For many, college is a time to forge friendships and discover the joys and hardships of independence from mom and dad. And although a number of students at the University find a surrogate family among their peers, a significant portion also find support and encouragement from siblings who have also decided to become a Blue Devil.
Christoph Guttentag, director of undergraduate admissions, estimates that 10percent of students have a sibling who also attend Duke or are recent graduates.
"I think Duke traditionally has been interested in helping maintain family ties to the institution," he said. "We do give some preference to siblings in the admissions process, but not at the expense of the academic quality of the incoming class." Preference in admissions is usually given to students who are on the margin between being admitted or wait listed, Guttentag said.
Once at the University, the presence of a sibling can help ease the transition into college life.
Such was the case with Brian Bevan, a Trinity sophomore. Bevan's sister Allison graduated from Trinity College in 1998 and now works at the University. "I usually saw her once a week [my freshman year], and we would go out to eat from time to time," Bevan said. "She really helped me adjust to college life, and she always offered her advice and support."
Bevan said he did not feel pressure to attend the University because his older sibling did, but said she encouraged him to weigh which decision was best for him.
"I didn't not want him to come here, but I wasn't like 'Oh my God you've got to come to Duke,'" said Allison Bevan, an admissions officer. "I knew Duke was the best decision for me, but I'm a different person."
Similarly, Trinity senior Ameet Shah advised his sister, Trinity sophomore Deepti Shah, about what Duke was like, but did not pressure her to follow his footsteps. "I think we both came to Duke for similar reasons, and she was able to make an independent decision with the advice I provided about my Duke experience," Shah said.
Having made the decision to attend Duke, Charles Brodsky, a Trinity freshman, has found it helpful to have an older sibling on campus. Although Brodsky and his brother, Trinity senior Harris Brodsky, do not hang out regularly, Brodsky says it has been nice to have his brother's advice.
"I really like having him here," Charles Brodsky said. "I talk to him if I need to know how things are. He has already done it all, so I have it a little bit easier."
Shah's advice to his sister also did not stop once she decided to come to Duke.
"She often asks me what types of classes she should take or what kinds of social activities are fun," he said. "I think I have been able to serve as a mentor to my sister based on the right and wrong choices I have made through my Duke career."
Beyond helping his sister, Shah said it is just fun to have her around."Having a family member on campus adds a nice twist to campus living because you have the ability to maintain a sibling relationship away from home, " he said.
This, for many, is a happy addition to the Duke experience.
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