“rampant grade deflation”
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/grade_inflation_at_cornell/
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/487570-grade-inflation-or-deflation-p1.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20100214201042/http://registrar.sas.cornell.edu/Grades/MedianGradeSP08.pdf
Duke only has Arts & sciences (Trinity) & engineering (Pratt), right?
The Cornell CAS acceptance rate was 13-1/2% last year, engineering was 13.3%. Duke’s was 12.4%.
The most recent SAT breakouts by college for Cornell I found was for 2011.
Weighted midpoints of Cornell CAS + COE combined for Fall 2011 was 688CR 738M, Vs 705CR, 735M for Duke for same year.
I think most people objectively looking at those numbers who didnt attend Duke would categorize it as marginally or “a bit” more selective, not “a good deal more” selective, per your words. Which leads me to conclude that in your mind you are already going to Duke.
Some other colleges at Cornell have lower scores, but Duke does not have those colleges nor is OP attending them.
Who can say if you would be happy at Cornell? Maybe you wouldn’t be.
If you think you’d like Duke better go there.
Lots of people like it at Cornell.
Not everyone does.