Proud Dad Seeking Your Experience

[GB-man]

Georgetown would be my pick of those offered by a long shot. It’s the only chance at anything close to a diverse academic experience. YMMV

[SMD]

Originally Posted by Spartacus

Um, what?

Anyway, I took some classes at Georgetown, it was a decent experience. Lots of wealthy students, which can be staggering if you are not familiar with private cars waiting for kids at the corner.

In terms of brand name, I would put Duke ahead of Georgetown. A good student can be successful in most schools, just need to watch out for distractions and bad habits.

Congrats, btw!

DC, not Georgetown. When I lived there politics was all consuming. I can only imagine what it is like there now in the current environment. Did not realize saying DC was a town that had a strong political bent was controversial.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Georgetown would be my pick of those offered by a long shot. It’s the only chance at anything close to a diverse academic experience. YMMV

Just out of curiosity, what is a diverse academic experience?

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Just out of curiosity, what is a diverse academic experience?

I was referring to the cultural diversity of the campus location. Washington DC is a melting pot compared with the other two locations I suspect.

To be honest I’ve only spent time in the Georgetown area so I’m clearly shooting from the hip. Seeing as I beilieve OP is from NYC, this may not be as important.

Myself, growing up in a relatively monotone suburb upstate, I feel I gained a great deal of knowledge attending a university that strived for diversity taking a high percentage of international students. Living and working everyday with others from India, China, Japan, Iran, Nigeria to name a few examples was a fun and valuable experience. JMHO

Edit: the more I read OP I don’t think this is what he was referring to but it doesn’t change my opinion.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by GB-man

I was referring to the cultural diversity of the campus location. Washington DC is a melting pot compared with the other two locations I suspect.

To be honest I’ve only spent time in the Georgetown area so I’m clearly shooting from the hip. Seeing as I beilieve OP is from NYC, this may not be as important.

Myself, growing up in a relatively monotone suburb upstate, I feel I gained a great deal of knowledge attending a university that strived for diversity taking a high percentage of international students. Living and working everyday with others from India, China, Japan, Iran, Nigeria to name a few examples was a fun and valuable experience. JMHO

You went to Arkansas State University, then?

I think you get that at all the big schools. Your level of exposure is proportional to your ability to move out of your comfort zone.

Now, if he wanted a real cultural experience, he'd join the Marines for a few years.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

You went to Arkansas State University, then?

I think you get that at all the big schools. Your level of exposure is proportional to your ability to move out of your comfort zone.

Now, if he wanted a real cultural experience, he'd join the Marines for a few years.

You’re probably correct. I went to a state school in NY. For me, not having spent time in the military or much time abroad in general it was still valuable to me at that stage in my life.

Many of my friends attended smaller private colleges that had small classrooms and less diversity. You have to remember I grew up in a small blue collar town of about 25k people upstate.

[Bryant Park]

I don't think it will be an issue based on these facts. These are last year's stats. In spite of applications surpassing 37,000 this year for approx 1,600 class spots we are told they have remained committed to similar diversity standards. Thanks

[Headshrinker]

My daughter has been touring colleges as well. She has been to Boston College, Cornell, Georgetown, and American University. She is also considering my alma mater, Princeton. My daughter is very smart and, at times, too independent (I guess that’s a good thing). In the end, I will be proud of her, wherever she decides to go.

[DeeTee]

You have every watch and a kid going to Georgetown....we want pics of the trophy wife!

[Bryant Park]

Originally Posted by Headshrinker

My daughter has been touring colleges as well. She has been to Boston College, Cornell, Georgetown, and American University. She is also considering my alma mater, Princeton. My daughter is very smart and, at times, too independent (I guess that’s a good thing). In the end, I will be proud of her, wherever she decides to go.

Congratulations and best of luck. An incredible journey in which I learned so much about my son. Lots of fun, anxiety and joy. He was actually accepted at two of the schools you mentioned but had narrowed down to the three I reference.

If I can help by sharing info we picked up along the way please pm me. I am happy to try and help. There is definitely some strategy and gamesmanship needed plus each school is unique.

Cheers and good luck for finding the right fit!

[Bryant Park]

Originally Posted by DeeTee

You have every watch and a kid going to Georgetown....we want pics of the trophy wife!

Thanks but no trophy wives. Just the love of my life after 24 strong years. Blessed to meet her before we had watches or the money to even buy a clock.

That said I think she is hot

[ckaynyc]

Duke from an academic point of view. Congratulations to your son as well as his mom and dad.

[Star Ferry]

I would eliminate Notre Dame. All great schools, but Georgetown and Duke draw a better quality and quantity of employers for on-campus recruiting.

Duke is the most elite academically. IMO the campus culture is a little unfriendly -- heavy on Greek life, very focused on "Where are you from? What does your dad do?" type of questions. This was also a problem at my alma mater (Penn) -- the effect on the culture is corrosive.

