<p>Good choice OP. Now ask your parents that since you saved them $200,000 will they give you $10,000 per year for the next 20 years to invest in a Roth IRA. You’ll be able to retire on what it’s worth when you hit retirement age. Should be more than enough consolation for not attending Stanford.</p>
<p>Rankings say so.</p>
<p>1) US-news ranking
[Best</a> Computer Science Programs | Top Computer Science Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings)</p>
<p>Stanford #1 (tied with CMU, MIT, Berkeley, score 5.0)
Duke #27 (score 3.6)
The reputation gap is huge.</p>
<p>2) national research council ranking
Stanford: S-rank 1-2, R-rank 1-2
Duke: S-rank 9-36, R-rank: 14-27
[Program</a> Rankings — Computer Sciences Programs — PhDs.org Graduate School Guide](<a href=“http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/computer-science/compare-programs?p1=2090&p2=2733]Program”>http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/computer-science/compare-programs?p1=2090&p2=2733)</p>
<p>3) international CS ranking by AWRU
[ARWU</a> SUBJECT 2010 Computer Science](<a href=“http://www.arwu.org/SubjectCS2010.jsp]ARWU”>http://www.arwu.org/SubjectCS2010.jsp)
Stanford #1 (score=100)
Duke #34 (score=48.9)
[ARWU</a> SUBJECT 2010 Computer Science](<a href=“http://www.arwu.org/SubjectCS2010.jsp]ARWU”>http://www.arwu.org/SubjectCS2010.jsp)</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Fail. Grad school ranking don’t count for anything in undergrad.</p>
<p>If you got into both, you have the caliber to go to Stanford for grad school.</p>
<p>The wise decision is Duke, save money, do well, go to Stand. Your resume would be outstanding. A scholarship at an ivy league with grad school at the top West coast.</p>
<p>OP here. I don’t think I will be posting in this thread too often anymore, considering I’m pretty set on my decision. After looking at the posted CS rankings, I’d like to say that I’m aware Stanford is number one in CS. However, I am a complete beginner in CS and having that in mind, I thought Duke (with its relatively smaller number of CS majors) would be a better environment for me to receive more individual attention in class. </p>
<p>Anyway, I officially sent in my Duke acceptance…and although I felt a pang of sadness knowing that I would not be going to my dream school, I think it was balanced by the relief I felt for not having to use my parent’s money. </p>
<p>(Also, Boramk, though I’m of the opinion that Duke is just as good as the majority of the Ivies, I don’t think Duke is an Ivy itself…Either way, thrilled to be going there!)</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone again for your help. I hope this thread helps others who are stuck in similar situations next year.</p>
<p>misterbeck,</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s a sound assumption to make. At Stanford, even the upper-division CS courses aren’t small (like 40-50 people), simply because there are so many undergrads majoring in it, so many other departments have CS requirements, and there are also so many grad students who take these classes. Of course, undergrads are free to take grad-level courses, which are more often smaller.</p>
<p>At the same time, I can’t honestly say that individual attention in class is important as a CS undergrad. I never had a problem with the larger classes, since there were always smaller sections, and the professor’s office hours were always an easy way to interact with the professor. More importantly, all my “one-on-one” with professors came from independent study with a prof or from research with a prof. My feeling is that the CS department’s philosophy is to allow these larger classes (taught by profs but supplemented with small sections with TAs) and to leave the one-on-one to research and independent study. I’d say this model works pretty well for CS (esp. since many classes are videotaped and can be watched online), though it wouldn’t work so well for other majors like English.</p>
<p>Obviously, this isn’t to persuade you, but rather for anyone else who might be choosing between Stanford and Duke CS.</p>
<p>
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<p>I disagree: grad school rankings are very relevant to undergrads, because what goes into those rankings also affect undergrads. For example, the higher-ranked the program, the more renowned the professors. The higher-ranked ones also tend to have larger departments, more profs, more professors, more postdocs, more classes, more internships, etc. and they also tend to produce the best research. Other factors in the rankings are graduate recruitment, which also tends to cross over with undergraduate recruitment. In the case of US News rankings, though, the only factor is just a prestige rating. </p>
<p>I’m not saying this because Stanford does well in the rankings–I’ve always argued that grad school rankings are relevant to undergrads, and I think that departmental rankings can be very useful in choosing schools if you know exactly what you want to do.</p>
how has your experience been at Duke, any regrets not going to Stanford. I may be in similar situation.
thanks in advance
^ You must have either off the charts credentials or a crystal ball (or both) if you are anticipating both getting into Stanford and getting into Duke with an A.B. Duke Scholarship.
Speaking as a proud and loyal Stanford grad, I would take the A.B. Duke Scholarship in this situation.
@sinhamn The best way to avoid not being in this situation is not to apply to one or the other. That may sound silly, but if you anticipate getting into both and know that you’ll be facing a very difficult decision—one that may lead to serious regret, either way, down the line—it’s perfectly rational not to apply to one of the two schools. We faced this same situation last year and chose not to apply to Duke (and other top schools that offer substantial merit scholarships) in part, though not entirely, for that reason. We were fortunate to be able to make that choice—and lucky that things worked out well. Good luck with your decision if you get into both—turning down the Duke offer may be very hard, and either way you’ll always wonder, “What if?”
^ I don’t understand that thinking. The odds of getting into any of these schools is low enough that no one is a sure thing. Why turn down the chance to get into one of your top choices just because you may have to make a difficult decision? Isn’t that better than not applying and then not getting into your other top choice?
Sure, if Duke (for example) really is one of your top choices. In my son’s case, it wasn’t—if he had applied, it would only have been with the hope of being awarded one of those scholarships. If Duke had fit his criteria (which were carefully considered and from which he composed his initial list of 10-12 schools varying widely in selectivity), he would certainly have applied. It’s an excellent school and a great choice—especially with those scholarships—if it fits what a student is looking for.
AB Duke >> almost everything else (IMHO)
^ I personally agree. To me, even more than the financial aspect in some cases (obviously depending on need) is the mentorship from the outset. That can make a huge difference in terms of optimizing access to resources and personal attention, and can really accelerate development. A lot of kids spend a good part of their first year just getting to know their school, and what resources are available. Being able to jump right in can be almost like having an extra year in some cases.
Of course, being named an AB Duke is another matter altogether.
That’s an interesting link about the relatively low yield at Duke for the AB Duke winners (8/22 in that year and 15/23 the prior year), and the article mentions some winners getting better regular financial aid at other schools.
I guess the main group where the scholarship is most likely to influence choices are families in the (roughly) 200-500k income range - folks who probably won’t get need-based aid at any school, but not so well off that full pay of 65k per year is inconsequential.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
This thread was started 4 years ago and the original poster has not returned since. Presumably, the question was answered to his satisfaction. Closing.