<p>So this is boring. I know registration is coming up and you incoming first-years have your feathers all in a ruffle about it, but its not nearly as big of a deal as it seems, everything usually works out in the end. </p>
<p>That being said, how bout' everyone take a break from the constant "is my schedule ok?!?!" questions. Do any of you have anything to ask about the social life at Duke? What we do for fun? Ask any questions at all that don't make our eyes glaze over from boredom!</p>
<p>Seriously. I don't look at schedule posts at all because to be honest, you should be able to figure out for yourself if your schedule is OK - its what I did my first year.</p>
<p>Well I know that Duke is very into the work hard, party hard thing. Which is the reason I picked the school, actually. But I really like friends who don't only have a very separate demarcation between studying and partying; rather, it all mixes together-- one minute beer pong, next minute some sort of meaning of life discussion. How hard is it to find that? Are there any clubs/organizations where I could find that?</p>
<p>It's not hard to find, there are a good number of student groups who ascribe to it. Look at the top few fraternities in terms of average GPA - they tend to fit the bill. Selective living groups tend to do so as well. There are various alcohol-and-philosophy groups on campus as well, though as I understand it, those tend to be informal groups of friends who practice the whole work-hard-party-hard thing rather than any sort of institutionalized group.</p>
<p><a href="http://greek.studentaffairs.duke.edu/PDFs/spring_2005_grades.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://greek.studentaffairs.duke.edu/PDFs/spring_2005_grades.pdf</a>
<a href="http://greek.studentaffairs.duke.edu/PDFs/fall_2005_grades.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://greek.studentaffairs.duke.edu/PDFs/fall_2005_grades.pdf</a>
<a href="http://greek.studentaffairs.duke.edu/PDFs/spring2006grades.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://greek.studentaffairs.duke.edu/PDFs/spring2006grades.pdf</a></p>
<p>For GPA averages of fraternities.</p>
<p>haha those links are really interesting. Thanks Joe!</p>
<p>babump.....</p>
<p>Not so important, but how do most girls carry their bags around on campus? I'm going bookbag shopping soon. Is there one brand of messenger bags/backpacks/whatever that most people use?</p>
<p>no, everyone has different ones, from messanger bags to regular backpacks to these giant "bag-lady" bags that double as purses/bookbags i guess</p>
<p>As a girl, I personally am big into the giand "bag-lady" bags:) lol. I mean, no one wants to really carry a bookbag AND a purse, so it's just cute way to carry a few things to class. I personally just carry whatever giant bag I like, or use a tote bag or something, but a ton of girls have these 2 main brands...unfortunately I totally forget what they are. They come in a bunch of colors...one has a black handle, the other leather, but they're pretty pricey...I've only seen them at Nordstrom. But yeah the big purse bag thing is big right now.</p>
<p>Of course, when I go to the library I just find it WAY more convenient to have a bookbag. Northface is really nice because they have a built in laptop compartment, so that's convenient, but any bookbag with a laptop sleeve works too.</p>
<p>It's really just a matter of preference/how much you think you'll be carrying in a bag.</p>
<p>If I'm any help, I'm a guy, but I went to prep school where every single girl had a bag by Long Champ (something close to that). Leather handles, and variety of colors for the bag. They looked good on the girls and they carried so much stuff in them it was crazy.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure the other brand is Herve Chapelier. I carried one of those for a while in high school but I feel like it would hurt my one shoulder too much with a laptop in it.</p>
<p>Yes those two are the popular ones. I would never use a bag like that to carry my laptop, but it's nice for just going to class if you just need a few books or something.</p>
<p>what about for guys? backpacks or single-strap "messenger" bags?</p>
<p>I'm not worrying about backpacks and all that stuff...I'm just going to use my Jansport that I've had since 8th grade! haha (mostly cause I don't want to pay for a new one)</p>
<p>that depends, are you straight or metroquestionable</p>
<p>I bought a black messenger bag from Wal-Mart for $20. It's worked great for school and work (both my on-campus job and summer internship, the latter of which requires me to carry around a laptop). It's obviously not for anyone into brand names, but I've definitely gotten more than my money's worth. ;)</p>
<p>thanks! those bags are really pretty. but, knowing me, they won't be pretty for long if i'm using and abusing them everyday, haha. also, it looks like a lot of them from those designers are hand held totes, which would hard to carry heavy books in. :(</p>
<p>yeah i carry one of the longchamp totes or a black leather laptop tote that's really cute and surprisingly from office max. for girls there's a lot more totebags (even canvas ones, ones from random events, whatever), sorority bags, messenger bags than backpacks... though i bring a northface backpack to the library since it holds a lot. a lot of guys use regular backpacks</p>
<p>I'm a guy, and I'm proud to say I use the messenger bag.</p>