Duke University (DU)

Duke University is a prestigious institution known for "academic excellence, complemented by highly competitive Division I sports and an enriching array of extracurricular activities." These things make it "an exciting, challenging, and enjoyable place to be." Duke takes pride in its "across-the-board excellence in all departments from humanities to engineering" and its "supportive environment in which the faculty, staff, and students are willing to look out for the other person and help them succeed." Students love that "the school has a lot of confidence in its students" and offers them "seemingly limitless opportunities" for personal and academic growth. As one student explains, "Duke is for the Ivy League candidate who is a little bit more laid-back about school and overachieving (but just a bit)." Classes at Duke are challenging, but "the review sessions, peer tutoring system, writing center, and academic support center are always helpful when students are struggling with anything from math homework to creating a résumé." Students say that Duke professors are likewise supportive and that their "number-one priority is teaching undergraduates." Professors foster independence and critical thinking by encouraging "students [to] lead the class as opposed to them leading the class." Professors are highly regarded, with one student remarking, "There are a few who make me want to stay at Duke forever." Overall, Duke University is an excellent choice for students who "are passionate about a wide range of things, including academics, sports, community service, research, and fun."

A typical Duke student is often described as "someone who cares a lot about his or her education but at the same time won't sacrifice a social life for it." However, many students stress that the workload at Duke is intense, and students are "incredibly focused" on their studies. The student body is known for its school spirit and numerous student-athletes, "not just varsity athletes...but athletes in high school or generally active people. Duke's athletic pride attracts this kind of person." Whether or not you are interested in athletics, "every type of person finds a welcoming group where he or she fits in."

According to enrollees, the priority is "getting a ton of work done first," but after that, there's plenty of stuff to spend your time on. In fact, one student notes that "you can be so over-committed that it's not even funny." For one, "the student union and other organizations provide entertainment all the time, from movies to shows to campus-wide parties." School spirit for national award-winning Blue Devils sports, "especially basketball, are a huge deal here," and dedicated fans, known as the Cameron Crazies, "will paint themselves completely blue and wait in line on the sidewalk in K-Ville for three days." Greek life also "plays a big role in the social scene here," and "almost all the parties are open, so it definitely isn't hard to get into a party." There is "a wealth of fun opportunities within walking distance from campus" in Durham, and students say they "go out two to three times a week" to socialize and unwind.

The “engaged Career Center” at Duke provides a range of services (such as seminars, workshops, and online databases) that help students fine-tune their skills. Career fairs are held throughout the year and drop-in advising is always available. All opportunities and resources are helpfully centralized on the center’s online Career Hub, which also allows for personalization so that the student only sees jobs, internships, and news that is relevant to their development and interests. All are also encouraged to join Career Communities, which connect students with like-minded interests to create networks and receive and share information specific to a major industry (but not necessarily within their major). While Duke students “are focused on graduating and obtaining a lucrative and prosperous career,” money isn’t the only motivator. In fact, 55 percent of Duke graduates who visited PayScale.com reported feeling their jobs had a meaningful impact on the world. The median starting salary, according to Payscale.com, for Duke grads is $84,400.