Duke vs. Harvard

[Anonymous]

Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

I didn't attend either, but indirectly you are proving the value of the Harvard brand. You could name three people associated with the school off the tip of your tongue and you are disparaging the school...I could name Gates, Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, the Winklevie Twins, Ken Griffin also off the tip of my tongue.

For Duke...I can name some basketball players...Grant Hill, Cooper Flagg...but honestly, I can't name a single Duke grad in business, politics, etc. that just springs to mind.

Of course there are accomplished alumni and if I did a google search, I would likely recognize some names, however, just proving that the Harvard brand continues to be powerful.

[Anonymous]

I went to Duke, and loved it, but I would choose Harvard.

DD is deciding whether to EA Harvard or ED Duke and has chosen Duke for a host of reasons which make sense. But if acceptances for both were in hand, I'd encourage her to accept Harvard.

Both absolutely fantastic schools. Respectfully to all those who disagree, I do think Duke is a lot closer to HYPSM than lower Ivy, sorry, but lots of ignorance on DCUM about this.

Going there is such a fun, well rounded experience, as well as the academic rigor/opportunities getting to a point of just off the charts, and that part of NC is my favorite place in the country.... but I just think the Harvard brand on a resume is too valuable to pass up. Duke has a great brand, great alumni network, etc. But no school IMHO is at the level of Harvard for opening doors.

Congrats on these fantastic options and best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

I didn't attend either, but indirectly you are proving the value of the Harvard brand. You could name three people associated with the school off the tip of your tongue and you are disparaging the school...I could name Gates, Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, the Winklevie Twins, Ken Griffin also off the tip of my tongue.

For Duke...I can name some basketball players...Grant Hill, Cooper Flagg...but honestly, I can't name a single Duke grad in business, politics, etc. that just springs to mind.

Of course there are accomplished alumni and if I did a google search, I would likely recognize some names, however, just proving that the Harvard brand continues to be powerful.

I can name a Duke alum who wasn’t an athlete — Stephen Miller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

I didn't attend either, but indirectly you are proving the value of the Harvard brand. You could name three people associated with the school off the tip of your tongue and you are disparaging the school...I could name Gates, Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, the Winklevie Twins, Ken Griffin also off the tip of my tongue.

For Duke...I can name some basketball players...Grant Hill, Cooper Flagg...but honestly, I can't name a single Duke grad in business, politics, etc. that just springs to mind.

Of course there are accomplished alumni and if I did a google search, I would likely recognize some names, however, just proving that the Harvard brand continues to be powerful.

I can name a Duke alum who wasn’t an athlete — Stephen Miller.

I will give you that one. Forgot about him, but agree he is someone that might be on the tip of the tongue for many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

I didn't attend either, but indirectly you are proving the value of the Harvard brand. You could name three people associated with the school off the tip of your tongue and you are disparaging the school...I could name Gates, Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, the Winklevie Twins, Ken Griffin also off the tip of my tongue.

For Duke...I can name some basketball players...Grant Hill, Cooper Flagg...but honestly, I can't name a single Duke grad in business, politics, etc. that just springs to mind.

Of course there are accomplished alumni and if I did a google search, I would likely recognize some names, however, just proving that the Harvard brand continues to be powerful.

I can name a Duke alum who wasn’t an athlete — Stephen Miller.

I will give you that one. Forgot about him, but agree he is someone that might be on the tip of the tongue for many people.

Have you heard of Melinda French Gates, Richard Nixon, Elizabeth Dole, Tim Cook, Charlie Rose....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

I didn't attend either, but indirectly you are proving the value of the Harvard brand. You could name three people associated with the school off the tip of your tongue and you are disparaging the school...I could name Gates, Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, the Winklevie Twins, Ken Griffin also off the tip of my tongue.

For Duke...I can name some basketball players...Grant Hill, Cooper Flagg...but honestly, I can't name a single Duke grad in business, politics, etc. that just springs to mind.

Of course there are accomplished alumni and if I did a google search, I would likely recognize some names, however, just proving that the Harvard brand continues to be powerful.

I can name a Duke alum who wasn’t an athlete — Stephen Miller.

I will give you that one. Forgot about him, but agree he is someone that might be on the tip of the tongue for many people.

Have you heard of Melinda French Gates, Richard Nixon, Elizabeth Dole, Tim Cook, Charlie Rose....

Stick to undergrad, Nixon attended Duke law, but will admit you really have something going with Nixon and Miller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

I didn't attend either, but indirectly you are proving the value of the Harvard brand. You could name three people associated with the school off the tip of your tongue and you are disparaging the school...I could name Gates, Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, the Winklevie Twins, Ken Griffin also off the tip of my tongue.

For Duke...I can name some basketball players...Grant Hill, Cooper Flagg...but honestly, I can't name a single Duke grad in business, politics, etc. that just springs to mind.

