<p>so i'm a senior and i really want to apply early decision to one of these but i can't decide which one. For a while i was set on Upenn but now i think maybe duke. i'm not really sure.</p>
<p>i know both are excellent academically, so i guess i'm wondering which one has a better overall atmosphere. </p>
<p>i guess my question is, if you were to pick between the two schools, which one would you choose and why?</p>
<p>i'd love to hear some input from anyone currently attending either school</p>
<p>I do not attend either school, but UPenn does not offer loans it offers grants. Duke on the other hand will include loans in your financial aid package. If financial aid is something you will apply for, then UPenn would be a better choice, and overall their financial aid is better. </p>
<p>If however you do not need financial aid, then disregard the above. Also remember that Philadelphia is a larger city than Durham and therefore is more likely to have attractive features beside just the university.</p>
<p>By the law of CC, UPenn is an Ivy, thus > Duke. /thread</p>
<p>“so i’m a senior and i really want to apply early decision to one of these but i can’t decide which one.”</p>
<p>Then you have no business applying ED to either.</p>
<p>I am in a similar position though i am applying for phd programs at duke and penn so I thought I might be able to shed some light on the question. </p>
<p>First examine your intended major and judge the strength of the program. Are you looking at a department that has 10 faculty or 50 faculty? </p>
<p>Does either school have interesting certificates or special programs that might enhance your undergrad experience? For example, if you studying microbiology, could you also get a certificate in biotechnology? What internships, externships or research experiences could you get at each of these institutions?</p>
<p>Examine the class lists and decide if they address your area well. Are all of the classes “intro to” or “principles of” or do they have more in depth and applicable courses?</p>
<p>Visit the campuses and cities that these schools are in. Duke is in research triangle and has a more rural feel whereas Penn is as urban as you get. Are you going to need a car? Probably not in Penn but probably so at Duke.</p>
<p>How much time are you willing to put into non academics? I believe that undergrads at Duke are obligated to live on campus whereas at Penn they get apartments and live like adults. Do you think you’ll be ready for increased responsibility or do you want to focus your efforts strictly on academics?</p>
<p>Do you have family/friends in either area? That makes more of a difference than you would expect.</p>
<p>I think that noobcake is being disingenuous about applying to a place merely on its rankings. There isn’t a substantial difference in the quality of faculty within the various groups of schools. Professors at Harvard and Stanford are educated at schools like U of Minnesota or Vanderbilt. As long as you are restricting your applications to schools of significant size and reputation, I wouldn’t worry about the rankings.</p>
<p>If you have more specific questions, feel free to pm me.</p>
<p>“I am in a similar position though i am applying for phd programs at duke and penn so I thought I might be able to shed some light on the question.”</p>
<p>You can’t apply “ED” to graduate school.</p>
<p>well i do like the urban feel of penn but i also love the school spirit at duke.
i’m unsure of what i want to study, maybe economics but that’s not really a sure thing at all.
as for duke, is living in durham bad? is there anything to do in the city?</p>
<p>For economics, it is probably better at Duke, bc at Penn you will have to compete with Wharton ppl. But at Duke economics is what business ppl study.</p>
<p>Penn Ivy, Duke not
Penn Cosmopolitan area, Duke, very Rural area
Penn non fratty, non sports crazy, Duke the very opposite
Penn, North East, Duke South</p>
<p>Academic quality, etc…similar. I would consider either one for grad school, not undergrad…just my preference</p>
<p>For law school Penn is better.</p>
<p>Where are you guys getting the idea that Duke is in a rural area??? It’s in Durham! That’s a fairly large city in North Carolina!</p>
<p>Both schools have terrific academics but they are very different culturally and geographically. Where are you from ?</p>
<p>Penn is quite fratty.</p>
<p>i’m from miami, florida
i wouldn’t mind south or northeast
i’m just unsure which one has a better atmosphere. which one would you go to if you wanted to get a great education but also enjoy your time in college.
where are the people more laid back and interesting and aren’t so competitive that its annoying.</p>
<p>“I do not attend either school, but UPenn does not offer loans it offers grants. Duke on the other hand will include loans in your financial aid package. If financial aid is something you will apply for, then UPenn would be a better choice, and overall their financial aid is better.”</p>
<p>Lets not spread rumors. I don’t attend either schools, but was accepted to both. The financial aid offers that I received were equal. Both schools included loans in their offer. Duke, however, has this initiative replacing loans with grants for family with income under 40,000. (either 40 or 60…can’t remember).</p>
<p>collegeboundp, Duke recruits heavily from Miami (for whatever reason) They are heavy with TIP down there (starting with kids in junior high). I find that people are more familiar with Duke than with Penn, and that’s probably the reason why..</p>
<p>If you like the city life (Grove, Sunset, Miracle Mile…) then go for Penn. If you like to hang out in Homestead and Perrine, then go to Duke. The area is not much different…</p>
<p>New financial aid packages at Penn dont have loans:</p>
<p>As part of that commitment, students from families with annual incomes of less than $100,000 who qualified for need-based aid will not have loans included as part of their financial aid package beginning in Fall 2008. In Fall 2009 this policy will extend to all families who qualify for need-based aid. As a result, students from these families will be able to graduate debt-free. Penn is steadfast in its commitment to make an extraordinary education both affordable and accessible; these tenets will continue to guide our efforts for this and many years to come.</p>
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<p>California, Texas and Florida? Upenn? I’d be surprised if that were true - seems like most kids are from PA, NY, NJ, OH and other east coast or midwest states. Can’t find the data but I know I’ve seen a map of where the class of 2011 came from. 13% was international - that’s the only number I remember.</p>
<p>Oops - have to correct myself. Today the Daily Pennsylvanian reports:</p>
<p>"According to Dean of Admissions Eric Furda, the class of 2012 marked the first year that the state of California had the highest number of applicants to the University, superpassing both New York and Pennyslvania.</p>
<p>California had 2,620 applicants, with New York coming in at 2,550 and Pennsylvania close behind at 2,508.</p>
<p>However, Pennsylvania continues to be the state with the most enrolled students."</p>
<p>[The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian - More California students are Penn dreamin’](<a href=“http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=9d14439e-ef2b-448c-bae4-946b49c811f4]The”>http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=9d14439e-ef2b-448c-bae4-946b49c811f4)</p>
<p>Still not sure about TX and FL though!!</p>
<p>^ See the bottom of this page:</p>
<p>[Penn</a> Admissions: Incoming Class Profile](<a href=“http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/profile/]Penn”>http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/profile/)</p>