UChicago, Princeton, or Duke for an ugly guy?

College Search & Lists
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<p>Hey guys, I’m only half joking with that title. Anyway, I am in the fortunate position of choosing among Princeton, UChicago, and Duke. My first instinct is to accept Princeton. When I tell my friends and my school my choices, they all say Princeton. I’m cautious not to just go with the most prestigious school though. Where I live, it’s Princeton>Duke>UChicago. </p>

<p>I visited all 3 and liked all of them but felt most comfortable at UChicago. Princeton and UChicago were both visibly highly intellectual. Duke is also intellectual but in a different way. All 3 would serve my interest in economics well and international affairs well. The people at all 3 were friendly, but I felt UChicago was where I would fit in the most. The student body is quirkier, which I liked. </p>

<p>Also, as a not so good-looking guy (not gonna lie), I felt really intimidated by the girls at Princeton and Duke. I know social life is a big part of college, and I just feel like if I go to either of those schools, I would just always feel inferior to the better-looking guys there and feel bad about myself (these guys are just as nice and just as intelligent so it’s not like I can make up for my looks in those aspects). At UChicago, I feel I would be average or even above average in looks among the guys and can probably have a more decent chance at being desired by girls.</p>

<p>Anyway, all three are obviously excellent choices and all three are good matches, with some being better than others (but not by a good amount). Do I go with Princeton or Duke’s prestige but where my dating life might suffer or UChicago where I might actually have a chance with the ladies? Thanks guys.</p>

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<p>Princeton and Duke might be more prestigious among the lay population, but that’s not going to have any effect on future employment or anything that matters. Among the highly educated (i.e., your employers, who are going to determine how much money you make for the rest of your life), it’s Chicago>Princeton>Duke for economics.</p>

<p>Go to Chicago, dude.</p>

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<p>With your wit, you’ll have plenty of luck with the women folk my friend :wink: That said, I love U of Chicago for someone who is an intellectual/thinker and you either “feel it” or you don’t and not everyone does. There are only 3 Ivies I would consider over Chicago - Harvard/Yale (because they are H and Y) and Columbia (Location) - Columbia would be a hard call. I would opt for Chicago - Duke and Princeton are a bit on the preppy side for a U of Chicago type IMHO. By the way - you CANNOT make a wrong decision.</p>

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<p>Nothing wrong with Chicago but I wouldn’t go there because of your looks. There are plenty of ugly folks at Princeton and Duke. I agree that Chicago has a quirkiness and that if that appeals to you then Chicago may be the place. Good luck.</p>

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<p>I agree with the above poster. Don’t choose Chicago because of how you think you look or how you think students at other schools look in terms of the dating scene.</p>

<p>All types of people go to all of these schools.</p>

<p>Pick the school you like the most.</p>

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<p>If you want to go to Wall Street, ignore the looks thing (lol) and go to Princeton. If you want to get a PhD in econ, it’s between Chicago and Princeton.</p>

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<p>Really, Chicago over Princeton and Duke? Can you say more…I know there’s a debate over UChicago and Duke but I’ve never hear anybody flat out rank UChicago higher than Princeton.</p>

<p>Also, while I care what employers think, I think the importance of being able to use the name as a social currency cannot be ignored. My friends are generally highly intelligent and know about UChicago, but Princeton is undeniably on a whole other league in their eyes. As in, it’s more likely that somebody who got into Princeton also got into UChicago but not the other way around.</p>

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I agree all types go to these schools but personally, in my visits, I was just more intimidated by the girls at Duke and Princeton and I noticed my competition would be incredibly tougher there. I’m the type of guy who’s very cerebral, but I also don’t deny that I am a sexual being and finding romantic partners is extremely important to me. I just felt I got more attention from the girls at UChicago, which as a guy, I personally cannot just easily ignore.</p>

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<p>Chicago. The most prestigious econ degree one can hold on this earth. Hands down.</p>

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<p>^Uh, what? That would be a Harvard Economics degree my friend. I would go to UChicago in your scenario princeton525. The girls there will be more easily wooed though they won’t necessarily be as attractive as the girls at Princeton and Duke. There will be less stuffy and obnoxious ones though for sure so it"ll be easier for a guy like you.</p>

<p>Although UNC girls love Duke guys and if you include them, choosing Duke is a no brainer.;)</p>

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<p>A well-groomed guy with tasteful clothes and a nice personality can get dates in college.</p>

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<p>“Although UNC girls love Duke guys and if you include them, choosing Duke is a no brainer.”</p>

<p>Speak for yourself, goldenboy. The UNC women I know who have roving eyes tend to cast them toward a certain engineering school in Raleigh. ;)</p>

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<p>Why do people go on message boards for advice from internet nobodies about major life decisions?</p>

