some insight into what it's like here...

<p>Now that I’ve been a freshman here for a good number of months, I feel like I have the right to post a couple of things. Remember, this is my opinion, I happen to love it here. Some people may not for various reasons - this is just what i enjoy.</p>

<p>I applied here based on 2 hours of wandering through the campus in 8th grade. I still have never taken a campus tour. I didn’t know about this site until after I applied (and was waiting for the december 11th). And I never REALLY knew how i stood compared to other applicants prior to applying. I went with my gut instict and was right. This school is phenomenal - there is nowhere else I would rather be.</p>

<p>However, if you’re reading this and perhaps still thinking of applying, hopefully this will shed some light on what it’s like here.</p>

<li><p>It is academically stimulating. There are so many great classes to choose from, registration is actually difficult. I love being indecisive about a major (well, relatively love) and knowing anything I’m interested, I’ll receive a great education.</p></li>
<li><p>There is so much to do. If you like partying, if you like concerts (from the Moscow Philharmonic to Sister Hazel), if you like listening to the likes of Lewis Black and David Sedaris speak, if you like going to free movies, from mainstream, recent releases to obscure foreign films, if you like going to 18 and up clubs within walking distance…Duke has it all. This may sound corny and propagandaish, but basically, there is always something to do.</p></li>
<li><p>A politically active/diverse campus. After being here during the elections it was interesting to see the campus vibe during the months leading up to November. Sitting in a packed commons room and watching the debates is lots of fun.</p></li>
<li><p>Frosh are on east, it doesn’t matter. See my response to questions in an earlier post. Basically, there is really no downside that’s worth not coming here for…rather, i find it a plus.</p></li>
<li><p>WEATHER. I chuckle at my friends at Cornell, Harvard, BU, Michigan…they’re in frigid winter weather, I have mild fall conditions. Just cold enough for someone from California to get a sense of seasons, but mild enough to still enjoy going outside.</p></li>
<li><p>CAMPUS. From running the golf course loop through the duke forest to standing in awe of the duke chapel to wandering across stereotypical college quads, the grass strewn with people studying, playing football, frisbee…it can’t get any better.</p></li>
<li><p>The people. There are so many different, different people. If you can think of just about any type of person, they’re here. It’s as simple as that. As I heard someone say “It’s like high school, you have every sort of person…except here they’re all smart.”</p></li>
<li><p>Duke Basketball. So good. If you’re reading this post, you should already know what coach K means to us.</p></li>
<li><p>This is very specific to anyone considering NROTC, but the battalion is awesome here. Great reputation on campus and in the fleet, much much bigger than the other branches (50 Navy vs. like 8-10 of Air Force and Army). An amazing group of people.</p></li>
<li><p>Such a balanced college experience. Everyone is involved in stuff, the proportion of people here to do nothing BUT study is much smaller than at a place like harvard. Hence, participate in any and everything you want guilt free knowing you aren’t screwing your chances at doing well in school. Work out, play club or intramural sports, participate in performing arts, do community service…it’s totally up to you. You aren’t getting shafted for not spending every waking moment studying (though be prepared for weeks where may just have to).</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry if this rambles - I haven’t posted here in months and months (thank you delightfully rigorous duke). And feel free to ask any questions about this or anything else (except for your chances of getting in, please…thanks!).</p>

<p>that was awesome--thanks. just curious, could you post your high school stats?</p>

<p>Lex you're very thourough and I agree with all of your points. I would have to say #1, 6, and 10 are my favorites, and #8 is definitely growing on me. And the debates were fun too... so many things to love...</p>

<p>I'm actually in the Air Force ROTC here on campus and I love it. Yeah it's smaller than NROTC. (More than 8-10 people though. Probably somewhere around 15-20 Duke students.) I have a great time with ROTC, and I'm really happy that I did it. If you want to be a pilot or navigator it's a great way to get there while going to school.</p>

<p>sorry about the incorrect estimate of afrotc cadets, thanks for the exact numbers.</p>

<p>4.54 weighted, 4.0 unweighted. 5/386
1450 sat i, 790 us hist, 720 IIC, 760 IC
9 AP credits
varsity lacrosse 3 years, captain - CIF champs.
all cif first team
varsity golf 2 years (team just started)
cif individual tournament
academic league 4 years, captain 3 years
president of all girls service club
Trumpet - 10 years of study
CA all state honor band
Youth Symphony - 7 years
various bands and such in high school</p>

