Less socially adept admitted students at Duke?

[Anonymous]

Seven figures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wish we lived in a world where Brazilian and Portuguese Studies, Art History and Museum Theory, and Medieval and Renaissance Studies were anything but hobby majors for those with inherited wealth. But alas, it's 2026 and not 1926.

These are uncertain times for 18-22 year olds. It's not unreasonable for them to want degrees that lead to decent jobs and opportunities. I'm assuming parents here are my age and did fine with English and History degrees. But that is not the world today unless you go law school, and who wants to be a lawyer these days. Otherwise, it's barista for you with those degrees.

My kids study engineering and economics at Duke equivalent T20 schools. From meeting their friends, these are incredibly bright and curious kids, especially the engineers. Those engineering kids are probably better read than any other students. It takes a lot of curiosity and discipline to get through an engineering degree at a top school. And that follows through to other parts of their lives.

People dismissing engineering students today are living in another era. Those kids are the smart ones, and they are working in a field that values curiosity, cooperation, and problem-solving. Reading well is a side hobby. And that's ok.

The people you are putting on a pedestal are the bros who are destroying our physical and metaphorical country. Rich, but bankrupt in so many ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wish we lived in a world where Brazilian and Portuguese Studies, Art History and Museum Theory, and Medieval and Renaissance Studies were anything but hobby majors for those with inherited wealth. But alas, it's 2026 and not 1926.

These are uncertain times for 18-22 year olds. It's not unreasonable for them to want degrees that lead to decent jobs and opportunities. I'm assuming parents here are my age and did fine with English and History degrees. But that is not the world today unless you go law school, and who wants to be a lawyer these days. Otherwise, it's barista for you with those degrees.

My kids study engineering and economics at Duke equivalent T20 schools. From meeting their friends, these are incredibly bright and curious kids, especially the engineers. Those engineering kids are probably better read than any other students. It takes a lot of curiosity and discipline to get through an engineering degree at a top school. And that follows through to other parts of their lives.

People dismissing engineering students today are living in another era. Those kids are the smart ones, and they are working in a field that values curiosity, cooperation, and problem-solving. Reading well is a side hobby. And that's ok.

The people you are putting on a pedestal are the bros who are destroying our physical and metaphorical country. Rich, but bankrupt in so many ways.

DP - I truly hope that engineering students are also taking classes in ETHICS!!! I feel the same about all the kids going all-in on Economics with the intention of financing and supporting the tech bros.

This is one of the things I appreciated about my Duke Public Policy major back in the day. Ethics was a core class, and most of us took it second year. It was challenging and thought-provoking, and the concepts helped frame and underpin so much of what we discussed and learned in advanced courses (both Public Policy and electives). More than thirty years later, I can say that course still informs much of my thinking and actions today, even though I'm not working in policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Found this article and it shows a TON about the institutional priorities of the school:

https://dukechronicle.com/article/duke-chronicle-admissions-officers-discuss-enrollment-targets-challenges-in-arts-and-sciences-council-diversity-artificial-intelligence-transfers-academics-20260410

"Phillips described the recent classes of admitted students as steadily more credentialed and outcome-focused but less socially adept."

"On the outcome-focused point, David Malone, professor of the practice of education, observed that students are now coming into his “The University: Why Are We Here?” FOCUS course with a set idea of roughly six professions that will provide a “return on investment” of attending university, which mostly revolved around STEM- and economics-based fields.

Phillips explained in response that many students, especially those with low-income, first-generation or international backgrounds, may consider studies in the arts and humanities as “luxury goods” that they or their family may not want to prioritize ahead of a financially safer career path. She described the emphasis on more technical fields as a problem commonly faced by research universities, rather than an issue unique to Duke.

While economics and STEM degrees consistently rank among Duke’s most popular majors, Phillips said admitting students with a genuine, demonstrated interest in arts and the humanities remains a priority. She also noted that students with interests in climate and sustainability, as well as civic and environmental engineering, have become a point of focus for the admissions office."

Oh, well good luck for them regarding the bolded. The one kid my DD knows from our HS admitted to Duke this year indicated they wanted a humanities major. Told my kid they will change their major immediately when entering Duke. Wants to work in finance.

[Anonymous]

kid in both-Duke and Northwestern--, Duke seems academically better-less grade deflation, more on the up and coming in rankings---- but socially bubble, very claustrophobic and seems no place to escape social pressure, also way into Chicago more than Durham--does it make sense to choose NU? engineering and possible pre med?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we stop shaming the Aspies already?

Because essentially that's what they're saying. Technically-focused neurodivergent students who may or may not be diagnosed are very valuable. Our global economy depends on innovation, and this is the cohort that drives it. The emotionally and socially connected are the glue that holds our society together, and they will always tend to be more successful in their lives, due to their superior social skills... so I don't know why we're attacking the ones that contribute to progress and are less social. On the contrary, we should be supporting them!

A school filled with them is a nightmare.

When I was at Duke, it was filled with bright, fun and social kids. They also ended up very successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we stop shaming the Aspies already?

