Less socially adept admitted students at Duke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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) .

[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/

Oh that's not what I expected from Duke students but those types are definitely the majority at HYPSM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

Why? Because of less white students?

No. Because of Duke’s policies that pushed much of the social life off campus.

The school has been eager to facilitate more inclusive social events, which is a terrific goal. But the execution has been poor, including with the new Quad X residential life system (too restrictive for juniors and seniors.)

Duke’s biggest mistake was outright banning fraternities and sororities on campus. This did not actually diminish the popularity or influence of the Greek orgs - it just pushed them off campus, beyond the oversight or authority of the school. (Duke’s Greek life is now governed by the self-created Durham IFC and Durham Panhellenic, which are not affiliated with the school).

So fraternity and sorority parties and events now draw students off campus, including to parties in fields with sketchy cell service out in the middle of nowhere (and that require kids to know someone in order to procure a wristband to attend/take the bus there). No more open kegs on campus on Thursday or Saturday nights. (Used to be great ways to blow off steam after studying.)

Yes, basketball games draw lots of kids from across different social groups. But overall, campus is a quieter, less lively place at night and on weekends. Alums are not happy with the change.

Totally agree. We used to wander around in our freshman herd from party to party and most doors were open. I believe the last Thursday kegs were 1993, but some on Friday and lots on Saturday. No one cared if you were "cool" or not - you could go to most parties. This gradually was getting phased out but now there is no fun on campus at all.

The field parties are weird - I don't get that. But apparently it is a big thing. And it creates more of a sense of haves and have nots, as you noted, and freezes out those who are happy being in the middle - don't necessarily want to be Greek but want to go to some parties and be social. Which is what made Duke so great. The "average" Duke student was still very social, without being your usual Type A Greek person. Now that is gone. You're either all in on these parties or studying all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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/

Oh that's not what I expected from Duke students but those types are definitely the majority at HYPSM.

"Those types?" Racist much? The video is mostly non-white students. Keeping race out of it, there is nothing "neurodivergent" about the interviewees, they are merely intelligent students discussing classes and interests. Good grief if these students are a turn off, avoid the entire top 20.
Duke has 33% white.
Duke has had fewer than 50% white for about 15 years. Yes that is how ivies are too. So are Stanford, Northwestern, Hopkins, MIT, Chicago (all 25-33% white). The only ivies or elites with over 35% whites are Dartmouth and Brown (both are under 50% though).
Most of those who chase T20 and ivies do not understand the students these schools want and get. They want the smartest who are also diverse in backgrounds. They do not care what alums from the 80s and 90s think because frankly most of those families do not have children smart enough to get in this decade. They have plenty of alum kids from those of us who were the nerdy FGLI minority or the nerdy non-white minority in the early 90s. At least that is how it shakes out from my ivy. Those of us who were the smartest then seem to get our kids in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

Oh that's not what I expected from Duke students but those types are definitely the majority at HYPSM.

"Those types?" Racist much? The video is mostly non-white students. Keeping race out of it, there is nothing "neurodivergent" about the interviewees, they are merely intelligent students discussing classes and interests. Good grief if these students are a turn off, avoid the entire top 20.
Duke has 33% white.
Duke has had fewer than 50% white for about 15 years. Yes that is how ivies are too. So are Stanford, Northwestern, Hopkins, MIT, Chicago (all 25-33% white). The only ivies or elites with over 35% whites are Dartmouth and Brown (both are under 50% though).
Most of those who chase T20 and ivies do not understand the students these schools want and get. They want the smartest who are also diverse in backgrounds. They do not care what alums from the 80s and 90s think because frankly most of those families do not have children smart enough to get in this decade. They have plenty of alum kids from those of us who were the nerdy FGLI minority or the nerdy non-white minority in the early 90s. At least that is how it shakes out from my ivy. Those of us who were the smartest then seem to get our kids in.

The kids in the video are geeks. They are not attractive at all. It's not a race thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

Oh that's not what I expected from Duke students but those types are definitely the majority at HYPSM.

"Those types?" Racist much? The video is mostly non-white students. Keeping race out of it, there is nothing "neurodivergent" about the interviewees, they are merely intelligent students discussing classes and interests. Good grief if these students are a turn off, avoid the entire top 20.
Duke has 33% white.
Duke has had fewer than 50% white for about 15 years. Yes that is how ivies are too. So are Stanford, Northwestern, Hopkins, MIT, Chicago (all 25-33% white). The only ivies or elites with over 35% whites are Dartmouth and Brown (both are under 50% though).
Most of those who chase T20 and ivies do not understand the students these schools want and get. They want the smartest who are also diverse in backgrounds. They do not care what alums from the 80s and 90s think because frankly most of those families do not have children smart enough to get in this decade. They have plenty of alum kids from those of us who were the nerdy FGLI minority or the nerdy non-white minority in the early 90s. At least that is how it shakes out from my ivy. Those of us who were the smartest then seem to get our kids in.

