<p>I read in a review that Duke can be like high school revisited...oh God no...</p>
<p>Don’t trust reviews. Stop doubting yourself john117, seriously.</p>
<p>^Alright, alright…its just that I have a few concerns (I’m very pessimistic) that are sometimes exaggerated…</p>
<p>I have to make sure I choose the RIGHT school (Still not committed yet to Duke, but I like the idea, tis all). I don’t want to go through this stupid high school hell all over again.</p>
<p>oh gawd i hope it’s not a repeat of high school… i sent in my enrollment slip today =/</p>
<p>i was concerned about the social scene at duke (still am lol), but meeting tons of awesome people at BDD seemed to make things a little better…</p>
<p>really bad news, all:</p>
<p>One of the greatest disappointments of my life was discovering that some people never mature beyond high school. This is true in every job I have ever had in every workplace I have experienced. True also in volunteer activities, sports, etc. So, I imagine that there are some people with stunted development at Duke, too, and everywhere else you might go.</p>
<p>Our son is set to graduate from Duke next month. His experience has been FAR from high school. You get to choose your friends, wherever you go. There is no shortage of smart, aware, engaged, interesting and generous people at Duke.</p>
<p>mafool is totally right. You are going to meet people in every walk of life who have not given up on high school, and are kind of stuck at that maturity level. Everywhere you go there are girls who think they’re the “popular” clique, girls who bring the drama, and guys who think they deserve any girl they want. BUT, I found that at Duke, that whole “top sorority” and “top frat” crowd that I’m assuming someone refers to when they say a “clique” simply thinks that, but no one else at Duke really cares about them.</p>
<p>I didn’t particularly enjoy high school, and although I had many friends, I was never really a part of the “in” crowd. I was sort of nervous Duke would be like this, but once I found my niche and group of friends, I realized how entirely different Duke was. It’s up to you to pick your friends and find the people you really want to be spending time with, and I absolutely adore my group of friends. I met tons of people outside of my “group” and we would just sort of hang out with whoever. My experience at Duke was LEAGUES away from my experience in high school…I want to go back every second, and not for the classes, but for the people I met and the fun that was had.</p>
<p>As a comparison, I moved to Charlotte, NC after graduation, and am currently taking undergraduate classes at UNC Charlotte to prepare for grad school, and THAT feels like high school…oh gosh it feels like I’ve gone back. The attitudes of students towards their schoolwork, and the little tidbits of conversations I’ve heard…oh gosh. Duke is nothing compared to that!</p>
<p>Anyway, in general, there are going to be people who act like they’re a part of an elite, exclusive clique at Duke. Of course, there are going to be people like that everywhere you go. What you have to realize its they’re the only ones who get all warm and fuzzy inside when they think about they’re awesome little group, and that everyone else on campus (and by that I mean 95% of campus) doesn’t really care about them, and is perfectly happy doing their own thing with their own group of friends. You’ll find your niche and be perfectly happy with all of the things Duke has to offer…I never felt like I was in high school for a second!</p>
<p>^I see. Thanks for the amazing answer. Yeah, Duke did seem really easygoing and chill when I visited for BDD.
Also, just to make sure, there are a lot of interracial mingling right?</p>
<p>How representitive of Duke is its collegeacb page? I must admit it looks a bit worrying. Eventhough I try not to prejudge the college on such website, it’s hard to think these people don’t in any ways represent the social scene at Duke; it’s not just a few but 300 something pages of this immature stuff…few other colleges participate in this to the same degree. </p>
<p>I’m starting to think my previous view of Duke is overly positive. I’m still going to Duke and I love many aspects of univeristy. I just wish this cliqueish culture is not as prominent as I believe it to be.</p>
<p>I just went to <a href=“http://www.collegeacb.com%5B/url%5D”>www.collegeacb.com</a> to check it out and it looks like the site isn’t functioning? </p>
<p>Anyway, from what I learned via google, it seems to be quasi-similar to “Juicy Campus” from a few years ago…anonymous posts about certain colleges and universities. Here’s my opinion on this. You can’t really take those kinds of websites seriously at all. Posts are made by a disgruntled few who’s opinions are in the minority. While yes, they may represent one person’s experience at a school, I don’t think statements on a website like that can really represent the body of students as a whole. The kinds of people that post on those websites are the 5% of students who think they’re some elite “clique” and those who are still stuck in that high school mentality and spend their time wishing to be a part of the so-called “popular” kids. I never take any of that stuff seriously and use it as a laugh, pretty much.</p>
<p>I’ve said this time and time again to prospective students on tours I’ve given throughout campus. Your experience at Duke is going to be what you make of it. You’re going to realize if you’re getting yourself into that “clique” culture at Duke. I mean…you’ll know. If you don’t want to be a part of it, don’t be a part of it, because there are SO MANY PEOPLE and there is SO MUCH Duke has to offer that’s beyond that. </p>
<p>Now, I’ve had my social trials on campus, and it did take me awhile to adjust, but at the end of the day, my experience at Duke exceeded what I thought it would, so I have no doubt that at the end of the day, if you stay true to yourself, you’ll find that campus culture you want.</p>