WHY DUKE essay, please help accepted students. thanks

<p>I was wondering, in the WHY DUKE essay regarding why you choose, in my case, Trinity College, and what about Duke makes you want to go there,</p>

<p>What are some tips to implement - mentioning certain professors, describing a specific program, talking about unique things such as Pro-health dorms sophmore year... Would anything specific be great for the essay?</p>

<p>For those who have been accepted, what did you talk about and why do you think your essay/description stood out to college adcoms. ????</p>

<p>thanks a bunch!</p>

<p>I don't really remember exactly what I wrote, but...I've ALWAYS known I wanted to go to Duke (since about 6, actually), and I think that showed in my essay. I discussed the campus and the student body. Since biology is what drew me, I gushed about their marine lab, primate center, Duke forest, etc. The big emphasis on research was also important because I plan to go to grad school. FOCUS was also part of my essay, as was the social scene. The proximity to home was also an important part of my essay, but I'm not sure that applies to you. :)</p>

<p>other stories? thanks.</p>

<p>Hmm...I kind of tied a little story about when I was a little kid into mine, then just wrote how I pretty much thought the school had the perfect combination of academics/social/sports and whatnot. I mentioned a lot of specifics too...like, tenting and stuff like that. Just make sure your essay has passion...there are so many ways to write it that can be effective.</p>

<p>Search through the Duke website for something that really piques your interest. I don't mean casual browsing that results in an essay about FOCUS or Program II (both great opportunities at Duke, but they're probably mentioned in half the Why Duke essays).</p>

<p>I wrote mine about the opportunities for undergraduate research, specifically in economics and through the Asian/Pacific Studies Institute. I dug deep into the websites of those two departments to find specific things to mention that showed I had done my homework.</p>

<p>do you have to respond to the "why duke" question if you apply using common app?</p>

<p>yah.. u have to submit the duke supplement to the common app</p>