Pleaseeee Help..Duke vs. Dartmouth

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
21

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>As a person in the same exact situation, (I got likelies for both Dartmouth and Duke), I have made the decision to go to Duke.</p>

<p>Why?</p>

<p>I had my doubts about Duke as a "Southern Frat Party School", but upon visiting this past week, I feel that I will be happy there.</p>

<p>Duke has an amazing campus, and the city of Durham is really not that bad. If it bothers you, know that everything is pretty self contained in the campus, and there is no real need to go into the city. The library is amazing, the chapel is GORGEOUS, and it's great to see students rolled out in the grassy quad on East campus on a sunny day.</p>

<p>The weather sure as heck beats the Northeast, and coming from California, I realized how much of a big factor weather will play in my decision.</p>

<p>The people are AWESOME. Everybody I met there was so nice, and open, and I did not feel that "elitist" attitude that is often pervasive at many prestigious campuses. The faculty was great, and I had a nice chat with Mr. Guttentag, the Undergrad Admissions director. The kids at Duke seem normal, but you know that they are all incredibly smart.</p>

<p>The administration is CHANGING. This is definitely one of the greatest factors in my decision, as nothing in Duke is stagnant. Unlike the traditional Ivies, Duke is constantly making changes in order to improve its curriculum, campus, student life, etc. Did I mention President Brodhead, who is from Yale, is making changes left and right to expand and make Duke even greater than it is?</p>

<p>The party scene is definitely big at Duke. I'm not much of a partier, but if you want to be around it, it is definitely present. I think both schools are on the same level with this category. The plus that Duke has is the close interaction with UNC kids, and the great city of Chapel Hill only 20 minutes away.</p>

<p>Duke is definitely focused on undergrads, and there are lots of oppur. available for research, etc. I myself am not pre-law, pre-med, or pre-business, and I have no problems going to Duke.</p>

<p>I liked my Duke visit so much that I cancelled my trip to Dartmouth. I hope that you make the right choice wherever you go!</p>

22

<p>Sounds like you had a good experience. </p>

<p>When I visited Duke I had a rather different experience, but then, I visited Duke and Dartmouth both so my decision was based on a different opportunity and perspective than yours; although, I'm not at all surprised to hear they'll be changing a great many things at Duke on campus over the next decade or so, they're wise to do it...if only they had the same power to change Durham.</p>

23

<p>I spent a month at Duke the summer after my junior year. It is such an amazing place, and I think I would really enjoy it there. I think it's very different than Dartmouth, though- and I too was making the decision between the two. Having spent time at each- I am happy I'm at Dartmouth over Duke. I don't really know what to say about it...no more than what anyone else has. But that was my decision.</p>

<p>I went to Harvard to visit a friend for the weekend- the social scene sucked. THere's a facebook group called "Harvardians who would transfer if they weren't such big pussies" and overall- everyone said they were "happy" but that they think they would have more "fun" at another school. To me- that meant "well, we go to harvard...of course we're happy" but...that they don't really enjoy themselves. I can say that I probably won't go back to have a good time- it just wasn't to be had. My friend from Harvard, however, comes up here quite often to party. Works for me.</p>