<p>I was dismissed because of low grades. I'm so scared that I won't be let back in and I don't know what to do. I can reapply for spring semester, has anyone gone through the process/ has suggestions?</p>
<p>note: Bad grades due to family problems at home and fell into depression, but won't let it affect me again.</p>
<p>One of my friends at Duke was kicked out twice due to academic performance. He was struggling with similar issues. He told me that it is important to write a compelling essay to explain how you can now handle the pressures of college life again. He said it was better than his application essay to Duke. Don’t feel overly pressured, but make sure it is a compelling essay on why they should take you back. Hopefully, you’ve gotten to know your dean and is on his/her good side. If so, I bet they’ll advocate for you.</p>
<p>Also, if you can, seek professional treatment when you are back at home for your depression and also stay occupied… take classes at a local college or get a job. That way, once you go back, you’ll have a routine down. Best of luck, and I hope you are able to overcome your depression and home issues!</p>
<p>I am an old alum, so this vignette is not of recent currency, but a friend and fellow student back in the day flunked out once. He made a decent plea the first time to get re-admitted, but unfortunately could not handle the distractions of college life and quit going to class in his second go round and flunked out again. That was it for his Duke career. </p>
<p>I remember painfully taking calls from his professors looking for him - they wanted him to succeed. So did I. It was a lesson of sorts too - there’s little one can do to help someone who really doesn’t want help. </p>
<p>The shame of it all was that this fellow was whip smart - even for Duke. I did reasonably well academically at Duke and couldn’t hold a candle to this guy when and if he applied himself. </p>
<p>Life should be about second chances - so keep your head up and find a way to dig out from this. But it isn’t necessarily about third and fourth chances - so make things count - and don’t forget that anyone, and I mean anyone, who attends Duke is exceedingly privileged. </p>
<p>One of the best things about Duke actually was the East West bus. I typically took it back to East rather late because of athletic practice. It put some down time into my day - and some time to look out the windows and reflect, diesel engine whirring and all. And it was the rare day on that bus that I didn’t have a few minutes to remind myself as to just how lucky I was to be a student at Duke rather than stuck back home in a warehouse job trying to escape the single mother poverty to which I was subject. It is a good feeling to have felt so very fortunate - it stays with me to this day, as does the Duke education. Yes, troubles at home can be real - but wow, but being at Duke is a treasure, especially if one looks away from the social pressures and distractions and truly bonds with the best educational opportunities the school can offer. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>