Looking for info about Wake Forest and Duke social climates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?


Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.


Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.


You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

Really no drugs at a southern preppy school? You conservatives are alway pushing your conservative PC point of view.

[Anonymous]

If he doesn't like the size and social climate of UVA, Duke won't be much better. Wake is a bit smaller, but very Greek, may not be a good fit.

Why the short distance? What about Georgia Tech (if he is into STEM) which is big but much more serious? Johns Hopkins? Penn?

It's going to be tough to find small, serious and not too Greek in the South. I agree with Haverford as well as a choice.

[Anonymous]

Chicago and undergraduates who want to discuss Foucault in a coffee shop are the outliers here, not Duke.

Sure, I was just throwing that out there to show an example of who doesn't like Duke. There are colleges for those "outlier" undergraduates, and Duke isn't one of them. Despite being similarly selective, Duke and Chicago are on opposite ends of the spectrum socially. I don't know what "quieter" interests mean, but for some it might be nerding out over hyper-intellectual topics.

I had another friend who was one of those hyper-intellectual, brilliant types who and she went to Yale. She did find her niche at Yale eventually, but she found a lot more people who were interested in drinking, partying, who were smart and driven but not particularly intellectual, and who were overall very conventional and it kind of busted her starry-eyed vision of the ivory tower her freshman year. She found friends, found her niche, did well, and enjoyed the academics, but she wondered if another social environment might have been better overall (more Chicago-y). She wanted to be an academic, and most of her college friends were interested in networking to become investment bankers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?


Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.


Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.


You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

Really no drugs at a southern preppy school? You conservatives are alway pushing your conservative PC point of view.

See, that demonstrates how clueless you are. If Duke were really that conservative, it wouldn't have had a Nan Keohane as its president for over a decade. But, because it has some frat boys along with everything else, you want to treat the school like it's one big lacrosse team. It's idiotic. The peer pressure to conform to a certain image is likely far, far greater at a Swarthmore or Bard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?

Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.

Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.

You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

So, you consider date rape "boorish" and not "suitably PC."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?

Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.

Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.

You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

So, you consider date rape "boorish" and not "suitably PC."

Date rate is criminal, but it's as likely at Wesleyan or Oberlin as Duke.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown doesn't have frats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?

Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.

Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.

You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

So, you consider date rape "boorish" and not "suitably PC."

Date rate is criminal, but it's as likely at Wesleyan or Oberlin as Duke.

What's your source for this? And why inject politics into this discussion? I have no doubt that the student body at Duke is fairly liberal, at least with respect to social issues; this is true of most millenials. But, regardless of political ideology, frat culture turns off some students. Is it really so hard to understand that these students wouldn't want to be marginalized socially?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are both too Greek. How about CMU in Pittsburg.

CMU has fraternities.

Yes, but they are a relatively small part of the social scene.

W&M has frats, too, and something like a third of students join. There's not a helluva lot to do in Williamsburg. But the student body leans more nerdy intellectual than animal house (though there is some of that, too).

[Anonymous]

I went on a study semester abroad with about 20 kids from Duke. I wasnt very impressed with them. They were not very intellectual and did not seem interested in their classes or studies at all. Duke claims they work hard play hard, but I only saw the play hard aspect of that. I didn't even study all that much, maybe three hours a day, but they would totally tease me when they saw me studying and comment on how hard I worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went on a study semester abroad with about 20 kids from Duke. I wasnt very impressed with them. They were not very intellectual and did not seem interested in their classes or studies at all. Duke claims they work hard play hard, but I only saw the play hard aspect of that. I didn't even study all that much, maybe three hours a day, but they would totally tease me when they saw me studying and comment on how hard I worked.

It is the work hard, play hard mentality that has taken over all the good colleges. Every college guide book you read boasts about the work hard, play hard aspect as if it is a badge of honor for the students. "I have a 4.0 in finance, but I can get black out drunk every weekend, and my parents are footing the bill. Yeah this is the right fit for me!" Work hard, play hard = nails on the chalkboard.

[Anonymous]

I went on a study semester abroad with about 20 kids from Duke. I wasnt very impressed with them. They were not very intellectual and did not seem interested in their classes or studies at all. Duke claims they work hard play hard, but I only saw the play hard aspect of that. I didn't even study all that much, maybe three hours a day, but they would totally tease me when they saw me studying and comment on how hard I worked.

Yeah, PP who was commenting on how the kids were smart but not intellectual, and whose friend transferred to Chicago to get away from that. I went to high school with a lot of people like that, who were motivated to do well in school, but not particularly intellectually curious. A lot of them went to Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?


Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.


Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.


You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

Really no drugs at a southern preppy school? You conservatives are alway pushing your conservative PC point of view.


See, that demonstrates how clueless you are. If Duke were really that conservative, it wouldn't have had a Nan Keohane as its president for over a decade. But, because it has some frat boys along with everything else, you want to treat the school like it's one big lacrosse team. It's idiotic. The peer pressure to conform to a certain image is likely far, far greater at a Swarthmore or Bard.

You are the one who is clueless. Duke is very conservative and conformist. Please do not waste internet space with your specious post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?


Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.


Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.


You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

Really no drugs at a southern preppy school? You conservatives are alway pushing your conservative PC point of view.


See, that demonstrates how clueless you are. If Duke were really that conservative, it wouldn't have had a Nan Keohane as its president for over a decade. But, because it has some frat boys along with everything else, you want to treat the school like it's one big lacrosse team. It's idiotic. The peer pressure to conform to a certain image is likely far, far greater at a Swarthmore or Bard.

Yes you conservatives are the best and brightest! Its a shame the liberals have taken over Duke and turned it in to a hippie commune. Go back to working on your conservative manifesto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone please take a moment to focus on the question about the social climate at Duke in particular. Would an intelligent, active, but reserved student enjoy the social life at Duke?

Have multiple family connections to Duke. It's big enough that people who want to explore quieter interests can do so happily. Keep in mind this is one of the most selective universities in the country with a fair amount of outreach to minority students and others who diversify the campus.

On the other hand, if the student in question is the type who would affirmatively recoil at seeing frat boys being frat boys, or would take issue with the mere fact that there are sororities on campus, Duke is not a good place.

Actually, you might recoil at what frat boys being frat boys do these days. My nephew, a Dartmouth student who is not an introvert at all, but a very social kid and a varsity athlete, has been disgusted by some of the stuff he's seen at frat parties at Dartmouth. Binge drinking and date rape are not just good fun.

You don't need to look at Dartmouth to find examples of boorish behavior. You can find it on campus at Duke. But a university is a larger environment where people can seek out different activities and ways to spend their time. Quite honestly, I think there's a huge double standard at work here, propagated by the typical DCUM posters who insist on urban diversity for adults, but think homogeneous liberal campuses are the only way to go, and who get upset about boorish frat boys at a school in the South, but turn a blind eye to rampant drug use at small LACs in the Northeast, so long as the school is suitably PC.

Urban diversity? Are those code words?

Its really ridiculous to say there is some kind of consistency her for northeastern SLACs, I've read plenty of threads lately about southern schools, state schools, whatever. As for drug use, I think the point is that drugs AND alcohol are at all schools but there are degrees. DC had no interest in the schools with particularly druggie reps nor in schools with reps for heavy alcohol use.

Its not a double standard. OP asked about two specific schools. If there are issues with alcohol, its relevant. if there are issues with drugs at other completely different schools it has nothing to do with this thread.