Duke or Princeton
Hey, I just got off the WL for Princeton chemical/bioengineering! I am currently committed to Duke for Biomedical Engineering and I don’t know which to choose. I feel so lost (I mean I’m posting this at 12:00 am on a Wednesday lol).
I am full pay at both. I am planning to go into a biotech hub (Boston, SF, RTP, or SD) or get my PhD. I am pretty set on this plan and don’t see myself changing.
Here are my thoughts
- I haven’t heard the best things about Princeton’s chemical/bioengineering department from the few alumni I’ve talked to. I have heard there is a new building coming and some new investments. I have heard great things about Duke’s BME and how it is one of the best in the country. It looks like I would be taught by leaders in the field at Duke with more specialized classes. They also have a lot of groundbreaking research that I could be part of in comparison to Princeto. It is also in a biotech hub (RTP), which I’ve heard can help with internships.
- At Princeton you cannot double major, which is very different from Duke’s interdisciplinary culture. Although I understand both approaches, the interdisciplinary one seems better for my interests.
- Princeton is more prestigious, especially outside the country. Duke isn’t too far behind in the US. From what I’ve been told, biotech is less about prestige, and employers will be equally impressed by either school. I don’t know how much this difference will actually help me, if at all. I’ve looked at LinkedIn and talked to a couple alumni, and it seems like both schools lead to similar placements for jobs and PhD programs. It does look like more Princeton CBE students go into finance or business, while more Duke students stay in the field or go to med school. Both also seem equal in terms of alumni helpfulness, based on what my parents have said.
- Princeton has a greater endowment per student, which might mean more opportunities to do cool projects. Because it has fewer grad programs, it is also more undergraduate focused. Both of these probably contribute to the perception that Princeton is a strong PhD feeder.
- Living in the northeast, I’ve seen how much weather affects my mental health. I know neither place is perfect, but NC is sunnier and has less snow. I know this shouldn’t be a deciding factor, but it still matters to me.
- If academics or prestige weren’t factors (which they obviously are), I think I would pick Duke. It seems like a very balanced environment where school spirit, Greek life, and career success are part of the culture. I have visited Princeton quite a few times, and it felt more grindy, with the eating clubs acting like a quirky version of Greek life. That said, I’m sure I would be happy at either school.
It’s funny because my mom went to Princeton and my dad went to Duke. My parents believe I can’t make a wrong choice, but they did say they saw me light up when I visited Duke, which I definitely did. I just feel like this is a life changing decision and I don’t want to make the wrong one. I understand this might be a biased audience too haha! Thank you so much.
edit: thanks for your perspective! I picked Duke!