<p>I can’t speak to those specific programs, but I can speak to Vandy as a school as a whole…and wow, your comment about Duke students being “more intelligent” is a little frustrating. You’ll find tons of extremely bright students at Vandy, including many who turned down “higher ranked” schools to go there (yes, including H/Y/P) because of the unique culture and experience it offers. True, when you first meet a Vandy student your first impression is probably “wow, he/she is so nice/friendly/down-to-earth,” not “wow, he/she is exuding brilliance,” but that doesn’t mean they’re not extremely bright!! With a 15% acceptance rate (lower than U Chicago, Northwestern, and many others that are ranked “higher,” you just can’t get into Vandy anymore without being intelligent and accomplished. And for the record, Vandy beat out Duke in the cross-admit battle for the class of 2014!!</p>
<p>As for the money issue…that scholarship is extremely selective (less than 1% of applicants get it each year) and I would think of it as more than just money–it’s a really great honor as well. Vandy is offering you an amazing school at an amazing price, and a prestigious designation tacked on to an already prestigious education…that’s a lot! </p>
<p>Also, though, consider the culture of both schools. It sounds like you’ve thought about this a bit, but just think about the overall feel you get when you’re on Duke’s campus vs Vandy’s campus. They’re extremely different, and you might just plain feel “right” at one and not at the other. Also don’t forget about distinguishing features–ex. Vandy is in Nashville (an amazing city to live in!!), Duke is in Durham…also, Duke freshmen have to bus to class–might not be a big deal for many, but it can definitely be a turn-off for some. </p>
<p>Well you know which school I’m rooting for, but in the end just choose whichever truly feels like the right school for you. Good luck!</p>