<p>These are my top two choices. I am majoring in physics, and I know Duke has more prestige. But I was born and raised in Durham, and I think I might need to see a little more of the world right now. And I think Duke might be better for my grad work. But I don't want to choose NYU just because it's not in Durham. I am very confused.</p>
<p>Duke. I don't think NYU is renowned for its physics programs (Math however is very good there).</p>
<p>OP...what's durham like?</p>
<p>Durham is ok, depending on what perspective you are looking at it from. It's not a great college town, the downtown area where Duke is located is a bit rundown and not much to do. But Duke itself has a beautiful campus. And it's the melting pot of everywhere, so there's lots of different people and there is rtp nearby, malls, shopping centers, places to eat. But I for one am tired of it.</p>
<p>As much as I'd like to stick up for NYU, I'd suggest going to Duke because it's such a great university. See how you like Durham and Duke for a year...if it still is bothering you to the point that you aren't happy being stuck for another four years in the same old setting, you can apply for transfer from Duke to basically anywhere and stand a shot; it doesn't work that way though at NYU - it's not nearly as good of a "launch-pad" as Duke.</p>
<p>Brand... it stinks because I know you are absolutely right. That is what I should do, what any sane person would do. I'm just having such an inner struggle because I don't know if I can be in Durham four more years. I really don't like it here. So it's kind of a decision about whether to choose the school I'd be happier at, or the one that is more prestige/ could give me a better job. Why can't I accept Duke and move on???</p>
<p>But that's my point! :) You won't have to stay at Duke for four years if you don't want to. Transfering is all the rage these days. But seriously, you are in an awkward position because you have two choices: Duke and NYU. One school is SO much better than the other that it would be silly to turn down the better one. The other school is in a great location and offers something new.</p>
<p>At this point, you've got two choices. Go to the great school and deal with the location/people/whatever, or go to the mediocre but good school and get what you want as far as environment. In the end, each choice will have its good and bad side. However, b/c Duke is so good in comparison, I suggest going there for a year (or even a semester) and applying to transfer at schools like Columbia (NYU's older, better peer institution), Harvard, Penn, Yale, etc. Coming from Duke (pending a good GPA) will definitely give you a good shot at peer institutions, whereas coming from NYU will be more of an uphill battle.</p>
<p>This is, of course, all under the assumption that you'd consider transfering. If that will never happen, I would choose NYU simply so you'll get a new experience. In my case, if it came down to Rice (my local prestigious university) or NYU, I'd choose NYU as well simply due to the location and the fact that I can't stand another X years in Texas. I know how you feel.</p>
<p>I think you might be confusing two things. You are having trouble accepting Durham. Not Duke, but Duke's location. You say you'd be happier at NYU...but is that really true? It seems that you are just looking for a new place. You may very well be miserable at NYU, despite its location. You could be happy at Duke, despite its location. And you could be miserable at Duke for reasons that have nothing to do with its location in Durham. The academic and social environments on the college campus itself are MUCH more important factors in your happiness than the city.
