<p>So I got an email about a week ago telling me to "save the date!" for Blue Devil Days. It didn't really give much other than the days of the event and how to register. </p>
<p>Are there any Duke students who can tell me what goes on at Blue Devil Days?
Do we stay in the dorms or do we have to get a hotel room?
I've heard that it's a recruitment of sorts, so is it still worth going if you were accepted early?
Do a lot of early accepted kids go, and does it matter?
Also, which "session" is best? Are they all pretty much the same?</p>
<p>Any information or further questions are welcome! I know I'll not the only one wondering about this. :)</p>
<p>Our son graduated from Duke in '09, but when he was accepted in spring of '05 we went to Blue Devil Days. Duke was THE choice for him, so they didn’t need to convince him. At that time (and I am sure it has not changed) we stayed in a hotel. If you know a student you can certainly arrange to stay with them, but they do not arrange that.</p>
<p>Many accepted students attend one of the “Days”, whether they are ED or RD. It really gets you excited about being a part of the university! We went when they were going to have a lot of info about Pratt, since our son was going into the engineering program. We had a wonderful time! There were sessions just for the accepted students, sessions for parents and lots of things to do and see! </p>
<p>Go to the session that is most convenient for you, and try to arrange ahead of time with the admissions office to go to some classes with another student…that was a possibility at the time, if I remember correctly. </p>
<p>Congrats on being accepted to Duke! Our son loved it and I am sure you will, too!</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Duke. He attended BDD last year. They did, in fact, have hosts in dorms for some students. I believe those spots were somewhat limited in number. My son and his father stayed in a hotel. The program is the essentially the same for all three dates. Last year, however, one happened to be scheduled when Duke played in the NCAA championship game. BDD was great for him and cemented his decision to attend. The parents’ programming was also informative. Duke gives out great freebies that you don’t get if you don’t attend (I don’t think): class tee shirts, etc.</p>
<p>Definitely go. You will meet others that may be your classmates later. Anything you can do beforehand to meet people (freshmen and upperclassmen) will be helpful later. Also you will get an idea of what it will be like to be a student at Duke.</p>
<p>No one from far away should attend Blue Devil Days if they feel they can’t afford it but go if you can or if you are on the fence. Lots of people here can recommend hotels. Our Duke son was given a person to stay with in the dorms that didn’t work out well…students at Duke are so busy–but some kids had a great time in the dorms. It is fine to stay in hotels for sleep and go for the day activities. Very fun.</p>
<p>Our son was on the fence about Duke frankly and happened to be there the day of the last Symphony concert and decided on the spot that he loved what he saw in Symphony esprit de corps. So it helped him decide. He played for four years and enjoyed it but was involved in many other corners of Duke as well.</p>
<p>Duke is uber fun and spirited and wonderful. Congrats to all who have this choice. You can also opt to be part of the week before orientation where Duke students either go into Project Wild or in volunteer work in Durham if you want a head start on making friends but you are at no disadvantage whatsoever in making friends if you simply show up for orientation in August with everyone else.</p>