<p>As a Duke alum I think I should make a few comments. First of all, there is no question that Duke is excellent academically, not only in their undergraduate studies, but their graduate schools as well… Most of my friends who graduated from Duke are successful in many different fields. All of the schools you mantioned are great schools. But it is true what they say about “hype.”</p>
<p>Yes, it was great going to Duke (I was a chemistry major,)and people are impressed when I tell them that I went there. However, until I visited other campuses, I did not see what I was missing. The town of Durham held absolutely no interest for any of the students, at least not in the 4 years I attended. My friend’s daughter says the same thing, and she is a sophomore there now. </p>
<p>If you want to be at a school that is almost totally self-contained, then Duke is for you. If you want exciting nightlife–and some students do–then it would be better to look for a school in a better college town, like NYC or Boston.</p>
<p>We sometimes went to party in Chapel Hill or took a rare trip to the beach, but other than that, it is , I felt, extremely isolated.</p>