Why should I go to Duke?

<p>Ok, to be honest, I was forced to apply. I live in the area, went to a couple of tours, and for some reason (completely unfair, I know) I absolutely hated the place. Being the generous man I am, I really want to give Duke a second chance. Honestly. I have no justification for my negative feelings for them, only that it just didn't feel "right". Please show me what is great about Duke (asides from basketball). A couple of things about me:</p>

<p>I plan on majoring in chemistry or physics or both, some type of science.<br>
Want to run XC in college--only average, could walk-on everywhere but Duke.
Accepted at UNC, waiting for Vanderbilt, Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, rejected at MIT. </p>

<p>To be truthful, if I am accepted to Harvard it is game over--I took a course up there and fell in love with the school. But my real struggle is where do I go if I am accepted to UNC, Duke, and Vandy? For some reason, I liked both more than Duke, and I am feeling Vandy more than the others. I don't want anyone to make my decision for me, but I do want you to convince me that Duke is the best.</p>

<p>If you have such a natural feeling towards Duke, then I'd say don't attend. Sometimes it's hard to pinpoint a reason, but it definitely is best to go with your gut instinct.</p>

<p>If you want some reasons why I like Duke I'll give you some of my favorite:</p>

<p>good sports programs and hardcore fans
beautiful campus
great gym facilities
very good academics
not in or very close to a big city (though I may regret this later on)</p>