Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats, OP! Sorry some others here are being jerks. Mine is in a similar situation. We couldn't go in buildings when we visited most schools and don't know all the ins and outs. Crowd sourced research is useful. Good luck!

But, aren't there admitted student days set up by colleges so you can visit more fully now? I can see why this might be more difficult for a student deciding over a larger list of schools, but visiting two seems reasonable? These schools are pretty different, so being there in person with other students on campus seems like it would be really helpful.

Yes, but it's still nice to crowd source some frank anonymous info from the board before visiting!

OP - If you are going to choose one or the other (and not some in state cheaper alternative), I don't think there's any details you can get here to help you make an "informed decision". They are both great schools and your DC will get a great education at either - they should decide on where they feel like they fit best and will be happiest. And those things depend on what your child values or connects with. So go to the visit days.

Anonymous wrote:Just stop. Seriously you are a troll.

OP here. No bragging, just don't know what to choose and ask for opinions. If you have child(ren), you will understand what it feels when you see kid frustrating and you don't know how to help. Without FA, it is a big investment - we hope that we could have an informed decision.

The benefit of Brown is that she can take her science courses for a grade and also take electives she's actually interested in S/NC--Brown speak for pass-fail. At many colleges, pre-meds satisfy any requirements not related to med school by taking as many guts as they possibly can so as not to hurt their overall GPA. So, while you're taking organic chem at Brown for a grade, you might take take a course in Egyptology or Russian history S/NC because you're interested and a friend raved about the course. You won't worry about the classmates who are majoring in these subjects and know a lot more about them than you do.If you can't do all of the 300 pages of reading this week,you won't freak.All you want to do is learn enough to pass.And if you don't, your "failure" won't show up on your transcript. At most schools, you'll be madly researching which non-science courses have the least reading and the easiest grading.What you're actually interested in won't be much of a factor in choosing which non-premed requisites you take.

It's as hard to get an A in organic chem at Brown as it is at most other colleges. But it's nice to be able to take some tough humanities courses too without worrying about your grade.

Can he/she go to admitted students’ day at both to decide themselves?

The education quality would be about the same.

Duke is in the Research Triangle so perhaps that makes research internships easier. Brown is in New England with a huge number of life sciences research nearby so it's a wash.

The answer is to go with fit/preference. Wealthy Southern school with focus on Greek Life and sports vs. wealthy Northeastern school with hippy vibe.

Wow, your kid got into Duke and Brown regular decision? Impressive!

Anonymous wrote:Congrats, OP! Sorry some others here are being jerks. Mine is in a similar situation. We couldn't go in buildings when we visited most schools and don't know all the ins and outs. Crowd sourced research is useful. Good luck!

But, aren't there admitted student days set up by colleges so you can visit more fully now? I can see why this might be more difficult for a student deciding over a larger list of schools, but visiting two seems reasonable? These schools are pretty different, so being there in person with other students on campus seems like it would be really helpful.

Anonymous wrote:Just stop. Seriously you are a troll.

Yes, this is like Chicago vs Wake.

Congrats, OP! Sorry some others here are being jerks. Mine is in a similar situation. We couldn't go in buildings when we visited most schools and don't know all the ins and outs. Crowd sourced research is useful. Good luck!

Just stop. Seriously you are a troll.

Anonymous wrote:For premed Duke

This.

Anonymous wrote:I am going to call foul on these posts. Besides the abundance of x v Y posts popping up since last week, Brown and Duke are very different. Hard for me to imagine a situation where a kid has what it takes to be admitted to both and then posts such a throwaway question.

Please explain what it takes to be admitted to Brown or Duke.

Visit both, see which community feels right.

Consider weather if that's important.

These schools are pretty different in both culture and climate.

Anonymous wrote:I am going to call foul on these posts. Besides the abundance of x v Y posts popping up since last week, Brown and Duke are very different. Hard for me to imagine a situation where a kid has what it takes to be admitted to both and then posts such a throwaway question.

Yeah, and hard to believe that so many kids have to choose between 2-6 <10% schools while so many great kids were shut out completely.