<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>
<p>It sounds like you prefer Duke and think you’d be happier there. I would follow your gut and not look back! You won’t be sacrificing anything by choosing Duke - there are plenty of opportunities for being challenged in the curriculum, don’t worry, and conducting undergraduate research is commonplace. Duke also emphasizes interdisciplinary nature of its curriculum and research. I was in a lab with a BME professor, next to a biochem professor, next to a genetics researcher, and I wasn’t admitted to any special program entering as a freshman.</p>
<p>I actually conducted research with a Northwestern med school professor in Evanston over a summer as well - I personally enjoyed the Duke “vibe” much more than Northwestern. And, yes, as somebody else from Chicago, I can tell you that North Carolina winters are a piece of cake and the autumn and spring seasons are absolutely gorgeous. You won’t be seeing snow in April like we did in Chicago this year…I found the weather and surroundings made the college experience all the more exciting. I also found Northwestern students a bit more stressed (more final exams due to the quarter system) and I was able to start my summer job SIX WEEKS before a Northwestern student joined me in the Northwestern lab. I realize they start the fall semester later, but getting out earlier seems to be an advantage when it comes to securing internships and jobs. (And I was able to extend my research fellowship since they still had funding when my original 10-week had elapsed - Northwestern student couldn’t.)</p>
<p>Both are solid choices, though, and you can’t go wrong as both will provide a great education. It just sounds like you have a more positive feeling about Duke, so I’d take that as a sign that it’s a better fit for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like ISP provides any special opportunities that you cannot find at Duke through a little investigation of the curriculum. Duke allows you to graduate with any combination of 3 majors, minors, and certificates so you will have a lot of flexibility. It sounds like your heart is saying Duke so come on down to Durham!</p>