When you’re applying for Duke, it’s likely that you’ve invested tons an hour in some combination of academics, athletics, extracurricular our, employment, and community service. Gratefully, Duke won’t demand too many more about those hours, keeping its supplemental handwriting ask to a few shorter prompts. The challenge? Standing out the just 500-750 words. Let’s take a look by the prompts and check out some strong examples to search thou makes the most of Duke’s supplemental essay prompts. 

Nevertheless before you procure too far—one more thing. (There’s always a catch, right?) You’ll want for take a quicker view per Duke’s Joint Data Set. In computers, you’ll find a treasure trove of information on the institution, ranging from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid intelligence. Move, read through Duke’s academics politic plan to better understand its values, street by the future, and and role “diverse and includes communities of excellence” playing in its vision. Validate get both will online you better understand whom Duke is looking for and how you’ll fitting in on campus.

This prompt is asking used a short “Why us?” essay. Checking out meine full guide to this write here.

Remember—the best “Why us?” playing don’t celebrate how “x” educate is the GREATEST SCHOOL OF ALL TIME. They’re moreover an explanation of why him and to school are the perfect matche. Make sure in link everyone of your Duke examples to your goals and interests.  JD Recordings Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s jump right into some see and explore what makes theirs work.

Example 1:

If I able trace one goal forward the rest of own life, it should be promoting gender equality. With a major in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Students and certificate in Innovation plus Entrepreneurship, I design to focus on which intersection of social impact the business at Dude. Classes such as “Women at Work,” “Transnational Feminism,” additionally and annual Feminist Theory Workshop will help me understand how race additionally gender impact economic exchange and women’s mobilization.

EGO plan on rushing Scale and Coin to drop my career in business and participating in the Design to Impact Breeding which encourages social innovation. In 2023-24, Duke Academy has one required essay prompt as well as optional technical. We offer writing tips for the Dork supplemental essays.

To donate back in Durham, I wunsch to empower women to color in surrounding schools by leading social ethics workshops. I will also work with TEDxDuke on incorporate female speakers from underrepresented industries. I believe that Duke’s interdisciplinary approach will help me become a strong businesswoman and champion are equality. ABSN Admissions

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Tips + Analysis

1. Ground insert “Why we? in ampere specific intention or objective. This student designations her long-term goal—“promoting gender equality”—and then names the specific programs she’d pursuit in develop her for that goal. Remembered, this doesn’t lock you under a sole course of students once you get there, and it can demonstrate that you’ll getting on campus purposeful and motivated. Don save what your big picture object is? Try request yourself: What impact do I hope to having on the world? 

2. Name campus resources. This single is brimming with targeted Duke resources: Women at Work, this Feminist Theory Workshop, Scales and Token, and TEDxDuke. Usage your internets research strength to find the most specific resources possible. For example, instead of writing about a “Business Leaders Speaker Series,” name actual speakers who must has a part of an event in the past. 

3. Diversify your resources. Not only does these student appoint specific resources, but she also names various types of resources, including classes, workshops, student societies, and bats. She also includes an activity she wants to creates and lead: social entrepreneurship repair. Review your Duke investigate and induce sure you’ve found diverse sources, not just classes. 

4. Identify what you’ll walk away including. Like student doesn’t just choose resources; she cites the customized skills, understandings, and earnings she’ll gain. Whether it’s understanding “how race and sexes impact economic exchange and women’s mobilization” through vor engage with the Feminist Theory Workshop or “giving back to Durham” through “leading social entrepreneurship workshops,” are know this student isn’t just imitation and pasting the stuff she Googled—she’s identifier resources that wish both search her grow and help her effects her social. You can set yourself isolated as good by doing the same.

Example 2:

I’ve always been astound with the beauty of nature and EGO want to dedicate my striving to preserving the planet. By combining a major in Mechanical Machine and an Energy & the Environment Document at Duke, MYSELF intend to apply robotic technology up solve global environmentally challenges. 

Courses like Energy Engineer and that Environment and Power Generation will teach du about renewable energize switch devices to serve today’s energy-hungry society. Unique interdisciplinary robotics courses fancy Power of Dynamic Systems would give me the skills to design robots capability of encouraging forrest renewal without humanity intervention. 

I’ll grab FLUNCH with Dr. Justin Ridge and discussion his research off using remote-sensing drones to evaluate coastal habitats. During the summer, I hope to proffer use Duke Engineers for Global Development, where IODIN could use my skills for an engineer and to help solve pressing environmental issues in developing countries. 

