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Brown and Duke students are far more similar to each other in background and dress than either is to, say, UCLA (to use another school with which I’m familiar). Where they primarily differ is that Brown has a larger contingent of the theatre/out on the town/music/etc. folks, whereas Duke has a larger contingent of the frat/dorm party folks. Both schools, of course, have a wide variety of students – you can find binge drinkers at Brown and cosplay enthusiasts at Duke. UNC is difficult to classify, and I think the social scene is a bit more segregated there (by interests, not race/gender/whatever) than at Brown or Duke. I agree that UNC and especially Duke students tend to be athletic and/or sports-oriented. Again, it varies…most students can name at least a couple basketball players, a few can name entirely too many, and a decently sized contingent has never set foot in the stadium or gym (this includes many pre-meds). UNC students tend to be significantly less intense/driven than Duke students, and I think Brown is a little more laidback as well. </p>
<p>The locations are VERY different. I personally found Brown’s campus entirely too cramped and urban for my taste. Others love it. I would definitely give Providence a significant nod over Durham, but Chapel Hill gets my vote for the best setting of the three. Whatever you’ve heard about southern friendliness is true, though I admittedly found Brown students and faculty much more friendly than the people I ran into in Providence. I agree with mom in virginia that the winters will be colder at Brown. August and sometimes September in the south are notoriously muggy, though a southerner should be used to it.</p>
<p>Duke and UNC being so close to each other creates a distinct energy on both campuses…there is the rivalry, certainly, but there are many cooperative programs and a regularly running bus that link the two universities together. I prefer to think of them as sibling universities that squabble between themselves but are each rather fond of the other deep down. I don’t think Brown has the same sort of tie with RISD or any other university, though I would welcome a correction.</p>