Duke or Dartmouth

DukeShama
Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:37:06 +0000

Hi Alovondrice,

I went to Duke (as did my husband who responded to you on the Dartmouth thread.) Our oldest son is a sophomore at Duke. Our middle son will be a freshman at Dartmouth next year. If you want, I can PM you a beautifully written email I got from a current Duke student who I interviewed for Duke when he was a high school senior. He came down to a Duke/Dartmouth decision and chose Duke (even tho his big brother LOVES Dartmouth.) I’d love to share his thoughtful reasons for picking Duke. They actually helped my middle son choose Dartmouth because he honestly delineated the differences between the schools for us.

I don’t think Duke or Dartmouth is better. I think one is BETTER FOR YOU, perhaps.

Here’s how I see some of the differences. Academically, Dartmouth seems to be more intimate than Duke. I think there are more apparent close relations between profs and students. That’s not to say that these same relationships don’t happen at Duke. I just believe that at Duke the student dictates whether or not to pursue the relationship, while at Dartmouth, it just is part of the fabric of every day life. I think of Dartmouth students as being true learners and real intellectuals who are interesting and creative and engaged in life outside of the classroom. I see Duke students as being very engaged with their academics and also outward thinking about how to better and contribute to their communities. Duke has a terrific Duke engage program that funds community service anywhere in the world. Dartmouth has a better study abroad program. Dartmouth OWNS many of their own programs which means they have quality assurance over the various programs, and the amazing Dartmouth learning takes place abroad. I think that Duke students usually go on programs sponsored by others-- someone correct me if I’m wrong.

Dartmouth has a unique foreign language program.

Duke’s research opportunities are unparalleled with the Duke hospital right there and all the graduate programs that welcome undergraduate researchers. I don’t know about Dartmouth in this respect. I bet they also have great research opportunities.

Both schools are very interdisciplinary. They have somewhat similar music programs.

I say Duke houses students in a far more thoughtful way than Dartmouth. I LOVE that Duke freshmen live on East campus. You are correct that Focus groups are amazing opportunities. Dartmouth doesn’t seem to have given their housing set up as much thought. There is much criticism about how Duke is re-structuring their housing, but at least they continually try to create living/learning opportunities.

Duke has simply tons going on in the community. As a bigger undergraduate school and then also with its thriving graduate schools, Duke is filled with things going on all the time. It still has the feel of a close-knit campus. Kids at Duke are happy and LOVE Duke! The only place where I’ve ever thought the kids might love their school more is DARTMOUTH!. You can’t go wrong, really. I’m not so sure there is as much to do at Dartmouth, but it’s a thriving wonderful place too. Dartmouth is WAY more outdoorsy. Duke is in a beautiful setting, but who really ever goes into the Duke Forest. Dartmouth kids are outside a lot. Which I can’t understand as it is so cold that it hurts.

Do you really understand how cold Dartmouth is and how the cold lasts until June? Duke is already enjoying great weather.

Dartmouth’s fraternity scene is different in that twice as many people are a part of it. Our tour guide at Dartmouth told us that most kids aren’t interested in Greek life when they apply to Dartmouth, but they decide to join when they see that fraternities are a bit more inclusive and varied at Dartmouth than at other schools. (Do not be swayed by that Rolling Stone article. The full story isn’t out yet. Duke has just as many supposed skeletons. The same woman wrote the Dartmouth article as wrote the Duke lacrosse article 6 years ago. Don’t be swayed negatively by what you read by nay-sayers.) There are substance free frats and co-ed frats, traditional frats and all kinds of differently focused groups. Duke’s Greek scene is pretty ideal I think because you can really take it or leave it. Maybe it’s slightly harder to be independent at Dartmouth, although all the kids there say that is not true. At Duke, you can join a frat and be totally involved in it. Or you can be independent and never once miss it. Kids at Dartmouth say the same thing. It seems like there is a real specialness to Dartmouth’s Greek life too.

If you pick Duke and go to a home basketball game, you will not be able to believe you ever considered going somewhere else.

Did you know that Dartmouth very well might match Duke’s financial aid offer. Definitely write them a letter and include a copy of Duke’s award and see if they can help make your dream come true (if indeed it is your dream.)

From your post, I’d pick Duke for you. I think you’ll be over the moon happy at either one!

If my middle son is ever as happy at Dartmouth as my oldest is at Duke, I will be one lucky and thankful DukeMama–Shama!