Why Duke
250 wordsWhat is your impression of Duke as a university and community, and why do you believe it is a good match for your goals, values, and interests? If there is something specific that attracts you to our academic offerings in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering, or to our co-curricular opportunities, feel free to include that, too.
Paragraph 1: The Personal Spark
- Open with a highly specific, recent personal experience or curiosity that serves as your intellectual origin story.
- Connect it to your chosen field of study.
- It is best to include a concrete scene of active problem-solving or deep curiosity.
- Do not include childhood clichés, such as saying you played with toys at age nine, or broad declarations about wanting to change the world, and avoid generic introductions.
Paragraph 2: Academic Connection
- Focus on specific, upper-level courses or certificates in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering.
- Explain how these courses connect back to your past background or unresolved questions.
- It is best to mention actual course syllabi or specialized paths.
- Do not include generic, 100-level survey courses or recite your transcript, and avoid empty praise about Duke's rankings or prestige.