Published in dukestudents·Apr 29Best Places to Cry After FinalsBy Spencer Chang, Class of 2025 Finals… not the most enjoyable part of the college experience. Prior to coming to Duke, I had naively assumed that I would spend the end of the semester wandering the beautiful campus and appreciating the scenery around me. Of course, I still do that…Finals Week3 min read
Published in dukestudents·Apr 5Why You Should Take Etymology at DukeBy Maya Todd, Class of 2025 Every word is more than just a word, it is the result of centuries of human history. Words have weathered a tumultuous journey of translation, assimilation, and reformation to end up on this screen in front of you. We can think of words like…Duke University2 min read
Published in dukestudents·Apr 1Congratulations, Class of 2026!Yesterday, 2,230 of you found out that Duke could become your home this fall. We hope that the next month is full of excitement and exploration, and that you ultimately decide to join the Blue Devil Family! All of us on campus are so excited to welcome you! Here are…Duke University4 min read
Published in dukestudents·Mar 2Duke is a Student-Driven InstitutionBy Charlie Colasurdo, Class of 2023 Before my time at Duke, I was able to spend a gap year working in the tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand. It was there that I developed a fascination with cities — how they are designed and the…Urbanism2 min read
Published in dukestudents·Feb 24Running from East to WestBy Olivia Levitan, Class of 2024 As a current college sophomore in the COVID-19 era, I have had to create new and exciting traditions for myself. Mental and physical health has always been something that I try to prioritize for myself, but it hasn’t been the easiest to maintain in…Running3 min read
Published in dukestudents·Feb 22My Favorite Off-Campus Study SpotBy Maya Alexander, Class of 2025 Picture this: it is a Thursday morning — the Thursday morning before fall break to be exact — and you are doing everything in your power to avoid the 7-page essay looming over you. You’re sitting in a common room, complaining to pretty much…Durham3 min read
Published in dukestudents·Feb 15The Beauty of MarketplaceBy Alex Leo-Guerra, Class of 2023 What is the Duke experience without Marketplace? For many freshmen, the routine of tapping in and grabbing an array of food items has become second nature, but the true significance of the East Campus dining hall shines brightest when you move to West Campus…Dining Halls3 min read
Published in dukestudents·Feb 10Giles and their Just Dance! PartiesBy Phoebe Ducote, Class of 2025 Finding out that as an incoming Freshman at Duke you could not pick your roommate nor the residence hall you wanted to live in was a bummer in my eyes. During my last couple of months of high school, I was surrounded by peers…Duke University3 min read
Published in dukestudents·Feb 8More like “home” than my actual home.By Cj Nagle, Class of 2025 I grew up in a typical small-town fantasy: 13,000 people, small public high school, and most importantly, everyone knew everyone. To most people, it was the perfect depiction of a true “home”. …Duke University2 min read
Published in dukestudents·Feb 3How the FOCUS Program Helped Me Find a Home at DukeBy Caroline King, Class of 2024 One of the most special parts of Duke, in my opinion, is the opportunity to participate in the FOCUS program as a first-year. Beginning college can be very nerve-racking — I know it was for me — but living in the same dorm as…Home Away From Home3 min read