Where should I go to college?

[MAlibdem]

At the moment I have to choose between Duke and Michigan (I got into Wesleyan and Tufts, but I've pretty much eliminated them).

Where should I go? Anyone here go/went to either of the schools? And yes, I know they're really different.

Thanks.


Btw-I haven't heard from Dartmouth yet, but so far the Ivies are not treating me well (2 rejects, 1 waitlist)

[DarkPhenyx]

1. England.

Just my opinion.

[MAlibdem]

2. I'm doing a research/policy paper on British Universities now

I'm definitely not jumping into that craphole.

[sir_captain]

5. Good call

Say what you want about the US, but our higher education is the best in the world. Oxford and Cambridge are fine places, but even there, you'd never get the broad-based education that is possible at the sorts of schools you're looking at.

Did you get into the honors program at UMich? If not, I'd say Duke. All my friends who went there loved it, though honestly, I've always kind of thought of it as a rich kids school. And I've only heard good things about the UMich honors program from those who've been through it.

Ann Arbor is much nicer than Durham, though colder. Durham is pretty awful, though.

In any case, the main thing is to go visit both of them, stay overnight, and just see which one feels more comfortable to you. They're both great schools and big enough (obviously Michigan is *way* big enough) that you'll find plenty of people on your wavelength.

[MAlibdem]

8. Ya, im in honors

so that makes it tough...and im trying to convince my parents to buy me a house in ann arbor (on the condition my cousin and bro go to Mich)

[sir_captain]

11. Hmm....

well, financially, you're certainly better off at Michigan, and in terms of the education difference between Duke and the honors program, frankly, I don't think there's much of one.

I think I'm a little biased because I lived in Chapel Hill for a little while and my uncle used to run the MFA program at Michigan, so I think I'd lean there.

Really, in a lot of ways, they're pretty similar--both big sports schools, very active socially, and still strong academically.

I think you're really going to have to decide after visiting (if that's financially feasible) and then weighing the costs.

[MAlibdem]

13. i've visited both...

i liked both. i kno ppl at both.

hmmm...maybe it'll come down to GE politics...NC as a swing state? Maybe with edwards...

[sir_captain]

15. Haha

if it comes down to politics, then Michigan is an easy winner. NC politics, even post Jesse Helms, are so messed up...

[JohnKleeb]

3. NOVA

http://www.nv.cc.va.us/ ;)
I am kidding with you, thats where I am going for a year or so then transfering, hmm I dont know honest. Good luck tho. Duke and Michigan are schools that I would have to rise my GPA a full letter and cheat on my SATS to go, :) I am a dummy yes, but I guess Michigan.

[fameless]

4. Whats wrong with Wesleyan?

or Tufts?

[MAlibdem]

6. Nothing

Just a personal choice...Tufts is too close and too specialized for my tastes.

Wesleyan is a little on the boring side. Just my preferences. They do have a nasty program in politics tho.

[mobuto]

28. ???

Boring? Wesleyan is anything but boring. Honest.

They do have a nasty program in politics tho.

I have no idea what you're talking about. Wesleyan has an absolutely first-rate Government Department.

[MAlibdem]

33. nasty in a positive sense

like "wicked ill"

good program.

[sir_captain]

7. Heh...

Tufts is just too damn far a walk from Davis Square if you ask me!

[VOX]

9. What's your proposed course of study, and do any of the schools...

have any advantages over the others in that area?

[MAlibdem]

12. Economics, Politic Science, Philosophy

Michigan has broad-based goodness, but is a little big.

Duke, they're pretty good in everything, stress cross-departmental cooperation.

very diff places...tho great sports teams at both (which is how my friends have been advising me)

[sir_captain]

14. Coach K is a freeper

sadly, he's a big NC Republican party fundraiser. I started rooting for UNC when I found that out.

[JohnKleeb]

16. and Dean Smith is a dem lol

Thank you Rick Reilly for that info. Its rather interesting about Coach K tho, he's from Chicago and Polish, both big dem constuencies. Polish Americans are one of the biggest democratic ethnic groups, the Irish and the Jews too are big.

