Yes, Duke is a top ten university, and yes, they get some of the brightest students in the country, but the level and quality of academics at Duke is so much more than that. In my first semester here, I learned how to communicate basic information in Arabic, to edit film not only digitally but manually by cutting and taping actual film strips together with 16mm film, the intricacies of court cases that involve the most controversial parts of the First Amendment, and the vast differences of the cultural aspects of languages, among other things. Duke does a great job of balancing the vast variety of classes offered with in depth exploration of a class' main focus. While, yes, there are some professors that can be a bit of a bore, almost every class at Duke will teach you something new (even if that comes through a textbook rather than your professor). However, the classroom isn’t the only place where you can learn something new. The diversity and, well, pure awesomeness of Duke’s student body provides a great resource for anyone looking for something new. For example, I learned some basic Russian phrases from a girl down the hall from me, how to play ultimate Frisbee from my roommate, and even how to (properly) lift a cherry pie from the dining hall. With so many interesting people around you all the time, I would say, unless you live under a rock during your time here, it’s pretty impossible not to learn something new almost everyday.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
I absolutely love Duke, and am proud to call it my home and school. The people here are amazing. Yes, they can sometimes seem a bit judgmental or a little too nice, but most everyone loves being here, and it shows. When you first come in to Duke as a freshman, it can be a bit overwhelming. There's so much to do and so many people to see. Pretty much anything you've ever wanted to do or try can probably be found in one of Duke's clubs, and if it's not there then grab a group of friends and make it happen. The social scene here is also good. A lot of clubs in Durham are 18 and up, so most weekends you can find people pre-gaming at frat parties or mixers before heading off to the clubs. Frat parties are pretty big on campus, although we also have these things called SLGs (selective living groups) that are basically co-ed frats or themed living groups that also throw parties. The Duke police are really great; they won't get you in trouble for drinking, and are really there to keep you safe. A lot of people tend to complain about Durham because there doesn't seem to be much to do, but Durham has a lot of good restaurants, and if you get tired of the social scene there's always Franklin Street (part of the school down the road...ugh haha). Speaking of UNC, basketball at Duke is the best. The games are so much fun. I am currently tenting (sleeping in a tent for close to a month in k-ville) in order to get into the Duke vs. UNC home game, and, although cold, it is a blast bonding with the people in my tent and everyone else in k-ville.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The many programs and things to do at Duke, make it for the most part worth the money. We have unique study abroad programs such as DukeEngage that allow you to spend a summer in another country for free doing civic engagement, cultural immersion study abroad programs, and programs dedicated specifically towards your field of study. For instance, you can spend a semester at Duke's marine lab to learn about marine biology or in L.A. to study film. There are also a lot of help services such as the career center, study abroad office, psychological services office, academic advising for regular students and athletes, along with a ton of other services just for students. The one thing that I will say seems to me to be a huge rip off is the Freshman meal plan. Freshman have an allotted amount of meal swipes per week that can only be used at the Dining hall on East Campus, while upperclassmen are on a foodpoints system that allows them to eat virtually anywhere on campus. Each dinner meal swipe is supposed to be equal to $12, but in reality with the price of the meal plan it's equal to something like $23...that's a lot of money for dinner. (But I guess it's all you can eat so you can't complain too much). The one thing I wish Duke would do to help those in need of money for tuition is offer a few more scholarships to students. While, yes, they do offer some scholarships, these are usually reserved for a very very very small and incredibly intelligent portion of the student body. Also, they do a good job on financial aid for low income families, but not as well for medium income families.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
make yourself stand out in your application by focusing on a few of your best strengths or accomplishments. Write an essay that you would enjoy reading and get to know your duke counselor for your area. For legacies, if you don't think you meet the benchmark of applicants, get someone closely related to Duke to write you a letter of recommendation.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
people who love to learn
BME majors (2nd best BME program in the country)
all-around people
sports people
people who like to have fun but also study hard
prospective business men or public policy majors
pre-med students or anyone looking to go into the medical field (Duke has a great hospital)
students interested in religion (one of the best Divinity schools in the country)
basketball fans (not football fans...our football team's not that great)
active people (or non-active people)
friendly people
minorities
Yes, Duke is a top ten university, and yes, they get some of the brightest students in the country, but the level and quality of academics at Duke is so much more than that. In my first semester here, I learned how to communicate basic information in Arabic, to edit film not only digitally but manually by cutting and taping actual film strips together with 16mm film, the intricacies of court cases that involve the most controversial parts of the First Amendment, and the vast differences of the cultural aspects of languages, among other things. Duke does a great job of balancing the vast variety of classes offered with in depth exploration of a class' main focus. While, yes, there are some professors that can be a bit of a bore, almost every class at Duke will teach you something new (even if that comes through a textbook rather than your professor). However, the classroom isn’t the only place where you can learn something new. The diversity and, well, pure awesomeness of Duke’s student body provides a great resource for anyone looking for something new. For example, I learned some basic Russian phrases from a girl down the hall from me, how to play ultimate Frisbee from my roommate, and even how to (properly) lift a cherry pie from the dining hall. With so many interesting people around you all the time, I would say, unless you live under a rock during your time here, it’s pretty impossible not to learn something new almost everyday.
