Hi~ So I am a prospective freshman now and deciding where to go for my college between Duke and UChicago. UChicago has a famous economics department while Duke apparently has a better alumni network in financial field. I am sure that I will work on finance for my career, probably iBanking. So which one to choose, it seems very difficult for me...
Thanks!
P.S.I am an international so I may not go to the wall street for a career but go back home. But of course, a better opportunity of internship at Wall street will be really great!
I'd say UChicago. Chitown would be a sweet city to be in as an international student, and both places offer a great education and a great opportunity to end up on Wall Street.
Thanks, jimbrowngoU. What about the issue of alumni networking? And will UChicago be too academic that the environment makes the style of the student not so suitable for ibanking?
Personally, I don't think any school - no matter how "academic" it is - shapes the style of the student. At least it shouldn't. As long as you don't allow it to, you'll be fine. And I'm not so sure you'll get much of a different environment from Duke. From what I've heard from some of my friends, it's an extremely nerdy campus. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't think the environment will be much different.
As far as networking goes, you'll have more than enough contacts regardless of which school you choose. Honestly, there will be more than enough alums in finance on Wall Street from both schools - you'll be all set. Not to mention there will be plenty of OCR opportunities.
Academically and opportunity-wise, both schools are about equal. I think it is a decision where you go with the best "fit." If you have the opportunity to visit either school before you decide, I would certainly try and do this. Both places have a lot to offer, but it depends on what you're looking for. Don't make the decision based on which place will offer you better placement, because the difference will be minimal, if one even exists.
Duke as a nerdy campus? That is so different from what I have heard... If they are equal opportunity-wise, the decision becomes harder for me... I wish I could go and visit.
Personally, I'd choose Chicago. Their econ department is, as you say, the best in the world (though rather out of favor - Princeton's is much more relevant at the moment). Duke is a top school, so of course it will be a little nerdy, but definitely not as much as other schools. Some of my friends who go there do hardly any work, while I have heard Chicago is very difficult. Both will have great alumni networks, though I feel Duke's might be more helpful (I have no definite basis for that, just that Southerners tend to be more hospitable/helpful). If you are looking for a fun college experience and hot girls, it is Duke hands down, but Chicago will still be a fun city to be in, and there is no need to limit yourself to on campus opportunities. Tough choice man, but not at all a bad one to have.
drexelalum11，Thanks a lot!
I say Chicago too. I'm not sure how diverse the recruiting is at Duke, but I hear at UChicago, you have a lot of hedge funds recruiting too. Also, you said you wanted to work abroad and not in the US. I saw a lot more people from UC than I did from Duke in other regions. Uchicago certainly has a bigger alumni base in Asia as per my experience.
From a student's perspective (I go to a similar school).
UC Good: Very well regarded Econ department, big alumni base in Asia (I can't reason why, but I know for sure this is true in Korea), top-notch education
Bad: Very difficult course load that may skew your GPA down in comparison with other schools (very important for IB), very cut throat, in Chicago (most friends end up staying in Chicago and few come to NYC)
Duke Good: Very well rounded (in case you figure business Finance isn't for you, you have many other exits), very fraternal (take very good care of alumni), great collegiate campus (not as cut throat), relatively easier courseload (good for IB and med school)
Bad: Many get placed at BofA (NC since it's relatively close), can't say any more bad things (any more insights from others?)
Duke, because more good companies recruit from it, its more fun, and places way more people on the Street then Chicago does (also has more people going to top consulting).
Also, Chicago is one of the lamest places in the world - meet like 10 people who actually go there and you will see what I mean. Not a bad place for grad school/phd though.
I would go with Duke. I hear Uchicago is a really depressing campus and not much fun. Duke atleast has a solid basketball program and the two schools are equal in terms of academics. Go with Duke and have fun and do well......ATTEND DUKE LACROSSE PARTIES I HEAR THEY ARE CRAZY!!!!
At Duke, the director of undergraduate studies for econ, Emma Rasiel, is pushing hard to get more practical financial education incorporated into the undergrad econ curriculum. Look her up, she was a MD at Goldman in bond trading before she came to Duke, and she started the Financial Education Partnership at Duke which sets up tons of events with the bulge brackets and different finance seminars and stuff like that. She basically personally got me an interview at Morgan Stanley, where I'm probably going to be interning this summer. I guess UChicago might have someone like that too, but somehow I doubt it. PM me if you need more info.
"Where I'm probably going to be interning this summer"?
Shouldn't you have found out by now?
Every target/semi-target school has somone like that.
Hell, you're in college only once. DUKE BABY
Thanks everyone! But the decision is becoming harder...
And does wall street recruit many internationals? If not, the name of Duke does not actually help...
Their rep. is pretty equal... I'd go to Duke, but that may have to do with the fact that I hate Chicago.
I thought you wanted to go back home?
In the past they did recruit a lot... but over the last year, that's changed
Recruiting for banking at Duke is excellent, and the undergrad programs have a great reputation.
I wanna go back for my career. But I also would like an internship opportunity at the wall street...
Clarify what you mean by at the wall street... You want to work in NYC?
I ask because a very large percentage of UChicago grads go on to work "on wall street" in Chicago
Yes, I mean in NYC...
Chicago. Duke is a detestable school. Elitist, nerdy, and Durham sucks. Midwestern girls--and I know a ton from Illinois--are disproportionately attractive. I'd also love the opportunity to learn Chicago economics from...umm, Chicago.
Southern hospitality does not apply at Duke--Duke is not a "southern" school. The plurality of its students are from the northeast United States. And anyone who claims Duke has attractive girls is smokin' dope.
hahahahahahaha. That made me LOL
A lot of girls from Chicago on my campus certainly aren't sore on the eyes. Fun, too. Never see them actually in Chicago though. I think they hide in the suburbs.
While Duke girls aren't hot, UChicago has some of the most horrendous people in terms of aesthetics.
If you've never heard of Tucker Max before, he's a guy who went to UChicago and wrote a hilarious column about how lame it is. He's also a pretty funny guy judging from his website.
Tucker Max is awesome! If you haven't been to his website, set aside several hours to go through the content. I didn't realize he'd been to UChicago though
Duke for sure. Insane alumni network and recruiting in finance and WAY more fun than UChicago.
Both are elite schools so they attract their share of geeks, but the idea that Duke is nerdier than UChicago is laughable. We're talking about a school (UChicago) that takes pride in the slogan "Where fun comes to die."
Anyway, top schools, generally do not have a large population of attractive females, so if that is a top priority, you might as well turn both schools down.
Ironically Tucker Max went to UChicago for undergrad and Duke for law school..
Yeah, I think the sushi restaurant/sakebombing/breathalyzer story happened at Mount Fujis, where I've gone for recruitment dinners before (while doing on-campus recruiting as a 1st year)
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