<p>that's the general stuff.</p>

<p>wow. maybe i should give up on duke haha.</p>

<p>Lex - </p>

<p>I just finished applying for NROTC at Duke for my first choice. I just had a couple of questions about it. Its obvious that you like it. Do you still have pretty much the same free time and academic flexibility as other kids. I have bad eyes, and was wondering if you knew anything about laser surgery to become pilot qualified. Also, whats the stance there on drinking. Im sure they dont approve of it, but do they really care or test you? Thanks.</p>

<p>Kinda a random question but, is it difficult for freshmen to get tickets to the basketball games? Thanks! Loved your comments.</p>

<p>you don't get tickets, you just show your card and you're in. it's usually not that hard if you show up like an hour before the game like I did tonight (we won BIG time, 98-44)</p>

<p>I hear there's some crazy system for getting tickets. Is that only for big games (except for UNC and Wake of course...must tent for that)? I can't imagine it's hard to get into these first games...</p>

<p>there's no crazy system... you just walk in (for students at least). sometimes you have to wait in line. The first game of the season a week ago, i made the mistake of only getting there like half an hour early and there was a really long line, i just barely got in. and it was full tonight too.</p>

<p>Hasn't Cameron had like, a billion sellouts in a row? Awesome. I can't recall who told me it was crazy, but that's definitely easy enough. Very cool.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info Lex-- it was great!</p>

<p>I have a question: What do you not like about Duke?</p>

<p>Regarding Basketball Tickets---they do a wristband system for big games (minus UNC and Wake cause you tent for those and its a totally different system). You show up the night before the game and they give out different color wristbands at midnight. The people who line up first and get the first color and get to go into Cameron first and so on.
For the games so far this season, like Tenn-Martin and UNC-Greensboro (which I'm ****ed that I missed cause I didn't get back to NC till this morning), you could walk up to an hour or so before the game. There was a line for Tenn-Martin all day (I was in the 4th group [of 6 people] and got front row, that was exciting) but ay_caramba got in just by walking up a half hour before the game.
So the system is kinda crazy. I'm new to this also. It depends on how close you want to stand in the student section. All I know is I'm lining up after my class lets out at 230 tomorrow for wristbands at midnight.</p>

<p>they have wristbands or whatever for the michigan state game? i didn't know that. i heard some people talking and they're just heading over to cameron a couple hours early. too bad i can't go... the game's at 9 and i have a test at 7:15 the next morning...sucks</p>

<p>are internationals considered separately from US students or are they all considered in a common pool?</p>

<p>lex, which schools did you turn down for duke?</p>

<p>I doubt they're considered separately. I do know that internationals who applied for financial aid are not judged on a need-blind basis. They take into account that you need financial aid in their decisions if you apply from out of country.</p>

<p>sorry to reply to these posts so late...these last few weeks have been insane...but thank god my finals are done this early.</p>

<p>skier13_ - NROTC here in no way overtakes your life - only a couple extra hours of class time/nrotc related stuff. academically, you have to take a year of physics, a year of calculus, and a semester of compsci, and 1 or 2 writing and history/polisci/policy stuff....basically, you'll need those things for other requirements anyways, so it's not a big deal. then again, there's marine option which nixes all of those requirements, but you have time to decide what's best for you. as for eyesight, a number of people don't have good vision and some opt for surgery. a senior who's a marine option just got the surgery last week, so it's not uncommon. as for drinking...they essentially tell us don't do anything stupid. yes it's condoned. and they only test for drugs. with pretty much every frat represented in the battalion and all girls in a sorority (or for us freshmen, planning on rushing), there's a ton of completely normal college experiences.</p>

<p>collegebound1010 - Durham really isn't the best "college town", but it's really not too bad. um, i wish our east campus gym was a bit nicer, but the one on west is amazing...all in due time. really, there's nothing too bad here that's unique. i mean, you could find something wrong with any college...maybe i just have rose colored glasses, but there's really nothing i don't like.</p>

<p>cavalier302 - i applied early decision, hence, nowhere else.</p>

<p>and my god, michigan state game. best night ever. there is honestly NOTHING that compares to a game like that. and basically every game here is first come first served. the earlier you line up, the sooner you get in, be it on a list, getting a wristband, or tenting in january. go to ebay and look at ticket prices for duke games - you will never have to pay that...my it's a good feeling.</p>

<p>Lex - </p>

<p>I am someone sort of similar: applying ED, have the NROTC scholarship (got it this past summer) and have played cello for 9 years. I have a question: are u still playing trumpet? What Extra-curriculars are you doing? Club Sports?</p>