<p>How long is your Why Duke essay?</p>
<p>Mine is 500 words but the instructions say it must be 1-2 paragraphs.
Is this too long?</p>
<p>^I think that may be a bit too long. Try to be concise, and remember the ‘Why Duke’ essay is really optional. </p>
<p>Mine is ~180 words.</p>
<p>My “Why Duke?” essay was 403 words</p>
<p>^^^ I think anything over 300 words is pushing it.</p>
<p>I also think over 300 words is pushing it for the optional essay. But for the engineering one, 500 words is fine.</p>
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<p><3? </p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>how did you guys decide on whether you want to go to pratt or trinity ? I am interested in both but common app lets us only pick one. how did you weigh one over the other ? why pratt and why trinity ?</p>
<p>I kinda wanted to do something in engineering, but my ECs, test scores, and grades didn’t show any indication that I would be a good fit for Pratt, so I just chose Trinity…and I didn’t want to write an extra essay</p>
<p>I have heard (somebody want to confirm??) that if you get to Duke and change your mind about which one you want to be in, it’s easier to switch INTO Trinity from Pratt than the other way around. So if you really can’t make up your mind, and one doesn’t seem to be a “best fit”, it might be wiser to apply to Pratt.</p>
<p>@ sunflowersummer, I have heard the exact same thing.</p>
<p>I’ve heard its very difficult to transfer between the schools. You have to be accepted on transfer as well.</p>
<p>^ I don’t think so. At least for Pratt, I was told by someone in the engineering department that switching into Trinity is basically just filling out a little paperwork.</p>
<p>not what i’ve heard from my brother (duke class of 2013), who’s in trinity now but is partially interested in bme</p>
<p>Switching to Trinity from Pratt is very easy, in fact approximately 1 in 6 Pratt freshmen will make that choice by the start of sophomore year. It is just filling out some paperwork and filing it with the dean’s office (aka Dean Simmons). </p>
<p>Switching from Trinity to Pratt, however, is a little more involved. You can expect to have your high school transcript, test scores, and Duke grades scrutinized before you are accepted or denied. </p>
<p>In any case, you can unofficially start the transfer process second semester by taking courses in your intended college (while also fulfilling requirements for your year in your current college) but may only officially transfer after the first year. Additionally, for transfers from Trinity into Pratt, you are encouraged to contact Dean Simmons as soon as you get on campus so that you can start planning out your schedule in time for spring class registration in November.</p>
<p>To quote the Trinity Academic Policy page: </p>
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<p>Source: [Duke</a> University | Trinity College of Arts & Sciences : Academic requirements](<a href=“http://trinity.duke.edu/academic-requirements?p=transfer-to-from-pratt-school-of-engineering]Duke”>http://trinity.duke.edu/academic-requirements?p=transfer-to-from-pratt-school-of-engineering)</p>