<p>uhhhh...wow..</p>
<p>
A little dramatic no? I know kids who go out 4 nights a week and still get great grades. Obviously freshman year is going to be a little difficult to adjust for everyone. If you've raised your son or daughter with high moral values, then you can trust that he/she will make the right decision in any scenario. And no, choosing to get trashed, get high or hookup is not neccessarily a bad decision. This is 21st century America. Going though this phase will make your son/daughter a much stronger person. I give you my word as a Duke senior who's headed on to bigger and better things after a lot of little bumps along the way. I consider myself so fortunate to have gotten not only a world-class education, but preparation for the real world.</p>
<p>i would change how prominent Greek life is on campus (this in turn would fix things like the hookup culture and students not being intellectual enough)</p>
<p>I really think to the parent who posted, you're overreacting. Yes, there is that at Duke. However, your kid doesn't need to be exposed to that. There are plenty of other opportunities to do other things. And plus, all universities have stuff like that... I mean what are college-age-driven-by-hormones-and-alcohol students going to do without the supervision of parents?</p>
<p>I personally did go through the hookup and party scene freshmen year and I quickly matured by second semester freshmen year and stopped going at it. It's exhausting, tiring, and non-fulfilling, at the most. Sometimes people just need to get that out of their system. Afterwards, you realize how much time you've wasted and you go onto better things, like coffee shop trips at franklin street with good friends, music concerts, late night studying in von-der-heyden.</p>
<p>There are many things I would change about Duke, but all in all, I feel that Duke is a microcosm of the problems bigger America has. Race, Money, Wealth, Social Status--what US society doesn't have all these things? It's just better to realize now as an 18 year old that there are people who have millions of dollars and who can get through in life with that... but then there are also people like you who have to work for what you get. That's life. I don't think sheltering people from that would be good. Just deal with it.</p>
<p>There is nothing I would change about Duke. There are many things I have problems with, but I've realized that, cliche as it sounds, there is a silver lining in every cloud... so as much as I have problems with the hookup culture, greek scene, hard academics, i've changed and become a better person</p>
<p>As a freshman here at Duke, I must admit that what has been said is true. Indeed:
-Durham sucks. I mean, really
-The Marketplace sucks as well</p>
<p>However I believe that the cons that were evoked are pretty subjectived.
-"The atmosphere is laidback." Yes it is, but for instance it really suits me. I would not stand a cut-throat Cornell-style atmosphere. I never really felt too stressed at Duke.
-"People are not serious enough." I also had this feeling but I really cannot complain. In class, and when studying with friends, I feel like Duke gathered a bunch of very smart people (mostly) so I'm glad students here are more relaxed after class is over.
-"T-reqs is constraining." Again, it is true... But I personally like having a kind of structured foundation of courses so it definitely suits me.</p>
<p>A couple of years ago I would have changed about 88. I believe a few have left, so the number is now down to about 80, most of whom have a very small classes.</p>
<p>wobudong: Agreed 100%! :D</p>
<p>Wow...all this business about partying and hookup culture makes me love Duke that much more lol.</p>
<p>Call me crazy, but I pride myself on getting straight As, 2250+ test scores, managing a bunch of ECs, etc. while still maintaining a very "active" social life.</p>
<p>If Duke is a community of tons of smart kids hanging out and relaxing, count me in ;)</p>
<p>My student has a 3.5 for the first semester in spite of all the partying, and yes things definitely simmered down during finals. But gearing up for rush now, which I have to assume just means more parties. Nothing overly dramatic about my first post. Binge drinking is dangerous; weird sleep patterns damaging to overall health; hooking up under the influence, I'm sorry, that's scary. I hope to see more maturity next semester; maybe they do get bored of some of it, eventually. </p>
<p>To nervous mom of student accepted ED, just be prepared; and prepare your student for what he/she will encounter.</p>
<p>good for her!</p>
<p>From what I heard from a student at Duke, she said that housing is a mess. It's just really annoying and students don't always get the dorms they want.</p>
<p>^This is because everyone wants the same one or two dorms. (Example: Bell Tower, anything on Keohane quad)</p>
<p>Thanks all for your responses on the social scene! I have one already at Cornell and it is different at Duke. Duke seems to be a good match for my D; kids are such individuals and need different things.</p>