Duke University Top Questions

My college experience have been a learning one. I have learned alot of new things through the different courses I have taken and I also became aware of the benefits and advantages of going to college. I became involved in a student organization and went to charity events on campus. I learned about the college environment and how the proffessors differ from that of a University. The courses I took at Miami Dade College offered me a valuable lesson and knowledge I did not waste my money and the courses were payed for by financial aid. It have been a valuable experience to have attended this college because I am passing all my courses and I am able to maintain a good GPA.

I couldn't have asked for a better college experience. I've met so many amazing people who shaped my views on the world and help me understand the things that motivate me and discover a passion for a career I had never considered. Academically, Duke pushed me to learn new things in different ways and collaborate with people I had never met before. I wish there was a way to express just how appreciative I am of my time at this school but I feel as if words cannot do it justice. I truly think that the education, experiences, and people I met at Duke have made me a better citizen of humanity.

Duke has opened my eyes to the world and opened doors for my future. Coming from an agricultural Wyoming background, I met people from many walks of life at Duke and learned to appreciate and respect individuals of diverse backgrounds. Additionally, I took first-rate courses with intelligent and skilled professors who taught me about topics ranging from Japanese culture to microbiology. My education has given me a broad base of knowledge and I feel like I am leaving Duke a more intelligent, interesting and culturally-competent individual. I will be attending medical school next year and look forward to eventually becoming a skilled and caring physician. I believe my academic experience at Duke has prepared me to handle the rigors of medical education. Furthermore, I believe my social experience at Duke has prepared me to respect and appreciate my future classmates and, later, my future patients and colleagues. Living in a diverse but closeknit group of Duke students has taught me that the best way to learn about life is by sharing it with others. I leave Duke committed to community, respect for others and lifelong learning.

I have always had a thirst for knollege and my experience at Duke has helped to cultivate this thirst. All of my classes have been very intellectually stimulating and have helped me to approach issues from multiple perspectives. The professors inspire me to challenge myself in my academic pursuits which I greatly appreciate.

Through Duke, I have had unparallel resources to pursue any and all subjects and activities that have been of interest to me. The unique Focus Program allowed me to begin my college journey with a small group of peers brought together by similar interests, whom I otherwise may not have met. My best friends today came from within that group. The Focus Program also allowed me to work closely with world renowned professors who led discussion in a small group setting and quenched our intellectual curiousity inside and outside of the classroom. Outside of the Focus Program, Duke has provided a plethora of professors all dedicated to enriching student lives by encouraging discovery and academic excellence. My professors have made themselves available at every possible opportunity, and I have learned so much from working closely with them outside of class. Furthermore, I have had the amazing opportunity to take part in several enriching extra curricular activities from community service to cultural dance groups and career-oriented clubs. Duke has provided the resources allowing me to travel across the country competing in the activities I enjoy, meanwhile opening a social outlet in which I have met friends who share my passions.

If you had asked me in high school why I was going to college, I probably would have responded with some hazy ideas about expanding my academic horizons and preparing for medical school. Two years into college, and these answers barely begin to encapsulate the experience. College has reshaped my perspective, and not just in the academic way I anticipated: more than my classes have taught me, they have shown me that I have so much left to learn (me?! What could I possibly contribute?!); HOW I think is just as important as WHAT I am thinking, and despite all the hard work and hours of study necessary for success, those are only part of the picture. The rest comes from being part of a vibrant campus: meeting students from all over the world, and finding that despite our disparate upbringings, we have more than enough to forge connections; engaging with professors at the top of their fields and finding at that they, too, were once in our very shoes. All these are critical parts of a college experience that I would not trade for sleep, a perfect GPA, or the safe comforts of home.

My college experience has been incredibly rewarding. As a freshman I came in rather lost in regards to my academic career and my future plans, but with superb advising and guidances from faculty and students, I am not pursuing a degree in a field that I love. My experience at Duke has allowed me to meet some of the most amzing people from countries all over the world who each have unprecedented talents and knowledge. I have always felt supported here and inspired to go above and beyond all expectations. I have had great mentors and the ability to reach out to the Duke Alumni Network for all my needs. Basketball and other social events at Duke have allowed me to meet friends here that I will have for life. When we struggle academically, we struggle together, but because we are such a cohesive community I am determined that I will succeed. Together we give back to our growing community and we engage in activities that no other students in the world can attest to. It has been an invaluable experience largely because of the opportunities available, but moreso because of the people I have met.