[SW FL Dem]

25. I didn't need to know that :(

Gotta link? We are big Duke fans here.

[VOX]

21. Sounds a bit like you're leaning towards Duke...

Unless I'm reading you wrong.

[MAlibdem]

24. i am leaning

but my mom went to mich...so we'll see

[Champ]

10. Go to Podunk Community College

I heard it's great over there. Go to Michigan, I hate Duke :mad:

[cally]

17. I don't know much about either but consider the dorm space

and how long you are guaranteed a space. Consider who comes to the campuses and what activities you can access. I learned so much attending lectures from visitors. It matters. Good luck. My preference would be a contained campus. I think you lose much in your college experience if you attend a college that does not have a sense of community.

[NewHampster]

18. Durham 53 Ann Arbor 48

current temp.

Averages for Durham http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/monthly/USNC0192?from=search

Averages for Ann Arbor
http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/monthly/48109

Plus the beaches of the Outer banks and Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains, DC and did I mention it's a nice warm climate.

And today really sucks where I am up in New England.

[Bossy Monkey]

19. A general observation: nothing is worth the cost of a private university

True 20-odd years ago when I went to college (Penn); truer today.

If the academics are pick'em between Duke and UM, and you can stand the weather at the latter, sounds like you should go there. Duke has a pretty campus, though Durham is a pit. Chapel Hill/Carrboro are handy, though, and very cool. I know nothing whatever about Ann Arbor except that it's a lot a lot a lot colder than Massachusetts. Something to think about.

[Burma Jones]

20. DOOK

But then, I always pulled for Ohio State

[bobbieinok]

22. my son went to a veryprestige private school and hated it

(I think part of it was the usual stress of being away from home where you have to rely on yourself - and gradually new friends. some bad initial advising from faculty who should have known better. also there was severe culture shock at the number of students from extremely wealthy families who 'just threw their money away everyday on things nobody needs')

he claims people should go to the best affordable school near where they live and then be very picky about grad school

I would add reasonably large school so there's lots of choices of courses

I read/heard that the average US college student changes majors 2-3 times while in college

[sir_captain]

26. To be fair

I went to a very prestigious private school and thank my lucky stars every day. I met such incredibly bright, talented people every day--my world truly expanded around me in a way that I will appreciate for the rest of my life. Sure, there were some old money kids with silver spoons in their mouths, but it's easy to ignore them.

[never cry wolf]

23. One thing to consider possibly

Ann Arbor is essentially a suburb of Detroit with all of the advantages a major metropolitan center can offer. It is also close to Canada cuz ya just never know........

[SW FL Dem]

27. They are both great schools!

I lived in Ann Arbor and went to Duke. Ann Arbor is a more liberal of a place. Raleigh Durham is okay but the Duke Campus is gorgeous. What do you want to study?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

29. Tufts is a really good school

my niece goes there. But I understand if you want to leave the Boston area, since you grew up here. But there is a hell of a lot to do here...

[U of M Dem 07]

30. MICHIGAN

It's an awesome school. Have you been to visit here yet?

[MAlibdem]

31. ya, campus day a few weeks ago

i really liked it. i liked duke too when i visited it.

i have family in the midwest too, so i dunno

[U of M Dem 07]

32. Maybe making a list

of the pros and cons of each?
To help you out, Michigan is a really liberal campus, and very politically active, too. Do you know what you're going into? The political science department here is in the top 3 in the nation (according to my professors). There's other stuff to consider like cost, climate, who you know, etc. :) Good luck with your decision!
(If it's still a tie, I'd go with Michigan)

[MAlibdem]

34. Ok, I got into Dartmouth

I'm going there.

I know it's a decently conservative school, but I figure I'll convert some misguided souls.

And it's a swing state.

And tons of reasons I cant list right now because im playing a wicked cool video game.

[sir_captain]

36. congrats

hope you like beer

and being in the middle of nowhere

[Lady Freedom]

35. Try here!!!

just go to www.mssu.edu to find out more!!!