Duke vs. Harvard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

OP, is your DS white and Christian? I think there are very few heterosexual, white, and male Christians at Harvard College anymore which is ironic given how it started. Anyway, it makes that demographic a minority on campus and a social misfit in certain ways. Duke appeals more to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

OP, is your DS white and Christian? I think there are very few heterosexual, white, and male Christians at Harvard College anymore which is ironic given how it started. Anyway, it makes that demographic a minority on campus and a social misfit in certain ways. Duke appeals more to them.

You are a true moron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

OP, is your DS white and Christian? I think there are very few heterosexual, white, and male Christians at Harvard College anymore which is ironic given how it started. Anyway, it makes that demographic a minority on campus and a social misfit in certain ways. Duke appeals more to them.

Which university has the highest percentage of white Christian straight males? It's probably not Duke or Harvard, but whatever it is, that's probably where you might want to send your kid. Sounds like it could be a perfect match!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

OP, is your DS white and Christian? I think there are very few heterosexual, white, and male Christians at Harvard College anymore which is ironic given how it started. Anyway, it makes that demographic a minority on campus and a social misfit in certain ways. Duke appeals more to them.

About half the entering class identifies as white at Harvard which is identical to Duke (50 percent to 52 percent, respectively).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

Even this is not correct. Paulson gave Harvard $400 million in 2015 for engineering, and it has shot up the rankings in this area. Now right behind Duke in the US News rankings, the Paulson school of engineering is now ranked ahead of Duke in the more serious international rankings like the Times ranking.

We are talking undergrad. Harvard does well almost everywhere for grad school, which is what something like the Times and all the international rankings care about. But in engineering, very few students go on to grad school. The field changes so quickly.

Some private equity whatever dropping a bazooka of dollars doesn't change Harvard undergrad overnight. I have one kid at a top 20 school known for engineering. DC and their friends didn't even think about Harvard for that field. It doesn't even compete with UIUC, Purdue, or Georgia Tech - or Princeton and Cornell, which had the foresight to invest in engineering far before Harvard woke up.

For undergrad, Duke will often be the better choice - besides those with Wall Street ambitions.

[Anonymous]

If you have to ask, please don't bother with Harvard.
This should be a no brainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

There is another thread about the schools that top employers worldwide like to recruit. Harvard is #5 in the US and Duke #12...both rated highly. However, it's a complete falsity that Harvard has slipped with employers.

Also, Boston always finishes as the #1 most sought after destination for college students. Literally, every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

Even this is not correct. Paulson gave Harvard $400 million in 2015 for engineering, and it has shot up the rankings in this area. Now right behind Duke in the US News rankings, the Paulson school of engineering is now ranked ahead of Duke in the more serious international rankings like the Times ranking.

We are talking undergrad. Harvard does well almost everywhere for grad school, which is what something like the Times and all the international rankings care about. But in engineering, very few students go on to grad school. The field changes so quickly.

Some private equity whatever dropping a bazooka of dollars doesn't change Harvard undergrad overnight. I have one kid at a top 20 school known for engineering. DC and their friends didn't even think about Harvard for that field. It doesn't even compete with UIUC, Purdue, or Georgia Tech - or Princeton and Cornell, which had the foresight to invest in engineering far before Harvard woke up.

For undergrad, Duke will often be the better choice - besides those with Wall Street ambitions.

U.S. News literally ranks the undergrad engineering programs for Duke and Harvard one place apart, i.e. the same. And Harvard is better funded and rising quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

Even this is not correct. Paulson gave Harvard $400 million in 2015 for engineering, and it has shot up the rankings in this area. Now right behind Duke in the US News rankings, the Paulson school of engineering is now ranked ahead of Duke in the more serious international rankings like the Times ranking.

We are talking undergrad. Harvard does well almost everywhere for grad school, which is what something like the Times and all the international rankings care about. But in engineering, very few students go on to grad school. The field changes so quickly.

Some private equity whatever dropping a bazooka of dollars doesn't change Harvard undergrad overnight. I have one kid at a top 20 school known for engineering. DC and their friends didn't even think about Harvard for that field. It doesn't even compete with UIUC, Purdue, or Georgia Tech - or Princeton and Cornell, which had the foresight to invest in engineering far before Harvard woke up.

For undergrad, Duke will often be the better choice - besides those with Wall Street ambitions.

U.S. News literally ranks the undergrad engineering programs for Duke and Harvard one place apart, i.e. the same. And Harvard is better funded and rising quickly.

Or put differently, there is a strong argument for choosing MIT or GaTech over Harvard for engineering, but also a strong argument for choosing those schools over Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

OP, is your DS white and Christian? I think there are very few heterosexual, white, and male Christians at Harvard College anymore which is ironic given how it started. Anyway, it makes that demographic a minority on campus and a social misfit in certain ways. Duke appeals more to them.

About half the entering class identifies as white at Harvard which is identical to Duke (50 percent to 52 percent, respectively).

Dominant culture at Duke is now asian as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke boosters are annoying, dare I say worse than the UVA boosters. If you leave the US, nobody knows what Duke is.

It is the boosters that boost by putting down other schools that are the most irritating.

[Anonymous]

For some students it's better to stand out at Duke than compete with strivers at Harvard. DC needs to decide which is better for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're a huge sports fan, there is zero reason to attend Duke over Harvard.

Engineering would be one reason. And that does tend to be where a lot of smart boys go these days. And Harvard is nothing in that field. Whereas Duke has a solid engineering program.

Also, these days, many employers are wary of this generation of Harvard grads - lazy, entitled, privileged. Outside of investment banking, I don't think there's much of a career bonus for going to Harvard anymore compared to a perfectly good and prestigious school like Duke. And like it or not, lots of students like going to the "big game" with all the hoopla that goes with it.

As a grown adult, I would choose living in Cambridge for four years over Durham every day of the week. But it's not at all unreasonable for students to choose Duke over Harvard in 2026 for their college experience.

OP, is your DS white and Christian? I think there are very few heterosexual, white, and male Christians at Harvard College anymore which is ironic given how it started. Anyway, it makes that demographic a minority on campus and a social misfit in certain ways. Duke appeals more to them.

Which university has the highest percentage of white Christian straight males? It's probably not Duke or Harvard, but whatever it is, that's probably where you might want to send your kid. Sounds like it could be a perfect match!

Liberty University sounds like a perfect fit!

✝️

[Anonymous]

Harvard professors and administrators had way too much entanglement with Jeffrey Epstein. The ick factor is real.

[Anonymous]

My kid had this choice last year (along with some others) and chose Harvard - no regrets