<p>Goldenboy:</p>
<p>If students of similar caliber (i.e. similar SATs, grades, etc.) perform disparately on a grad test (LSAT, MCAT, etc.), that, to me, doesn’t indicate a difference in college preparation. Rather, that indicates a difference in approach to studying for the test, or a varying level of concern about the test itself. </p>
<p>Duke students may, in comparison to NU students, simply study harder for the grad tests, and take them more seriously. Perhaps if the curriculum at Duke is “easier,” students may simply have more time to devote to the test, or are more driven to get into a top law/med etc. school. </p>
<p>I think disparate performance speaks less to abilities, and more to - amongst a comparable student body - the culture of the school and its students. This could, similarly, be the case why you see more high-achieving Williams grads on Wall St., as opposed to Swarthmore grads.</p>
<p>(Put another way, going to a “top” med/grad school may simply be more important to Duke grads than NU grads.)</p>