Pulling my hair out trying to decide. Pretty adaptable feel like I’d be happy anywhere tbh and the two schools are so similar to me.
Location: Not sure what Durham is like?
Housing: Duke’s seemed pretty dismal. Is the distance from east to west really noticeable during freshmen year? Do most upperclassmen live in the apartments in central or on west campus? Do the apartments kind of destroy the college-feel?
Greek/Social Life: It’s important to me that the social scene is thriving. I like to party and prefer a looser college atmosphere in terms of campus rules. I’m Asian and I want to potentially go into Greek life, if anyone has any insight into racism in sororities at vandy or duke (heard that’s a thing?) would like to know. I understand vandy is more southern and I’m from the south so southern culture is fine to me. I enjoy the feel of Vanderbilt’s campus more but am afraid it may be too racially self segregated (anecdotally heard that people hang out with others of same race; this might be the case at Duke too though).
Academics: they are both fine in this regard although I’m guessing in terms of at least faculty Duke pulls ahead. Any insight into grade inflation/deflation at the two schools would be appreciated.
Prestige: I understand Duke is a more (perhaps marginally) prestigious institution. I have no idea what I want to do in or after college (could swing from history to med school to finance) and know that Duke will put me in better shape in terms of grad school and job placement but I’m not sure if this difference is worth sacrificing a somewhat happier college experience (I’d be happy anywhere though). It is a necessity to me that I make enough money in the future (have to support family) and this is a primary consideration for any job I may pursue. I know money isn’t everything but to me it is.
Post grad: Would love any insight esp about placement for Vanderbilt students at top grad school institutions and the street. I would really like to move to the west after college and I am not sure if a vandy reputation will hold nearly as well there as duke’s. Basically, is duke’s prestige and job placement in the west/NE so much better than vandy’s that it’s worth a marginally(!) worse fit of a school? I know college is ultimately what you make of it but I just need to hear someone else’s opinion. Also know a lot more about Vandy because have a lot of friends there but don’t know anything about Duke outside of what’s on its website
Cost is essentially the same; 90% total cost covered by need based aid for both schools.
You should completely disregard any trace of any idea that there is a tangible difference in academic quality between these two. They get their professors from the same top PhD programs, and their students from the same top tier of graduating high schoolers. Placement & grad school admission…No difference.
Probably the biggest difference is the surrounding city. Walk across the street from Vandy, and you’ve got restaurants and bars and stores; down the street you’ve got Nashville’s lively entertainment district. At Duke, getting off campus is not as easy, and when you do, there isn’t as much there.
You basically have to take a shuttle from east campus to west campus. I suppose you can bike it in reasonable time… It’s about 2 miles walking/biking between east and west campus. Durham itself isn’t much of a city. You do have the Bulls for minor league baseball within walking distance in the old downtown. Basically it’s not going to compare to Nashville socially. Duke has lots of frat parties but it’s been about 35 years since I went to a Duke frat party. I think I’ve read it on here as one of the main centers of social life at Duke but not the only thing.
Go with whichever makes you feel the happiest. D will be attending Vandy and while she is not interested in greek lives, she feels that she became more social when she was there, and she feels happy there, and thinks she can improve her social skills too. Also the best food, to her, that is the most important consideration! She feels that school is not too south for her, while a lot of kids have the same beliefs as her and she can find her tribe there. D feels Asian girls are more part of the groups, as compared to Asian males. But I believe sometimes the racial segregation is due to people’s own tendency to only socialize within their own culture and we all need to be aware of that tendency and get out of our comfort zone.
D, as part of Robertson trip, stayed in Duke over a long weekend. She doesn’t like the dorms. It is also hard to get to Duke via flights.
To us, without robertson, D is full pay at Duke and Vandy is only room and board. No brainer between the two. Best of luck!!
I personally would go with Vandy. There is a much livelier social scene and it’s reputation is just as impressive as Duke’s. Vandy will open many doors and will not close any, however Duke MIGHT be more of a match if one desires finance.
That’s the one I would have picked ! Nashville is a fascinating city: music capital, state capital, education center, & you will be in a great position to take advantage of all of it. Good luck!
but from what you said above, it had Vanderbilt all over it…