<p>I am planning to major in biochemistry or biology and I feel that both schools are strong in this area. I am a pretty well rounded person and I like that Duke also has that sense of balance as far as departments are concerned. I know that MIT humanities are supposed to be great and that I could cross register at Harvard if I wanted to. But I have never really seen myself at a place like MIT. I visited and it seemed very math/science oriented and the infinite corridor seemed a little cold.</p>
<p>At the same time, MIT is amazing!! I am often astounded by the current innovations (for example, a battery built by viruses). I would be surrounded by brilliant people all of the time and at the center of new technology.</p>
<p>I honestly don't know a ton about Duke. I have never even been to the South before. I have heard that the campus is gorgeous and there seems to be a stronger sense of community than at MIT (through sports and other activities). Also, I love dancing and habve mostly done ballet and tap dancing but MIT does not really have any student groups for ballet dance (MIT has ballroom, folk). I could always stick to playing violin as MIT has a symphony orchestra.</p>
<p>In your opinion, is prestige a matter of importance here? I think MIT is probably more prestigious than Duke. </p>
<p>Also, if I decided I would rather pursue bioengineering, it would be easy for me at MIT but may be a bit more difficult at Duke.</p>
<p>I am going to visit during MIT's campus preview weekend and am wondering if I should even visit Duke or if I should just stick with MIT. Any advice would be appreciated!</p>
<p>It is a tossup, six and half a dozen the other… MIT is far more prestigious, if you care about that. For the departments you talk about both MIT and Duke are extremely good. Boston is far better than Durham, so do not discount that. You said you could never picture yourself at MIT, take that with a grain of salt (if you ask me) and go to the best program that fits your needs. Also don’t discount the opportunity of enrolling in Harvard classes.</p>
<p>So MIT it is then? Is there anything I should know about Duke before I make a final decision? Or anything that I should know about MIT before I choose to enroll? Also, would GPA be an issue at MIT if I decided to go premed?</p>
<p>Perhaps you should query the regulars at the MIT forum about the GPA stuff (and maybe Duke as well if you’re still not sure about both schools overall); they’ll be able to guide you appropriately.</p>
<p>I’m posting what I posted on another thread earlier today:</p>
<p>I live a few feet away from Durham, and I can tell you that it is not typical North Carolina. Many in Durham and in nearby Chapel Hill are northern transplants, and in Chapel Hill and around 9th Street in Durham (Duke’s neighborhood) it’s a very educated, collegiate population. Even New-Englandy, at times. You’ll meet the occasional person with a Southern accent and you’ll be able to eat delicious Southern food, but definitely do NOT worry about a real “culture shock”. I honestly don’t think that Southern aspect of it will be outside your comfort zone.</p>
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<p>They’re very, very different socially, too. Duke is <em>generally speaking</em> preppy and social, while MIT (again, stereotypically) is nerdy or awkward. I’d actually opt for nerdy and awkward myself, haha, but the difference is significant and should probably be considered…</p>
<p>Parts of the Duke campus are very gothic and gorgeous (modeled after Princeton), but some parts are concrete, modern, and not very nice (these parts aren’t mentioned as often, shockingly). There is definitely a lot of school pride through basketball, as you said, but I’m not sure whether I’d call this “a sense of community”… The school is a little too big for that, IMO.</p>
<p>Duke does have great dance, but if you’re willing to venture off-campus, Boston has plenty to offer as well. Jose Mateo has wonderful open ballet classes (better than Boston Ballet classes, in my opinion) , and The Dance Complex, Green Street Studios, and Jeannette Neill all have some pretty amazing choreographers and classes rolling through.</p>