Notre Dame or Duke... ONE WEEK to decide!

irishevan99
Sat, 07 May 2011 00:00:27 +0000

Hello gentleman. First of all, congratulations, you obviously have incredible options to choose from.

I personally did not apply to Duke, however I did consider applying and I came close to attending UVa, which has some academic and social similarities. As you can probably tell, I ended up choosing Notre Dame, and I would make the same decision if the other school were Duke as well.

From what I understand, Duke has many similarities to ND, not least of which its incredible school spirit, tradition, and athletics. In my opinion, Duke has a slight edge in prestige (at least it has a higher ranking), a slightly more wild social scene, and more visible diversity. Notre Dame has a distinct family atmosphere (that means lots of academic cooperation) and an even stronger alumni network.

In terms of downsides, these schools have equally lackluster surrounding cities, meaning most of your college life is spent on campus, though considering how great the campus life is at these schools that’s not entirely regrettable. I think at Duke you might encounter somewhat more elitism, while at Notre Dame you might find yourself wishing for more diversity.

My older sister is a recent ND graduate and has few if any complaints about her time there. The family connection was important for me, and I sense that it might play a factor in your decision as well. Recognize too though that Notre Dame has changed a lot over the years, and your experience would not at all be the exact same as your father’s.

Overall, I think objectively these schools are neck and neck (though I’m sure some people on the Duke boards would disagree) and the decision will come down to your personal preferences.

I hope this helps. Best of luck with your decision!