Help me decide - What is there to do at Duke?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hello everyone,
I was accepted to Duke’s Class of 2012, but right now am agonizing over a decision between Princeton and Duke. One of my main concerns about both places is the social life, so I have several questions that hopefully some of you can answer and thereby convince me to go to Duke.</p>

<li><p>What is Durham like? I know it’s reputed to be an unsafe place, but are there bars, restaurants, regular cultural showings? What and where is the nearest city/off-campus attraction for students on weekends?</p></li>
<li><p>How jumpin is the extracurricular scene? The Duke website depicts the campus as a very vibrant place full of student-run activity, and promises that there will always be some fun cultural showing on a given Friday/Saturday night. How true is this? Are currents students satisfied with the presence and activism of clubs on campus?</p></li>
<li><p>How pervasive is Greek life? This question is coming from someone who will (almost certainly) not rush and will probably not hit up the frat scene all that often. Do students like me find themselves on the fringes of Duke’s social scene?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Lastly, if you have any other insights that could help convince me to go to Duke, please do tell! I know very little about Duke and will be grateful for any information coming my way. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Hey echang,</p>

<p>I faced this decision a couple years back and went with Duke. I did it mostly because I visited both places and felt more comfortable at Duke. I really didn't like the eating club system at Princeton and felt like Duke was a better match for my personality. Have you visited both schools?</p>

<p>To answer your questions:</p>

<p>1) I actually really like Durham, possibly enough to stay here for graduate school. A lot of people give Durham a bad rap but there is actually a ton of stuff to do if you take the time to explore and if you keep open-minded. There are a ton of cool bars (e.g., Joyce, Alivia's, Sattis, Dain's, the Federal, Charlie's, Shooters, etc.), great restaurants (Durham actually has amazing food--check out Magnolia Grill, Fairview, Four Square, Vin Rouge, Pop's, Parizade, Vita's, Tosca, Papas, George's, Piedmont, Mt. Fuji...the list goes on and on) and has some really cool cultural places and things happening, many of which take place on Duke's campus (the Nasher Museum, for example, as well as Duke Performances), but some of which take place off-campus too. A good example is the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which takes place around this time every year at the Carolina Theatre (a really cool place to check out year-round, actually) and is one of the premiere documentary festivals in the world. Also, the American Dance Festival comes to Duke every year as well if you are into Dance. Broadway at Duke brings broadway performances to Duke year-round and there are a bunch of other great things to do. Also, Chapel Hill is close by and offers more of your quintessential college town if you are more into that, and there is free and easy transportation between Duke and there every day.</p>

<p>2) Extracurricular scene is very jumping. There are tons of opportunities to get involved and clubs receive a lot of support from Duke. I don't really know what your interested in but check out WISER (<a href="http://wisergirls.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://wisergirls.org/&lt;/a&gt;) for an example of a student-led effort that is really making a difference in the world. Also, DukeEngage is totally cool and will provide you with the $$ to go anywhere in the world if you take advantage of it. </p>

<p>3) Greek life is definitely a visible option but not the only option. I'm not Greek yet I have many friends who are and many friends who are not. I would say that being Greek-affiliated here is not nearly as big a deal as it is at other schools and since people don't rush until second semester they've already made a lot of friends they will keep regardless. I remember being similarly hesitant about Greek life when I replied "yes" to Duke but I have been able to have a great time as an independent and you should too. I would definitely not say that I am at the fringes of the Duke social scene.</p>

<p>Let me know if you have any other questions. I am happy to talk more about this situation seeing as how I was there a couple years back.</p>

3

<p>I agree with incollege88's points, but would like to point out that unless you have a car, most of the options s/he mentions in response to your first question aren't viable in the evenings. It's not a great idea to walk around Durham in the dark, though if you have a lot of people with you it's ok. But yeah, otherwise there are plenty of things to do, a mall only a few blocks from East campus, restaurants, clubs, bars, etc. And definitely don't let the Greek life worry you. It's entirely okay to not go Greek - most of my friends didn't, and we all certainly still have a great time. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the responses, incollege and noodles. I guess my main concern about the Greek scene is not so much exclusion from social circles/activities but the "need-to-impress" attitude that it fosters. For example, in one of the threads on the Duke 2012 facebook group, a current frat member reports that many girls describe rushing as acting like a big fake socialite, and have to plan outfits way in advance for a two-week whirlwind of mixers, etc. My main concern is that the rush process perpetuates a superficial, materialistic attitude on campus. Do you find this to be true?</p>

5

<p>You picked two very similar schools--Duke basketball does add an amazing amount of school spirit and while they haven't been that good, they are still on ESPN, etc. Since they are so similar, I would go with the one with the best national and international reptuation, and that would be Princeton (I believe by a long-shot)</p>

6

<p>re: #4^^^A mom here, so take this for what it is worth.</p>

<p>Son reports that "The only time you see girls in skirts and heels is during rush." Probably an exaggeration, but it goes to your question. The campus is pretty laid back the rest of the time.</p>

7

<p>Daughter deferred ed and then rejected Princeton--wound up at Duke. Thought she would not find another school she liked as well and now could be poster child for Duke. Just got elected to Duke's undergrad ambassador program, which tours all of the bb recruits and other notaries that come to campus; pledged a sorority and is doing fund raisers for charities as well as those mixers. Even so, is living next year with mostly girls she met before pledging in blocked dorm on West. The weather is AMAZING - was all year long - easy plane ride to and fro Boston - not so for Princeton as Newark is a nightmare. This time of year, when flowers just beginning to peep in Princeton, Duke's Gardens are in full bloom. She walks into town to clubs all the time - with a group always but does it a lot. Loved the East experience as first term frosh as said that helped her to meet tons of people and feel well cared for in a bigger place than she left. Works her b--- off for good grades that came easier in HS - says it's the epitomy of work hard, play hard, but can't imagine herself ever being as happy anywhere else. So you never know.</p>

8

<p>Hm, thanks for all the advice and stories... This truly is making my decision difficult! I will be visiting both campuses though and will go from there.</p>

9

<p>Yea.... pick Princeton.</p>

10

<p>Yea.... pick Duke.</p>