Duke Status-Centric Culture

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hey, I just applied to Duke RD and I really like the school. That is, until I spoke to several students who (to different degrees) mentioned a high "social-climbing", status-seeking culture at Duke. Now, I know that that culture is a characteristic of that region of the country, comparatively to the midwest ect, as well as a characteristic of students as wealthy as those at Duke. But the fact that this is predominantly accepted as a "culture" troubled me.</p>

<p>A paraphrase of the remarks: At Duke there is a large group of students actively concerned with a "high-status" group of people. They evaluate themselves and others based on who can hook up with who and who is hanging out with so and so, who got invited where with who and who was stuck by themselves. Many students wrapped up in the culture will tell you it's not THAT bad, and that it's easy to avoid. Or that it's the same as at every other school. But the truth is it's a real problem. If you choose to exclude yourself from the culture you will miss out on some of the most fun events and people on campus. (they then told me a story about a girl who did get away, and how lonely she felt). </p>

<p>One individual remarked that what makes this culture worse than at other school is how it is accepted. While at other institutions if you made remarks or behaved in such a status-driven way, you would be ostracized. But at Duke it's almost glorified. </p>

<p>This is based on the commentary of several students I was in contact with at different times. I will say, though, that most of them were happy with their Duke experience overall, this was just a consistent complaint that I want to hear the other side of the story on. </p>

<p>However, I see evidence of this culture in the way a lot of Duke students feel the need to dogmatically assert that their school is the most prestigious, or at least more prestigious, then a lot of peer institutions. Both in person, and, more prevalently, on CC.</p>

<p>This culture would be something that would thoroughly bother me, so I want to know the truth. I've already have enough of a grounding to conclude that something resembling this culture DOES exist, it's more of a question of to what extent does it affect the Duke experience. </p>

<p>So, if you have seen something similar to this culture at Duke (Duke students or relatives of Duke students only please), provide illustration and context.</p>

<p>If you think this is a false stereotype, then tell me why so many may perceive the culture this way.</p>

2

<p>While I cannot speak comprehensively about the college experience at Duke, I can only provide examples that might hint at the supposed social-climbing vibe of the school.</p>

<p>Some of my high school classmates now attend Duke, and I don't know if it's the school or just them, but they're now some of the most socially vain people I know of. They're more concerned with partying than studying, and it's almost as if they forgot who they were in high school - students like you actually interested in academics. One girl I know accomplished a lot of things in HS - having done intensive research and the like - but at Duke, she's kind of more concerned with her parents knowing that she attends the only top school that she got into than she is with actual learning. She does give off that superficial vibe, but I guess it's never too late in life to become a climber.</p>

<p>Second example: One of my good friends, an '11 here, just transferred here from Duke. He cited reasons such as: The campus was way, way, way too socially conscious. Girls and guys at Duke "dress up" all the time, and the school really lacks that close-knit feel compared to a school like Dartmouth. But Dartmouth isn't exactly without its problems too - we do have a lot of social climbers here compared to other schools in the Ivy League, so if a guy chooses to transfer from Duke to Dartmouth for the reasons listed above, that really has to say something about the school.</p>

<p>Now, I'm not bashing Duke, but this is just what I've been hearing. From people like EAD lol.</p>

3

<p>I'm sure this culture exists, as it likely does at most schools, but it's really what you make of it. If you let it dictate your life or get to you, then there's nothing you can do. If you decide to ignore it then there are plenty of likeminded students. I'm not saying don't interact with the climbers or be anti-social, but if you don't take it as seriously then you won't be "thoroughly bothered" by it.</p>

4

<p>I completely agree with SBR on this one. As someone who doesn't spend all her weekends partying (sure, I'll go out on random weekends, but I certainly have no trouble finding other things to do on Friday or Saturday nights) and has no real personal experience with the hook-up culture, it doesn't bother me at all. Yes, there are a lot of people concerned with personal image and social status and the like. But there are also a lot of people who are simply having a great time, mixing academics during the week with just relaxing/enjoying themselves on the weekends. It truly is what you make of it, as SBR said. If you let it consume you, no doubt it'll start getting to you/control your life. If you ignore it and simply do what you want, you can also have a LOT of fun at Duke.</p>

