<p>Do you guys know any research, academic programs, extracurriculars, basically anything that only Duke has? Would be better if you guys have some SPECIFICS of it. Especially, Duke alumni and current students, help me and any other people writing "Why Duke essay?" Thank you in advance. </p>
<p>You don’t have to write about “anything that only Duke has”. Just make clear how the various resources at Duke match your personal goals and interests.</p>
<p>It’s insulting that you’re soliciting a forum to help give you a reason for wanting to attend Duke when this is something you should already know or even feel in your gut. But heres a very good deciding factor/reason for many students: <a href=“http://dukeengage.duke.edu”>http://dukeengage.duke.edu</a></p>
<p>@Jwest22‌ All questions should be ok here. Sure applicants can surf the site on their own, but this is a good source, and smart students can gain a lot from reading. Just because someone does not have experience with Duke, does not mean it is not going to be a great home to them. </p>
<p>@UckBBMJTSGY‌ I think you are misunderstanding the essay. Duke knows what makes it unique–what you need to know is how Duke helps make you unique–or what is it that draws you to the school. What is the student culture like? What will your peers be like? What kind of research are you interested in–does duke do this? Duke has everything a great university has–so take a look at yourself, write down the top ten things a college needs for you to succeed. Then search around and see if Duke has these things. Write about the top 2 or three. Demonstrate that you have taken time to know yourself, and know the school. </p>
<p>@thekingshorseman‌: Shouldn’t questioners first do their own research? To illustrate, unique and especially strong Duke programs have been discussed on CC numerous times (not to mention many other sites and “hardcopy” publications). Wouldn’t it be more sensible for a potential applicant to perform his own research, which will – after all – be tailored for his own interests and aspiration, and then ask this group for clarifications, pragmatic examples, answers to specific questions, additional information, critiques, and so forth? </p>
<p>@thekingshorseman‌ “… but this is a good source, and smart students can gain a lot from reading.” </p>
<p>TopTier took the words right out of my mouth. Smart students most, if not all of the time have already done the basic research. This is basic research.</p>
<p>^Your comments are arrogant and extremely judgmental. How are you personally “insulted” by a question that you think is not thought out well enough. Perhaps you should spend a little more time evaluating your own posts instead of insulting others.</p>
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<p>@toptier absoulutely they should do their own research. My point is that asking a survey question is a kind of research, and is not deserving of @Jwest22 response. If you look at my response, I outlined the process I would employ–I did not list out 10 things that make Duke unique–which I could have done. My point is that he should not be “ashamed” of asking a question even if it is stupid. I simply do not think it is “insulting” to ask the question as it is simply another form of inquiry, and I do not think @UckBBMJSTGY asked anything that deserves reproach. I am simply responding to the aggressive response, not the uninformed question. I get your point–I just prefer to be a bit more polite than the response he received.</p>
<p>@jwest22 Then start from the assumption that he is part of the smart and not part of the most, assume the best always–don’t see the need to insult. BTW, this is the kind of student Duke seeks–</p>
<p>@thekingshorseman‌: Whenever – and this absolutely is not exclusive to this thread, to CC, or to the Internet – someone asks for information that is READILY and PUBLICLY available, he potential squanders others’ valuable time (and perhaps ruins their concentration). Obviously, if one has addition questions, or needs further information, or wants to obtain varied opinions and critiques, or desires specific examples, and so forth, that IS different. Please note, I never suggested the OP should be ashamed, not in the least. However, a youngster who will soon attend a good university, should become habitually and initially self-reliant.</p>
<p>“Oh, by the way, what time is it?” says the man wearing a perfectly functioning wristwatch, thereby interrupting another already-occupied individual . . . that’s my point. </p>
<p>@toptier point taken–still, it is not “insulting,” it is poor judgement, and given that it is the individual’s FIRST post on the forum, and perhaps his first post on ANY forum–a friendly nudge is a more appropriate response. It may have taken a lot of courage to even post it. For instance, your last post explaining patiently why the individual should do some reading first. As I know all of us replying are older, more experienced, and college graduates (probably all holding a degree from Duke). What is obvious to us may simply not be obvious to others without experience. I am sure the lack of direct responses to his question and the abundance of retorts will be a good education–hopefully it will not scare him away from the forum.</p>
