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<p>Your statement is not only not likely, but it’s nearly laughable.</p>
<p>First things first, people like to say HYPSM, but it’s really HY then M then YP.
They are all super-elite, but Stanford and Harvard are stronger than the other three in a broader range of disciplines. Among the supernovas of American higher ed, it’s indisputatbly Stanford, Harvard and Berkeley.</p>
<p>Re joining the top tier, there are many other candidates who have stronger claims to that status than Duke, namely:</p>
<p>Chicago - intellectually, it has more heft than almost any school (UChi trumps H and Y in this area, espc in the social sciences), has very strong professional programs and great leadership evidenced by fund raising, outreach activities and better marketing/branding
Penn - a huge research enterprise with a medical center who’s breadth and depth are only rivaled by Harvard, UCSF and Johns Hopkins; is so aggressive and forward thinking about interdisciplinary research that perhaps only Stanford trumps them in that regard, and is academically broader and deeper than any of the contenders with the possible exception of Columbia
Columbia - great lib arts plus great professional programs; in the heart of NYC with all the good and conflict and notoriety that can bring; raising money as fast as they can count it; making big investments in key areas (neuroscience, environmentals, comp sci)</p>
<p>All three of these schools equal or exceed Duke in the humanities and social sciences; all of them exceed Duke in professional education by meaningful margins, in fundraising, and research spending. And they’ve all shown more momentum (capital campaigns, awards won, increasing selectivity, community outreach activities) than Duke. </p>
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<p>To the OP, Duke and Stanford are great schools with stunningly beautiful campuses and greater overall balance (academics, athletics, social life) than any Ivy could offer. That said, Stanford is a better intellectual experience, is the better name for your resume and is closer to home just in case that fact (unfortunately) becomes a factor for the next four years of your life. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. All the best for your future.</p>