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<p>Uh, I guarantee you that this culture doesn't exist at UChicago.</p>

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<p>Uh...you can transfer.</p>

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<p>She was probably always incredibly socially vain.
She probably only did the research to get into college.
Don't be so naive about people.
It isn't the fault of Duke. It's just who they are.
I learned very quickly, upon attending Duke, that the idea for many of these people is that they need to be perfect academically and socially- despite lacking superior intelligence. </p>

<p>Many things such as Juicy Campus and the Rolling Stone article on Duke have given the school some bad press as being this place for 'social climbers'. However, I think you'll find that any school with a strong Greek scene has this culture.</p>

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<p>I agree with SBR and SenatorNoodles that it is very easy to ignore and you can still be social.
I was someone who let the scene get to me.
I felt 'inferior' to those who had been playing the 'social climbing' game much longer.
I think it can simply matter by where you live freshman year.
I lived with a lot of people who were very concerned with social status.
However, I found a way out my spring semester by meeting other people.
There is something that doesn't feel right though, I still envy those in the top frats for what they have.
It's the 'grass is greener' cliche. I wonder though if I would have had a better chance if I came from a wealthier family and picked up on this wonderful 'social magic' earlier in life.</p>

<p>

Lol, EAD may not be the best person to get information about Duke from.. haha!</p>

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<p>Mondo, I have a question regarding juicy campus. I found the website last week, went on the Duke section, and was completely creeped out by not only what was said, but by the sheer volume of comments. I went on the sections of a few other schools just for comparison and though the content of the posts was similar, (it was worse on Duke's section) there were far fewer posts. Just a comparison: when I checked the site Northwestern had 6 pages of posts in the past two months, UVA had 21, and Cornell had 27. Duke had 90. I realize that the site's creator is a Duke graduate and that there has been a lot of spam posts lately on Duke's section are two factors that have increased site usage/ number of posts on the site but still...90 pages in the past two months?? </p>

<p>(okay, now for the actual question ;P ). The posters on juicy campus paired with some of the posters that used to post on CC (but not so much the ones now...you guys are awesome!), seem like utter jerks. I know that there are people like that at every college and that those people are only a small sampling of Duke students, but are these posters indicative of the general Duke population? I love Duke for its laid-back vibe, but I don't want to be surrounded by arrogant imbeciles.</p>

<p>Tyler09, I'm really sorry for putting this outrageously long post on your thread, but I thought the topics seemed related. :)</p>

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<p>Very few people actually take that stupid Juicy Campus seriously.
A lot of people have been hurt by that site though, so many people (including myself, I must admit) have been spamming it a little bit...
Most people I know read it for amusement for the most part and for nothing more..</p>

10

<p>Although there are many aspects of the school I like, I've heard these same sentiments echoed from not only current students but also review books, etc. I'm not about going to a school that is stuck on themselves not only throughout the student body but also in administration and faculty... does anyone else get the hoity-toity vibe? For instance, why omit an admissions email address on the website??</p>

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<p>
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I'm not about going to a school that is stuck on themselves not only throughout the student body but also in administration and faculty...

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<p>really now? so you heard some "sentiments" from review books and a couple of current students and then generalized that the entire student body, administration, and faculty are "stuck on themselves?" Perhaps you should take a class on logic. </p>

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For instance, why omit an admissions email address on the website??

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<p>Because they would actually like to talk to you and help resolve your issues over the phone? I don't know about you, but whenever some prefers personal interaction like that over something as impersonal as email, I'm actually quite appreciative that they are willing to take the time and effort to make it happen. Maybe you are of a different opinion. </p>

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Uh, I guarantee you that this culture doesn't exist at UChicago.

