Duke University? Good school. Do you like it?

Question

I am a sophmore in school, about to be a junior very soon.
I am starting to plan out my future and I am considering attending to Duke University.

I have a 4.0, am in the top 15 of my sophmore class, and take the hardest classes my public school offers.

I want to be a nutritionist with a minor in psychology. I live in Tennessee btw.

So, my questions are:
1: Do you think I could get in, and possibly get a good scholarship?
2: To those who attend, or have attended: Do/did you think it is a good school? Would you recommen it? What are its good quatlities? And it's faults?

I have done my research on the school but I want first hand experiences and opinions...they are normally more helpful to me seeing as how the school wants you to go there and a student or graduate could just give it to me straight.

All help, opinions, etc, is Greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Answer 1

It's difficult to say without seeing your full profile. SAT/ACT scores count for a lot, and extracurricular activities are very important. Essays can make or break an application. However, a 4.0 will help if you keep it up. I recommend taking the most challenging courses available (AP/IB or honors).

As for a scholarship, don't get your hopes up. Duke offers very few scholarships to students outside North Carolina, and they are very, very difficult to get. The AB Duke and Robertson scholarships go to students who have done extraordinary things in high school- started a major charity to build a school in Kenya, won Siemens Westinghouse, etc. On the flip side, Duke is extremely generous with financial aid. They gave me so much money, in fact, that it was cheaper than UNC Chapel Hill in-state! Both US News and Kiplinger's ranked Duke in the top 5-10 of best value universities.

I absolutely love Duke. I turned down Yale to come here, and I haven't regretted it. I strongly disagree with Miley's sister- I don't think that Duke is competitive at all. I had to miss class yesterday; after I emailed my classmates, several people I didn't even know sent me a copy of their notes. Duke has great weather, a beautiful campus, amazing students and faculty, awesome facilities (like the Lemur Center and the brand new state-of-the-art French Science Center), small classes (the largest I've had is 80 in an intro course, and the smallest had 4), great student-faculty interaction (through FOCUS, faculty-in-residence, faculty-student dining, etc.)...I could go on and on. If you visit College Confidential like mdang12000 suggested, you'll see lots of posts by me (warblersrule86) and other Duke students on there.

Answer 2

Duke University College Confidential

Answer 3

This is from California State, 1.If you live in the same state, your chances are better. The catalog's sitting in the same city high school. Even the class required in high school. 2. Is it far enough that the high school trouble maker, teacher, relative, co-worker manager, cannot drive and call every day to bother your teacher? Yes! Farris Bueller Movie or Van Wilder. 3. Your high school teacher visited or jr college teacher, the person took a second look at the book listings on the shelf. 4. Calculus 1 to 4 uses the same exact book as Calculus with Analytic Geometry 1 to 3. After two semeters of calculus with analytic geometry, you never saw the geometry part. 5. The comment was made the class used a different book when it was put on the catalog, two years ago. Just like you, a AA/Sales can teach English 1 freshman to pay the bills. A BA/Engr can teach it also even Java Programming, even College Algebra 1. Again just to pay the bills, sc**w the student. Remember: Education is one large business, especially if the person has to pay. Your rights being under 22 is very limited as a consumer. These teachers get away with full pay and less than 8 hours per day. One word from a teacher, can steer the student to drop out. Suggestion of get a job, crowd is under 21 and too young for Computers, Chemistry Teacher can program too,...Because of EOE, even with your high scores, your literally scr**. The teachers get away with copies of R-rated films, and audio tapes. The teachers also cut R-Films for student class, it requires 'critical thinking' and 'understanding the movie' after its been cut. How many movies over R, have a special meaning? None, its literal thinking content is made up afterwards like Star Wars. A consumer does not want to think in a movie theater. A paint splat is a twisted metal, there is no 'interpretation' like a 'mind reader tarot business'. Your manager does not care where you went to school, never did. Just finished. A business monopoly is a monopoly

Answer 4

I think the other answer says a lot - Duke is not a place for people who are second-best. They would be more comfortable at a state school like UNC.

Duke is a fabulous school with fabulous resources and faculty, but it is intended for people who are ambitious, competitive and real top achievers. If you fit the profile, then it will be a fabulous experience for you and start you on a career where the sky is the limit.

Answer 5

My sister went to Duke for her freshman year and HATED it. She graduated 5th in her class of 512, but she felt that everyone at Duke was way to competitive (to the point where her "friends" wouldnt even help her because they didnt want her getting a better grade then them). She transfered to UNC Chapel Hill- which is still a competitive school- but she loves it. Its a beautiful campus and the most ideal college campus you could imagine. I'm not sure if you could get a scholarship to duke- many factors play a role when applying to an IV school- alumni? race? extra curriculars?

Answer 6

24

Answer 7

Hey go to www.collegeconfidential.com, its a forum and they will answer all your questions about Duke and other colleges you have in mind

Answer 8

Yes it's a very good school, and it seems to me that you might be able to get in.. Go for it and good luck