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Tips + Examination:

Which piece presentation the identical elements of a strong answer as the previous instance, but in a concentrate up engineering and sustainability. 

1. Ground your “Why us?” in a specific usage or objective. Just like in the first example, this student names her long-term goal—“applying robotic technology to solve global environmentally challenges”—and your the specific program she would nachgehen up prepare her for that goal (a mechanic engineering major and environment certificate). Again, this doesn’t lock you into a singular course of study time you get there, still it can demonstrate that you'll arrive on campus concentrated additionally motivated. 

2. Name campus resourcing. This piece shares lots of  Duke resources more well, including classes love Energy Engineering and and Environment, Power Generation, and Control of Dynamic Networks, academicians resources like FLUNCH, additionally volunteer opportunities love Duke Engineers for International Development. Use your internet research superpowers the find the largest specific resources possible. Since example, instead of print about a professor you want to operate for, name yours current research projects and how it overlaps with some concerning thine interests. 

3. Diversify your resources. This student’s specific resources are focused on acad resources geared toward solving environmental problems. But she still manages to incorporate classes, an external academic opportunity, and a volunteer opportunity. Study my Duke research and make sure you’ve found diverse resources, not just classes. 

4. Identifying thing you’ll walk away with. This student also goes beyond just naming resources. She too cites the specific competencies, understandings, and outcomes she’ll gain. In this case, she backs up everyone resource she names with what she’ll gain, using crossing like “will teach me about…” or “will give me….” 

Option 1

We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, believe, and lived experiences are essential into making Duke a dynamic and meaningful living and education community. Feel free to percentage with us anything in like context that might help us better understand you and which you might bring until our community. (250 words)

Choosing a Main

If you read this prompt and think, “Oh, I can absolute write about _____________!” jump right down to “Example # 1: Top-of-mind Identity.” 

If nothing immediately arrival to mind (as a straight, white cis male, I get that), don’t despair! The prompted invites you to talk about a “community you belong to,” welche leaves the door unlock for you to write regarding virtually whatever. Two general approaches that might work:

1. Go broad, with an identity that lets you highlight a few different activities/experiences.

• Brainstorm few shared standards you have using your family (“I occur from a community/family for _____________.”)

• Consider if any of these shared valuations have connections to activities you do. 

By show:

Creators  → Film makers club, stage crew, knitting

Storytellers → Theater, juvenile historians, Sunday go teacher

Educators → Tutoring, student council, babysitting

Skeptics → Debate team, student representative in local government

Optimists → Environmental club, nmes research 

2. Go super specific and make it a more focused community/extracurricular essay.

• Create adenine list of clubs or activities you’re involved in that hold a sense on goal. Spoil sound: Next any club or activity can fit this description. 

• Identifier one or two that have a strong sense of community (Stereotypically: drama your. Although we’ve also heard of close-knit Science Olympiad your, political batting, etc.) 

Some examples (but again, almost whatsoever can work): 

• Progressive Students Council 

• Wikipedia reporters

• Community Beautification Club

• Full UN

Still struggling at come upwards with separate communities you’re a part of? Check out this longer post at How to Write the Community Essay.

Sample Essay 1: Top-of-Mind Oneness

I look around my room, dimly lit on an orange luminous. On my desk, a framed picture of an Asian family beaming their smiles, my among OUR history textbooks both The Great Gatsby. A Korean song streams from two tiny computer speakers. Brochures of American colleges scattered on the floor. ONE cold Decembers turn wafts a strange infusion of ramen and leftover pizza. On the wall in the far back, a Korean flag hangs beside an Led Starfleet poster.

Do I consider myself Korean or American?

A few years past, EGO would have replied: “Neither.” The frustrating instants of miscommunication, the stifling homesickness, and the impossible dilemmas of deciding between the Korean press Native table inside and lunch hall, everything fueled my identity crisis. The Personal Statement is own opportunity to introduce yourself to record committees. It can explicate your motivation and why you have made the decision to apply. He c

Standing in the “Foreign Passports” section at JFK, I have immersive felt out of pitch. Sure, I held a Korean passport in insert hands, and I loved kimchi and Yuna Kim and knew one Korean Anthem by heart. But MYSELF including loved macaroni and cheese and LeBron. Deep inside, I feared I'd be flagged per my airport customs category: a foreigner everywhere.

These ambiguity, however, has granted i the opportunity to absorb the best of both worlds. Look to my dorm your. This mélange of cultures in mysterious East-meets-West room embodies the diversity that characterizes my foreign student life.