That said, you will always have the opportunity to study abroad to expand your horizons. And I have often heard it said that that is what grad school is for--not undergrad.</p>
<p>You really have to decide whether you want to be plunges right into NYC. NYU does not have a campus like many other schoolds. You will be in thee biggest city ( toughest place to live) in the country. If you are ready for this you will have a great time.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that NYU is a very polarizing place. Lots of people are from the New York area so its cliquey and intimidating. There is little campus infrastructure. I would say that NYU is perfect for a certain person, but many many people have not enjoyed it. Anecdotally, a friend of mine (from NC) ended up transferring to UNC from NYU. He just couldn't take the loneliness, the lack of a true campus. He loved UNC and said leaving NYU was the best decision he's ever made. I would STRONGLY recommend Duke. Its a FAR better school with a true campus and a strong community. If this were Columbia vs. Duke and you really wanted to leave I would say Columbia, but NYU just isn't even close to Duke both socially and academically.</p>
<p>^perfect post</p>
<p>I agree, Duke is a much better school. Also the city means very little. I go to Wake Forest, and I can count the amount of times I have went into Winston-Salem to do something on one hand. At Duke you will have ACC sports, lots to do on campus, etc. Winston-Salem isn't a great college town either, but the way schools like Duke/Wake are set up you don't really have the need to venture into the city that much. Good luck!</p>
<p>Agreed. Duke is much more than Durham. NYU isn't much more than New York. Pick "College" over New York, chances are you'll live in a big city after graduation anyway.</p>
<p>Ok, thanks for everyone's opinion on this so far. It really helps to hear it from someone who's not going crazy from decision making. Haha, it's funny that you would say Columbia over Duke, because Columbia was my ultra-dream school, but I was not accepted there. Anyway, a few more questions. I really don't know how NYU stands in the real world, aka how does a degree from there look? And as far as Duke goes, would it be more worth it to go there for graduate school, when I am planning to go in a more biomedical engineering pathway? And is it better to take a school tour or get a student to show you around?</p>
<p>Try taking a look at this:
<a href="http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf</a></p>
<p>NYU isn't even on there...good luck with grad school lol.</p>
<p>Well, it's not as if not being on that list makes NYU a bad school. Doesn't WUSTL basically round that list off? :D Even 50th place (Reed) is a pretty great school. Anyways, a degree from NYU is not bad at all. I don't know what your goal is, but in my case I am planning on law. 1 of 7 students at NYU Law is from NYU undergrad; obviously there are a lot of students at NYU's undergrad level, but that can still tell you something about how well NYU grads are considered.</p>
<p>EDIT: I like how in the notes next to Columbia University they spelled "elite" incorrectly. Good old WSJ. I also laughed at the notes next to Yale:</p>
<p>
[quote]
What happened to school loyalty? More Yalies (40) are going to Harvard Law this fall than Yale Law (30)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Gee...I wonder. Maybe it's because Yale is harder to get into than HLS? Imbeciles.</p>
<p>Well, wish me luck. I leave early tomorrow on a road trip to good ole' NYC to get a feel for NYU's campus and whatever else I can dig up. I'm really hoping this will give me a better feel of my choices. Back Wednesday, then a tour of Duke. I'm going to try to see it from a new perspective.</p>
<p>Oh, and I apologize for my quick "which school?" question, which I know irritates a lot of users. I'm just having a hard time with the whole college thing because my dad was in the military after high school and my mom didn't go to college. So although that does not excuse me from not knowing anything, I just don't know how to ask for help because I don't always know what I'm asking for. And it helps to hear from people who are not so caught up in the situation they want to scream. outside perspective, you know? I'm not sure I will transfer, because whatever school I end up at I'm going to make the best of. I just have to balance where I want to be and fighting past my desire to be anywhere but my hometown and make the right choice in the end, which I'm sure I will. But you guys (sometimes) have a sympathetic ear, so appreciate it all.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If that will never happen, I would choose NYU simply so you'll get a new experience
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think this is a very legit reply.... Person needs a new experience for change.....
And without change, something sleeps inside a person, and the sleeper must be awakened.</p>
<p>It's an excellent idea for you to take a trip up NYC to make up your mind.</p>
<p>Best Nessun Dorma?</p>
<p>No, it's not Pavarotti's or Domingo's. It ain't Carreras, either. The best Nessun Dorma is Ben Heppner who is mainly known as the best contemporary Wagnerian tenor. </p>
<p>Guess what ? Should you go to NYU, you will get to see him perform live @ the MET for 07-08 season, hitting those high C's with such ease.... Best of luck on your decision.</p>
<p>College itself is a tremendous change. Duke is a school with students from all parts of the country and the social scene is far from North Carolina-centric. I just think NYU's lack of a true campus infrastructure plus its much lower academic credibility make Duke the clear choice. You can always go to Columbia or NYU for grad school.</p>
<p>You will definitely have a better academic exprience, student campus and social life in Duke. Plus if you plan on going to grad school, Duke gives you a good rep.</p>