tatsmas

I think that Paul Farmer is a good example of a Duke Student.

MidwestMom2Kids_

If Yale and Duke were both free for you, say, would you choose Duke? I think most would choose Yale, but some would choose Duke.

ihavehope13

If both were free, I would pick Yale for sure.

I doubt that Duke's social life is a whole lot better than Yale's. Yale is well known as a very social place, and a place where alcohol is not a mandatory part of the fun. The being said, I would be curious to know what you like about the Duke social scene. I don't know everything about college life yet, so it's hard to really determine what constitutes a "good social life"? Could anyone explain?

evil_asian_dictator

The idea of a "good social life" differs among people but in general it traditionally infers that one has the time and opportunity to go to parties/social functions/clubbing at least a couple of times during the week.

Of course, almost anything can serve as a social outlet as long as you're able to interact with other people. This includes, but is not limited to, attending and seeing school athletic events/acapella performances/dance troupes/orchestras/guest speakers/comedy shows. Although, even eating out with a group of people and hanging out with friends in a dorm are definitely social activities.

Duke has the edge in the party/athletics department while Yale has a better music/arts scene. Although, these are somewhat generalizations on my part. Duke Improv is phenominal and much better than Yale's equivalent comedy troupe while the Yale/Harvard game probably beats the hell out of any Duke football game.

incollege88

well...i chose duke over princeton & columbia because i liked it more. i thought the kids i met at duke when i visited were more down-to-earth, i thought it had better, broader, more inter-disciplinary opportunities for undergraduates, and i liked the nice weather. to be honest, i went to a good hs and i've subsequently visited friends who are at princeton and columbia (and yale too) and i hardly sense any difference. elite college = elite college. you have all the same populations of students, just in different proportions. the academicians are all the same, and you will get a top-notch education wherever you go if you challenge yourself. i personally think it would be nuts to turn down the robertson for a school that is not going to offer you any additional opportunities but it seems like you are really set on it so go with your gut, i suppose.

ihavehope13

Do Robertson Scholars place as well in grad school admissions as Yale grads?

Incompl

Dude, go to Yale. Money is not a problem and it's your dream school. It's a done deal.

And this is coming from a Duke student.

GreenShirt

A R Scholar is better positioned for grad schools than your average Yalie because the program's travel/service opportunities guarantee an unbeatable resume. I think you know this. But honestly, if you're still ambivalent, go to Yale.

(though at the risk of confusing you further, check out this link to someone in your boat a few years ago: justhwangit's Xanga Site )