grade inflation is rampant at Brown. It has the highest average GPA among all universities in the country. Students at Brown can coast without much effort, which is good for the med school app.

This is misleading. Brown students have the option of going S/NC (Brown's version of pass/fail) in each class. There are a few kids who do this for every class. Many students take 1 course (out of 4, in most cases) S/NC each semester. Pre-meds often take 2 S/NC the semester they take organic chem for a grade.

So, the high GPAs are because students' GPA is based only on classes in which they opted to receive a grade.
And the overall Brown GPA is based only on those grades.

It is NOT easy to get an A in the tough science courses and you better take those courses for a grade if you want to go to med school.

The benefit of the system for pre-meds is that they don't have to fill out their non-science coursework with guts to protect their GPAs for med school admission. Instead, they can take tougher non-science courses they are more interested in S/NC.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the kid.

Independent streak, kind of crunchy, interested in pursuing whatever interests them academically? Brown.

Into collegiate sports and warmer weather, and a bit more conformist and pre-professional? Duke.

This is good advice. The vibe at these schools is pretty different so I would imagine your kid will have a strong preference for one over the other after visiting both.

Brown for sure

Gpa stress is way less

Not as many gunner Asians in premed at brown

East decision

Anonymous wrote:If interested in med school, go with Brown. GPA is really important for med school applications and grade inflation is rampant at Brown. It has the highest average GPA among all universities in the country. Students at Brown can coast without much effort, which is good for the med school app.

It’s such a weak endorsement to suggest the school is in essence now a diploma mill.

DUKE

If interested in med school, go with Brown. GPA is really important for med school applications and grade inflation is rampant at Brown. It has the highest average GPA among all universities in the country. Students at Brown can coast without much effort, which is good for the med school app.

Assuming they do well, they can get into need school from either school. Do they like the sports and frat culture of Duke? Brown's open curriculum? The student should choose based on the college experience they want because either wok give them a good future.

They are very different schools. Doesn’t your kid have a preference?

Kid should decide this one.
It is a matter of personal preference

Depends on the kid.

Independent streak, kind of crunchy, interested in pursuing whatever interests them academically? Brown.

Into collegiate sports and warmer weather, and a bit more conformist and pre-professional? Duke.

These schools should have these statistics too. But I’d say Duke. Nicer weather.

Depends on the kid. Duke is so big. But Brown is so Brown.

For premed I’d go with whatever is the best fit academically

Duke. Easy decision esp if weather is a factor. Brown has may pros but so does Duke.

No FA. For premed. Weather is a minor factor. Which one has better chance to get into medical school?