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<p>Wow! One school! Sure makes my whole comment about most schools irrelevant right? Show me one school where this isn't the case and I can show you ten where it is. So your point is?</p>

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Uh...you can transfer.

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<p>Quite right, and when you meet your suck up, pretentious colleagues at your new job you are going to quit right? I think you should save yourself the headache and just go to U of C.</p>

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<p>^Your attitude is proving that everyones concerns were valid. I rarely see people on other school threads attack concerned prospective students in such a defensive manner. But, I'll take your advice, and not generalize the student body based on your behavior.</p>

<p>This is something that multiple people from a wide variety of sources say has come up among the concerns of current and former students. </p>

<p>I'll ask the second part of my question again, If this reputation is unwarranted at Duke then why have so many people consistently misinterpreted it this way? </p>

<p>Particularly, Mondo's experience after escaping that culture is very troubling to me. I would not want to feel like I was "missing out" by extricating myself from this type of situation. Could anybody else shed some light?</p>

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<p>
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^Your attitude is proving that everyones concerns were valid.

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<p>And dismissing every comment by other people with "uh" is of course the height of decorum (not referring to you obviously). </p>

<p>In case you had trouble understanding, my "defensive manner" had nothing to do with your concerns regarding the school, as can be seen from the non-"defensive" tone of my first post. However I was rather offended by the person's patronizing tone in responding to my comments as well as the trollish, unthinking comments of the person above (my second post). So really it proves nothing at all about Duke except there's one sarcastic person who dislikes rude people. We are college students who are trying to help (hopefully) on this forum, not saints. If you want perfect harmony, join a monastery. </p>

<p>As for your second question, you should provide some sources. It's kind of hard to address anything when we have no idea what you are referring to.</p>

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<p>I already gave me two cents on this issue, but you still seem to be worried so I'll try and elaborate...Keep in mind that this is ALL MY OPINION - yes, there will be many who will disagree with what I'm about to say. It is simply my take on how/why this culture starts and how prevalent it really is.</p>

<p>Essentially, this "social-status culture" exists. No one is trying to deny it. Tyler09, this is where Duke's reputation of having a "social-status culture" comes from - simply from the fact that it exists. However, as we've all been trying to tell you, it's definitely avoidable and you can still have fun despite it.</p>

<p>I think the main reason this culture exists is because Duke does have some vain and self-important kids. The majority are not like that, but many are. In addition, Duke supposedly has the biggest party scene of the "top" schools (and after what I've seen of many Ivies' parties, I would agree with this statement). Put these things together, and you get a bunch of kids who try and "heighten" their status by hooking up and trying to impress. </p>

<p>Now add in Duke's unique freshman experience where all the freshmen live on East. I, and most of the people I know, have found that freshmen year (especially 1st semester) everyone tends to hang out with the people in their dorm and do what those around them do. I don't think most colleges are as dorm-oriented as Duke is. This means a lot of kids who don't necessarily want to be in the "social-status culture" get sucked into it early on via their peers. Some, like Mondo, realize they don't want to be where they are and extricate themselves. Others sort of give in and maybe even start liking it. For some reason, certain dorms seem to have more of these culture-obsessed people than other dorms and so those who don't want to be a part of this culture but are placed in those dorms have a harder time. My freshman year, I was lucky enough to be in a dorm with a bunch of people who worked hard during the week, and all they wanted on weekends was to have fun - none of this social-climbing crap. So we'd go out on weekends and have fun, but I never had to put up with this culture from my friends. </p>

<p>Essentially, what I'm trying to say is that yes, this culture exists. We all know that. However, it does NOT mean that you will "miss out" on stuff at Duke if you aren't into this culture. Most of the people here, I would argue, don't really want to be a part of this culture and so you can definitely find people who are like you. You guys seem to be more aware of what you might find at Duke than most of the incoming freshmen are (certainly more aware than I ever was) and so even if you are placed in a dorm where this culture is highly emphasized, you definitely will be able to escape it. Hope this helps some...</p>

