Introduction:
The long-standing rivalry from two of the most prestigious schools in the nation, Duke University and University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill has sparked much discussion with both teams being eliminated in the March Madness tournament. Duke was just eliminated in the Final Four to Houston, while UNC was eliminated in the first round against Ole Miss. Basketball aside, both schools offer great programs for students to engage in throughout their academic careers. At both universities, students have the opportunity to learn and gain experience that will help them after graduation. I had the privilege of touring both schools over Spring Break, and I can confidently say which school I think is better, and hopefully end the debate between which school to go to that many students struggle with.
First of all, both schools are fantastic and great accomplishments if admitted to, and offer unparalleled education and communities that will guarantee rigor and excellence for students. They are a part of the “Research Triangle” along with North Carolina State, which creates research opportunities for students across the North Carolina area. So, I put together a test where I ranked both schools on three factors that could help a student decide which one to commit to: education, campus, and student life.
Duke University:
Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina and is ranked in the top 10 of schools in the nation, being number 6 out of 436 (usnews.com). It offers over 60 majors, which the students can select from and change at any time. The number of undergraduate students is about 6,500, making it considered to be a small school. However, with its 5:1 student to faculty ratio, students are offered the best education possible with top tier professors and mentors. The university is separated into 2 separate schools, which are the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, and the Pratt School of Engineering. The Trinity College is home to most majors, and the Pratt School is home to students majoring in the different fields of engineering. Duke has an acceptance rate of 6% which makes it an extremely competitive application process, but with the Early Decision application program, it bumps up to 13%, which is around the same as UNC’s out-of-state acceptance rate. Therefore, for academics, Duke University receives a 10/10.
The next part of the evaluation process is the ambiance and “vibes” of the campus. I went this Spring Break on a very sunny day, and the weather was beautiful, perhaps adding to the score of the tour. Duke has 10 libraries spread across its 2 main campuses, ensuring easy access to a nice place to study at a moment’s notice. The architecture of the campus was beautiful, as seen by the pictures in this article. It is known for its beautiful Chapel (UNC reference not lost on me) and its gothic architecture style, reminiscent of its 1838 establishment, making it a great studying environment for students. Its most iconic building is the Bell Tower (seen after paragraph) and marks the center of campus. Duke’s dining hall was ranked the #1 best dining hall in 2016 and 2017 by the Princeton Review. I did not have a chance to try the food, but it smelt amazing when I walked through the dining commons. Thus, the campus at Duke University receives an 8/10.
The last part of Duke’s evaluation is student life. As previously mentioned, Duke is considered a small school, with 6,500 undergraduate students. However, the school spirit there definitely makes up for it entirely. Just being on the campus made it feel like I was a part of it, with many people wearing Blue Devils merch and the dark blue color throughout the campus. Also, Duke has over 870 student organizations for students to partake in during their college careers. Some of these include religious groups, club sports, and cultural societies as well. Everyone bonds over Duke’s D1 athletics, in particular Basketball and Football. One of the traditions that we learned about on the tour was what the students at Duke like to call “tenting.” Tenting is when students at the university band together with friends to try and win tickets to the most coveted game in the season, the Duke vs. UNC basketball game. The students will live in tents for up to 6 weeks to be the last group standing and win tickets for them and their friends. The culture at this school felt very nice, combining rigorous academics with fun and social activities. Overall, Duke’s student life obtains a 9/10 in my book, giving Duke University an outstanding 27/30.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
The University of North Carolina is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and is ranked number 27 of schools in the nation (usnews.com). Chapel Hill offers 80 majors, with the most prominent being Social Sciences and Biology/Biomedical Science. UNC has around 20,000 students, making it a medium to large school. UNC has a student to faculty ratio of 15:1, which is significantly higher than Duke’s, partly because UNC has more students in general. UNC has 13 different specialized schools, including Arts and Sciences, and School of Government. These specialized schools ensure that students have communities specific to their area of study. UNC has an acceptance rate of 19%, but for out of state students, it is around 8%. This means that it is a very selective school, and that education is on par with other schools in the area and the country. So for education, UNC Chapel Hill receives a 9/10.
Campus-wise, the school is beautiful and the weather is nice almost all year round. It is a small to medium sized campus, with the school being made up of 700 acres (as opposed to Duke’s 8,000). However, this means that students don’t have to travel much for class. The most recognized building on campus is the Old Well (seen after paragraph), where a tradition exists where students drink out of the water on the first day of classes, which allegedly guarantees them academic success for the semester. UNC has 10 libraries, like Duke, which ensures that students have somewhere to go to study and get work done. The UNC athletic facilities were great and right on campus, which students are free to walk through on the way to class or just to admire. Again, the weather was very nice but in the spring, the pollen flows through the air which can make it hard to breathe or get to class. But overall, the campus gets a 7/10.
The last category that I ranked UNC on was student life. UNC has over 800 student organizations, including many fraternities and student clubs. Some of them were centered around service for the community and some on research. One area on the campus where many club fairs or rallies are held is called The Pit, by the bookstore and one of the dining halls on campus, ensuring that students have access to clubs and opportunities at all times. Students at UNC take sports very seriously, as does Duke, with the rivalry between the schools being perhaps the most famous rivalry in college sports (perhaps greater than Ohio State and UMich.) Student life is academically centered but also social, taking into account the “Word Hard, Play Harder” motto. Therefore, student life at UNC obtains an 8/10 in my ranking, garnering UNC a more than acceptable score of 24/30.
Conclusion:
Overall, both schools are two of the most prestigious universities in the world and students who attend them receive outstanding education and opportunities. Going to either one of these schools is an academic honor and accomplishment to be proud of. That being said, I think that Duke University outdoes UNC Chapel Hill in some ways, with the university receiving a 27/30 in my ranking, compared to UNC’s 24/30. The opportunity to go to either of these schools ensure a good career and fantastic education for those attending. Therefore, both schools are great, but Duke slightly outperforms UNC in some aspects academically and socially, making Duke the winner of the long lasting rivalry.
