Duke vs Cornell reputation/prestige

[iowaguy]

In my sub-field, the programs of Duke & Cornell are roughly of equal ranking.

 

What is the general consensus of the difference between the pedigree of a PhD from Duke vs Cornell?  How would you say each ranks on a scale of 1-10?  Long-term impact of pedigree on academic career vs. career in consulting?  Thanks in advance!

[selecttext]

I wouldn't base my decision between these particular institutions based on reputation alone as, in this instance, "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"

[tarrman]

Cornell is an ivy. Duke is considered a sister school of Princeton. So I'd say prestige for both is equal. You really ought to email some professors in the department, possibly the chair, and ask for the academic and consulting placements for graduates.

 

Like selecttext said, don't base your decision on overall prestige.

Edited March 10, 2013 by tarrman

[iowaguy]

Thanks for the input guys!  I'm having a hard time deciding between these 2 programs/POI's.  They are very close on many different decision variables.  Sounds like prestige is pretty close as well, with Cornell perhaps being a shade higher in overall prestige...

[Inyo]

You haven't mentioned one of the biggest differences between the two schools: climate! 

 

As a transplant to the triangle area of NC, I am thrilled to be leaving for another climate. You may have different preferences, though

[iowaguy]

As I stare out of my office window looking at a foot of snow right now, the NC climate sounds pretty nice

[Inyo]

That's what I thought after spending snowmaggeddon of 2010 in the Philly suburbs. 5 feet of snowfall in 4 days was enough to traumatize this native Californian

 

That said, NC gets more *ice* storms, which is way worse. Plus no one can drive in any amount of snow/ice, so there are alwasy wrecks everywhere when there's even a dusting of snow. Winter isn't cold enough to feel like real winter, but it's just cold/wet enough to make it generally unpleasant out. Spring and fall are wonderful, though.

 

Summer, on the other hand, is just painful. Over the past three years, we've had at least a week total of >100 degree weather with very high humidity. Summers are long, very hot, and very humid. If you drive everywhere, you're mostly okay, but as someone who loves spending time outdoors, I hate the summer in central NC. Summers are lovely up in the mountains, though. 

 

All of that said, I don't know how I'd handle upstate NY amounts of snow  

[epsilon]

Ice storms really don't happen that often...