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College Prowler Take
Duke students are generally happy with their
experience, but it’s not impossible to find students who imagine they’d be happier somewhere else. Academics, friendships, and even the beauty of the campus make this school an easy choice for many. However, a lot of students are concerned about the top-down social programming they see coming from Duke’s administration. Rather than starting their own initiatives, Duke undergrads often seem apathetic, and the administration, frantic to see things not only progressing, but progressing in the direction they see fit, tries to shove social programming down students’ throats. Students and administration are still trying to find the balance of power and a unified direction. University politics have become a big concern, but the friendships students have forged seem to make up for whatever shortcomings they might perceive. Duke is one of the top academic schools in the country, but that’s not its hook. You’ll never see Harvard’s basketball team in the Final Four, or Yale students camping out for a week to get sports tickets. Obviously, basketball shouldn’t be your major concern in choosing a college, but it is often used as an example because it typifies the difference between Duke and so many of the other top colleges. There’s an emphasis on friends, social life, and fun here, and it’s important to consider these aspects as well as academics when you’re choosing a school. Remember, you’re choosing the place you’ll spend the next four years of your life, not just the name that shows up on your degree at the end.
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
I would never go anywhere else...
I would never go anywhere else after having been at Duke this past year. Though I had my gripes about not getting into Harvard or MIT, I’m over that now. Duke offers a great educational opportunity, especially for undergraduates, and if you can take advantage of the Freshman Focus program, do so. It’s a great program for your first semester. |
Anonymous says: |
Duke’s competitive advantage used...
Duke’s competitive advantage used to be that it was ‘the coolest smart school in the country.’ Students who cared just as much about their experience outside the classroom had an incentive to choose Duke over the other top schools. Now, however, as the administration continues to push its own agenda without responding directly to student concerns, there is little to no incentive for the brightest, most well-balanced high school students in the country to choose Duke over any other Ivy League institution with a comparably dull, elitist social experience. In trying to become a ‘me too’ university, Duke is losing its competitive advantage, dropping from a first choice school to a fallback for the nation’s top students. |
Anonymous says: |
I love my school. I would never...
I love my school. I would never want to be anywhere else. I hope you come here and find that you love it as much as I do. |
Anonymous says: |
I’ve had a very positive...
I’ve had a very positive experience at Duke so far. Once I adjusted to being away from home, I made some really great friends, and I like most of my classes. Plus, the campus is beautiful, especially the Duke Chapel, and I still find myself in awe of it sometimes. It’s hard being away from my family and my boyfriend, who goes to Rice University in Houston, Texas, but I’m getting a great education in both academics and life. I don’t have any wish to be somewhere else. |
Anonymous says: |
I love Duke. The University is...
I love Duke. The University is quite attractive from a visitor’s standpoint, but I think a lot of it depends on what you make of it yourself. Sometimes, I wish that I had made other decisions, but how can you not? A lot of students turned down other big opportunities to come here. Enjoying Duke (or any college, I suppose) is about accepting the prestige and life you have at present and creating possibilities for your future. |
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