<p>I'm currently a junior and I am considering applying to Duke next year. But everyone who I've asked who currently goes there or went there either say they like it, it's a fun place, or it's ok, etc. But I haven't met one person yet who absolutely loves Duke and can't imagine themselves anywhere else. Is there anyone out there who is absolutely in love with Duke?, because so far I've only talked to people who think its only "pretty good" for example.</p>
<p>I absolutely love Duke. The experience I have had here cannot be matched by a different school. It’s a personal thing, but the professors I had first semester through FOCUS totally made my Duke experience fantastic. Even my professor for freshman orgo (class of 130 people) knew me personally. My classes first semester were much harder than high school, yet much much more interesting and rewarding. Socially, Duke - like any other school - is really what you make it. I’m in an SLG which I rushed for this semester and I am really liking it because I like the community feel. I have friends who are happy as independents and of course lots of people go for the Greek scene. There are lots of options, and you can do what makes you happy. That said, there are also people who are unhappy at Duke. There is an ongoing debate about reshaping “campus culture” but there are enough people that you will find the people who you want to be around. </p>
<p>Personally, I’m glad I picked Duke over UMich, Harvard, Yale etc. but of course others choose differently. Also…78F this week. Totally worth it. :)</p>
<p>I absolutely love Duke as well, for a variety of reasons that I will elaborate upon once I find the time to do so.</p>
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Brodhead joked in his speech at my graduation that seniors were desperate to stay. Let us do a master’s degree! We’ll live in tents again if we have to! It was actually a pretty accurate assessment of how most of us felt about our time at Duke. I’ve met many alums since, and all of them are extremely loyal/close to Duke and other graduates; I don’t think any school surpasses Duke in that respect. </p>
<p>That said, I think people who can’t imagine themselves anywhere else have a pretty limited imagination. The US has about 1800 four year colleges, and most people can be satisfied by several different colleges. While I can think of few (if any) colleges I would have liked more than Duke, I can think of several I would have liked as much.</p>
<p>I knew very few people at Duke who didn’t absolutely love it there.</p>
<p>I’m going to graduate this year, and I absolutely LOVED my Duke experience. There is no place where I would have rather spent my 4 years of college.</p>
<p>my son says his children have to go to Duke and that all his friends feel this way about wanting their imaginary future kids to return to their alma mater. (with the high numbers of alum and the high numbers of applicants, …imagine our son will have to broaden his fantasy to include alternatives and the choices his sons or daughters make)</p>