TAdd

Hi there. I'm a senior right now, and I was accepted at Cornell in March and very hopeful about my waiting list chances at Duke. So, this is gonna all be based on the scenario that I'm accepted to Duke later. I've got some pretty big dreams and career goals, but as of now, I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up doing something biology related. I'm thinking about focusing on genetics in the future and definitely hoping to go to grad school to get a Phd somewhere in this field. I especially hope to do some major research somewhere down the road, whether it is with a private firm or with a university. My dad's been really influential in opening my eyes to research because he's a research professor at a local university.

However, I've also had an interest in astronomy ever since I was really young. Another dream job possibility of mine is to get a job that blends together the two fields that really appeal to me, biology and astronomy. Astrobiology! AKA, studying and searching for the possibility of life on other planets. Cool huh?

I realize that I'm probably placing a bit too much emphasis on the undergraduate education at these two schools and understand that my choice probably wont make that HUGE of a difference down the road. However, like I said, I'm really interested in undergraduate research that will prepare me for my career choice.

I realize that this is a pretty specific question, but it comes down to this: Cornell or Duke? In my situation, what do you think is the better choice? Money isn't a huge problem, my parents are willing to support me financially with either choice. I want to see if ya'll can make me love one or the other, whether its academically or socially.

CORNELL:
Pros
-Chosen as a Hunter Rawlings Research Scholar (gives me opportunities to work with professors as an undergraduate)
-Huge school with great research opportunities
-Prestigious astronomy department (astrobiology?)

Cons
-Really far away from home
-Relatively isolated
-No real previous connections to the school. Besides academically, I'm in the dark.

DUKE:
Pros
-Big research powerhouse
-Top notch in biology/genetics research and great biotech/biomed program
-Close to home, with a number of friends going there
-Duke Athletics! (Long time Duke fan!)

Cons
-Undergraduate research opportunities???
-Astronomy?
-Smaller

Mondo

It's a tough decision but from what you are saying.. it sounds as if you like Duke better than Cornell. Good luck with getting off the waitlist.
Otherwise, Cornell is a pretty sweet place to go to!

Are you sure that you are going to Cornell or are there other schools you are considering?

DukeEgr93

Howdy - I would invite you totake a look at the
Undergraduate Research Support Office. Dean Nijhout and her team do a pretty terrific job of both seeding research opportunities at Duke and communicating the possibilities for summer research opportunities elsewhere. Astronomy is a little harder - you can contact Professor Everitt and also look at the offerings at UNC Chapel Hill, with whom we have an inter-institutional agreement for courses not offered at Duke.

Not much I can do regarding the size :-D

TAdd

Thanks for the help guys. I think I have a lot to offer Duke and vice versa. Wish me luck on the waitlist!

CNI

Not to be a d-bag or anything, but you should remember that getting off the waitlist at these selective schools is really really hard. I'm in the same position as you, except at a different school. I think that while it's good to be hopeful, realize that a school like Duke might not even use the waitlist this year, and if they do, they'd probably take at most around 100 people, which, assuming their waitlist is around 1000, would only translate to a 10% acceptance rate.

Deter

I'm pretty sure Duke will use the waitlist a lot this year, as they have the past few years (i'm an admitted student, i have no reason to falsify this info)

Senator Noodles

From what I've been hearing, all the top schools have been waitlisting a lot more than they usually do because they simply don't know how the matriculation rate is going to work out, especially since Harvard and Princeton got rid of their EA/ED and a bunch of schools redid their financial aid. So really, it could work either way. Personally, I don't think Duke's going to admit all that many more people of the waitlist this year than last. Good luck, though!

evil_asian_dictator

Yeah, for some reason, I feel like our yield is going to be really good. I guess only time will tell though.

Mondo

I think Duke won't accept a lot of people off the wait-list, since the lacrosse scandal isn't on people's minds as much as it used to be.

TAdd

Blah. Well there is this article:

Class of 2012 to be Duke's most selective - News

That says Duke would take ~50-75 off the waitlist this year. The article is a bit old though.

incollege88

That article has a lot of issues with it. It got all of its numbers wrong, which is kind of ridiculous in my opinion.

Mondo

Yea, I think it's wrong. Another article I read said that 3,814 was the number of early decision and regular decision applicants admitted bringing the acceptance rate down to 18.8%. If we add another 472 to the number, the acceptance rate would be 21%, which is the same number as the acceptance rate for Duke '11 after admissions accepted 100-something people off the waitlist.

Otherwise, Class of 2011 would have a lower acceptance rate than Class of 2012.. if one were to add another 472 there.

It is the Chronicle! What does one expect? jk of course, Chronicle is awesome!

TAdd

So yeah, I'll go ahead and resurrect this thread. Looks like this situation is actually gonna happen, because I was accepted off of Duke's waiting list today.

I'll be receiving the formal packet in the mail soon...they're giving me some time to look over my options and make my final decision.

Does anyone else have any last minute thoughts? Appreciate it.

incollege88

seems like you have been wanting to come to duke so go with it. it would be (was a couple years back) somewhat of a no-brainer for me, being that i really didn't like cornell when i visited, but i think it will really come down to fit since they are both excellent schools.