Why Duke? (landscape, architecture, sports programs, and excellent academics)

If I could relate finding the 'perfect' college to another experience, I would parallel it to car shopping. Most new models in their respective classes have the same wonderful features as their competitors, much like how universities compare to one another. So to say how the Duke basketball team or the air conditioning in a Toyota was the "amazingly wonderful quality that emotionally bonded me forever", is a little silly. The car I picked, when I was of age, had the features of its competitors and also qualities that I felt were wildly unique. Duke, I feel, also offers everything its competitors do while offering distinctive characteristics that put Duke in a class all its own.

I could tell you Duke compelled me do the unthinkable and apply early decision because of its lush landscape, impressive architecture, spectacular sports programs, and excellent academics, but I'd be lying. In all honestly, after visiting numerous campuses this summer I found the same thing at a handful of universities. And while a certain criteria dwindled down the prospective schools, Duke had an intangible entity that made it a surprising number one. It was Duke's concept of strong traditions with the desire for change that blew me away. Duke now stood out in my mind as an aggressively progressive school built on the innovations of its students. I loved Duke's confidence in knowing of its greatness, and also its humble vulnerability in search of improvement. My tour guide, inadvertently, supported the picture of Duke I had conjured up. He had side stories of friends who developed their own DukeENGAGE, created their own major, or even did extraneous research purely for the passion of knowledge. Duke doesn't want to be the "Harvard of the South"; Duke wants Harvard to be "The Duke of the North".

When I saw my current car on the lot, I fell in love and instantly knew I didn't need to test drive anything else. The same emotions from that hot summer day in the car lot rushed from my body and I knew I had fallen in love once again, the very moment I stepped out of the information session to tour Duke. In just two years, my car has taken me on some remarkable journeys and given me some of my fondest memories. I am utterly confident that Duke will pick up where my car left off.

Try to organize it a little better, divide it up into a couple of paragraphs at least. The ending is a little confusing, I had to read it twice to realize you were relating it to your actual experience of buying a car. Also, you talk of how Duke has strong traditions and desire for change, but you don't say why those things appeal to you or how those make Duke the college for you. Pretty good overall though.

Oh also:
"Duke doesn't want to be the "Harvard of the South"; Duke wants Harvard to be "The Duke of the North"."

I don't know if you made this up or if your tour guide did or whatever, but if its a common saying you probably shouldn't put it in.

You've made the common mistake of taking the question too literally. Duke does not need you to tell them about Duke or describe the process of choosing a college. They want to know why you think that you are a good match for Duke. Start over, explaining what it is about Duke that makes it a good match for you in particular. Do not describe the grounds, as these make it attractive to everyone, not just you. Do not describe Duke's prestige, as this makes it attractive to everyone, not just you. Concentrate on the specific academic programs, courses of study, or extra-curricular activities that are attractive to you. Do so in a manner that draws the attention of the reader to your own attractive qualities, making it clear that you are Duke material.