The kids in the video are geeks. They are not attractive at all. It's not a race thing.

100% - URM alum here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

Oh that's not what I expected from Duke students but those types are definitely the majority at HYPSM.

"Those types?" Racist much? The video is mostly non-white students. Keeping race out of it, there is nothing "neurodivergent" about the interviewees, they are merely intelligent students discussing classes and interests. Good grief if these students are a turn off, avoid the entire top 20.
Duke has 33% white.
Duke has had fewer than 50% white for about 15 years. Yes that is how ivies are too. So are Stanford, Northwestern, Hopkins, MIT, Chicago (all 25-33% white). The only ivies or elites with over 35% whites are Dartmouth and Brown (both are under 50% though).
Most of those who chase T20 and ivies do not understand the students these schools want and get. They want the smartest who are also diverse in backgrounds. They do not care what alums from the 80s and 90s think because frankly most of those families do not have children smart enough to get in this decade. They have plenty of alum kids from those of us who were the nerdy FGLI minority or the nerdy non-white minority in the early 90s. At least that is how it shakes out from my ivy. Those of us who were the smartest then seem to get our kids in.

The kids in the video are geeks. They are not attractive at all. It's not a race thing.

That is your opinion. The students in the video are no different than students of other elites/ivies. Don't send your kid there if you don't like the looks of them. Many of us have students at ivies or Duke or similar and they are having fun as well as finding the intellectual peers they want.
Top tech, consulting, banking companies and top med/phd/law preferentially take these students. Considering these schools have extremely high numbers of applicants, there is no shortage of people who want to get in and see themselves as fitting in quite well after watching these and many other videos online. Those who think they are "too geeky" or "too intense" or whatever else DCUM repeats about top schools should aim for a large party school well below the T25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I do hope my socially awkward but smart kid on the Duke waitlist gets in after reading this. She's not a partier at all. I was actually thinking Duke would be a bad fit for her, but not after reading this thread!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

Oh that's not what I expected from Duke students but those types are definitely the majority at HYPSM.

"Those types?" Racist much? The video is mostly non-white students. Keeping race out of it, there is nothing "neurodivergent" about the interviewees, they are merely intelligent students discussing classes and interests. Good grief if these students are a turn off, avoid the entire top 20.
Duke has 33% white.
Duke has had fewer than 50% white for about 15 years. Yes that is how ivies are too. So are Stanford, Northwestern, Hopkins, MIT, Chicago (all 25-33% white). The only ivies or elites with over 35% whites are Dartmouth and Brown (both are under 50% though).
Most of those who chase T20 and ivies do not understand the students these schools want and get. They want the smartest who are also diverse in backgrounds. They do not care what alums from the 80s and 90s think because frankly most of those families do not have children smart enough to get in this decade. They have plenty of alum kids from those of us who were the nerdy FGLI minority or the nerdy non-white minority in the early 90s. At least that is how it shakes out from my ivy. Those of us who were the smartest then seem to get our kids in.

The kids in the video are geeks. They are not attractive at all. It's not a race thing.

Too funny. Top academic colleges are for geeks and so what? It's college. Choose one that suits you and if you don't like nerds, don't go to top colleges that caters to nerds.

[Anonymous]

Duke does not cater to nerds. It is not JHU, Emory, or Columbia. The development office is getting the message loud and clear.

[Anonymous]

lol, Duke seeking nerds.

[Anonymous]

And they wonder why they run budget deficits. Don’t know any classmates who give now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Some of this is generational. It's not like there's a huge group of Gen Z kids who are brilliant, driven, and super social partiers. These kids grew up online and had to deal with Covid shutdowns in their formative years. Ask any professor anywhere and they'll all note how this generation of kids is not as socially adept as prior generations. They're all on their phones instead of engaging with fellow students in the real world. Technology has really changed how young people have been socialized. Every top 20 school is trying to figure it out. Schools like Duke, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, and Michigan at least have major sports programs that provide a fulcrum to get students out and have a shared, collective experience. But going to an Ivy school in 2026 can be pretty lonely. And most of these students don't even drink anymore, so what was normal for us isn't normal for them. It's not a Duke issue. It's an everywhere issue at the top schools.