<p>My friend (our valedictorian) is now faced with this decision after hearing back negatively from Ivies today, and he is unsure of how to proceed. He is a quiet but hilarious kid and is looking for some advice. He plans to major in Math/hard sciences and wants to go on to grad school. Can anyone help???</p>
<p>shameless bump</p>
<p>I’ve spent a lot of time at both. I’d say do Middlebury for undergrad and Duke for grad.</p>
<p>What are you looking to study?</p>
<p>Tough decision here. Go to Midd for college and Duke for grad school.</p>
<p>He wants to be an engineer, so he is going to major in physics or some sort of hard science/math. I feel like at my school though the Duke “brand” is recognized while people dismiss Middlebury…I have to then remind them that the only two kids into Midd this year were the valedictorian and salutatorian.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>huh?</p>
<p>if he wants to be an engineer, then he should major in engineering.</p>
<p>Middlebury does not offer engineering</p>
<p>Duke wins!</p>
<p>Like you said, Midd doesn’t have an engineering major. that being said it does have a track and 3-2 programs with dartmouth and columbia, so he could definitely succeed there. Duke obviously has a stellar engineering program but i think he could excel at either place</p>
<p>
I disagree. Duke does have a very strong undergraduate focus - but more than a top LAC? I am not so sure. </p>
<p>Of the schools I would consider picking over Duke, all but two or three of them are LACs (Haverford, Swat, Bowdoin, perhaps a couple others).</p>
<p>“… I think that this post maybe useful for future reference.”</p>
<p>Certainly–it will damn you for posterity.</p>
<p>Reputation is literally first on your list of priorities, and no one will disagree with you on that count, since Duke is indeed more reputable than any LAC.</p>
<p>You deserve commendation for being able to distinguish between “prestige” and “reputation,” though.</p>
<p>sorry i know this thread is old, and your friend already made his decision, but what were his stats? where did he end up choosing/what schools did he get in or rejected?</p>