Less socially adept admitted students at Duke?

[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.

Must have missed where attractiveness is a condition of a good university.

[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.

You are such a super cool non-nerd hanging out with the rest of the non-nerds on DCUM.

Didn't mean to offend. Of course Duke is for non-nerds. It is so special that way.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I guess at duke you learned how to dish out the bashing without being able to take it.

And to use the phrase "whatever." That is so fun nice and interesting!

[Anonymous]

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

I do think this is true - there's been a ton of pushback. This new Admissions Dean has their work cut out for them. Angry angry alums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I guess at duke you learned how to dish out the bashing without being able to take it.

And to use the phrase "whatever." That is so fun nice and interesting!

Np: your responses come off as awkwardly pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I guess at duke you learned how to dish out the bashing without being able to take it.

And to use the phrase "whatever." That is so fun nice and interesting!

Np: your responses come off as awkwardly pathetic.

Whatever.

Is that better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I do think this is true - there's been a ton of pushback. This new Admissions Dean has their work cut out for them. Angry angry alums.

Wait the alums stopped donating because the student body is getting nerdy and unattractive? Seems shallow.

I can understand why alums at Georgetown have stopped donating (due to their dropping their Catholic identity). That seems more legit to me.

[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.

If you want to avoid geeks, why even look at a school like Duke? Ole Miss might be a better fit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

How can anyone expect to get into a sub 10% AR school while playing coy about their academic accomplishments?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

How can anyone expect to get into a sub 10% AR school while playing coy about their academic accomplishments?

It is called being humble. Not hard to figure out. You can get great grades and be really smart without feeling the need to shout it from the rooftops. None of the “what did you get” that is so prevalent at other schools. Act like you’ve been there before. Unfortunately this is becoming less common and is a foreign concept to so many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

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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.

The irony. Again, not nice.

If you want us to believe that the Duke community is nice, just say something nice about these kids that go to Duke. It really shouldn't be that hard if you're so socially adept.

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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.

Must have missed where attractiveness is a condition of a good university.

+1