<p>I have just two more weeks to make a decision and I won't be able to attend Blue Devil Days. For those who have made this decision or have knowledge of both schools, what factors were important to you in choosing between the two? I am interested in Economics and am from California.</p>
<p>Stanford is stronger in econ...weather is also more pleasant. I'd go with it...</p>
<p>I'm from Los Angeles and I wouldn't say Stanford weather is more pleasant. Sure it's pleasant in summer and spring, but I just visited Duke and the weather there couldn't have been any more gorgeous either. I think people forget or refuse to admit that Stanford is in <em>northern</em> california! It's near the bay area- way more chill in the winter than perfect Southern Cali weather :)</p>
<p>I honestly look forward to Duke's weather so much (however I'm also still choosing my school, and Stanford is also an option)... all four seasons, but with mild winters? rain even when it's warm outside (freezing weather + rain makes me miserable. so much that that's how I nicked Northwestern)! weather is so subjective :)</p>
<p>Hi collegebound,</p>
<p>I'm an Economics major at Duke, from California.</p>
<p>I can tell you that our department (i.e. for grad school) may not be stronger in some abstract research sense, but I'd be shocked if there was a department out there that taught economics better than we did.</p>
<p>This is not a slight on Stanford; I know nothing about their economics program. All I can tell you is that we teach economics in what I believe is a really superb, fantastic, well-rounded background.</p>
<p>I'll try and compose a post in more detail later - unfortunately I have to go pick a grad school now.</p>
<p>Oh, and as far as the from-California thing, I can tell you that coming to a new part of the country, seeing new places, getting to know a new culture has been really incredible. If you look at our class profile's geographic (i.e. home state) distribution, the diversity in terms of where people come from is really remarkable and has been an incredible blessing. I'm sure Stanford is also diverse - but not for somebody who grew up in the area.</p>
<p>I'm probably heading back to CA next year, and you know something? I actually kind of regret it.</p>
<p>Yeah... Stanford. Even I'd choose it.</p>
<p>I'd go with Stanford also; I disagree that Stanford is only better in abstract research sense; I'd seen quite a few lists of target schools for top consulting and i-banking firms and I can't recall any list that doesn't have Stanford on it.</p>
<p>Well, we get recruited very heavily by all the top firms as well. I'm sure most of the top schools do. My point is that Duke's economics department is incredibly strong when it comes to actual education, which is very hard to measure.</p>
<p>Stanford's might be too - I wouldn't be surprised. It's obviously a very good school.</p>
<p>I would simply urge you not to pay attention to "research" rankings if you actually care about their teaching.</p>
<p>I think location and distance from home is something to keep in mind. You would probably have a similar experience either way, and you certainly wouldn't have a problem getting a job with an economics degree from either, but I personally wouldn't want to go that far away for college. Having a car would be very difficult (although it might not be that important to you), and traveling home for shorter breaks certainly wouldn't be easy either. </p>
<p>You might not mind traveling across the country, and if that is the case, I recommend visiting both and deciding where you would prefer to spend four years. Like I said before, I don't think you could go wrong either way in terms of education and job opportunities.</p>
<p>Sometimes Graduate Rankings can be indicative of the undergrad program. </p>
<p>US News Grad Econ Rankings</p>
<ol>
<li> Massachusetts Institute of Technology 5.0</li>
<li> University of Chicago 5.0</li>
<li> Harvard University (MA) 4.9</li>
<li> Princeton University (NJ) 4.9</li>
<li> Stanford University (CA) 4.9</li>
<li> University of CaliforniaBerkeley 4.9</li>
</ol>
<p>US News MBA Rankings</p>
<p>*1. Harvard University (MA) 100<br>
*2. Stanford University (CA) 99</p>
<p>I would argue that this is exactly what I mean by the "abstract research" rankings.</p>
<p>Pay attention to how well they teach their undergrads, not how much research their graduate students conduct.</p>
<p>It might turn out to be the case that Stanford is clearly superior in this department; I don't really know.</p>
<p>But I just don't think this is a good indicator of that.</p>
<p>How do the two schools stack up in terms of engineering.</p>
<p>bluedevilmike,</p>
<p>Some of the top firms hire relatively small number of undergrads and they actively recruit at only limited number of schools. So many good/top schools can be left out. But Stanford is one of the very few that rarely miss any of them. The following are some of the lists I'd seen:</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=108904&highlight=core+top+consulting%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=108904&highlight=core+top+consulting</a>
<a href="http://www.lazard.com/Careers/FA-NA-UG.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.lazard.com/Careers/FA-NA-UG.html</a></p>
<p>That tells me Stanford ug econ is likely one of those that few others can match and their students should have been performing very well at work; otherwise, firms would start crossing them off their lists and they wouldn't appear everywhere like they are now.</p>
<p>Ultimatefriz: Platt is excellent but MIT, Stanford, and CalTech (most would include Berkeley) are in a class of their own for Engineering.</p>
<p>Pratt, not Platt. Sorry</p>
<p>Sam,</p>
<p>I'm sure Stanford is a wonderful school. As for the first link you gave me, I can personally vouch for the fact that both McKinsey and BCG actively recruit at Duke. I have a BCG water bottle from one of their on-campus recruiters.</p>
<p>Goldman Sachs employs more Duke students than any organization other than Teach for America.</p>
<p>The point is that Stanford may be wonderful, but if you are looking for a job in the consulting or managment or finance divisions, Duke students do just fine. I can't promise you we do better, but I can promise you that these people really do actively come to campus and recruit and employ great numbers of us.</p>
<p>I dont know how relevant this is, but there was an article in our newspaper a while back about how Duke was planning to lure Stanford's econ faculty as apparently, Stanford econ was facing some problems..</p>
<p>We have one son who attended Stanford, and one who is now a student at Duke (Econ/Electrical Engineering double major)...as far as we can tell, both schools provide VERY similar experiences academically and socially. </p>
<p>We are from Montana, so geographically, neither one was "close to home" for our sons. Personally, I like the Duke campus better, but that's more just a matter of taste. </p>
<p>I guess my input doesn't really give much insight other than to assure you that you can't go wrong with either!</p>
<p>bludedevilmike,</p>
<p>Hmmm...did you get the water bottle from their booth at a job fair on campus or from an on-campus interview? Maybe the list isn't correct. Or maybe I need to figure out what exactly they mean by "core school".</p>
<p>I got a response from a CC member on what "core school" means:</p>
<p>
[quote]
The distinction is that "core schools" have corporate recruiting formally on campus - i.e. they have a set # of interview slots and conduct formal on-campus events. Non-core schools will come to career fairs, give out water bottles, and encourage people to apply for interviews, but there will not be a set # of interview slots.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm also faced with the same choice, although I am undecided in terms of what I want to study. What is the quality of life at Duke? How happy are you (current students)? I imagine you have to be a Duke loyalist to still be posting on here...</p>