Duke vs. UChicago?

KayBaday · 10-27-2011, 01:34 PM

My top two choices are Duke and UChicago. I want to double major in Econ and Public Policy.

My main concerns:

-Academically am I taking a big loss to do Econ at Duke or PubPol at Chicago?

-Will they provide the same internship and post-grad employment opportunities?

-I feel like the classes at UChicago would just absolutely slaughter me. I have a 4.0/5.6ish GPA, but they sound pretty intimidating.

I’m sure I’ll be happy at either. Cost/location/social scene are not an issue (I’d fit better socially at UChicago, but I’m sure there are intellectual people at Duke as well). I’m mostly worried about the reputation of the school in the context of getting a good job after I graduate (not for the name on the diploma).

This may be difficult to offer insight on, but I would greatly appreciate anybody’s suggestions. I’m very torn…

NYU2013 · 10-27-2011, 02:05 PM

You have a 4.0 out of 5.6? Is that a weighted GPA? What is your unweighted GPA?

charlieschm · 10-27-2011, 04:12 PM

I believe both Universities have similar academic reputations as far as future employment. You should find wider internship opportunities close by in Chicago, simply because of the larger and much denser metropolitan area.

Take a good look at the neighborhood around U. Chicago before you decide. People say it has gotten much better, but some people may still feel uncomfortable there.

20more · 10-27-2011, 04:45 PM

Charlieschm

Go to Google and type “most dangerous campuses”.
You will be surprised.

First year student at U Chicago. I feel very safe and comfortable.

tk21769 · 10-27-2011, 07:00 PM

>> Academically am I taking a big loss to do Econ at Duke or PubPol at Chicago?

No, I don't think so. Economics is a popular major. Nearly any top university or LAC will have a decent department. I doubt that what distinguishes Chicago from peer schools like Duke would make a huge difference to the average undergraduate.

Duke and Chicago both have undergraduate Public Policy programs. What makes you think one is any better than the other? Duke might have a line on good internships in this field but Chicago has NORC, which does offer student internships (Summer Internships in Social Science Research | NORC.org).

As for "the reputation of the school in the context of getting a good job", there are many variables involved. Your own efforts would matter more than any differences of reputation between the two. So apply to both. If you get into both, visit both, then go wherever you feel most comfortable.

par72 · 10-27-2011, 09:38 PM

Duke has stronger business alumni network.

warblersrule · 10-27-2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayBaday

Academically am I taking a big loss to do Econ at Duke

For getting a job, definitely not. For PhD studies, eh, maybe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieschm

Take a good look at the neighborhood around U. Chicago before you decide. People say it has gotten much better, but some people may still feel uncomfortable there.

Yeah, Hyde Park is super dangerous compared to Durham.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk21769

Duke and Chicago both have undergraduate Public Policy programs. What makes you think one is any better than the other?

They're very different, actually. Duke's undergraduate public policy program is housed in the Sanford school and is by far the largest of its kind; students take courses with Sanford professors and can take graduate courses. Public policy at Chicago is a separate undergrad program with a handful of lecturers that seem to be unaffiliated with Harris.

caltanner · 10-28-2011, 10:14 PM

Professional world: definitely, definitely duke.

KayBaday · 10-28-2011, 10:16 PM

NYU: sorry, 4.0 unweighted, 5.7ish weighted

Ultimately I want a career in journalism analyzing politics, but I think a background in econ would be good also (I don't have any interest in banking, etc.) Chicago seems more wired politically, especially to the machine there. But I've also heard the grade deflation there is frustrating if you're trying to get into grad school. Are these both valid?

slipper1234 · 10-29-2011, 01:49 AM

Honestly both are top notch. If you want a career in analyzing politics then I would say go to Georgetown. By far the leader. If you're analyzing economics then maybe Chicago. If you're looking for a job then Duke.

tk21769 · 10-29-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Duke has stronger business alumni network.

I'm not disagreeing (or agreeing), but how do you know this?
What does it even mean? Are there 3x more rich Duke alumni standing by, waiting to take your call for help when you start up your next tech firm?

Quote:

Yeah, Hyde Park is super dangerous compared to Durham.

Sarcasm? Business Insider rates Duke University the 8th most dangerous campus in America. Chicago does not make its list (The 14 Most Dangerous Colleges In America). The Daily Beast, on the other hand, rates Chicago 36th most dangerous; Duke does not make its top 50.

Crime reports are available for both schools. The statistics seem to be similar for campus+non-campus+public property crimes in and around both schools in the past several years. No murders in/around either school; a few more burglaries in/around Duke; a few more motor vehicle thefts in/around UofC; a few more aggravated assaults and forcible sex offenses in/around Duke. I'm no expert in interpreting crime statistics, but I don't see clear evidence that either school is a more dangerous place to be than the other.

Common Sense
http://www.duke.edu/police/news_stat...ity_Report.pdf

warblersrule · 10-29-2011, 07:40 PM

It was sarcasm, yes. Durham has a fairly high crime rate and a corrupt police force. It's worsened by the lack of easily defined "bad" and "good" parts of town; the city is sort of like a patchwork quilt of good and bad areas that switch off every few streets or so. Campus is very safe at all times of the day/night (except the area around the Gardens at night), and Durham is pretty safe by day.

Wandering off campus by yourself (or in a small group) at night is definitely taking a risk, though. I usually received at least four or five emails a week about some idiot who'd been wandering around off campus at 3 AM and gotten mugged. One such example is the guy who decided to impress his girlfriend by trying to wrestle a gun away from his assailant. Needless to say, he got shot in the leg.

happyman2 · 11-07-2011, 06:19 PM

If you want to go into academia and get a PhD in Econ, then Chicago is incredible, however Duke is not too far behind. On the other hand, until recently Chicago was less selective than Duke (it still is) and is considered to be more of a niche school that caters to a certain kind of student. Duke is far more versatile and has a better reputation with employers (not suggesting that UChicago is a slouch by any stretch of the imagination). I know that this is anecdotal evidence but most of my friends chose Duke over Chicago without too much hesitation. So while neither of them is definitively better, I would have to give the edge to Duke, even though I could be biased.

par72 · 11-07-2011, 10:33 PM

Duke academics, athletics, weather, social life and alumni network-(perhaps only Stanford is a peer).

20more · 11-07-2011, 11:37 PM

Duke athletics and social life - Yes

Duke Academics?