Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 17:19     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
Harvard sits atop the pinnacle of prestige. The only other schools that are contenders for that position in the U.S. are MIT and Stanford. If you attended Harvard, no one thinks "oh, they couldn't get in at Columbia", which is not true in reverse. It is probably a good thing if that doesn't matter to you. I don't think there is a magic sauce in Harvard undergraduate education other than you are surrounded by many exceptional people. If you prefer Duke and are comfortable with what is above, go for it.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 13:24     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
A lot of the so called famous Harvard grads lack social skills
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 13:17     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
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.


The gap is enormous.


Aw, your self-esteem will crumble if someone picks Duke over Harvard, won’t it?


No. It is just a clear fact if you compare the list of alumni and accomplishments.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:27     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
Virtually every Duke alum would tell you to pick Harvard. They are not on the same level.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:18     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
Anonymous wrote:If your biggest achievement in life was getting into Harvard, it really feels like a threat when someone turns it down, for whatever reason.

But it’s really a better place for graduate or professional school than undergraduate these days.


Are you a current undergrad?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 09:34     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
If your biggest achievement in life was getting into Harvard, it really feels like a threat when someone turns it down, for whatever reason.

But it’s really a better place for graduate or professional school than undergraduate these days.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 09:14     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
If this is real, I'd consider talking to faculty at some if the departments you might be interested in. Even if undecided, having faculty excited to have you come can be a huge asset in college. I think the search for faculty to reach out to might help in the decision making, too. Like browsing the course catalogue. Which has options that most excite you?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 09:02     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
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.


The gap is enormous.


Yeah. You win. And have furthered the dbag stereotype of Harvard people.

Poster was humble - admitted Harvard wins. Yet you had to rub it in. Gold star!
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 07:51     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
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.


The gap is enormous.


Aw, your self-esteem will crumble if someone picks Duke over Harvard, won’t it?
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2026 23:44     Subject: Duke vs. Harvard
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.


The gap is enormous.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2026 15:03     Subject: Re:Duke vs. Harvard
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....

Melinda French is famous because she married a guy who went to Harvard.