Of course there are accomplished alumni and if I did a google search, I would likely recognize some names, however, just proving that the Harvard brand continues to be powerful.

I can name a Duke alum who wasn’t an athlete — Stephen Miller.

I will give you that one. Forgot about him, but agree he is someone that might be on the tip of the tongue for many people.

Have you heard of Melinda French Gates, Richard Nixon, Elizabeth Dole, Tim Cook, Charlie Rose....

Tim Cook? He went to Auburn. We aren't talking grad school.

I am not saying Duke doesn't have well known alums that you would recognize if you did a google search.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is a grants lifelong access to movers and shakers. I am an alum and live abroad currently. Joined the alumni club to meet people and the first event I attended was hosted by the president of the country I live in. Just one tiny example from a long life of enjoying good conversation with interesting people. Not everything is about making money or getting ahead.

A lot of Harvard people are insufferable boors whose main achievement in life was attending Harvard.

But if you get off on being around people like Larry Summers, Bill Ackman, and Alan Dershowitz, maybe spending four years as a largely ignored undergraduate at Harvard is worth it.

I didn't attend either, but indirectly you are proving the value of the Harvard brand. You could name three people associated with the school off the tip of your tongue and you are disparaging the school...I could name Gates, Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, the Winklevie Twins, Ken Griffin also off the tip of my tongue.

For Duke...I can name some basketball players...Grant Hill, Cooper Flagg...but honestly, I can't name a single Duke grad in business, politics, etc. that just springs to mind.

Of course there are accomplished alumni and if I did a google search, I would likely recognize some names, however, just proving that the Harvard brand continues to be powerful.

DP.

My kid has no interest in being a billionaire or hobnobbing with dignitaries (thank goodness).

If your kid wants a happy, productive life both schools suffice. My advice to my kid would absolutely be to pick the one that makes you happier.

[Anonymous]

David Rubenstein. JB Pritzker, John Mack, Adam Silver, new mayor of SF, etc.

I am not beginning to argue that Duke is even close to Harvard on this. But there are some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:David Rubenstein. JB Pritzker, John Mack, Adam Silver, new mayor of SF, etc.

I am not beginning to argue that Duke is even close to Harvard on this. But there are some.

Most people have never heard of any of these guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:David Rubenstein. JB Pritzker, John Mack, Adam Silver, new mayor of SF, etc.

I am not beginning to argue that Duke is even close to Harvard on this. But there are some.

Most people have never heard of any of these guys.

Way to broadcast your ignorance then. Greater than zero chance Pritzker is our next potus. Wouldn’t bet my life on it. And Rubenstein is crazy rich from Carlyle plus super philanthropic plus I think does some interview show. Every boy knows Adam Silver.

I love the know it all dcum contrarians who in their effort to prove how witty they are just showcase their ignorance.

And again, I’m not saying Duke is close to Harvard.

Btw, one can make a good argument for Penn. Not all morally upstanding people but they have Trump, Musk, new ceo of Apple, and Sundar Pichai got his mba there. Not bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:David Rubenstein. JB Pritzker, John Mack, Adam Silver, new mayor of SF, etc.

I am not beginning to argue that Duke is even close to Harvard on this. But there are some.

Most people have never heard of any of these guys.

Way to broadcast your ignorance then. Greater than zero chance Pritzker is our next potus. Wouldn’t bet my life on it. And Rubenstein is crazy rich from Carlyle plus super philanthropic plus I think does some interview show. Every boy knows Adam Silver.

I love the know it all dcum contrarians who in their effort to prove how witty they are just showcase their ignorance.

And again, I’m not saying Duke is close to Harvard.

Btw, one can make a good argument for Penn. Not all morally upstanding people but they have Trump, Musk, new ceo of Apple, and Sundar Pichai got his mba there. Not bad.

The point is not that Duke doesn't have famous alumni...but rather anyone who didn't attend has to do a google search for them...other than the famous basketball players.

I didn't go to Harvard yet was able to rattle off 10 famous grads off the top of my head. Just saying the Harvard brand is powerful in that it's prominent in their back story. I just now am thinking of Gabby Thomas who like every time she ran in the Olympics they would comment on her being a Harvard grad. I doubt if she went to literally any other school if the announcers would have constantly mentioned it (though probably if she went to MIT or CalTech or another top ranked D3 school...considering I doubt any D3 track stars have ever made an olympic team in recent years).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:David Rubenstein. JB Pritzker, John Mack, Adam Silver, new mayor of SF, etc.

I am not beginning to argue that Duke is even close to Harvard on this. But there are some.

Most people have never heard of any of these guys.

Way to broadcast your ignorance then.

I never said I've never heard of them. My point was not one is well known, and if you stopped the average American and asked them, I'd be willing to bet most would have never heard of a single one.