<p>UChicago has an ultra competitive atmosphere and the students there are very serious (which, by my definition, isn’t fun). (I visited there and have 2 cousins that are current students there.) I’ll defer to you on Chicago being a much better city than Durham but Duke has more pride and community which is what it sounds like the OP is asking for…</p>
<p>Also Duke is much more renowned when it somes to premed programs; 85% are accepted to med schools. I don’t think these guys know what they’re talking about, but hey an opinion is an opinion.</p>