Vandy versus Duke

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke doesn’t really take anyone who isn’t hooked ED. Vandy is harder to predict as they take nearly half the class test optional and seem to have a thing for passion projects, etc . . .

OP. Thanks. This is interesting. I did not know Duke does not take ED unhooked. DS is unhooked.

Not true. Son got into Duke RD: White male, NJ, 1570 SAT no hooks...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please share your experience. DS is deciding between the two for ED. High stat, great ECs, social sciences. Thanks.

Social Sciences neither.

Do you not read what is going on in this country?

If you must Duke. Vandy is just beyond dumb at this point in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke doesn’t really take anyone who isn’t hooked ED. Vandy is harder to predict as they take nearly half the class test optional and seem to have a thing for passion projects, etc . . .

OP. Thanks. This is interesting. I did not know Duke does not take ED unhooked. DS is unhooked.

Not true. Son got into Duke RD: White male, NJ, 1570 SAT no hooks...

Same but MD
Nephew same but DixHills, NY
Niece same sats Weston, Florida

[Anonymous]

My DD is a junior at Duke - her dream school. Her words: not sure how the school (or any other school) earns their reputation, especially since you have to actually attend to really understand what a school is all about. She did not like the school as much as she wanted to but did not transfer because she worked hard to get in and she knows the Duke name is prestigious. But there is plenty she did not expect; many classes taught by TAs which wasn't a huge issue except some had very heavy accents making it tough to understand. Some of the professors in her major were not good teachers and not inspiring. The classrooms need upgrading - some don't even have working AC. The campus is diverse, but people self segregate. It was harder than she thought it would be to make friends and some of the friends she has are friends of convenience. Basketball is the only sport anyone cares about and it is hard to get tix. If you don't get into the stadium, no one is interested to go watch the game somewhere else. Durham is underwhelming. Many of the clubs posted to the website don't exist anymore. Some of the dorms need serious upgrades.
For almost 90K a year, not quite the experience we wanted but really hope the Duke name makes it worthwhile.
My niece goes to Penn State - she is instate so very cheap and when we see her over the holidays, her stories sound like she has having fun, meeting a lot of people and just very active and involved. I guess this means that every college has a lot to offer, not just the name brand.
I don't know much about Vanderbilt. A nephew graduated there many years ago and it was pretty easy to get in. Makes me wonder...what changed? Is it just a popularity contest where each year there is a new "it" school?

[Anonymous]

and to add on to PP, Duke kids are insufferable

the one duke booster has probably posted 20 times on this thread trashing vandy - good stuff

[Anonymous]

DC just finishing freshman year at Duke. Loves
It. Has meet of nice people and had a lot of opportunities. Was a great choice for DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke doesn’t really take anyone who isn’t hooked ED. Vandy is harder to predict as they take nearly half the class test optional and seem to have a thing for passion projects, etc . . .

OP. Thanks. This is interesting. I did not know Duke does not take ED unhooked. DS is unhooked.

Not true. Son got into Duke RD: White male, NJ, 1570 SAT no hooks...

What is NJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a junior at Duke - her dream school. Her words: not sure how the school (or any other school) earns their reputation, especially since you have to actually attend to really understand what a school is all about. She did not like the school as much as she wanted to but did not transfer because she worked hard to get in and she knows the Duke name is prestigious. But there is plenty she did not expect; many classes taught by TAs which wasn't a huge issue except some had very heavy accents making it tough to understand. Some of the professors in her major were not good teachers and not inspiring. The classrooms need upgrading - some don't even have working AC. The campus is diverse, but people self segregate. It was harder than she thought it would be to make friends and some of the friends she has are friends of convenience. Basketball is the only sport anyone cares about and it is hard to get tix. If you don't get into the stadium, no one is interested to go watch the game somewhere else. Durham is underwhelming. Many of the clubs posted to the website don't exist anymore. Some of the dorms need serious upgrades.
For almost 90K a year, not quite the experience we wanted but really hope the Duke name makes it worthwhile.
My niece goes to Penn State - she is instate so very cheap and when we see her over the holidays, her stories sound like she has having fun, meeting a lot of people and just very active and involved. I guess this means that every college has a lot to offer, not just the name brand.
I don't know much about Vanderbilt. A nephew graduated there many years ago and it was pretty easy to get in. Makes me wonder...what changed? Is it just a popularity contest where each year there is a new "it" school?

dook has always over promised and under performed. Twerpy kids, bad campus (the dooks wanted a Princeton knock off) worse city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke doesn’t really take anyone who isn’t hooked ED. Vandy is harder to predict as they take nearly half the class test optional and seem to have a thing for passion projects, etc . . .

OP. Thanks. This is interesting. I did not know Duke does not take ED unhooked. DS is unhooked.

Not true. Son got into Duke RD: White male, NJ, 1570 SAT no hooks...

What is NJ?

If it’s New Jersey it’s the ultimate hook. It’s not called the University of Noo Joisee at Derm for nothing.

[Anonymous]

One is solidly categorized as an Ivy Plus (Ivy League + Stanford + UChicago + MIT + Duke): https://www.aeaweb.org/resources/institution_classifications/ivy_plus

The other is categorized as a "New Ivy" along with Tufts, Emory and WashU: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2025/03/26/the-new-ivies-2025-20-great-colleges-employers-love/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke doesn’t really take anyone who isn’t hooked ED. Vandy is harder to predict as they take nearly half the class test optional and seem to have a thing for passion projects, etc . . .

OP. Thanks. This is interesting. I did not know Duke does not take ED unhooked. DS is unhooked.

Not true. Son got into Duke RD: White male, NJ, 1570 SAT no hooks...

Ed and RD are different things, to state the obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and to add on to PP, Duke kids are insufferable

the one duke booster has probably posted 20 times on this thread trashing vandy - good stuff

I haven't seen anyone trash Vandy. I have seen people be pro-Duke, but not anti-Vandy. But you be you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please share your experience. DS is deciding between the two for ED. High stat, great ECs, social sciences. Thanks.

Cost? Personal preference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke is 6th vs Vanderbilt at 18 this year ranking. Like Vandy but ain’t no Duke.

US News rankings are BS. I can’t believe people are relying on them this simplistically.

[Anonymous]

We know three kids who attend Duke. Two hate it and one loves it. It’s all about fit.