<p>ok, so i found out that i got into duke off the waitlist today, but the problem is, ive already sent all my ish in for columbia, which im way excited for. the thing is, ive never actually visited duke and really dont know all too much about it, so im asking you guys to tell me what is good about it. and please, nothing negative about columbia, i know like everything there is to know (pros and cons), so only pros (and cons if u want to be honest) about duke. thanks!</p>
<p>OK, I'll admit it. Columbia was my dream school for a VERY LONG TIME. But I actually wound up choosing to come to Duke over Columbia, and even though you said to say nothing negative about Columbia, I think it would probably help best if I compare the two and talk about why I wound up picking Duke. Hope that's OK.</p>
<p>1) City vs. Campus. I love NYC, and I always have. I essentially know that I WILL end up there, because I'm basically infatuated. However, as someone told me, "New York will always be there. A college campus, well, that you can only have for 4 years of your life." And it's true. Living on a college campus is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and although it sometimes feels like a bubble, there's a distinct advantage that it offers. Attending college in a place where you're surrounded by other students, social life revolves around a certain few buildings clustered around each other, you mainly eat within a certain area or on one street directly off campus, etc. means that you really foster a COMMUNITY. The one thing I knew about Columbia was that, even though it has much more of a campus than NYU, social life tends to revolve around NYC. That definitely has its perks, but what it also means is that when you go out with your friends at night, those are really the people you're constraining yourself to. What I love about Duke parties is the fact that I can show up with 5-6 people, run into about 50 more people that I love and hang out with, and leave the party with a completely different group of 5-6 than the ones I came with. I really appreciate the community that I think living on a campus fosters, and while I can't WAIT to live in NYC, I'm glad that I'm able to experience this while I still can.</p>
<p>2) Core Curriculum vs Distribution Requirements. Duke Distribution requirements are quite possibly the EASIEST things in the world to fulfill. If you have a broad range of interests, just take random classes and you're bound to fill most of them. The requirements are so wide and easy to fulfill that in 1 year alone, I filled all but a couple without even TRYING. Meanwhile, Columbia has a very, very strict Core curriculum. I've circulated through 18 (I kid you not) majors, flipped back and forth between pre-med/not-pre-med, thought I'd be pre-law for a bit, considered double-majoring-and-minoring, and have finally (I think?) settled on doing a Program II (where I create my own major) and a certificate. That requires A LOT of course flexibility - and if there was a core taking up 1/3 of my classes, I wouldn't have space to do it all. Essentially, at Columbia, if you're a pre-med, all of your classes are either core, pre-med, or your major. At Duke, I had the flexibility to try a ton of different things and have enough time to change my mind. That was INCREDIBLY important for me - I don't know how apt you are to changing your mind, but for someone who knew she'd probably flip between a ton of different major ideas (I did) and end up doing something that requires a lot of classes (I am - 14-16 + 6 for the certificate), the core curriculum was one of the 2 main reasons why I ended up going Duke.</p>
<p>3) Safety. I don't know much in this aspect about Columbia, but I always feel INCREDIBLY SAFE on Duke's campus. I love it. I've often walked from my dorm (which is NOT very close to the bus stop) to the bus stop, gotten on the bus, and gone over to Central Campus to visit a friend at 2 or 3 in the morning with a laptop in my bag wearing a short skirt. Some may say this is stupid. I have NEVER, EVER, EVER felt threatened or scared for my safety. Obviously, certain common-sense rules apply -- don't walk on 9th street alone at night -- but as for remaining on Duke's campus, it's so beyond safe it's not even funny. There are always security guards everywhere, it's very well-lit, and I just always feel very comfortable and secure walking around at all hours of the night -- even as late as 4 or 5 AM after a long night in the library. That was really important to me.</p>
<p>4) City vs. Campus -- take 2. I feel the need to talk about this again, since it is a very big deal, but this time in a different light. I am a very artsy person. I love museums, music, art, shows, exhibits, performances, plays - you name it, I'm there. So of course, I thought, "NYC - SWEET!!" But here's the thing. If you go to a performance in NYC, it costs...LOTS OF MONEY. There's ticket price, taxis, etc. Duke, on the other hand, has jazz performances every Wednesday night at the Mary Lou Williams center, where you can go and relax and listen to amazing jazz music. And for how much? Absolutely nothing. Oh, and trust me - people GO. Plus, that's just one example. You can go see speakers, plays, music performances, bands, etc. on campus for maybe a couple of dollars - if anything. Try getting prices that cheap in the city - it never happens. Also, there's the party scene - parties at Duke are open to everyone (seriously, every frat party is open to ANYONE who wants to go) and alcohol is completely free. At Columbia, the party scene mostly revolves around bars - bars where you need to pay (a lot) for alcohol. Something to consider.</p>
