<p>Hello! I hope that you can take the time out to answer a few of my questions regarding the lifestyle and opportunities at Duke for international students :-
1) Is obtaining Halal food an issue at Duke?
2) Can international students partake in study abroad? How much money is usually involved if one decides to study abroad? Will Duke fund one if one chooses to go on study abroad? How often do Duke students study abroad?
3) How strong is the international community at Duke and how many Pakistanis are there on average in each batch?
4) Do international students have limitations on internships, extra curricular opportunities, etc?</p>
<p>1.) Not really sure, but I do know of a couple restaurants nearby that are Halal. I would imagine it’s doable, but obviously would take some extra effort. I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first Duke student to have this request - others stick to a kosher diet and the like.
2.) Yes, definitely! You should expect to spend about the same amount of money (or even less) to study abroad than you do at Duke. If you’re on financial aid, Duke will give you the money to pay for things, so your “out of pocket” expenses are not changed. About 50% of Trinity students study abroad and 25% of Pratt students - it’s very popular, particularly first semester junior year.
3.) Seemed pretty strong to me, but I was not an international student. There is a dedicated building for international students called the International House - I’d recommend visiting their website and contacting somebody there with your questions.
4.) No limitations. Duke offers the same opportunities (which are plentiful!) to domestic and international students alike.</p>
<p>^ thank you!</p>
<p>heh heh, even if you hadn’t put “international” in your thread title, your use of the word “queries” is a dead giveaway</p>
<p>@Tarheel714: I don’t doubt that is true in Chapel Hill, but in Durham, where students, faculty, staff and alumni are far more sophisticated and erudite, “query” is a perfectly understandable and frequently used word.
</p>
<p>Ooh, salty. Good one, but just to be clear, it’s not like I didn’t understand the word. It’s just not colloquial (see, I can use big words too). Also, I like UNC basketball since my dad went there, but I’d take Duke over UNC in academics anyday.
:)</p>
<p>. . . and colloquial communications are desirable???</p>
<p>I’d echo all the comments above that Duke will want to offer you, as an international student, all of the same opportunities that it offers any of its students. My only cautionary note is that the status of your student visa may require some additional planning for study abroad. (I don’t know if that’s an actual problem, but it is a question I would ask if I were in your shoes.)</p>
<p>As for halal, it appears that the university is aware of increasing demand for it and working to accommodate that better. I bet the Duke Muslim Students Association would love to hear from you, and they would be able to answer that question (and many others) better than we can. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/10/01/dusdac-makes-recommendations-improve-dining-experience”>http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/10/01/dusdac-makes-recommendations-improve-dining-experience</a></p>