<p>Hey, i was browsing through this forum and it seems that everybody simply seems to love Duke. However, once in awhile I'll read that freshman year has been difficult for some individuals, ("I would always sit down and realize i had ZERO friends," etc.). Knowing that fisk calls Duke a "self-segregated" campus, I'm beginning to worry about the feel of the student body. </p>
<p>I applied early to Duke because it fits perfectly into what i want academically in an engineering school. However, my brother is currently a sophomore, and I know that, although happy now, he had a crappy and depressing freshman year. I'm still not sure if this because he's a nutcase [ ;-) love ya bro ] or because Duke just isn't that fun that year. I can sometimes be an introverted person, should i be worried?</p>
<p>-I also come from a very diverse bubble of a private school up north. Hrmmmm</p>
<p>For me (a freshman), Duke has been amazing so far. Maybe I just got lucky with my housing or something, but I live with some of the most awesome people I've ever known. However, I do know a few people who aren't having as great a time, and I can totally see how being put with people you don't really share views with can lead to lack of friends freshman year. It seems that everyone hangs out with people in their dorm, so from my experience it's just luck - either you get put with people you like and like you and have a great time or else you get stuck with people you don't really get along with that well and don't have as great a time. I don't know if this really helps you, but just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>Yeah I mean, I think it's a personal thing, and I think ANYWHERE you go freshman year has a huge potential to be hard time in your life. I'm sure some of those posts you were reading were from me. And yes, my freshman year was ridiculously hard...I didn't meet people and found it a challenge to be a good student amidst all of that. BUT I know it would have been like that at most schools because of the person I am. Sure, I could have gone to UNC Chapel Hill and hung out with all my old high school friends, but I chose to go to a school where I knew no one knowing I'm a shy person who doesn't, um, adjust well to change. So really, I could have gone to Duke, Harvard, Ohio State, UCLA, NYU, any school and I would have had a similar problem. I do, however, agree with Senator in that your dorm does play a huge role so that was another part of my problem. </p>
<p>BUT to this day I would NEVER in a million years regret my decision to come to Duke. I am NOT ready to graduate at all next year because I've met some incredible people and am just having the time of my life. You find your niche...the student body is composed of so many amazing people so don't worry about it. You'll adjust and everything will work out.</p>
<p>Freshman year can be difficult. Being from New Mexico I knew absolutely zero people upon move in. If you are worried about finding friends I can recommend doing one of the pre-freshman year programs. (p-wild for example) My friends who did that found it a lot easier to get into the swing of things at Duke because they already knew the people from the program. (I wanted to do p-wild but couldn't because of NROTC orientation)</p>
<p>The whole freshman year problem isn't going to be very different depending on where you go though. You are going to have a lot of superficial friends right when you get there and pretty much no real friendships because those take time to develop. It isn't so much that freshman year isn't "fun" its that you really don't have any good friends yet. So while you may have fun freshman year you most likely won't start to really miss Duke when you are away from it until second semester or sophomore year.</p>
<p>My son (Asian) is a freshmen this year in Duke. He is very happy over there although for the first month he felt a little bit stress. He said it looks like everyone there is very smart (He has 12 AP credit from high school). He had trouble with his Math although his AP Math B/C scored 5, SAT I math and SAT II Math II are 800. He adjusted himself very well after first month of school. He has his friends circle. He goes to party, watches game, goes to swimming club, play violin, play computer game.... He said he feel much better than in high school. So, the adapt depend on yourself, not on school.</p>
<p>Personally, I am someone who has found it very difficult to adapt. I was so excited about college all through high school. I dreamed about attending Harvard. After my deferral, the dream school became Brown, I didn't get in there either. I found myself looking at Duke. I liked it but I couldn't make it a 'dream college'. It was just one of those places I applied to because it's a 'good school'.</p>
<p>I feel haven't made too many real friendships yet at Duke and that is something I found very depressing. It almost seems like that you need to be a certain 'personality' at Duke to fit in nicely and everybody at Duke seems to have the same 'personality'. I was looking to transfer out, orgo has ruined my chances somewhat though, :(. If B & C didn't take me when my grades were good, why would they take me with bad grades from a peer college?</p>
<p>However, this may be a good thing. This may mean that I will grow to make friends in Duke and find happiness.</p>
<p>Oh and on the friend thing I'd like to reiterate that no one really has the best time ever freshman year. This doesn't mean that the general freshman won't seem happy or tell you that they are happy. (or even think they are happy) Real friendships just take a while to develop.</p>
<p>I think that also the more someone can cope with superficial social interaction the more they will enjoy freshman year. Myself I can't stand it so I had a hard time. As someone who has moved a lot I can say this pretty much happens whenever you move to a new place, but more so in college because everyone is new so you can't really slip yourself into a pre-existing group. (something I am quite good at as a Navy brat)</p>
<p>I second what SirGecko says about attending one of the pre-freshman year orientation programs. When orientation week begins you already know some people.</p>
<p>Remember there will be over 1,000 students starting freshman year. If your home is far from Duke - Like in the midwest or west coast you won't be able to fly home of the three day fall break (think two days of full travel with one day at home sandwiched inbetween). Sounds like you are from the North so you probably don't have to worry.</p>
<p>If you come from a small private school the adjustment to being in a large class that is the same size as your private school may be overwhelming. If you attend a pre-freshman year program you "break down" your introduction to freshman year in a smaller group and enter orientation week with people that you already recognize. You might not meet anyone that you really hit it off with - but there will be people you recognize.</p>
<p>Also, if you are assigned to one of the smaller dorms there will be more camaraderie.</p>
<p>If you leave your door open and spend time having fun with everybody your first few weeks, you will find the type of people that you want to be around. You can have a good time if you approach duke with a positive or even neutral mentality. If you're thinking "darn I didn't get in harvard, now I have to be here for 4 years, then NO you won't have a good time or make good friends" but if you approach it like "let's make the most of the time I have here" then you'll really enjoy your time at Duke</p>