<p>5) School spirit. This was not my thing before college. This was not even my thing during my first few weeks of college. I hated the idea of college sports, was all "ehh" about the idea of people getting so obsessed about basketball ("Oh my god, it's just a game, why the HELL would you actually care so much" were along the lines of what I thought), etc. But OH. MY. GOD. It is amazing. Living in a community where everyone can unite over one thing, can really join together in love of one specific team or idea, can bond over living in a tent for 2 months, can paint each other up in blue and white and spend 2 hours just jumping up and down SCREAMING over something that's essentially so trivial but still becomes so meaningful - it's something unlike anything else I've ever experienced. I would always laugh when I was living in K-Ville because outsiders would walk by, shaking their heads in astonishment and confusion, saying things like "These are the best and brightest students in our country - and they're living in TENTS!" We sat in our tents studying Orgo, writing papers, and doing Econ problem sets, freezing our butts off and curled up in the warmth of a sleeping bag with our fingers sticking out just far enough to type on our laptops - but the second that game started, all of that didn't matter anymore. For 2 hours we stopped caring about our GPAs and the things we had due the next day, and we just let ourselves get wrapped up in this...passion. And that's what changed me. That's why I got so into it - that's what made me care. Because it really brought people together - and it was amazing. I know this part has gotten very gushy, but it just was such a huge part of my life here that I had to try to even let you know - a LITTLE bit - what it means to me and to everyone else here. I mean, it's why I don't just love Duke - I'm IN LOVE with it. It made me even prouder than I already was to put the bumper sticker on my car and wear the sweatshirt when I went home over Spring Break. It's just...Duke. </p>
<p>6) THE PEOPLE. This is the last thing I will mention, although there are a million more reasons why Duke is awesome that I just don't have the time to get into. I won't say anything about Columbia in this respect because I know a lot of people there and they are all great. But the people at Duke -- man. They're just amazing. I'm in a really large group of friends that has about....70 or so people. These are ALL people that I feel comfortable chatting with, grabbing lunch with, hanging out on the quad with, going up to and attacking with a hug, etc. For all of the bad publicity Duke has gotten recently for being a supposed school full of white elitist prepsters, these people are just SO. FRIGGIN. CHILL. Most of the people I know here are the kind who will see that it's raining, gather together 30-40 people, and go out and play a game of Lap Tag on the quad (a game where you essentially just wrestle people in the mud...we did that just last weekend, it was fabulous). I really didn't want to come to Duke for a very long time because I was under the impression that it was filled with elitism, snobbery, and the "cool" cliquish kids from high school. But then I did my overnight visit and actually met the people here - and sent in my deposit the next day. People here are just so smart - but not in the arrogant way, in the "let's just sit around over milkshakes and talk about religion's role in our society" way. Or - my personal favorite - in the "Drunken Philosophy" way (tons of my friends are in this group - they sit around on a weekend night and discuss philosophy while taking shots). Just - the experiences I've had going to art exhibits, going to concerts at the Dillo (on-campus restaurant, you'll learn to love it), tenting in K-Ville...the people here are amazing. Really, truly, amazing. </p>
<p>In short...Columbia is an amazing place. I do know that. And I loved it for a very, very long time. But Duke is just....there are really no words for it. I've tried to come up with the words in the past few PAGES that I've posted, but I know that it hasn't even come close to describing what it means for myself and so many other people. Duke is a place where you come if you don't want to just enjoy your college experience...you want to fall in love with it. Best of luck with your decision, and whichever one you make, I'm sure it will be the right one. But that, in a nutshell, is what I think that Duke is.</p>
<p>haha whoa. i'll try to make a simpler case. i can remember facing the same decision as you a couple years back. it wasn't until i visited nyc and talked to a kid at columbia who was applying to transfer here that i realized how truly different my experience would be at columbia versus duke. you ask about the pros of this place--i'd say the real reason to come here is to be among extraordinarily bright kids who value things in life beyond being an arrogant prick or an overachieving tool. this is not to say that there aren't kids here who are like that, but if you are chill and in pursuit of different goals you will find a number of amazing people who will define your college experience. i think one of the most amazing aspects of duke is that it is not an "ivy league" school and is free of the pretentious BS that comes along with that title. the majority of kids got into a number of ivies but knew better. duke defines itself and has a personality of its own. it's up to you to figure out if duke's personality is right for you.</p>
<p>bandcampgirl, this is very easily the best post i've read on CC for any college, ever. and all the more exciting because I'M GOING TO DUKE!</p>
<p>Duke wasn't my first choice either at first because not many people from my school consider it (mostly because my deans stupidly encourage us not to apply because Duke accepts very few from my school, yet each "ivy" accepts at least 10, including "HYP"), and thus I wasn't really familiar with the school other than it's fabulous rep (which only goes so far in a college experience. I didn't really care about the difference in prestige between Duke or any school far below it or 1-4 steps above it on US News).</p>
<p>But after talking to my friends who went to Duke, doing my research, and reading AMAZING posts like this, I know that I can't ask for a college that provides such the ultimate, perfect college experience that I've dreamt of for so long. I'm so ready to milk every oppotunity out of Duke the moment I get there, socially, academically, and just have the time of my life. There really isn't any school that can compare in its total sum of spirit, unity, and brains. (And even spirit, unity, brains, pride, whatever aside, there are so many more tangible bonuses too, like an absolutely gorgeous campus, alumni networking, etc.)</p>
