to manage your time? do you tend to stress and procrastinate? will a more prominent social scene serve as a reward or a distraction to you?</p>
<p>Pre-med is also an exceptionally intense major (and I don't know about Duke or Vandy, but I'm almost certain it is in fact a major at many schools, though at some it is only a course track), and will likely have a dense course and workload no matter where you go. </p>
<p>Both are excellent schools, but to repeat what others have said, don't stress yourself or your dad out too much before you hear from them next year. College admittance, in large part, especially at top-tier schools, is something of a crapshoot. While I'm not saying that incollege88 is wrong, I would never suggest rating two schools based on the acceptance records of 3 students. There can be too many extenuating circumstances, private matters, personal quirks, and total coincidences to legitimize this as a "which school is better" test. Furthermore, if you're applying pre-med, you should be most concerned with the pre-med program. Look at statistics for med school placement, look at internship and research opportunities in your specific field, etc. And in the end, remember that it's true...you will be LIVING, not just studying, at this school, and many things other than just prestige will factor into your success. </p>
<p>I do think that when you're happier and more comfortable, you'll perform better academically. To repeat myself, try and determine whether the type of things that appeal to you at Vandy are things that would enhance or distract from your academic experience. If you're a good enough student to be competitive at these top-tier schools, you obviously have the ability to handle both yourself and your time wisely. Visit both schools and try to look for statistics that will show your dad that you can still be successful and competitive in the Vandy pre-med program. Good luck, and don't worry too much about this before you really have a reason to.</p>
<p>If you change your mind about premed, you will regret your decision to go to vandy. Duke is a little or alot better than vandy in just about every academic area.</p>
<p>esrajay--Bear in mind that there is MUCH more to a college experience than just academic prestige, especially between two considerably high-quality schools. I don't just mean a crazy social scene, I mean an overall environment, learning style, value system, etc., all of which will contribute to a student's academic experience and performance.</p>
<p>I chose my college over others that were more well-known and prestigious, and I personally am in love with my school and believe that I'm doing much better--overall--than I would have at the schools I turned down, and I don't just mean that I'm getting A's vs. F's--I mean that I think I'm much happier, overall.</p>
<p>If the OP (from what I gather, this means original poster...if I'm wrong, well, that's what I intend it to mean...lol) were choosing between Best-in-the-Universe U. and Hicksville U., then I might make a bigger issue of academic vigor. In a pre-med program at both of these good and well-respected schools, I think that academia should definitely be taken into account (it is school, after all), but I also believe that they're comparable enough to necessitate the recognition of other, perhaps non-academic factors, such as is the goal of the OP.</p>
<p>Main Point: I don't think it's fair to say that someone will regret going to a school based SOLELY on the fact that it's less academically strong than a school they turned down.</p>
<p>esrajay, I don't think YOU can reasonably predict whether the OP will regret his/her decision or not. I have a friend who was accepted at Yale, yet chose to come to Vanderbilt (with no scholarship.) Does he regret it? Not one bit, and I've met several other people in similar situations. </p>
<p>incollege88, while I respect your post, I'm not sure you capture what the OP was asking about...I don't think he was wondering what school "gets drunk more," so that point is moot (and wrong.) The social scene of a school consists of much more than alcohol. After visiting and being accepted to both schools, it was obvious that there was no comparison between the two, in regards to social scene...definitely helping sway my decision. </p>
<p>Also, where as you may consider Duke "above" Vanderbilt, in the scale of colleges (from community college to Harvard) Duke and Vanderbilt aren't far apart in terms of quality and prestige, whether you choose to acknowledge that or not.</p>
<p>i had a similar problem to what you're dealing with...i really wanted to go to Vanderbilt but everyone knew i could get into "better" schools, i solved the problem by applying early decision to vandy thus binding me to the school but i eased my parents into it by showing them statistics for vanderbilt such as acceptance rates into grad school/med school as well as grants vandy is receiving, research opportunities, and the education of the professors...i also got help from a friend's mom who went to vanderbilt and her son (my friend) is currently there, so she was able to tell my parents what they wanted/needed to hear about vanderbilt</p>