When I first went to college at a young age, all I wanted to do was find a job in the Federal Government. At that time, the government was hiring people in the administrative field. Therefore, I decided to peruse a career in Secretarial Science. When I was attending college, I saw it was a chance to do soothing that none of my other siblings had a chance to do back then. I couldn?t see myself babysitting for the rest of my life. Now that I am older and know what career field I like to peruse, I would like to return to college and peruse a career in Human Resources. If I had the chance to turn back the hands of time I would have been more focused and determined to get the proper education I really needed and wanted to live in today?s society.

So far, my college experience has been better than I ever could have imagined it. Because I?ve dreamt of attending Duke since sixth grade, people always ask me whether school has met my expectations. Every time I respond that none of my expectations have been met; they've been surpassed. College is a chance for me to start my life anew through reinventing myself to be how I want for the rest of my life. In meeting new people, I've found new teammates, classmates, mentors, and friends that mean a lot to me. I'm making friends that will last a lifetime and connections that will aid me in future situations. Duke is a great place for me to begin networking for my future career, and to me that means a lot more than just receiving an education. Even then, Duke's curriculum is top notch. I spend a large amount of time studying, but it's all worth it when I make a good grade in a difficult course. Duke is preparing me for adult life in the outside world, preparing me to be a productive member of the big picture.

I have gotten a lot of my college experienc so far. I have met many new friends and really expanded my horizons. I think the most important thing that I have gotten out of my college experience is my new sense of independent. I am from San Diego and I go to school in Durham, North Carolina so I am very far away from my family. At first, I had a really hard time adjusting to my new surroundings and I was terribly homesick. For the first few months, I really regreted my decision to go to school so far away since I missed my family and friends. But now that I have adjusted, I realize that leaving home for college was a really good decision. I am truly independent here and I had to learn to take care of myself since I did not have family to rely on. I was also forced to put myself out there in order to make new friends and as a result I have become more outgoing and confident. After 4 months of college, I now know that I can take care of myself and live independently..

Don't go by what is on paper. If you only look at lists and rankings, you will miss the essence of the college and will not get an adequate understanding of the school. The only way to learn about a college and to decide if it is right for you is to visit, talk with the students, and spend a couple days there. Too many students send their acceptances to the college with the highest ranking, and do not consider their gut instincts. There are so many variables to consider, and prestige is only one of them. Even if you get into Harvard, would it be worth it to go if you weren't happy? Choose a university where you think you can succeed, and where you feel you can experience an unforgettable four years and leave a better person. Get your goals in order. Are you going to college to party, or to study? Do you want to live it up these four years, or do you want to work hard? Small school, or big? The decision on which college to attend is the biggest of your young life thus far. Don't let it go to waste.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are plenty of things that I could tell myself so that I would have been more successful my first semester in college. First of all, in high school, I definitely took developing study skills for granted. It's so easy to cram the night (or the class period) before a test and still do well. However, this is not the case in college. It's very important to have strong study skills to be successful in classes. It's also important to manage your time very carefully because you are given more freedom in your life to do what you want. Another thing that I would have told myself is to enjoy the waning hours of relaxation. I'm not saying that college is about working 24/7, but it is hard to find time to rest without getting away from your studies, especially after being a second semester senior. Live life to the fullest while you can because you don't know how long the calm will last.

The hardest things in life are the most worthwhile. Some transitions are difficult and college is a time of tribulation, especially when you're a thousand miles from home with people that you've never met before. Remember what got you through high school and continue to rely on God, your family, and your friends. Keep Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight," close to your heart and remember that your family is always one phone call away. Never be afraid to admit you're scared, because there is always someone to share your fright and another to lend you a hand. God has a plan for your life and no matter how hard it is to see sometimes, faith is believing that one day you will understand. In Robert Frost's words, "I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." It's a long and winding road, but there's a spectacular display just around the bend. It may be tough, but it's definitely worthwhile.