Because essentially that's what they're saying. Technically-focused neurodivergent students who may or may not be diagnosed are very valuable. Our global economy depends on innovation, and this is the cohort that drives it. The emotionally and socially connected are the glue that holds our society together, and they will always tend to be more successful in their lives, due to their superior social skills... so I don't know why we're attacking the ones that contribute to progress and are less social. On the contrary, we should be supporting them!

A school filled with them is a nightmare.

Does anyone seriously believe that duke is filled with neurodivergent students. Its reputation alone is enough to drive many away.

These are the 1st year students: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQW8QQTAADb/

!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:kid in both-Duke and Northwestern--, Duke seems academically better-less grade deflation, more on the up and coming in rankings---- but socially bubble, very claustrophobic and seems no place to escape social pressure, also way into Chicago more than Durham--does it make sense to choose NU? engineering and possible pre med?

There’s no wrong answer with those two choices! If they prefer Northwestern, then yes, it makes sense to choose Northwestern!

Both schools are academically excellent. Truly. At their level, any differences in preception, prestige, rankings, placement rates etc, are small and immaterial. Don’t make yourself crazy trying to split hairs in an attempt to distinguish one from the other. They’re both stellar on that dimension.

Enciurage and allow your DC to choose the school where they will feel most comfortable living for the next four years. Their college will ge their new home. So which one feels like the best social and emotional fit for them?

If having access to Chicago is a big factor for them, then yes, they should absolutely choose Northwestern and not look back. We visited and spoke with students at NU who said they love taking the train or an uber to the city - some once or twice a month, some weekly or more often. They go to do whatever interests them - games, concerts, the Art Institue (free for NU students), parties and events hosted by NU Greek orgs, internships, volunteer/service learning clubs and activities etc. (By the way, the kids we met were incredibly nice - warm, friendly, and down to Earth.)

Whatever choice they make will be a great one. It’s not crazy to choose NU over Duke or Duke over NU. Encourage your kid to pick the school where they think they’ll be happiest just being themself. From there, everything will feel easier and will go more smoothly.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Duke at $11.6 billion in beginning of 2025 is at number 11. UTexas system, UMichigan, and UPenn are slightly higher but their enrollment is multiple times larger than Duke. Michigan has 33k undergrads, Penn 10k and Duke at 6,800. The change in the vibe on campus has alienated lots of grads and development office privately acknowledges that trend. Same if not more noticeable at Princeton, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale. Notre Dame is a powerhouse at $20 billion and benefits as other top Catholic schools Holy Cross from a more homogeneous, continual demographic (wealthy Catholic families).

The vibe on campus becoming more academically intense, highly driven is a trend across most of the ivies more than it is at Duke. It is not new. The shift began around 2012.

True. But Duke used to be different (more social) than the rest of the T10. It was part of what made it special.

But the article OP linked to above makes it clear that Duke no longer prioritizes the social skills and enthusiasm that made it desired compared to its academic peers.

At least it has good weather and Nina King running a a successful athletics department. Otherwise, it may as well be Cornell (shudder) or Penn (minus Philly and the easy access to NYC) .

Not things top students target.

Not true.

Top students myst choose between T10 schools with equally extraordinary academic opportunities and post-graduation outcomes. Some choose strictly by the rankings. Others choose based on geography. And yes, some DO consider life outside the classroom as the tie-breaker.

This is where Duke used to be special.

The student social life at Duke was different than the rest of the T10 - kids were brilliant, driven AND social.

That said, my reference above (“at least” Duke still has good athletics and weather) was meant to be snarky.

As an alum, I’m genuinely disappointed that Duke has deprioritized strong social skills when choosing among equally brilliant kids.

So much of a college education takes place outside the classroom. And as a bonus, those social bonds in college become professional networks that last for decades. (DH and I continue to tap into our college networks for advice and connections for our children.)

Bottom line: Kids who are less able to connect with their peers detract from the overall academic experience.

Duke’s value proposition USED TO BE that it was full of “serious students” with strong social skills who knew how to connect with and enrich each other. Sad that they are now choosing a different path.

Perfectly said. Unfortunately the striver “merit” crowd doesn’t understand that having strong, mainstream social skills and being really smart are not mutually exclusive. Duke students were super smart but didn’t feel the need to advertise it as much as kids at other schools, and also well socialized.

I went to Duke a bit on the nerdy, awkward side, but with plenty of friends, interested in sports, concerts, etc. Four years at Duke in the 90s helped to make me more outgoing, confident, and better able to function in corporate America. I have been told repeatedly that Duke alums do well because not only are they smart but they are also fun, nice, interesting people to work with. Which is particularly relevant in client facing roles. And again, this was not just rich white people - it applied to all types of people from Duke.

Preparing to be bashed again by the know it alls who will accuse me of various sins. Whatever.

Sorry but what exactly is nice about describing Duke students seen in a video as "not attractive at all"? In what warped world is that nice?

I agree that is a bit much. But even if you aren’t naturally attractive you can dress normally, act normally, etc. Control what you can control, These kids don’t do that.

This is an honest question, but it’s probably an IYKYK thing: what is wrong with the way the students are dressed? They seem dressed normally to me. Is it that they aren’t preppy? And for what it’s worth, I would consider at least four of the students in the video as conventionally attractive.

They are not dressed normally.