<p>I've brought my decision down to these two schools. I was accepted to the Integrated Science Program at Northwestern, and I've now got to choose between that and Duke. At Northwestern, I would major in ISP and mathematics; at Duke, mathematics and biology.</p>
<p>I liked the feel of Duke's campus a lot better. It was nicer, greener, more spacious; the architecture was amazing, the weather is nicer most of the year, etc. Having lived in Chicago before, I'm not sure how much the thought of four more Chicago winters appeals to me. I also felt that the music groups at Duke were more accessible to nonmajors, due to Northwestern having the Bienen school for majors. Student life at Duke generally seemed better, and I liked the feel of the school better.</p>
<p>However, I've heard nothing but good things about Northwestern's ISP. It's challenging, allows for interdisciplinary science study and all sorts of research opportunities, and it's a prestigious program all around. ISP opens doors for anyone in it, I've heard. That said, the program has a rather high dropout rate, and if it doesn't fit me as well as I think then I may end up leaving the program and just being a normal Weinberg student (not that it's bad).</p>
<p>I'm not sure how much my feelings are true versus just based on the admitted student days. Blue Devil Days knocked Wildcat Day out of the park; Wildcat Day was just very badly programmed and I disliked the experiece overall.</p>
<p>tl;dr: I liked the feel of Duke's campus, student life, etc. better. But Northwestern's ISP is such an amazing opportunity that seems hard to turn down.</p>
<p>Does anyone have insight that may help me with this decision?</p>