<p>USC v. Duke!
Hey everyone, I have a big decision to make. I just got accepted off of the waitlist at Duke, but have already committed to USC with a Dean's scholarship (10,000). Basically Duke would be about 10,000 more per year than USC. My parents are fine with either and want me to choose. I am wondering which is better for me. Both seem to have everything I seek in a campus - a good balance between academics and extracurriculars, great sports, research opportunities, strong pre-med programs, and a fun group of students. Duke is appealing to me because of their admit rate of students who get into medical school (85% versus about 50% at USC). Both alumni connections are huge, but obviously USC is a little stronger here in Southern California. I am debating between majoring in biology or kinesiology and I ultimately need to decide if I want to be far from home or not. Anyone facing the same decision that could help me out? Your thoughts and advice are greatly appreciated!! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>USC’s cost of attendance is quite a bit higher than Duke’s so the difference would actually be a lot less than the scholarship of $10000. Plus you can never go wrong with Duke biology.</p>
<p>Duke is worth paying up to 50K extra over USC, especially if your parents can afford it. Its a much more undergraduate focused university and has a lot more resources for each student. Duke also has a much more established system of connecting students with clinical research opportunities. The Keck School of Medicine is an up and comer but is not in the same league.</p>
<p>I visited both schools and really didn’t like USC. Its a great school academically, but the area wasn’t great to me and I felt that Duke campus and friendliness was a lot better. Obviously these are really subjective, kind of minute details, but thats my opinion.
Duke has a better med-school placement, which is great, and is in the Triangle where there are tons of internships and research opportunities available.</p>
<p>I think both schools are great! They have different vibes and culture though so be aware. My father went to SC and so I go there often. The sports vibe in insane, somewhat like the Duke UNC BB games, but for SC its the UCLA SC football game. The culture at SC is more laid back and casual. However, as far as the undergrad connections go, contrary to popular belief, are fantastic. The SoCal connections are unbeatable. While I would say that Duke’s campus is amazing, USC is 30 min from the beach and an hour and a half from the mountains and the snow not to mention minutes from the amenities of LA. I would encourage you to find the best school for you, the rankings and everyone else’s opinions can only tell you so much! Best of luck and Fight On/Go Bluedevils!</p>
<p>The only problem with USC is it’s like living in the green zone in Iraq. You need to be back on campus by sundown and you can’t walk 3 blocks down the street at night to eat pizza.</p>
<p>@bud123
yes that is somewhat true, however the university has bought up most of the surrounding area and have constant security patrolling the areas. As a young female, with others of course, I have been off campus after dark and not been worried. Just don’t venture too far…or you might end up in South Central…</p>
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I don’t agree with this assessment at all. While LA and its colleges are relaxed relative to places like the Northeast, it’s pretty hectic and uptight compared to many parts of the South. Duke is a bit more intense than USC academically, but USC has the more intense social scene.</p>
<p>Duke is really a great school overall.</p>
<p>@warblersrule
When I said it was casual and laid back I meant more in the attitude. You’re absolutley right about the social scene. But I meant as in the attire and socail attitude compared the NE and Ivy schools. Not as in a laid back and causal because its not intense. And Duke is not a southern school. It is more comparable to Ivys than Clemson or UVA.</p>
<p>Duke is part of ACC and not Ivy league. And of course Duke is a southern school, or else it would lose its charm.</p>
<p>Well Duke is comparable to the ivies whilst managing to retain its southern charm. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Also, has the OP taken his relatively easy decision yet?</p>
<p>I think Duke and Stanford are more comparable than Duke and Ivies.</p>
<p>I think the point trying to be made is that Duke and the Ivies/northeastern schools are closer in aesthetic and feel than say, Duke and Rice or another southern school. Or maybe I’m misreading.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m a CA resident who has had many family/friends go to USC and been there many times myself…while their spirit is pretty comparable, Duke is arguably prettier, has better academics, safer campus, more prestige, more programs for undergrads, etc. And this is anecdotal, but of the dozens of Duke and USC students I’ve known, I’ve heard many lukewarm responses about attending USC and never anything but diehard love for Duke. I understand USC is offering you some money, but your payments will end up roughly equal given the disparity in cost between the schools…and given the statistics, I’d argue that Duke is going to open up more doors for you vocationally as well. </p>
<p>In short–come be a part of our class!!</p>
<p>texas, I completely agree with that assessment. Frankly, the way forward for Duke is to model itself on Stanford. Place a heavy emphasis on entrepreneurship, and emerge as a legitimate rival to HYP. Chicago is beginning to model itself on Harvard and Yale, I see no reason why Duke shouldn’t strive to become the stanford of the East. Not just with respect to a few niche fields of expertise, but in general. We must attempt to fill the entrepreneurial void on the East Coast, and develop a symbiotic relationship with RTP on the same lines as the one Stanford cultivated with Silicon Valley.</p>
<p>While I agree that duke and stanford are very comparable, I was comparing Duke to the ivies on terms of academic rigor. And duke is NOT a southern school, yes it is in the south, yes it has southern charm, but it is not a southern school. Auburn, Ole Miss, Clemson and LSU are southern schools. I do think however that the amount of enthusiasm for the school varies on who you talk to. When my father passes by other trojans wearing USC hats, they always say “fight on”. there is very much trojan pride. However, Duke by far, for most things except cinema and dentistry, is superior academically.</p>
<p>Once again, I concur. Duke and USC are not even remotely close to being academic peers at the undergraduate level. Comparing them is tantamount to comparing Harvard with Emory. Having said that, USC does provide a well rounded college experience for the moderately serious student, and appears to offer a good quality of life. I’m not bashing USC in any way, I have good friends who go there, but its no Duke by any stretch of the imagination. I usually admit that I am biased in favor of Duke, but this decision is an easy one from anyone’s (academic) perspective.</p>
<p>
On an entirely unrelated note, I’ve always admired USC for that. It takes a particular kind of courage to choose as a mascot a people who had their city burned to the ground, men slaughtered, and women raped/taken captive. Bodes well for games…</p>
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Well, obviously Duke is not a southern school along the lines of Ole Miss or Tennessee. My point was that each school is influenced by its location. Social life in Durham is more along the lines of Shooters than anything in, say, WeHo. USC is heavily influenced by LA - with all that entails - whereas Duke is more of a bubble and, in my opinion, consequently a great deal more casual socially. </p>
<p>In terms of how students dress, what they’re striving for post-graduation, etc., yes, USC is probably a bit more casual than Duke, which is closer to the Ivies in that respect.</p>
<p>That is really funny. My father also went to USC, and I never thought of the Trojan mascot that way. Well i guess it’s better to be a Trojan than a Bruin, considering we raped them 50-0 at football last year. But to concur with @warblersrule, Duke is the superior academic institution, with USC climbing in the ranks. And yes, while Duke is not a “southern” school, it does have aspects of the south, as it is in a southern town. In regards to the person who is really important here, the one making the decision, go wherever you feel you will be the happiest! In the long run, it will most likely not matter whether you choose Duke (and get a kickass basketball experience) or USC (and get a kickass football experience).</p>