<p>Financial aid isn't a determining factor. But I toured Emory and loved the campus as the location (I think it was just being right outside of Atlanta) but I felt the school spirit was a little lacking. However, having the CDC on campus was positive. I'm going to the Duke Blue Devil Days in 2 weeks but I'm not touring Vanderbilt. I think I would like the city of Nashville but it just isn't possible to get there before the deadline to tour. One factor however is that Duke has the major in which I am highly interested in, being Evolutionary Anthropology while the other two do not. Also I was wondering if "Brand" name connotations would be a factor later as I plan to apply to medical school with Duke being the best followed by Emory possibly? I was just wondering what do you all think as far as the social scene goes for Duke and your opinions on my options.</p>
<p>I prefer Vanderbilt to the others (Nashville > Durham), but I would choose Duke over Emory (more school spirit, etc.).</p>
<p>If Duke is the only school under consideration that offers your major, then I would suggest that your college decision has already been made.</p>
<p>During our family visits, Duke felt more “East Coast” while both Vandy and Emory felt “Southern”. Obviously this statement is wildly subjective, although Duke has far more New York/New Jersey/New England students.</p>
<p>All three will be noted by med school adcoms as impressive, but your grades and test scores will be FAR more important. Thus, attending where you will be most comfortable and able to thrive is a higher priority than brand recognition.</p>
<p>Thanks so much I hadn’t thought out regional differences as I am from the south.</p>
<p>I was in your position one year ago, in regards to deciding between Vanderbilt and Duke. </p>
<p>Like rmldad is saying, if only one school offers your major, then that makes it a bit clearer. However, majors are often subject to quite a bit of change through the college process. The major that you are interested might not seem quite as ideal once you are actually taking classes, so it would be good to be quite sure that this is the avenue you wish to pursue.</p>
<p>I did definitely prefer nashville to durham, as I spent time in both cities to decide. There is also a difference in how the campus fits into the town. With Vanderbilt, the campus is in sort of a small concentrated bubble with the city all around. The area around Duke reminded me of my hometown; it is in the middle of an area with a suburban feel.</p>
<p>I would also agree with rmldad about the atmospheres of the two schools. When I went to blue devil days, I got a more competitive or fast paced feeling from the university and the students. Just talking to other admitted students, there seemed to be more gunners and competitive types. People also seemed a bit nerdier, but not necessarily more intellectual. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt students seemed a bit more relaxed and not as direct in communicating their stats/accomplishments/ambitions.</p>
<p>I think that both schools would do equally as well in getting you into a medical school, as they both have ample research opportunities at nearby hospitals.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the schools were quite similar. I really liked Duke and could have easily gone there, but their financial aid offer was not as good, and I liked Vanderbilt about equally as well. I would advise you to take some sort of look here, even if you have to take a self guided tour. You might be able to contact the admissions office even, and see if they would be able to make a special circumstance for you. It is hard to compare schools if you have never been to one of them.</p>
<p>Ashton, congrats on your three options. Mom of Duke grad here, and of a senior male at Vandy this year. Also lived in Atlanta four times and worked in a program affiliated with Emory Medical. I know Emory.<br>
Sorry you will not come to see Vanderbilt. Should you not feel comfortable for any reason at Duke and you change your mind…get to Nashville.<br>
Vanderbilt has pulled far ahead of Emory in terms of the caliber of students admitted from across the nation. Also Emory is recovering from confessing to admissions officers who deliberately turned in lies as stats for years. We had a very strange experience when Vandy son was admitted to Emory (Duke son works in Atlanta). I knew something was off in admissions. </p>
<p>Where you will be best served as a premed is where you are happiest and more fulfilled as a person. My Duke and Vandy sons have the advantages of having 1600 people in their classes who are all top students and interesting people to get peer learning from.</p>
<p>Emory advantages: They don’t have a lot of Lecture Halls so many classes are small. The Feds are in Atlanta and so are a LOT of research and internship opportunities.
I thought their science teachers were very accessible. But the Emory campus life is not as undergraduate cozy as it is at Duke and at Vanderbilt, and obviously the sports life is lackluster…where at Duke and Vandy you can root for your school for a lifetime. Duke has some great Alum Clubs…son very active in his in Atlanta. Vanderbilt’s national status will result in strong alum chapters…something that can really give you some aid as you enter the work force. </p>
<p>Emory would like to address their disjointed residential life but real estate is difficult to change in the Emory/CDC campus area. The Emory hospital I think is moving away from the undergrad campus. I really don’t like their upperclassman residence halls you get to by shuttle. Looks like a string of nice enough hotels with a swimming pool.<br>
The best residential college concept colleges in the USA include Yale and Rice. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt has constructed a world class all new freshman only campus that is a huge success, and Duke’s older former Trinity College not airconditioned (largely) all freshman residence hall campus is surprisingly loved by Dukies who recall that year fondly before moving to the Gothic campus. All freshman campuses help you bond before you all shake out into your own majors, clubs and frats and activities.</p>
<p>If for some reason, you are not thrilled on Blue Devil Day, I will come out and say…you should send in your deposit to Vanderbilt over Emory. Although Emory is indeed in Atlanta, it is not a neighborhood that is fun to be in without getting in your car and heading to Decatur or VA Highlands or Midtown. Vandy has an easy breezy open access to its edge of the city location more like Rice in Rice Village in Houston. </p>
<p>Do I think Atlanta is a great city for the young. You bet. Was young there four times. </p>
<p>Your chances at premed success have a lot to do with your own discipline and your Vision and MCAT scores. But Vandy and Duke are teaching students with all the same test scores basically. The hospital at Vanderbilt is a stroll away from the undergrad campus.</p>
<p>good luck on your good problem.</p>