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<p>“I would go to UChicago in your scenario princeton525. The girls there will be more easily wooed though they won’t necessarily be as attractive as the girls at Princeton and Duke. There will be less stuffy and obnoxious ones though for sure so it"ll be easier for a guy like you.”</p>

<p>I guess goldenboy feels that some of the students at Duke tend to be “obnoxious.” I concur.</p>

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<p>Just like certain ivies have specialties (e.g. Yale: law; Penn: business; etc.) some of the other elites have specialties too. I too was skeptical until i read for economics, where UChicago probably has the best academic department (at least in terms of theory) in the world. (it’s certainly produced/been associated with more nobel prize winners in economics than any other department, if memory serves.)</p>

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<p>Hm, i’m just a tad bit skeptical about this. Maybe among laymen, which might include non-expert people in the business field, a harvard ANYTHING is the most prestigious of its kind in the world. In academic, and for economics, it might be Harvard = Chicago (and that’s being generous to harvard.)</p>

<p>it would just be like comparing Hopkins’ medical school to Harvard’s. I, at least, don’t think the answer’s obvious.</p>

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<p>you were probably just more confident around them. M2CKs is right though, a makeover can work wonders and get you plenty of girls. It’s sad that i have to stress this, but as long as you:</p>

<p>1) BATHE REGULARLY (Yes, there are plenty of guys out there that don’t) </p>

<p>2) shave/groom yourself decently (if you know how to manage a goatee, do it; if not, shave it all off)</p>

<p>3) perhaps get a decent smelling cologne (you can buy a good but cheap cologne on Amazon)</p>

<p>4) buy some decent clothes (you can generally ask a female friend about clothes that will make you look good.)</p>

<p>you should have no trouble getting girls. Also, have some confidence for christ’s sake (and it doesn’t hurt to smile.)</p>

<p>But it seems like you liked Chicago the most anyway in terms of “quirkiness”, so it still might not be a bad option to go there, but i wouldn’t go to any school because of the ability to get women. At least in my experience, many women go to college having boyfriends already anyway. Your best predictor of getting girls might be the male-to-female ratio (e.g. at UCLA it’s 55F; 45m, and studies have shown that women tend to be less picky when there’s a smaller male population.)</p>

<p>best of luck on your decision!</p>

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<p>Go to Princeton dude, most of the kids are big nerds at these schools</p>

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<p><a href=“and%20it%20doesn’t%20hurt%20to%20smile.”>I</a>*</p>

<p>Absolutely…women like men who are confident (not arrogant!) and who are happy and who SMILE! (and a big YES to bathing, good grooming, using deodorant, and wearing flattering CLEAN clothes)</p>

<p>the secret to attracting the opposite sex when the above is in place…be a great listener. Ask questions (nothing too personal), and listen! People like people who listen to them.</p>

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<p>I love how open you are about your ugliness–that is confidence right there. I think you will thrive at UChicago.</p>

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<p>^ from the self-proclaimed beautiful gay conservative. You’re quickly becoming one of my favorite posters - I can’t stop laughing at your posts. Caricature, really.</p>

<p>OP, I agree with what others have said, esp. beyphy’s post. I’m not sure if the intimidation you felt was from the looks of the girls you met, but I’m always skeptical that top university X has better-looking girls/guys than top university Y. It just doesn’t make sense that there would be actual differences in the proportions of students perceived to be attractive/unattractive/average/whatever. There’s a huge variety of students at every school.</p>

<p>That said, I think it’s important to go with your gut on this. If you feel more comfortable at Chicago, then that’s where you should go. Just don’t let irrational fears get in the way of that gut feeling, which could very well be clouded by such fears, leading you to try to convince yourself that Chicago is better for you. Obviously I can’t say whether that’s the case, since you do seem to genuinely like Chicago the most, but keep that in mind.</p>

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<p>I have often found that things don’t work out as anticipated in life. A nerd can meet his/her soulmate at a frat party or you can be miserable at a school that seems like a perfect fit. Because of this, I would be very leery of choosing a school because you think that your chances of getting a date are stronger. </p>

<p>Princeton and University of Chicago both have wonderful economics departments. Princeton graduates are probably more highly represented on Wall Street, but both schools would offer economics major the change to work with top professors and engage in meaningful research.</p>

<p>Since you are also interested in IR, at Princeton, you have the option of the Woodrow Wilson school, which is world-renowned. WWS now allows anyone to major in the school, a change from the past, and has a roster of amazing professors and guest speakers. Princeton also sponsors the Scholars in the Nation’s Service initiative, which encourages students to pursue careers in the federal government, [Woodrow</a> Wilson School of Public and International Affairs | Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative](<a href=“http://wws.princeton.edu/scholars/]Woodrow”>http://wws.princeton.edu/scholars/).</p>

<p>Good luck with your choice!</p>