<p>Each day since I sent in my deposit I have woken up feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. Today to my AP test I wore my Duke sweatshirt and drove my car with my Duke decal, knowing that there are at least a thousand other lucky Duke 2010's doing the same, and knowing that this is one of the few schools where the spirit doesn't stop there. It only gets stronger once we all get to campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for the post, bandcamp!!!</p>
<p>Aw. So glad that you're so excited to come here!! It's really an amazing place, especially if you look for the right people. I'm gonna suggest something based on what I've read so far, but if I'm totally off-base it's okay to ignore me -- if you're at all interested, I'd suggest doing PWILD. I didn't, and I actually hate camping, but my roommate did and that's - ironically - the group of 70-or-so friends that I love so dearly that I sort of wormed my way into (that's terrible sentence construction, but you get the point). The PWILD group is really an amazing bunch, completely one-of-a-kind. They're very much artsy, independent, leaders-within-the-community, "we don't care what you think because we're happy to be who we are," paint-the-bridge-with-messages-to-get-out-and-live-your-life-to-the-fullest people - every one of 'em. Which is why I was so happy to essentially become friendly with all of them, join that group of friends, become a "groupie," and eventually become such a part of it that people mistake me for a PWILDer. Gave me a sort of "home" within the Duke community, which can sometimes feel a bit large.</p>
<p>Anyway, I don't mean to hijack the thread and take it away from its original convince-sourpunch-to-come-to-Duke purpose. Lollerskates, if you'd like to talk, I'd love to chat with you if you want to PM me or something. I always like providing any words of wisdom that I can to future Dukies!</p>
<p>I would to second a vote for best post ever by bandcampgirl. WOW.</p>
<p>To the OP - Not to take anything away from bandgirl's post, but if you're way excited for Columbia, I really don't see why you'd want to suddenly change your mind. IMO you should go someplace that you know well and truly love. If Columbia fits the bill, then by all means, enjoy NYC. :)</p>
<p>Bananainpyjamas has a VERY valid point. If you really do love Columbia, there's no reason why you shouldn't go and enjoy it. However, I just have to also mention that even though I originally had my heart set on Columbia, I didn't immediately switch from Columbia to Duke. I actually went for a very long time having decided that I was going to Amherst. I had my deposit sealed up and practically in the mail, I was in love, I was wearing my Amherst sweatshirt and dreaming about the next few years there - I was good to go. I mean, I seriously thought Amherst would be the most perfect college experience in the world. But then my parents wouldn't let me finalize the commitment until I gave the other schools I got into a "final look" - which I was SO ANGRY about at the time, but now am just so grateful for I can't stop thanking them. That's how I visited Duke. That's how I fell in love. So, I mean, do I think that had I gone to the place I originally loved (Amherst, or even Columbia), I would have been completely happy? Of course. I probably would have. But I've had experiences, opportunities, and relationships here that I know I never would have been able to have anywhere else -- and so that's why I'm glad I didn't just stick to my original "love" and I tried Duke. Just a thought.</p>
<p>But the thing is, even though I had that MAJOR post last night, I do understand the desire to stick with Columbia if that is where your heart has settled - so I agree with bananainpyjamas in that sense. I also just personally know the true value of giving other places a final look before you completely make up your mind.</p>
<p>If you need someone to CONVINCE you to chose Duke, you don't have your heart set on it. Duke students know that is where they want to go and don't need others to confirm/push their decision.</p>
<p>yeah but the OP hasn't visited and will be unable to visit.</p>
<p>If you are considering this important decision of where you will spend the next four years of your life and spend over $160,000 (unless you have major scholarship offers), I would think it would be worth every effort to visit Duke if at all possible. Otherwise you will never know for sure and will always be wondering. Even a weekend trip might be worth the expense once you put it into perspective with the overall tuition cost. Good luck in your decision. It is your alone to make.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, what's sad about this is the fact that basically everyone on campus will be gone as of tomorrow. The one thing that really convinced me to do a total 180 and come here over anywhere else was meeting the people. But yes, I do think you should at least come and walk around -- even if just to get the sense of what it would be like to attend school on a campus vs. in the city. It just kind of sucks that you won't really get to speak to anyone here...</p>
<p>i have a question. I'm a rising senior and i want to visit Duke this year. Is it too late to visit in late may? when are the classes over? what time would u recommend to be the "best time" to visit?</p>
<p>Classes ended on April 26th...finals are almost all over already, and the entire campus is basically gone tomorrow. If you come later this month, you'll see people around who are here for summer session, but that's about it. I'd suggest visiting sometime in September or early October.</p>
<p>I was accepted off the waitlist also, and I have been down to duke twice. Right now im choosing between Duke and Cornell, but if i were in your position i would be just as confused as I am now. Duke is great, but the one thing i dont like about it is being in the south, I'm from New york, and I love being in the northeast. I like the people and the pace of life. Duke is a strange school because it does not mesh well with its surroundings (i guess columbia is similar), but life at duke occurs primarily at Duke, and i have heard rumors that although Duke is only 30 % frats, if you want a social life you muse be in one. IDK im just as confused as you are, i guess we can take comfort in the fact that we cant really make the wrong choice</p>