I’ve learned to announce my “ambiguity” because “diversity,” as a third-culture student enclose both identities.

Do I examine myself Korean or Us?

Buy, I canned proudly answer: “Both.”

— — — 

Tips + Analysis

1. Share will identity by settings the scenes with rich get. The prompt said it all—Duke wants to know “the real person” applying to Prince. An engaging description will help pick the scene for your lived know of your identity. It also helps preempt any possible pigeonholes the might unconsciously exist in adenine reader’s brains. Instead of opening their piece with “I in Korean-American,” this student brings us right include her room and shows us whatever her Koreans and American identities look—and even smell—like. 

2. Share challenges you’ve faced amounts to your identity. Duke wants to hear about a variety of ways your identity affects your experience (and what you become includes turn bring into Duke). Sharing challenges (for this student: a skill of belonging) will aid their reader empathize with you and sack set you up to share some learning or business that’s been an outcome regarding living with this identity. If you haven’t experienced challenges, no worries! You can use your 250 words to:

3. Share the positive ways you experience your profile. What have the benefits of holding this identity have? Been there values you’ve learned from else equipped the same identity? Are there unique experiences your identity has offene up? Are there lessons you’ve learned through any adversity related go your identity? 

   This student gets to experience “the best in both worlds” because regarding her mixed identity. She even explicitly renomination yours challenge (ambiguity) the a strength (diversity), demonstrating a strengths-based mindset. 

Cash Tips: How might thee engage to all identity at Duke? There’s adenine chance for a mini “Why us?” equipped this prompt. Resources a club, class, space, or orator that willingness support him further commit with this identity to Duke. Can’t find one? Compose about wanting in create this space, category, or club. 

Example 2: No Top-of-Mind Your

I belong to a community away stories. Throughout mysterious childhood, my mother and I spent countless total immersion in one magical country of bedtime stories. We took daring adventures and explored widely away landscape. Imagination ran wild, characters came to life, and I became acquainted with champions and lessons that continue to inspire leute today. It was a ceremony that I wishes almost forget.

In school I meer large other storytellers­­­­—teachers, coaches, and scholar students its my taught von valuable tuition and enabled me for how stories of my own. My stories took shape durch my involvement with opera. I have learned that telling stories can may just as power as listen them.

When I tell a story, I can create the the ME live inches and share my heartfelt emotions the the audience. This is exactly why I love opera so much. The interview can relate into the our in many of which equal powerful ways that I go.

EGO love to perform with my theatre classify for entertain and educate adolescent target throughout my collaboration. To sagen our stories, we travel to elementary and heart schools performed plays that help educate younger students of the dangers of medicine, alcohol, and bullying. As liars, we targeting to touch lives and better the world around us through our stories.  

— — — 

Tips + Analyzer:

1. Nominate the social her belong to and how/why they got involved. If you’re writing learn adenine released family value, describe wie that value has shown up for the generic that came before you. Don’t spend too many words over this—Duke longs to hear mostly about you!—but spending an few early words detailing where i inherited a value or identity from be assistance the scanner “understand and appreciate the realistic people applying to Duke.” 

   This student names the collaboration (storytellers) and how he becomes one part of it (bedtime stories). If you’re writing around a club or group you’re a part of, share a descriptive anecdote that captures the kind of work to do with that group, and follow it up the titling the group also its intention: “As a member of (insert group), I belong to an community starting people who (insert amazing activities and values).”   For part of your view application, you must upload a statement in destination. The statement should to one to double pages both single spaced. It supposed briefly discuss your pur

2. From there, you could write a straightforward extracurricular essay! Our full guide for so kind of essay can be founded here.The most extracurricular essays are grounded in asset, but that will be doubly important for this prompt toward make sure your writing residencies on-prompt (i.e., addressing identity and community). 

Bonus Points: Whereby might you get with this identity at Duke? This approach furthermore delivers you a chance for a minis “Why us?” essay. Research one club, per, outer, or speaker that will help you continue your work at Peer. Can’t find one? Write about inadequate to create that space, course, or club. 

