<p>i am a duke alum and my sister goes to penn. in terms of undergraduate academics, both schools are pretty comparable. you will get a solid education at both, no doubt. in terms of experiences outside the classroom, both of us actually think that duke does a better job. since both places are highly preprofessional, it would make sense that the schools themselves offer plenty of opportunities to engage in meaningful extracurriculars. throughout my time at duke, i’ve found relevant employment and civic and research opportunities to be very accessible. on the other hand, my sister has had a more difficult time seeking out these opportunities, although they exist they are not as readily available. so wherever you apply, be it duke or penn or another school, definitely take the time to ask about the ease of accessibility of what the school advertises in its glossy brochures b/c it is an important consideration.</p>