<p>I've been reading other answers to this question and general info on both schools (I also attended JHU's SOHOP and will be visiting Duke for Blue Devil Days next week, but I'm still a little stuck on my decision. </p>
<p>Issues:</p>
<p>Campus: JHU - It's beautiful, and everything seems to be more accessible (I've heard that Duke's is beautiful too, but in a different way; I guess this doesn't really matter to me anyway... I also heard that you have to take buses to different parts of Duke's campus, while at JHU, many students claimed that their farthest classes were "ten minutes away" walking...)</p>
<p>Dorms: Duke - People don't seem to like most of the housing options at JHU for various reasons, and it doesn't provide housing for all four years. However, I think the dorms are in a better location with respect to classes... Also, I don't know how I feel about co-ed dorms, even though they're present at both schools... Food is a non-issue, actually (I'll live off of Lucky Charms and salads...)</p>
<p>Academics: JHU - Again, I can't really definitively say that their academics are better, but I am planning on majoring in Cognitive Science, and to get something of an equivalent, I would probably double major in Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor in Linguistics and some extra courses in Computer Science, and I don't know how manageable such a workload would be...</p>
<p>JHU's also known for a strong education in medicine and healthcare fields (I'm not planning on going pre-med right now, but I might change my mind?). Plus, it has Intersession (I know they offer courses during this time, and I think they offer an ASL course that I'd be interested in taking... Does Duke offer courses during breaks?) </p>
<p>Research: Don't know - They both claim to have a really strong emphasis on it, but which one would have better support?</p>
<p>Classes/Professors: Duke? - I heard that professors at JHU can be more absorbed in their own research than teaching. Is that true at Duke also? I also heard that some fields at JHU can be "cutthroat competitive," but did not get that vibe at SOHOP. Still, I think Duke sounds like there is more collaboration and is a more relaxed academic environment (not relaxed to the point of detriment, but more focused on the learning experience than being the best in the class). Grade inflation is the last thing that might be more present at Duke than JHU.</p>
<p>Location: JHU - It's closer to home, major cities, and many of the colleges my friends are planning on attending</p>
<p>Social Life: Duke - When I went to SOHOP, one of the girls told me that the first semester, a lot of students go crazy and binge drink/experiment with things/get themselves in trouble/generally overdo it and then mellow out after the first semester... I think Duke's Greek scene is bigger/more popular than JHU's, so would this be even worse there? I know that I could go to parties and not drink, or not go to parties at all and still find things to do at both schools, but how possible are both those scenarios at these schools?</p>
<p>As for school spirit, I think Duke wins there... And I think Duke is more likely to have dorm/house events, random grade-wide events, or even school-wide events, but I might be wrong about that... At which school is there more self-segregation?</p>
<p>I don't actually know how important social life is to me, since I'm more of a wallflower than a social butterfly, but I want to have some bonding moments. </p>
<p>Security: JHU - So many students bragged about how JHU's campus is the #1 safest in the country, but I guess exact ranking at Duke doesn't matter as long as I'm safe...</p>
<p>Community: Duke - Durham seems less dangerous/shady than Baltimore, but I've heard the relationship between Durham and Duke is not as good... DukeEngage thing sounds awesome, since I'm big on community service, and I don't think there's as much of an emphasis on service at JHU...</p>
<p>Financial aid for the schools is about the same. So, what do you think?</p>
