Inside View: Duke University

With a long and storied history dating back to 1838, Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is one of the most selective universities in the country. Duke's 6,400 undergraduate students is increasingly attracting students from outside the south. Top notch programs in engineering, the sciences, political science, economics, and English are part of the draw. I asked Michael Moore, a sophomore classical civilization major, to share his experiences at Duke with AdmissionsAdvice.com readers. Thanks Michael!

When you were looking at colleges, what were the three most important things you were looking for?

I was looking for colleges that offered a great education, a sense of community, and plenty of student-professor interaction.

What other schools did you consider or apply to?

I also applied to the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Davidson, Wake Forest, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

What were the main reasons you decided on Duke?

When I started to seriously consider colleges, everything about Duke seemed to fit. Duke offered great financial aid, a beautiful campus, small classes, an enthusiastic and spirited student body, expertise in my intended majors, the FOCUS program, and a lot of other things.

What has been your biggest surprise about Duke - something you expected that didn’t prove true, or something you didn’t expect that surprised you?

I wasn’t sure I would like Duke’s split campus, but it turned out to be one of the things I liked best. Freshmen are housed on East Campus, and living with other freshmen builds a wonderful sense of community.

How would you describe the "typical" Duke student? How does this compare with the stereotypes people may have about Duke students?

The typical Duke student is actively involved inside and outside the classroom, puts importance on a balance between work and play, fairly preppy, athletic, and politically moderate. Duke has a reputation for preppy fraternity/sorority students. While they do make up a sizeable proportion of Duke’s student body, Duke has all sorts of students.

How would you describe the academic climate at Duke? How accessible are your professors and how intense is the workload? How have you found the advising?

Academics are tough, but the laid back atmosphere makes competition practically nonexistent, and it’s the norm to have large study groups. The review sessions, peer tutoring system, writing center, and academic support center are always helpful when students are struggling with anything from math homework to creating a resume. Professors are very accessible, and some of them actually live in dorms as part of the Faculty-In-Residence program. Professors know everyone in the class before the end of the week, they are always encouraging students to just drop by the office and chat, and a lot of professors take their students to lunch. I have had a very positive experience with advising. Duke students are advised by their pre-major advisor and dean until they declare a major, and the Directors of Undergraduate Studies are always extremely eager to talk to new students about their department.

How are the dorms at Duke? What was your dorm like Freshman year? How do you find the food?

I lived in one of the oldest dorms on the main East quad, and I loved it. The rooms were all very spacious, and the huge walk-in closets were larger than dorm rooms at some colleges. The wide halls and common room were a favorite gathering place for dorm residents. Single rooms are fairly easy to get as a freshman but almost impossible as a sophomore. Unlike the dorms on West Campus, most of the dorms on East Campus don’t have air conditioning. Freshmen have an all-you-can-eat dining plan at the Marketplace on East Campus. The Marketplace has some of the best food on campus, and many upperclassmen eat there even though it’s more expensive. Most sophomores and juniors live on West Campus. The rooms are fairly large, but the warren-like hallways can be gloomy. Upperclassmen have dining points that they can use at any restaurant on campus, and many off-campus locations will accept points. Dining options are great and constant improving.

What is your favorite place on campus? What's the worst part of campus? How would you describe the surrounding community? Is a car necessary?

My favorite place on campus is the Asiatic arboretum of the Duke Gardens. Central Campus is the worst part of campus, and it will be completely renovated over the next couple years. The surrounding area is a fairly quiet residential area, and many professors live near the university. Ninth Street is popular for shopping and entertainment. Some of the popular places to go are off-campus, but Duke often charters a bus to run between the campus and the malls, and a lot of people carpool to go places.

What do people do at Duke for fun on the weekends? Where do people hang out, both on and off campus? Is there enough to do on campus or do most people leave for the weekend? How major is the sorority/frat presence? Could someone not in a frat/sorority feel comfortable?

Duke and the surrounding area has a lot of things to do during the weekends, beginning Thursday nights. Some people head to parties either on campus or in Durham, and some people head over to Chapel Hill. Events like movie showings, improv or a cappella performances, shows at the Nasher Museum, jazz nights at the Mary Biddle Center, and theater performances are very popular on campus. One of my favorite things to do is Literature Out Loud, which is an all-night reading of a classic of literature once a month. The majority of students aren’t in sororities or fraternities, but they definitely have a huge impact on the social scene. Independents are usually welcome at fraternity events, and there are enough alternatives to allow people to find a niche.

What do you like best about Duke? What would you change?

Duke’s size is the best thing about it. It’s large enough to have resources to match any university, but it’s small enough that students and faculty know each other so well that chatting over coffee or lunch isn’t uncommon. Many of the departments are so small that students are advised by the head of the department, and faculty actually outnumber students in some majors! Classes are small enough that discussion is integral, and the number of courses offered is huge. Cross-registration and bussing with UNC Chapel Hill provides even greater opportunities. The one thing I would change on campus is student interaction. Students interact a lot in class, but it can be pretty cliquish at other times.

Do you have any advice for high school juniors and seniors trying to decide where to apply or where to attend?

My best advice is to visit, preferably staying overnight if you can. Value your gut instinct; if a college doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not. A good fit can go much further in being successful than prestige.