I absolutely love Duke, and am proud to call it my home and school. The people here are amazing. Yes, they can sometimes seem a bit judgmental or a little too nice, but most everyone loves being here, and it shows. When you first come in to Duke as a freshman, it can be a bit overwhelming. There's so much to do and so many people to see. Pretty much anything you've ever wanted to do or try can probably be found in one of Duke's clubs, and if it's not there then grab a group of friends and make it happen. The social scene here is also good. A lot of clubs in Durham are 18 and up, so most weekends you can find people pre-gaming at frat parties or mixers before heading off to the clubs. Frat parties are pretty big on campus, although we also have these things called SLGs (selective living groups) that are basically co-ed frats or themed living groups that also throw parties. The Duke police are really great; they won't get you in trouble for drinking, and are really there to keep you safe. A lot of people tend to complain about Durham because there doesn't seem to be much to do, but Durham has a lot of good restaurants, and if you get tired of the social scene there's always Franklin Street (part of the school down the road...ugh haha). Speaking of UNC, basketball at Duke is the best. The games are so much fun. I am currently tenting (sleeping in a tent for close to a month in k-ville) in order to get into the Duke vs. UNC home game, and, although cold, it is a blast bonding with the people in my tent and everyone else in k-ville.
The many programs and things to do at Duke, make it for the most part worth the money. We have unique study abroad programs such as DukeEngage that allow you to spend a summer in another country for free doing civic engagement, cultural immersion study abroad programs, and programs dedicated specifically towards your field of study. For instance, you can spend a semester at Duke's marine lab to learn about marine biology or in L.A. to study film. There are also a lot of help services such as the career center, study abroad office, psychological services office, academic advising for regular students and athletes, along with a ton of other services just for students. The one thing that I will say seems to me to be a huge rip off is the Freshman meal plan. Freshman have an allotted amount of meal swipes per week that can only be used at the Dining hall on East Campus, while upperclassmen are on a foodpoints system that allows them to eat virtually anywhere on campus. Each dinner meal swipe is supposed to be equal to $12, but in reality with the price of the meal plan it's equal to something like $23...that's a lot of money for dinner. (But I guess it's all you can eat so you can't complain too much). The one thing I wish Duke would do to help those in need of money for tuition is offer a few more scholarships to students. While, yes, they do offer some scholarships, these are usually reserved for a very very very small and incredibly intelligent portion of the student body. Also, they do a good job on financial aid for low income families, but not as well for medium income families.
make yourself stand out in your application by focusing on a few of your best strengths or accomplishments. Write an essay that you would enjoy reading and get to know your duke counselor for your area. For legacies, if you don't think you meet the benchmark of applicants, get someone closely related to Duke to write you a letter of recommendation.
people who love to learn BME majors (2nd best BME program in the country) all-around people sports people people who like to have fun but also study hard prospective business men or public policy majors pre-med students or anyone looking to go into the medical field (Duke has a great hospital) students interested in religion (one of the best Divinity schools in the country) basketball fans (not football fans...our football team's not that great) active people (or non-active people) friendly people minorities