Duke University Top Questions

Durham is not a college town. I wish there were more efforts by the city and the school to integrate the community with Duke.

school is too small, need about 10,000 undergrads. The frat scene makes the social scene a lot smaller, everyone knows everyone else. not at all a college town, and chapel hill is close but not many people actually go. there are only a few bars and clubs that people go to all the time. the administration doenst have the students as first priority, this is the problem with a research university. the student government also doesnt do anything. "tenting" for basketball games is one of the dumbest things at the school...some tent for the experience, not love of the game. parking blows. apart from that great school.

Duke is an amazing place, because the school provides you with everything you need, and anything you might possibly want. The opportunities to get involved in whatever you are interested in, in the way you want to be involved, be it student government, independent research with a professor, or special engineering competitions, you can do it at Duke.

Duke is a sweet place, I would change the drinking age because it lends to hypocritical policies.

People care about asking about the big picture.

It's pretty good overall. Durham is really disappointing and the administration is terrible at making students' lives better, but the people are fun and that is enough to balance out almost all of the other issues with Duke.

The biggest recent controversy? That's pretty easy. LAX scandal two years ago. Not only were the players completely railroaded by Nifong, but they were tried and convicted in the court of public opinion long before any facts came to light. The case was so explosive because it raised all the issues no one wants to talk about here: sexual assault, athletes getting preferential treatment, race relations, Duke-Durham inequalities. I think it was wrong for the team to be assumed guilty simply because it fit an explosive narrative that pisses people off and attracts the media. I will say though, the coach and team can learn an important lesson from it - no one would have reacted the same way if it were the football or basketball team because they don't have reputations of being assholes. While everything that happened to the LAX team was wrong all social groups and sports teams should learn from this to not put yourself in such a position and not put yourself in a social position where people might even consider you would do such a thing. Mike Nifong should be beaten.

The best part of Duke is the people. I've met so many great guys and girls that I know I'll stay friends with for a long time. I also see them everywhere I go because the school is smaller. Every bus ride or party I go to I have someone to talk to and hang out with. I have friends at state universities that never know anyone in class or on the bus. The second thing is Duke basketball which is a ridiculous experience you can't get anywhere but Duke.

good size, campus is great as underclassmen, lots of athletic events, shows, talks, concerts to go to

lots of school spirit, good sports, lots of rich kids, social life gets monotonous after a while

A place where everyone can find their niche. Perfect size to meet someone new everyday and still maintain a solid group of friends. Greek life kinda runs the social scene, but living in Durham is a plus for social life if you aren't greek. So much pride at this school that it becomes almost elitist....but in a good way.

Academics at Duke are amazing. I've gotten to personally know several professors. I feel like I'm really being prepared for life. Duke's size is just right. There are enough people that you can always meet someone new, but its small enough that you are bound to see that person again. Durham can be fun once you're 21 and can go to the bars. The Durham Bulls provide some cool off campus entertainment. There is a lot of school pride - lots of people love this school and show it through athletics (basketball especially), clothing, events on campus. The best thing about Duke is that, unlike larger public schools like UNC, there are many events that bring the entire student body together. These include parties in the library, events on the quad, engineering picnics, tailgates, etc. Duke spends a lot less time trying to get us in trouble for breaking rules and instead makes sure that we are safe. This is how the world should work, but it is really only possible somewhere like Duke where we are protected from stupid, unneccessary laws that are going to be broken anyway. Maybe law enforcement could learn a lesson... If they'd quit trying to get good people in trouble and earn some quick cash (through traffic violations, underage drinking tickets, etc.) and spend that time busting real criminals, then our world would be a better place.

Duke is a place where you can meet any type of person, but the dominant person is a douchebag. However, if you want hyou can hang without them

As a boy who was fortunate, lucky or blessed enough to be accepted to every college he applied to the question "Why Duke?" comes up alot. I tell them simply. I'm happy. Duke is the one place I felt most at home, most comfortable, most like I belonged. The things I would change are inconsequential (better buses on the weekend, better drainage on the quad, getting rid of the seldom stray cat). The things that are important are the things I wouldn't change like classes, food plans, athletics, dorm life, social life, all those buzz items.

As hard as balancing school with other social activities in my life had been I still believe overall that duke is a wonderful place. The food at the marketplace isn't too bad but after awhile it becomes so trite and bland that i have to spend my money ordering food. The girls here aren't too bad are extremly but a majority of them lack a certain spunk that I need in order to keep me interested, but I am a man and i have my needs. Knowing my personality you would not believe that i am in PRatt and the one thing i hate about Pratt is that it does not really give you enough time to explore your other possibilities.

Our school is perfect and i like everything about it. There may be too much stress on social scene popularity, but not a big deal

Best thing - academics Change - social scene, too cliqued off Perfect size People are generally impressed that I go to Duke, although there are lots of lacrosse jokes Time on campus in the dorms/ on the quads Durham hates us, because of the sharp socioeconomic divide Duke's administration is pretty good, though not perfect Biggest Recent Controversy - Grace Wang Lots of school pride - yes

In many ways, Duke is like a bubble in Durham. There are the standard places people go off campus--Shooters, Brightleaf, 9th street, etc.--but being from Virginia I'm really familiar with other schools that have a very college town feel to them (Virginia Tech, for instance) and it's not like that here. There is a very distinct divide between Duke and Durham, and that is upsetting for many members of both communities. But at the same time that means there is a strong community at Duke, and to me it is a perfect size at about 6,000 undergraduates. It is not so small that it feels like high school again, but by the time you're a couple years in you pretty much recognize most of the faces in your class. That doesn't mean you know everyone, and I'm often meeting new people. There is also a strong relationship between students and faculty, if you want there to be. A big thing about Duke is you don't feel like a kid anymore when you get here, you're not babied in classes, but you're also not treated like someone Duke needs to keep a close eye on. This isn't necessarily the case on all campuses, and I brag about it. Students have an incredible amount of freedom. No one checks your room--I once had a friend at another school complaining that she couldn't have beer in her room in case the RA came in and found it and I was completely baffled by the idea that an RA could even enter your room without your explicit permission (but be wary of alcohol on East campus--it's technically dry). No one pretends like there isn't drinking or partying. Academically too, there are plenty of advising resources but for the most part it's in your hands as well. I love it, and I wouldn't want to have it any other way. The thing I think is one of Duke's greatest aspects is the study abroad options. I went abroad fall of my junior year, and it was no doubt the coolest and most valuable experience I've had at Duke. There are many options and the programs are wonderful, I can't say enough good things about it.

Honestly, Duke is a great place, and nearly every single person I talk with loves it. Academics are amazing, the people who attends are sociable, intelligent, and nice (and not quite as snobby as some Ivy-league types), and Durham is better than you'd expect (although it's definitely no New York City or even Ann Arbor). No regrets at all coming here. Chose it over Columbia and Penn.

It took me longer than most to get used to being at college, and at first I even wanted to go elsewhere (most of my good friends from high school went to the east coast). I initially thought that I couldn't meet anyone like my old friends, and I'm still close with my them. After awhile, though, I met people at Duke that are some of my best friends, people with whom I know I'll still be close throughout my life. I think that accurately reflects the fact that there are so many different types of people here, so no matter what type you are, you'll find people you love at Duke. The campus is amazing, and I'm always struck whenever I'm walking from one class to another, and I stop just to look around. If Greek life is your thing, they've got it here. If it isn't, you'll still find that Duke is a great place to be. You're not a pariah if you're not in a fraternity. There's always something to do on weekends, even stuff to do during the week at night if you have a late class the next day (or even if you don't!). If Duke students are anything, they're fun.