<p>Is it true that there is a prevalent jock/preppy/elitist student body? How about the racial tension? (I recently heard of the anti-asian frat party) How difficult are science courses? (I know it's subjective, but based on your personal experience did you find these courses manageable?) Are engineering students happy at Duke? </p>
<p>I'm from SoCal and was originally debating between Cal and UCLA before my acceptance letter to Duke came. While I am nervous in moving so far away from home, I do want to take advantage of the opportunities that Duke has to offer. </p>
<p>Some of the frats may fit the preppy/elitist description and of course some of the athletes (football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer) fit the jock mold. Overall the “******bag” reputation of Duke is way overblown and actually kind of a joke among people that go here.</p>
<p>Things like that party end up in the news because of a few students making a big deal out of it. They were even heard saying they weren’t that upset about it and just wanted to use it as a platform to voice their opinions. </p>
<p>Science courses are hard but about what you would expect at a school like Duke. Engineers have less free time for sure but will be happier than others when it’s time to find a job…</p>
<p>I had to choose between Duke and Vanderbilt last admissions cycle (chose Vanderbilt) so I guess I might have an understanding for some of these issues.</p>
<p>One of the main cons I saw was the surrounding city. Durham isn’t terrible, but it isn’t especially interesting either. This depends on personal preference though, and whether you want to spend time in the nearby city often.</p>
<p>I really didn’t get even an inkling of the “preppy/jock” feel when I went there. Not to be shallow, but to the contrary, I got much more of a “nerdy/quirky” or “slightly weird” vibe from the students, especially my fellow prospective admitted students.</p>