Duke University Top Questions

Go to college and participate in everything that you have the chance to because as an adult, those opportunities are harder to find. College is the time for you to experience, not necessarily experiment. You can enjoy yourself without going buck wild because, as an adult, you will face the consequences. That said, choose your college wisely. Some have much better student activities and opportunities than others. Consider that in your college choice!

Jennifer, you have got to stay focused and stay on top of all of your assignments. You need to schedule regular appointments with all of your professors to have them look over papers, guide you on how to succeed in their classes, and let you know your status in their class. Do not be afraid to try new things or non-race affinity groups. Come in with a mindframe to study abroad and do service trips so that way you can meet all the proper deadlines and make the most of your Duke experience. Lastly, do your best everyday so that should you fail at something, there is no doubt that you did not make a valiant effort.

I would not want to influence or change a single thing. I was rejected from my ED school and somehow got into Duke. Now I can't imagine being anywhere else. I don't just say "I LOVE DUKE!" loudly and blindly ( I wouldn't). But I truly appreciate all the opportunities I've had and amazing faculty I've met here. I've done things through Duke that I don't think I would have been able to do at any other university. I mean, I would have been happy and made the most of it wherever I would have went, but this has been amazing for me. Absolutely no regrets at all.

Dude, look at you. You've been in school for something like 12 years, and while there's a lot you've enjoyed, there's a lot you've hated too. You've worked hard to get here, and you know you've got to go to college because a HS diploma isn't going to get you very far. But before you -- or your parents -- spend a small fortune, make sure you're going to get your money's worth. College isn't just a place to play around and 'figure out' what you want out of life. If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, or if you want to work for Google, you'll need to get your act together quickly. If you're going into the humanities, you'll probably need even more education if you want a nice career. Now is the time to really think about the kind of life you want to lead: how important is money, free time; how soon do you want to start a family? Ask these questions now, and talk to people in the fields in which you're interested to get a realistic picture of them.

The best advice I can give is to pay attention to details. Often the novelty of college and the excitement of transition can cloud a person?s judgment in discerning the proper learning environment that matches their personal needs. One underutilized tool to finding the right college are college visits. Try picking college days that are not necessarily set aside to welcome visiting prospective students. As a family you should all take a day to observe the regular interactions of your prospective classmates in neutral environments as well as try to gauge whether you will be able to acculturate to their everyday hustle and bustle. Often you will be able to pick up a more distinctive and personal vibe from those careful observations than what you would normally rely on from colorful glossy brochures and pamphlets. Also be sure to stop and interview students about their choice in study, their general opinions on professors, and their tips for staying relatively stress free and healthy both mentally and physically. Often older students have the sagest wisdom on how to successfully complete a four year degree and offer the best advice on decisions that worked for them and mistakes they learned from.

Make sure you visit this campus and spend a night here before you decide if it's the right fit for you. There is a certain type of person that attends this school/can fit in. Academically Duke is a wonderful, top notch school. But honestly academics isn't everything. You can excel most anywhere. Being socially happy is vey important too. Don't forget.. you only live once!!!

There is nothing in this world like the four years you spend at college. It is not a decision to take lightly. There are a lot of factors to consider: academics, financial aid, extracurriculars. All of these affect your school decision. But there is no substitute to visiting a campus and just feeling, knowing it is where you belong. It is the feel of the campus, the friendliness of the students, the sitting in on classes. Experiencing this first-hand before deciding on a college is a major factor. Once there, take advantage of everything, even if you don't think you'll like them. Go to the sporting events. Go to the movies they offer, the theater perfomances they have. There are so many things to do once on a campus and you need to experience it all. You will never know what you find that you like, such as a flamenco class, a psychology class. Take advatange of the variety of classes. Do everything once so you don't look back and regret not having done it when you had the chance with your friends.

Follow your heart and find a school where you can really see yourself. Take advantage of everything that exists on campus. Live with no regrets

Parents, let your child check out the schools and stay overnight to see what it is really like and see if he/she likes it. Students, find a place that has your interests, but also has people with whom you get along.

Go to fastweb.com and talk to high school counselors who get so much information and don't always share it with parents.