<p>@thekingshorseman: I fully agree with your post #10 (which is why I try – except in egregious situations – to suggest and to intimate, rather than to outright criticize). </p>
<p>@thekingshorseman‌ You can spin this however you want. The fact is that it’s insulting to try to steal our reasons for wanting to attend/having attended Duke and using it as YOUR OWN. Conduct YOUR OWN independent research and formulate YOUR OWN reasons for wanting to attend Duke. I’m a very passionate alumni interviewer and personal integrity is one of the factors I look for when interviewing applicants.</p>
<p>And the OP isn’t trying to simply understand why people choose Duke. He/she made it clear that the purpose to write the “Why Duke” essay.</p>
<p>@jwest22 “And the OP isn’t trying to simply understand why people choose Duke. He/she made it clear that the purpose to write the “Why Duke” essay.” so it seems personal integrity is not an issue. He is completely transparent on the purpose. I see you are very passionate–it is the compassion I am worried about. </p>
<p>You are right in your criticism, you are not right in your approach and tone which while frank, is aggressive and unwelcoming in a way the OP does not quite deserve. One of the attributes I give to Duke is the comparative unpretentious and open student, faculty, and staff. As an alumni entrusted with interviewing potential students, I am sure you represent the best qualities of the school, so please do not view this as an attack. This is a public forum, so as such a representative, it is even more important to display these traits here. </p>
<p>@Jwest22: Ding, ding, ding; we have a winner. I, too, ALWAYS carefully assess personal integrity. More important, I can tell you with certainty that the two times my AAAC interview report was decisive in candidate denial was when I indicated that the applicants seemed to be so ambitious that they were very likely dishonest (in one case, the interviewee actually bragged that the bulk of a lauded state-level science fair project had been his engineer-father’s work). </p>
<p>I’m not so sure @thekingshorseman‌. While the OP acknowledges it’s for his “Why Duke” essay, isn’t it essentially plagiarism to use ideas, not independently developed, but presented as one’s own? </p>
<p>@TopTier‌ there is a difference between asking for information and plagiarism. The OP asked for what does duke have that is unique for use in the essay. This does not answer the “why duke” question, but they could be inputs into the answer. I see him as asking for a list of ingredients, while the essay is a recipe. Could the OP use information here and plagiarise? sure. Why are we starting with that assumption–seems a bit mean spirited? Certainly it does not seem the intent in the way I read it. If the OP had asked “What makes duke unique, what does the school have that no other school has?” without referencing the essay, there would have been a more positive response–and no one would begrudge him using the information in an essay. The OP does not ask “why did you attend duke, I want to know so I can use it in my essay” he instead asks “what are the unique attributes of duke I and others could find useful in my essay” which seems fair game–yes it is a Let Me Google That For You question, but a far cry from plagiarism or stealing.</p>
<p>@thekingshorseman‌: Whoa there horseman. Never once did I state the OP – who, it seems to me, is VERY likely a fine youngster, just the sort Duke desires – would plagiarize. Rather, I indicated that plagiarism could consist of the use others’ ideas, which are not developed independently. I understand your point, but I fear you were somewhat precipitous in interpreting my remarks (in #16). In fact, I was attempting (obviously, not with great success) to be subtlety cautionary, not condemning or mean-spirited.</p>
<p>@toptier Whoa indeed! Got to put a saddle on these babies. I was combining your comment with a prior comment #12 that did use the term “stealing.” Got ahead of myself–sorry.</p>
<p>I do not think I have ever read anything by you that is mean spirited–you impeccable in your respect to this process and understanding to the students who are willing to take it on. Your caution should be heard by all–admissions committees read thousands of applications, and know when they have read things more than once–students cannot get away with faking their way through this, or using other people’s work. It is too easy to spot insincerity–not to mention plagiarism. If I were the OP, I would take away from this thread that Duke University cares deeply about the personal qualities of their applicants–don’t take shortcuts.</p>