Having also visited friends at Georgetown, I found the students more collegial and community oriented. Most come from affluent backgrounds, but in general, I think the school produces more well-rounded and less cut-throat graduates who are arguably more employable. It's also nice to have a big city nearby and to be able to escape the campus bubble.

[Nelsjay]

Visited some of those schools when my daughter was applying to colleges. I fell in love with Duke, but my daughter chose Penn. So, I would recommend Duke, unless he’s into Politics or International Relations—then Georgetown is the better option.

[Bryant Park]

Originally Posted by Nelsjay

Visited some of those schools when my daughter was applying to colleges. I fell in love with Duke, but my daughter chose Penn. So, I would recommend Duke, unless he’s into Politics or International Relations—then Georgetown is the better option.

Penn is an amazing school!

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Bryant Park

Rugby player and couldn't care less about watching sports I see where you were going however.

Shouldn't he be coming to the UK? God knows half the world are trying to.

[Bryant Park]

Originally Posted by AK797

Shouldn't he be coming to the UK? God knows half the world are trying to.

With the post Brexit devaluation of BPST and the shorter curriculum (3 years vs 4 in the US) it actually was considered. Ultimately however we want him to have the benefit of local alumni and friends. I know, typical provincial American

Also his mom wanted him closer to home.

I actually work for a British company and am in the UK near monthly. I was supportive.

For the most prestigious US schools international represents about 12-15% of matriculating students.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Bryant Park

With the post Brexit devaluation of BPST and the shorter curriculum (3 years vs 4 in the US) it actually was considered. Ultimately however we want him to have the benefit of local alumni and friends. I know, typical provincial American

Also his mom wanted him closer to home.

I actually work for a British company and am in the UK near monthly. I was supportive.

For the most prestigious US schools international represents about 12-15% of matriculating students.

Some great glories of the UK, beautifully outlined by Sir Humphrey Appleby, Civil servant extraordinaire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmOvEwtDycs

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by Headshrinker

My daughter has been touring colleges as well. She has been to Boston College, Cornell, Georgetown, and American University. She is also considering my alma mater, Princeton. My daughter is very smart and, at times, too independent (I guess that’s a good thing). In the end, I will be proud of her, wherever she decides to go.

I can tell you AU is one I would avoid (but my Dad tells me AU Law isn't that bad). One thing I look at is endowment size, I think the best colleges have the biggest endowments.

AU has gone through so many presidents on weird terms, and has/had some real money issues. The grading is also grating, it's incredibly subjective, at Rollins I would be given A's if I disagreed with the professors and backed it up, at AU I would be given "D's". They are also unapologetic about that fact. I had an A in every graded aspect of one class and still got a C because of attendance. It is not a school I believe that is interested in the success of the students (look at the 4 year graduation rate of AU vs Gtown 76% vs 90%).

[Bryant Park]

Duke class of 2022.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

[HobokenRolex]

Congrats and great choice! Nice pic...this one is in my living room.

[Bryant Park]

It is truly an amazing place. Been to 25+ campuses and Duke was far and away the nicest, the people the most welcoming and the commitment to excellence the most evident.

Pride is now marginally bumped out by envy. I would love to spend 4 years there and feel privledged to have my son have the opportunity.

Lastly, who would have thought of Durham NC as an amazing culinary destination. The food was amazing!

[PLNYC]

Congrats!

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Bryant Park

Duke class of 2022.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

[breitlings]

Congrats! Hope he has a wonderful time, makes strong connections, and learns a ton!

[Bryant Park]

These admissions percentages get particularly daunting when you consider recruited athletes, alumni children, international students and a desire for domestic geographic diversity further lower the percentages.

Glad to have it in the rear view mirror.

[uscmatt99]

Congratulations to your son, Duke is a fine school! Looking at those stats, I can't believe my alma mater USC is now in that league. I graduated in 1999, and my friends and I always joked that we were the last of the dumb years, first of the smart years, no offence intended to grads prior to that time. I got a sizeable academic scholarship back then, but with the same stats today I'd be scraping by to get in. Glad I have another decade before my oldest is off to college.

[datejustrms]

Congratulations on your son being accepted at some fine schools. It's an exciting time and I'm sure he will choose the school that's the right fit for him.

[DJ TT 2002]

Excellent choice!!!
Congratulations to your son and to the whole family

[Bryant Park]

Originally Posted by uscmatt99

Congratulations to your son, Duke is a fine school! Looking at those stats, I can't believe my alma mater USC is now in that league. I graduated in 1999, and my friends and I always joked that we were the last of the dumb years, first of the smart years, no offence intended to grads prior to that time. I got a sizeable academic scholarship back then, but with the same stats today I'd be scraping by to get in. Glad I have another decade before my oldest is off to college.

Thank you. My son tells me for north east kids USC was the "it" school this year. U Miami, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest all drawing huge numbers. Something to be said for a 50 degree day in January I guess.