<p>I got in ED and I have received emails and letters from Duke about their blue devil day programs. I would like to go, but I live in NJ and it's kinda a hassle to just drive down to Durham in the middle of the week. They have one program on April 8th and 9th during a weekend but there would be no overnight stay, which I kinda want to experience if I'm going to drive all the way down there.</p>
<p>Anyone else planning on going to the Blue devil days and can anyone who has gone tell me if it is fun/worth it/ informative?</p>
<p>Well, if you’re ED I don’t see too much of a point in driving down/flying down from NJ and missing school. You know you’re going to Duke, and going to learn the ins and outs of being a student during orientation/once you get to campus as a student.</p>
<p>I was a tour guide, and have worked Blue Devil Days for the past 3 years, and it’s designed more for students who are undecided. There’s usually a student activities fair, panels about different majors/careers (in the past I think there’s also been a sort of “majors fair”), panels about student life/financial aid/etc, tours, lunches/dinners with students, etc etc. Last year they added a new “Cameron Crazie”-esque thing where all the students and families in town for BDD went to Cameron, the band played…a fun sort of “pep rally” for a very busy day.</p>
<p>That said, during orientation you’re going to have the same sort of panel discussions on things you really need to know as a student (financial aid, pre-law/business/med, student health)…there are even a few things in the first day or two designed for your parents. You’re also going to have a FAC (a sophomore) who will take you on a tour, host a dinner at a restaurant (usually a popular place in Durham), who can help with any questions you have…my FAC was an awesome resource for me in my first few weeks.</p>
<p>Since BDD is designed mainly for students who are still considering a few different schools, I’d say since you’re already committed it isn’t really worth it. You’re going to find more things that will be interesting/informative to you as a first-year student during orientation, since you’re already in and definitely going to Duke. If you’re really anxious to get down to campus, maybe think about a pre-orientation program like PBUILD or PWILD. They’re a ton of fun, and you’ll meet a ton of people…many of my friends still hung out with their pre-orientation friends through senior year.</p>
<p>agree with love duke22. my son attended because he had less distance to drive and he was undecided. he made efforts to chat with other students of course during the day and even attended two classes.<br>
overnight in the dorms in my opinion is pretty much a waste of time. upperclassmen are very busy and you will be moving into East and bonding with your House next year…believe me.<br>
Many of the parents and students we chatted with on BDD were no shows in August and went to other colleges…thus you have missed nothing regarding making new friends in your class.
If you want to get an early start on friendship with your class at Duke, sign up early for the 2-3 alternatives offered before orientation…project wild, project build? etc…
my son waited too long and they were full by the time he thought to do the applications</p>
<p>he still had a blast in orientation and still hangs out with his freshman house mates even as a graduate…but you will start orientation with some new friends made at the above options…</p>
<p>congrats on your admission. Duke is a great place to call your alma mater even after you leave.</p>
<p>Go. Without a doubt go. I was a regular decision acceptee and realize that it was orientated for those undecided, but it provides you with a great opportunity to meet people who may wind up being your classmates. I met my roommate at Blue Devil Days and it was the best decision I could have ever made to room with him. I would go, if not only for the experience, but to meet people. Highly recommended. Btw, my mom is making my sister, who got into Wake Forest ED, go to her accepted student days. I really think its worth it.</p>
<p>I have two kids at Duke. THey both went to Blue Devil Days. One was ED but she met many kids that she befriended and even found a roommate there. It was completely worth it for her. My second daughter was indecisive and went down there. She didn’t get much out of it and didn’t meet many people. It really depends on the child.</p>
<p>Having said that, my younger daughter did PBuild and absolutely loved it and the friends she made there are still her best friends. She will be working PBuild next year as part of the crew.</p>
<p>I’m definitely going to one of the Blue Devil Days but I am having trouble deciding which one. They have one session for north and south carolina students and some different ones based around engineering. I fit both of those catagories but cannot decide which one would be more advantageous to attend.</p>
<p>go to your engineering days if you have a choice. Pratt is EXTREMELY tough and those who enter and survive reap very big benefits in the job market. Take the time to get oriented to life at Pratt along with other engineering students. Pratt takes discipline out the kazoo. However, my son’s Pratt grad friends all got jobs in a terrible recession and had tons of fun with Duke sports and life at Duke. The general breadth of life at Duke is what Duke is all about and why some of them chose Duke over programs that were more Engineering schools.<br>
You get all the fun of Duke while you are a Pratt student but it would be best to keep your eye on the prize and go listen up at Engineering orientation meetings.
congrats. You will also be on page one with everyone socially when you go to orientation and are assigned a house on East campus. don’t worry about your social life…worry about getting started at Pratt with the right outlook.</p>
<p>For me, the only reason to go to BDD is to see whether or not you want to come to Duke. If you’re already committed here, there’s no critical reason to come.</p>
<p>i was accepted ED for class of 2014, and i don’t think i’m going to go. BDD seems like it’s geared towards students who haven’t made final decisions on their college choice yet, and personally i don’t want to spend my money driving/flying there (i live 9 hours away). i think orientation will be enough</p>
<p>This is pretty pathetic, but I do not recall whether son and I went to an engineering-specific BDD or not. Any way, he will graduate from Pratt in May. Either way, I think that BDD is valuable if you have any doubt about where you want to attend. I can’t speak from personal experience about ED students, but I would hazard to guess that, if it is doable and not a hardship, attending would be a nice thing to do.</p>
<p>It was definately worth going to a Blue Devil Day. I was somewhat undecided (leaning toward Duke but had not yet committed) when I went, and it really did a lot beyond just cementing my decision. I ended up meeting someone who would be become one of my best friend during Blue Devil Days, met my host who I still keep in contact with, and the students really helped answer some questions about simple freshmen life that I didn’t get during orientation week. I would definately reccomend going, especially if it’s not that far of a travel (I endured a 12 hour plane trip from California in addition to a day’s drive, and I still think it was worth the travel.)</p>
<p>When are the engineering BDDs? My D just got accepted and wants to attend–she is choosing between Pratt and Cornell engineering. I think the engineering one would make the most sense for her to attend. We will be coming from the mountain west.</p>
<p>Blue Devil Days are overnight (or not, you can choose to stay with a host if you want). You can register from a link in the online acceptance letter.</p>
<p>I believe the Pratt Focus day is April 20-21. </p>
<p>Registration should be online through the Duke website using the same information you had to check the application checklist and to check your decision. </p>
<p>Most Blue Devil Days are overnight, but not all of them. If you have a chance, I’d recommend an overnight one, because it’s nice to meet and talk to current freshman. (And all current freshmen are always excited about talking with prospective students.)</p>