<p>I'm a kid who drinks once in a while and enjoys going to parties relatively frequently, but a lot of people seem to peg Duke as being the end-all be-all of party schools among the private universities, so to speak, and I'm a little worried that I might not be the type that fits into that mold. For one thing, I'm not a drug-user, and I'm concerned about how active the drug scene is on campus. A lot of my friends will smoke once in a while now and that doesn't bother me, but if it's too shoved in my face it might be kind of odd. Also, I hear a lot of the parties are basically restricted to the Greek life...I've never really considered joining a frat before and that also concerns me, that not joining a frat will somehow limit my options.</p>
<p>Can anyone comment on these concerns? Also...how often do people head down to Chapel Hill? That looks like a hell of a place to spend an afternoon and such...Durham...not so much. Which is something else that is preventing me from sending in my decision card right now. My other options are Brown and Northwestern if anyone knows stuff about those.</p>
<p>Well you definitely won't have to worry about people shoving drugs in your face or anything...I've never been exposed to it and neither have any of my friends. I'm sure it exists, but if you want no part of it you can have no part of it. When it comes to the party scene, I assure you there are plenty of people here who are just like you, my friends included. There are people who go out every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday...but that is a select few and unfortunately they're the ones you've been hearing about this past year. For every one of them I guarantee you there are 2 people who go out on occasion, maybe once or twice a week, but if they study an entire weekends that's cool too. You'll find your niche...I assure you. And all parties are open for everyone...I know guys who aren't in frats and they get by just fine...don't worry about it. </p>
<p>I'd say you'd definitely find Duke students at Chapel Hill often. It definitely is a great place to spend an afternoon...I actually studied at the Starbucks there all day Tuesday. Plus there are some awesome restaurants. The Robertson bus makes it really easy, plus if you have a car it's only about a 15 minute drive. I love going to Chapel Hill...so do my friends, and you can bet a ton of other people do as well.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions feel free to ask/PM!</p>
<p>Well...my mom has brought up concerns of safety in Durham. I thought I saw some areas that looked like a relatively nice place to spend a night/afternoon, but do you ever feel threatened or anything?</p>
<p>Duke's party rep is overblown. Your three schools are probably about the same. (Duke may have the bigger drinking culture, but I think Brown is wilder/druggier, IMO. I've never been to Northwestern.)</p>
<p>Well I mean, we do go to Duke, so we all love it here. BUT I know I wouldn't lie to you, and I don't think many other posters would. I merely responded to this thread because those were my concerns when coming to Duke.</p>
<p>When it comes to safety, Durham is, like many places, somewhere to use your common sense. I never feel threatened or anything on campus...there have been many nights when I've been walking alone and cops will stop like "Do you need someone to walk with your to your dorm?" When it comes to going off campus...like I said...common sense. There are places I feel safe going once it gets dark, and places I don't...there are even places I don't like to go in the daylight, but I think you can say that about anywhere. Even Chapel Hill has its dark alleys and I consider that a very safe town. Just use your head and make safe choices and you'll be safe.</p>
<p>I agree with loveduke22. Duke and surrounding areas are like every other college and town in terms of safety. It's not wonderland and it's not Gotham City. You have to use common sense but you don't need to worry about the over the top stereotypical sketchy people everywhere trying to mug you type of scenario. </p>
<p>As for partying and drugs, it's not as bad as stereotypes make it out to be. Duke is somewhat heavy on the partying, but it's not like people will shove alcohol down your throat and stuff pills up your nose or anything. In the end, it's all your choice.</p>
<p>1) chapel hill. chapel hill has great bars if you're 21 (some are decently strict on id). i don't go into chapel hill too frequently, maybe twice a semester, but some people go much more frequently than my friends and i do.</p>
<p>2) drug scene. i agree with whomever mentioned brown as having a bigger, more prevalent drug scene than duke. i'd say my friends and i are fairly representative of a good chunk of the student body. we know that drugs are available and where we can find some, but it's not really our thing. if you don't want it, and if you want it very seldomly, duke's a great place. i mean, there will be the stoners who blaze every day but that's a small exception.</p>
<p>3) duke's drinking / greek life. yes - a lot of on campus parties are greek affiliated, but that's because most on campus space in which parties can exist in are fraternity housing sections. these parties are always open. these parties are also more popular among younger students than older ones, who choose more to go off campus to the bars around campus. my drinking habits switched in college, but that's also because it was more available, and since everything exists on campus or a short cab ride away, there is not the problem of having designated drivers for the night. personally, i NEVER in a million years thought i'd join a sorority, but go into college (duke especially) with an open mind. it's a much more chill thing than i thought it'd be, and going greek has been one of my best decisions of college.</p>