UPenn or Duke for ED?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you cannot go wrong with either of these fabulous schools. As you know, it is very likely that neither one will be an admit. I'd go for the one that's more likely an admit. Which is probably Penn.

Since when is an Ivy school a “more likely admit?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you cannot go wrong with either of these fabulous schools. As you know, it is very likely that neither one will be an admit. I'd go for the one that's more likely an admit. Which is probably Penn.

Since when is an Ivy school a “more likely admit?”

Compared to Duke, multiple ivies are an easier admit. Don’t get too caught up with the Ivy tag, do you really think Cornell is a harder admit than every non-Ivy?

[Anonymous]

From my experience it is usually the parent contacting the professor, pretending to be the student. Pathetic. Not sure if this helps with admission tbh.

[Anonymous]

Does she prefer a more urban campus and setting? Then Penn. Otherwise, Duke.

Either way she has a single digit chance of admission, so she should have a lot of safeties and targets lines up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t she have favorite neuroscience labs or researchers at one of the institutions? I would have thought she would have reached out to 3 or 4 labs any each school already to discuss her interests and see which university is a better fit.

Troll

Not PP, but my dad is a professor at one of these schools, and I can confirm that he gets students contacting him like this all the time.

Let me tell you why this is stupid.

1) high school kids have not had an opportunity to study neuroscience to any reasonable level

2) just because a student is interested in neuroscience doesn’t mean they have an interest in research

3) contacting professors about working with them or with specific questions at colleges that are extremely difficult admits is so presumptuous from a high school student it is laughable for most kids

4) few high school kids understand academics or academic research enough unless they already have family or contacts in academics making this peak absurdity

This number is few when compared to every kid applying to colleges in a given year. But this number is also larger than you would think, especially when you look at the group that is most interested in applying to schools like this. I'm not recommending that students contact professors, but it is surprising to see how many students are actually in a position to have meaningful contact with a professor in this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t she have favorite neuroscience labs or researchers at one of the institutions? I would have thought she would have reached out to 3 or 4 labs any each school already to discuss her interests and see which university is a better fit.

Troll

Not PP, but my dad is a professor at one of these schools, and I can confirm that he gets students contacting him like this all the time.

Let me tell you why this is stupid. (edits)

3) contacting professors about working with them or with specific questions at colleges that are extremely difficult admits is so presumptuous from a high school student it is laughable for most kids

And yet my kid - all on his own - contacted a professor at a top LAC after he read something the professor wrote, and not only did that lead to a summer research position and publication, it was paid. Prof also wrote him a rec (he attended elsewhere) and they still communicate. Many professors are amazing people who love to inspire motivated kids, and this was one of them.

So yes, it happens to some kids. It does not happen for any of the ones that don't try.

[Anonymous]

Duke. Way better location plus the food is awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t she have favorite neuroscience labs or researchers at one of the institutions? I would have thought she would have reached out to 3 or 4 labs any each school already to discuss her interests and see which university is a better fit.

Troll

Not PP, but my dad is a professor at one of these schools, and I can confirm that he gets students contacting him like this all the time.

Let me tell you why this is stupid. (edits)

3) contacting professors about working with them or with specific questions at colleges that are extremely difficult admits is so presumptuous from a high school student it is laughable for most kids

And yet my kid - all on his own - contacted a professor at a top LAC after he read something the professor wrote, and not only did that lead to a summer research position and publication, it was paid. Prof also wrote him a rec (he attended elsewhere) and they still communicate. Many professors are amazing people who love to inspire motivated kids, and this was one of them.

So yes, it happens to some kids. It does not happen for any of the ones that don't try.

PP here. That is great for your kid. He must be passionate about whatever he is studying. I am sure he will do great things. I don’t think this level of interest is common. A different prior poster stated that admittance required this level of interest, which is just not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t she have favorite neuroscience labs or researchers at one of the institutions? I would have thought she would have reached out to 3 or 4 labs any each school already to discuss her interests and see which university is a better fit.

Troll

Not PP, but my dad is a professor at one of these schools, and I can confirm that he gets students contacting him like this all the time.

Let me tell you why this is stupid. (edits)

3) contacting professors about working with them or with specific questions at colleges that are extremely difficult admits is so presumptuous from a high school student it is laughable for most kids

And yet my kid - all on his own - contacted a professor at a top LAC after he read something the professor wrote, and not only did that lead to a summer research position and publication, it was paid. Prof also wrote him a rec (he attended elsewhere) and they still communicate. Many professors are amazing people who love to inspire motivated kids, and this was one of them.

So yes, it happens to some kids. It does not happen for any of the ones that don't try.

PP here. That is great for your kid. He must be passionate about whatever he is studying. I am sure he will do great things. I don’t think this level of interest is common. A different prior poster stated that admittance required this level of interest, which is just not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke. Way better location plus the food is awesome.

Is Philly that bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke. Way better location plus the food is awesome.

Is Philly that bad?

I’d much rather be at Penn’s campus than at Duke.

[Anonymous]

Duke will be a much harder admit. They are stronger in neuroscience and the now have a lower acceptance rate than all of the Ivy League except HYP (and non-Ivy Stanford and MIT). Better weather at Duke too. But Penn is a city so if that matters maybe apply there.

[Anonymous]

They are two very different campuses with totally different cultures. There is a lot of application overlap between both schools, but generally people figure out which one they prefer.

[Anonymous]

I find it really odd that this might be the 5th+ DCUM post on Duke or Penn for ED. I find it equally odd that the decision is somehow based on miniscule differences in academics at the schools...when the schools are just so different from one another due to location, climate, urban vs. very suburban, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke. Way better location plus the food is awesome.

Is Philly that bad?

Yes! Penn is in a pretty rough part of town. Duke's location is great and the weather is milder.