Duke or Dartmouth?
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Anonymous
| My DS is trying to decide where to ED this coming year, and we're looking for more insights on how to compare both. He is looking to major in Economics or something like PPE and likes both schools a lot for their access to nature and strong professional opportunities. It seems Dartmouth is slightly easier to get into than Duke but we're trying to focus on where the best fit and opportunities for him will be. TIA! |
Anonymous
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Duke hands down |
Anonymous
| Dartmouth will be easier for sure - don't waste your ED on Duke if you don't have a hook. |
Anonymous
| Both are phenomenal schools and IMO provide some of the best undergrad educations in the country. Something to consider would be Dartmouth’s D-plan which provides flexibility for mid-year internships if your son would fancy that. Dartmouth is also much smaller overall and has no big sports culture so try to find out which environment your son would thrive in! In terms of weather, be prepared for Dartmouth winters, they’re long and brutal but can be beautiful and build greater bonding with classmates as people are often stuck inside unless skiing. Summers in NH are also beautiful and have a great climate while NC probably gets quite hot. |
Anonymous
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Dartmouth College has better access to nature; Durham, NC isn't great, but Duke's campus is nice.
New England or Lower Mid-Atlantic/Upper South ? |
Anonymous
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I absolutely love both of these schools.
I think he should ED to the one where he had a stronger chance of getting accepted. That is very likely to be Dartmouth. |
Anonymous
| Davidson College might be of interest based on your son's majors and interest in the outdoors. |
Anonymous
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Dartmouth hands down
Duke is too striver and aesthetically gross |
Anonymous
Can you elaborate? |
Anonymous
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Dartmouth. No question. Not even close.
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Anonymous
Dartmouth, but I am biased because that's what I picked 30 years ago  .
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Anonymous
| It's a tough decision that many kids have to make each year (possibly hundreds). It looks like when given the choice 61% pick Duke and 39% pick Dartmouth, and that's likely very based on fit as opportunities will be strong from both. |
Anonymous
Duke is like Penn Lotta New Jersey, westchester, Long Island Dartmouth has way happier alums and way more bucolic |
Anonymous
| Dartmouth is the easier admit. Duke is near impossible. Not a good fit if you don’t get in!. Dartmouth is So beautiful and way more outdoorsy and smaller community. Go D plan! |
Anonymous
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Both schools are considered peers. The things that stand out for me for each school are:
Dartmouth: college more along the lines of elite small colleges like a Williams or Amherst, isolated campus in the sticks where any student who doesn't enjoy frat/party scene might feel isolated, a relatively strong school spirit around its sports teams compared to other ivies. Duke: mid-sized university with many pre-professional students, with outsized school spirit due to MBB, big party scene. Ideally you will be able to visit both before making the decision. |