<p>I think people do concede that Duke is definitely better overall, as a university. But for undergrad. education, I truly doubt the educational outcomes will be that different. Given this, a driven student can get just as much out of going to Vandy as Duke. Just because a school is statistically better does not mean one should automatically choose it. If I were choosing between HPYS, MIT, Caltech, Columbia, Duke and Chicago, and actually cared more about the teaching I would get I would have a very tough choice (If I wanted a Ph.D in science, I would go to Caltech because that stands out). I wouldn’t just blindly choose Harvard because of its statistics. I would claim that Vandy and Duke have become similar in many aspects at the undergrad. level, but Duke is certainly better at sports and is more well-known for its successes. Also, to argue that Vandy isn’t catching up with Duke because Duke still sees app/ increases is faulty. The gap is no longer anywhere near as wide as it used to be, and the SAT scores are similar. In terms of renowned faculty and other measures of prestige and reputation, Vandy will naturally lag, but it’s in a solid position where it may indeed pique the interest of more of these faculty members. I suppose it can work on ethnic diversity (better than before…but still. However, this is a matter of opinion. This can, if not accommodated correctly cause harm.), though it’s doing much better in regional than ever before.</p>