How are they in terms of prestige? Is Duke at a disadvantage because it’s not an ivy?
social life? atmosphere? location?
Prestige among these three is essentially the same, though it depends on who you ask. I don’t see being non-Ivy as a disadvantage and I went to an Ivy. Duke has the weather advantage (unless you like cold weather). My concern about Dartmouth would be the quarter system and what is apparently a culture where fraternities are a big part of the social life, though I have friends that loved their experience at Dartmouth. I assume you are considering ED at these. If not, just apply to all three and see where you get in. All are so difficult to get into that most applicants do not end up being able to choose among three ultra-selective schools. Sounds like you should not ED to any of them.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Personal preference. All are on the “high end” of social life among elite universities. I don’t know why you’d possibly think that Duke would be at a disadvantage not being an Ivy.
Penn and Duke are more similar to each either than either is to Dartmouth. In fact, I’d say they’re perhaps the most similar of any of the top private universities. Both offer a good mix of academics, campus life, and school spirit. The additional business and nursing undergraduate programs makes Penn a bit bigger, but both are medium-sized universities. Both are in consortiums, Penn with the Quaker schools (Swat, Bryn Mawr, Haverford) and Duke with UNC. Between Penn and Duke, the largest difference is Penn’s urban location vs. Duke’s location in a significantly smaller (but decently large and rapidly growing) city.
http://www.upenn.edu/life-at-penn/philadelphia
http://admissions.duke.edu/setting/region
Dartmouth runs on the quarter system, is significantly more rural, and has graduate programs only in the sciences, making it quite a bit different from the other two.
@bluegreenyello - city / rural / suburban. All totally different. Which is the best to go into school in?
Duke offers the better combination of academics, sports(school spirit) and weather. Fantastic school.
Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry. Which is the best ice cream flavor?