<p>so i've written my whole "why duke" essay, and now i'm worried about whether I did it right or not. I basically wrote about how it's a perfect match for what i want in a school (teaching method, mix of extracurriculars and academics, campus, etc) but mostly like factual/research type things. Is this what they're looking for or do they want a more "I love Duke because it's my life and dream and personal experience blah blah blah"</p>
<p>I think you should try to make your essay very personal to you. It's great to talk about why Duke is a perfect match for you, but I wouldn't confine your descriptions just to facts, because anyone can use these reasons for wanting to go to Duke-- they won't make your app. really stand out. Include your background, experiences in high school, etc. to demonstrate why Duke is perfect for you.</p>
<p>Alright so i tweaked it to focus on why Duke is the best place for my major (business) and the opportunities it'll have for me for now and the future in my area of study.. is this more personal?</p>
<p>Yeah, that sounds better. Anything that will make your essay specific and unique to you as a person will help a lot. If you're talking about how Duke is the best place for your major, don't just talk about the prestige of the academic programs; tell the adcom why Duke calls to you more than other schools, how you see yourself at Duke, etc...basically you just want to give them a better idea of who YOU are, and you don't want the essay to be just complimenting the academics and something that any applicant could have written. Best of luck :)</p>