A question about the supplement essays

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>For the essay prompt which asks:</p>

<p>If you are applying to Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular at Duke that attracts you? </p>

<p>How should I approach the question? Should I be more methodical, explaining point by point why certain parts of Duke appeal to me? For example, right now my essay lists undergrad research, a focused/flexible curriculum, and DukeEngage, then explains why I feel each quality to be important.</p>

<p>Or should I be more personal and informal? And if this is the case, what content should I put into the essay?</p>

<p>All help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!</p>

2

<p>Who wants to read a laundry list? Be creative.</p>

<p>…but please, for the love of god, do not talk about DukeEngage. Without exception, every admissions officer or representative I talked to mentioned that they get really, really sick of reading about it. Something like 75% of kids who write the extra essay mention Duke Engage. It’s not unique anymore.</p>

3

<p>What if I really, really want do stuff with DukeEngage? :(</p>

4

<p>Also, I’m afraid that I take creative license with the essay, I’ll leave out important facts about why I want to go to Duke. (the essay is limited to 2 paragraphs, and I’ve already stretched mine beyond the 3-5 sentence standard)</p>

5

<p>If you really want to talk about DukeEngage…don’t. </p>

<p>A summer of fully funded volunteer work is really not enough justification for a burning desire to come to Duke in almost all cases.</p>

6

<p>Many many people are going to say the FOCUS program and DukeEngage. You will just be another one of those people.</p>

7

<p>As the others are saying, be creative; if you’re gonna talk about DukeEngage/FOCUS, don’t make it the focus of your essay. But don’t just focus on basketball either.</p>

<p>Personally saying, mine was kinda like a laundry list…not the best, but got the job done. I managed to work in references to Ron Paul and gothic buildings with my desire to go premed, so there’s that. I think the adcoms here are just looking for a general level of interest, not so much a burning desire.</p>

8

<p>Haha, at the rate we are going, pretty soon the only thing that can be talked about would be Duke’s great weather…oh wait…never mind</p>

9

<p>I actually wonder if Duke Lacrosse is off the table too…</p>