Looking back now in time, I wish someone told me my senior year to relax and enjoy myself more. It was not necessary to be so nervous about going from the west coast to the east coast for college. I became so worked up with school, crew, and my job as a way to hide how nervous I was about the upcoming transition I was going to make. In hindsight I had no need to be so stressed. College is a time where you are supposed to branch out and really find out who you are. I feel like I have definitely grown up a lot in the past semester and already have learned so much about myself. I have even noticed I am much happier and content with myself despite being so far away from the comfort of my home and family. Deciding to leave southern California and experience something different, the likes of Duke in North Carolina, was the best decision I could have made for myself. Therefore, I wish last year as a senior in high school, someone told me that everything was going to be more than fine; it was going to be great.

If I could talk to myself in high school, I would say to calm down and to enjoy the end of high school much more than I did: it passes quickly, college goes even quicker, and one must enjoy making memories while one still has the freedom. I would encourage myself to try out more extracurricular activities that I didn?t have the opportunity to do in high school. My first three semesters I did the same activities as in high school; I still enjoyed them, but I didn?t try anything new. My fourth semester I started tutoring elementary school children, and I found out that I really enjoyed it. I had seen ads for tutoring as a freshman, but had never pursued it. Now I wish I had started doing it from day one! I would encourage myself to make the same friends that I did. I found people with the same values that I have, who like the same things I do, and who are fun to be around. I briefly tried to fit in with a ?cooler? group, but I?m glad I stuck to my true friends ? they make the college experience so much better!

The piece of advice I would give my high-school self would be not to take anything too seriously. Yes, these choices are seriously going to impact your life and grades are no joke, but everything is what you will make it to be. There is no reason to worry about whether you'll fit in or whether your professors will hate you and bombard you with intimidating workloads. College life is less of an anxiety forced upon you and more of an open arena for you to explore. You get to take the initiative to tackle new avenues and find new problems. Nothing is concrete. Everything can and will change. Feel free to get involved in any off-the-beaten-path experience and stop expecting there to be a path for you to follow. The days of fast track anything are over because there are simply no tracks. So don't feel pressured to build up any constraints just yet. Relax and go with your gut. And never be afraid.

Follow your passions. Instead of worrying about will make you happy in the future, think about what will make you happy now. You should be living every moment to the fullest - not constantly stressing about a distant graduate school or career. Drop anything that you are only doing "for your resume" and spend that time on your favorite activities. If you follow your life passions now, you will be much a happier and satisfied - not to mention authentic - person. Everything else will fall into place. I spent my time in high school careful calculating a plan to get into a top-tier school. Looking back, I wish I had spent more time going to football games, hanging out with friends, and just enjoying being a teen. I don't think the sacrifices that I made were worth it - I may have even been happier at a regular college. If you do what makes you happy now, you will no regrets looking back at it.

Keep PUSHING. Yes, it is hard to work up the energy senior year to make As, impress your teachers, and stay engaged with your community. But once you get to school, that effort will pay off with an easier transition into college life. Cherish the moments with your family and friends, but know that amazing new experiences are waiting for you in August. Seek them out! Try new things: join a political club, get a part time job doing something you love, volunteer at a local school, organize a food drive, meet your professor outside of class, have coffee with a senior who you admire. Make the most of every moment. Anyone can be successful in college with hard work, but only you can tailor the experience to be perfect for you! Never be intimidated by those for whom college seems easy; the challenge will make you stronger, a better student, a better friend, a better person. So push yourself to get there. Because college is a time of self discovery, a time to achieve your dreams. You can do it, and do it well.

Don't go to college with a girlfriend. Explore a wide variety of social groups and activities, and stick with the ones that feel like the best fit. Make friends who share your interests and passions, but don't compromise your values in order to fit in with a group. Most importantly, take your classes seriously. The new freedom is great, but if you're not there to learn, you don't deserve to be there. And don't fret that everyone around you seems to know exactly where their lives are headed; odds are, they're probably lying.

High School seniors need to understand the importance of their college choice and to choose carefully. Check out websites that tell about colleges, ask people who have been to the school what it is like. The official college brochures will always paint a pretty picture. The high school student needs more information than the college provides. There are several questions to ask. Are the professors experienced teachers or are they researchers? Is partying expected or optional? What are some of the traditions for students? Are the dorms decent? What's the local transportation like? Is the on-campus food good or just edible? These aren't covered or covered well in the brochures, and you have to live there for at least four years! Also, the high school senior should not slack-off during the senior year if he/she is expecting to go to a top-notch school. Keep up the learning.