<p>
I’m a Duke student and I want to put your fears about Duke to rest. One thing you have to understand is that Duke is not high school. No one is forced to be part of one huge social system even though one does exist if you care about being part of one so much. For instance, nobody in fraternities go out of their way to make fun of “nerdy” kids or anything like that. You can definitely be friends with whoever you want on campus and most parties besides formals/mixers that are meant for specific Greek organizations are completely open.</p>
<p>I feel like you and me are very similar. I have never been one to be part of one specific group and I don’t care to. I hang out with nerdy kids, preppy kids, jocks, emo-ish kids, etc. I feel like this really helps me broaden my perspective on things. Although people have different personalities on this campus, I feel like all Blue Devils share many similar characteristics. Everyone here has an incredible drive to succeed and a genuine passion to serve the world around them. NO ONE will ever look down upon if you study on a Fri/Sat night instead of going to a party. Everyone here knows that there are those when you must buckle down and get work done because of impending exams and projects. It’s a universal truth here.</p>
<p>Social segregation is a foregone conclusion at many schools because its human nature. Would a white, upper-class lacrosse player ever associate with a middle-class, theater-loving Hispanic girl? They might not be part of the same social scene but it might surprise you to know that in class these two types get along great. I would know because that describes my current lab partners. We are all as different as night and day but we share a passion for learning and we all say hi to each other and talk whenever we see each other outside of class. </p>
<p>Generally, people who participate in the same activities hang out together outside of class and this is no different at Duke. At Amherst, I’m sure the jocks hang out with the jocks and the dance people hang out with the dance people. During class time at Duke though, everyone gets along great and we are truly a united student body. During basketball games, we are one united student body. Tomorrow, when the radical Westboro Baptist Church comes to Durham tomorrow to preach their homophobic and xenophobic ideas, we will be one united student body.</p>
<p>I think I’m the luckiest kid in the world to be at such an incredible school like Duke. It has everything I could ever dream of-incredible undergraduate education, top-notch faculty, mind-boggling student resources/programs, fun-loving student body, social student body, amazing D1 athletics, etc. etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>Duke is truly a michrocosm of the real world. It has jocks, fratstars, engineering nerds, trust fund babies, hipsters, band geeks, future i-bankers, humanitarians, researchers and everything in between.</p>
<p>At places like Dartmouth, based on one visit admittedly, I feel like everyone is on one wavelength. Almost everyone is well-rounded in the same way. There is very little difference academically between the football players and the international braniacs. </p>
<p>At Duke, there is a sense of diversity that is truly unparalleled. The athletes are really really jock-ish. The nerds are really really nerdy. The kids in dance groups are really really into dance. One could look at this reality and say that, “Look all Duke students are segregated!” Instead, I think, “What a wonderful place to learn from others who are different and grow as a person.”</p>
<p>Before, I came to Duke I was a socially clueless. That was the one noticeable change in my personality over the last couple of years. I have always been academically gifted, but now I am a very social person as well because of being exposed to the jocks and Greek Life and what not.</p>
<p>If you can thrive at Duke, you will dominate the real world. I can’t think of a school that will prepare you to interact with the different personalities in the real world than Duke. Here you will be challenged and will become a better scholar AND person as a result.</p>
<p>I know this was kind of disorganized. PM me if you have anymore questions about Duke.</p>