<p>you kids really are in the hyper over-information age with way too many temptations socially. I don’t think I would have passed my first semester at Duke because I am very social, always want to find out what the people in the hall were talking about, started studying when others fell asleep, and would be IMing and texting and emailing at the same time I was trying to learn very difficult material if I was your age. Life was duller in the 70s and people did actually sleep more. People wrote postal letters and got on the phone once a week! </p>
<p>Unless you are a savant, you have to get scared straight into NOT staying up till 3am. Lack of sleep in college in the USA is an epidemic now and believe me when I say it decreases your ability to upload material and use your time strategically. Duke is also a very social campus and a fun atmosphere, yet the work requires a grind mentality at least for 40 hours a week. For the investment you have in Duke and the outcome you are seeking…you MUST look at Duke as if it is a 9-5 job, and defy the odds. I impressed on our son how many people in the world are already tied to paychecks and time clocks (we forget how many people would love this opportunity). Higher education at this level is a privilege and should be a joy. By the way, twinkletoes, the classes you struggled in are VERY hard and your peers are very smart. You did OK. But you must find a roommate who will let you sleep sophomore year if at all possible. My son blew his sleep patterns entirely at Duke freshman year, but you learn from errors. He did luck out and had a great roommate who was a health nut with good routines. I realize that is a rare occurence and was just blind luck. </p>
<p>Our son is hugely auditory and uses Bose headphones. A wise investment considering your every class costs 5000 dollars, folks.</p>