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<p>^that was VERY helpful, thank you!</p>

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<p>Because you calling my post "trollish" and "unthinking" and telling me to "take a class on logic" isn't patronizing? You are a gold mine of contradictions. None of us post on here to attack any institution... in fact, we're writing because we DO like the school. Your "advice" (join a monastery) is far from helpful and, like Tyler said, your holy-than-thou attitude is only further confirming fears about the pretentious vibe some (key word: some... no one ever said it is a campus-wide attitude) give off. It's people like you that put bad tastes in the mouths of prospective students... I think everyone would appreciate it if you laid off on the admissions advice for awhile. And by awhile, I mean as long as your abrasive attitude remains.</p>

<p>On the opposite end of the spectrum, thank you senator noodles!!</p>

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<p>Hahaha, who said your comments were patronizing Jusayswhat? I thought it was rather clear that I was referring to two different people in my response. Oh well, perhaps it was a good idea I didn't become an english major, woulda probably failed all my papers at this rate.</p>

<p>As for liking the school, saying you don't like going to a school where everyone "throughout the student body" and beyond is stuck on themselves and hoity-toity and then challenging others to disprove your notion is a funny way of showing your enthusiasm. In fact, that sounds like such a great pick up line, I'll try it next time I'm at shooters bet, the laydeez would totally dig that. </p>

<p>Also, if you thought joining a monastery is "advice", I've got some grade AAA real estate backed investments with guaranteed returns I willing to sell you. PM for more details.</p>

<p>As for giving admissions advice, pfffffffffffffffffft people like you aren't worthy of partaking in my esteemed admissions advice or my delightfully sandpaper-like demeanor. Oh, excuse me, didn't mean for that to come out. Don't know what came over me, must be my holier-than-thou attitude coming to the fore...hahaha</p>

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<p>No one said your comments were directed towards me, SBR. I was simply pointing out your hypocrisy. I also never asserted that Duke was actually like that, rather said I "wasn't about" going to a school that was like that, hoping to get a confirm or deny. Perhaps by not twisting words around or skimming text for meaning, you would save a lot of the energy you use jumping down other people's throats and thinking of mildly clever, sarcastic comebacks, and put it towards something useful like... I don't know... getting off CC and attracting some of those "laydeez" (har har.. not).</p>

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<p>No one said your comments were directed towards me, SBR. I was simply pointing out your hypocrisy. I also never asserted that Duke was actually like that, rather said I "wasn't about" going to a school that was like that, hoping to get a confirm or deny. Perhaps by not twisting words around or skimming text for meaning, you would save a lot of the energy you use jumping down other people's throats and thinking of mildly clever, sarcastic comebacks, and put it towards something useful like... I don't know... getting off CC and attracting some of those "laydeez" (har har.. not). Also, sorry to other CCers who are actually looking for/offering good advice/information on here.</p>

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<p>Ouch jusayswhat, perhaps I'll let you words speak for me?</p>

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Because you calling my post "trollish" and "unthinking" and telling me to "take a class on logic" isn't patronizing?

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<p>Clearly you didn't think my comments were directed at you. My mistake, I apologize.</p>

<p>Oh and obviously you weren't saying Duke was pretentious, must have been my mistake again. Let's see what you really said:</p>

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Does anyone else get the hoity-toity vibe?

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<p>Of course you were asking if anyone else can confirm your own feeling about a hypothetical school. I apologize.</p>

<p>As for the laydeez, I admit you got me there. I spend all my weekends holed up in my dorm studying Matlab and all my holidays LANning it up at my geek friends' places. Let me go cry up a river.</p>

<p>Edit: wow, this thread has gotten off topic. Some of it is probably my fault. So for that, OP, I do sincerely apologize.</p>