<p>I agree with dukeclass09. I didn't apply to Stanford because I saw absolutely no reason when I had a very similar university three hours away. Like dak said, I think they're more similar than they are different. </p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind is that Duke is more diverse than Stanford. Only 15% of the student body is from the Carolinas, and a mere 25% is from the entire South. 50% of Stanford's student body is from California alone.</p>
<p>warbler: For what its worth, please keep in mind that California is not really one state. SF area (NorCal) is very East Coast. LA (in SoCal) is TOTALLY Hollywood. The OC, San Diego, Central Valley (where most of the agriculture is located) and Sacramento area all have very different personalities. Geographically, you've got mountain, desert, valley and coastal communities in a state that constitutes about about 2/3rd's of the entire West coast. Huge number of asians, blacks, hispanics and whites. There are people who live out in the "Sticks" and in the deepest part of the inner city. All in all, it might be argued that it's more diverse than the rest of the US combined. At about 36 million people, it represents about 13-15% of the entire US population. (The Carolinas, together, are about 17 million.)</p>
<p>% Californians at Stanford is 44% not 50%. :) </p>
<p>In terms of racial diversity: Stanford has 44% Whites, 11% Hispanics/Latinos, 10% Blacks, and 24% Asians while Duke has 56% Whites, 7% Hispanics/Latinos, 11% Blacks, and 14% Asians.</p>
<p>According to US News, Stanford is among the top ten in "most diverse schools," with the biggest minority group being Asian Americans, at 25%. Blacks and Hispanics each make up about 11-13%, comparable to Duke's figures. White students make up only 45%, compared to Duke's 67%. If you are talking about geographic diversity, then Duke is probably more so in that respect.</p>
<p>I stand corrected. I should indeed have said 44%. Forgive my grave error. :p</p>
<p>joemama, having never visited CA, I wouldn't know (i.e. I'll gladly take your word for it). I was referring to geographic diversity.</p>
<p>Isn't it 44% of the freshman class, but 47% overall?</p>
<p>Byerly: Any cross-admit data on Stanford/Duke?</p>
<p>Thanks/</p>
<p>Differences in diversity aren't going to help decide between Duke and Stanford... </p>
<p>Biggest difference? We get to see what happens on "Lost" a full 3 hours before they do! OK - that isn't entirely true (as in, that isn't the biggest difference - it is true we have a 3 hours advantage).</p>
<p>I read somewhere that 80% of those admitted to both Duke and Stanford choose Stanford (I believe it was an article for the Duke Alumni Magazine that specifically looked at cross-admits). It said that Duke lost about 80% with cross-admits to HYPS. I believe it split around 50% against Dartmouth, Brown, Penn and beat out Uof Chicago, WUSL, Cornell, Northwestern the majority of time.</p>
<p>I found the article Byerly posted really interesting. Here's a snippet of it:</p>
<p>"William Willimon, then Dean of the Chapel, spent four months immersing himself in the lives of the students, putting together what ultimately became a fifty-one-page report, "We Work Hard, We Play Hard." It painted a picture of Duke that, while likely reflective of a larger college culture nationwide, was not pretty in the view of administrators who were trying to cement Duke's reputation as one of the top universities in the nation. </p>
<p>Among those Willimon spoke to was a student who posed the question, "We work hard, and we play hard, but do we think hard?" Students who had been offered scholarships in anticipation of what they could bring to campus intellectually--A.B. Duke and B.N. Duke Scholars--expressed frustration at the lack of intellectual outlets. Their peers, they told Willimon, saw work and play as two entirely separate spheres, not to be intermixed. Brains, it seemed to them, were approved for use in the classroom only. </p>
<p>In fact, Cleaver, who worked in Duke's admissions office in the 1980s, recalls having conversations with fellow admissions officers about specific applicants who seemed "too intellectual." Would they fit in? Would they be able to find a peer group on campus and truly be satisfied with the Duke experience?"</p>
<p>So I'm just wondering if what the article said is true anymore. When I visited I liked the environment of Duke and all, but would really like to hear any thoughts current Duke students have about the issues this article brings up. Thanks :)!</p>
<p>Thanks, Byerly. You're the best.</p>
<p>I believe another Duke student phrased the answer better than I could.
</p>
<p>Perhaps he/she found himself/herself in a gaggle of philosophy majors, in which case it is totally understandable. lol.</p>
<p>If we lose 80% to HYPS, I'd be shocked if the number to Stanford wasn't lower. I can't imagine we lose as many kids to Stanford as we do to Harvard.</p>
<p>I haven't seen any t-shirts in Durham proclaiming Stanford the "Duke of the West."</p>
<p>Uh, what?</p>
<p>Do Stanford students have t-shirts that claim Duke is the Stanford of the South?</p>
<p>Because we certainly don't.</p>
<p>No but I heard they do have "Harvard--Stanford of the East".</p>
<p>LOL. Notice they don't even try to compare themselves to us. ;)</p>
<p>I haven't seen t-shirts, but I've heard Stanford referred to as "The Harvard of the West" and Duke as "The Harvard of the South"...</p>