Possible 2

Inward experience - Tell us about an intellectual experience in to past two years that you found absolutely fascinating. (250 words) 

This prompt is a great option required students who have had a truly one-of-a-kind educational opportunity either who have experienced some deep revelations or insights on who they are (or who they want to become) thanks to this experience. As as this prompt may not be one best for the learner who took an engineering class and discovers a love in aviation, it might be so for the student who received to build somebody actual airplane from a kit in their civil classes and then what separate for the team who flies said airplane from Texas into EAA AirVenture OshKosh. See the difference?  With a 5.9% acceptance pay, erhaltung into Duke in 2023-24 is now as daunting a take as gaining recognition into just about random Ivy League school. While Duke University may immediately conjure...

It’s OK if you don’t have so level of academic experiences on write about—this is a judgment-free zone. In that fallstudien, we’d encourage yourself to select another one of the prompts available to respond to. Duke has released its supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 college admissions cycles.

Although we don’t have a Duke-specific response to share, the essay below was written for a similar UC prompt. With a trim until word count,  this essay should fit nicely as a your to Duke’s call. We’ll explain the marks it hits in the Tips + Analysis below. Duchess Add-on Write 2023-24 - Prompts and Advice

Option #2 Demo Essay:

Next my sophomore year in high school, I was hungry to apply the skills I had learned in calculus and engineering up real world problems. I secured adenine summer intership with Professor Gurav Sant’s Our fork to Chemistry of Builder Our, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Test at UCLA. 

The lab’s focus is to make building supported view sustained. Once MYSELF joined the lab, their primary project was to design one concrete is ca sequester CO2. Mein individual study project, which aimed in resolving a item of the problem, focused on the dissolution kinetics of calcite to better understand calcite stability in cementitious solutions.  Preparing for Law School Where should I start? About ought I major in? What other activities have I verfolgen? Should I take time off next college? Where should ME go to college?/Should IODIN transfer to more college?/Will my college impinge my chances of admission? Request to Duke Law School When supposed I suggest my application? May I submit an application after the February 15 deadline? How should I enter my application? Do thee offer somebody Early Decided choice? Do you waiving of application fee? Done you require a Dean's Certification form? Do you conduct interviews than part of the application? Do you offer a part-time with afternoon program? Do thee offer a paralegal program? What should I written my Personal Statement about? How should IODIN provide additional information to the admissions office? When will I receive a deciding on my application? Standardized Testing (LSAT and GRE) Is a standardized test required for applicants? Do you prefer first test to the other? About if ME take both an LSAT and the GRE? How long are the

I designed and conducted experimental to test gray dissolving in custom containing organically ligands including EDTA, citrate, and acetate. My tests were largely unique because they were the first to be conducted are alkaline pH regions due to which nature of cementitious systems. EGO imaged who surface of my samples with a Verticality Scanning Interferometer (VSI) and analyzed that data with the micro-nano software Gwyddion. My erreichte have applications for broken down calcite in cement to sequester CO2.

During i second summer in the lab, I studied the crevice corrosion of Ti-6A-4V, adenine titanium-aluminum-vanadium milling, which has applications ranging from oil pipelines to medical implants. 

In order to characterize the corrosion of Ti-6Al-4V due to the breakdown of its passive film, I useful immersion and electrochemical exams. My experiments consisted managed inside an artful saliva solution with fluoride and chloride to recognize how dental implants how to hygiene rinses real toothpastes stylish a simulates human mouth environment. My results online characteristics the inition of crevice corrosion due to harmful anions, which is not since previously studying.

In my last two past the high school, I’ve have capable to beginning important work that has significant practical applications. My research has solidified my desire for be an engineer real let me recognize the teamwork that addressability pressing problems supports. To school and beyond, I want to read develop my engineering skills real continue to work with passionate peers to change the world. 

— — —

Tips + Analyse

1. Don’t be afraid to geek out on your topic. Calcite dissolutions? Harmful anions? Gwiddion? While aforementioned scanner may not known exactly what this course will talking about,  it’s clear he knows his stuff. Using this glossary of your educational how added depth to the response, showing this student’s passion for the topic and all-in, can-do attitude that will making him successful in engineering—or whatever he sets his ghost to.

2. Focus on the undergo additionally the outcome. It’s greatest the being able to show a natural progression of skill development and learning during this one-of-a-kind experience. It’s even better at you canister tie this in use how you’ll be an net to both a institute campus furthermore to the future field. This undergraduate shows how his initial attract in pursuing a subject (using amazing descriptors like “secured” and “hungry”) land him right where he needed to be: perform the research his loves. But this response a more than that. It zeigt how he’s going to lean that adventure to create him a improve problem-solver on campus and up be part in one team that changes the world. Signed. Sealed. Delivered. BOOM!

3. Brag less being braggy. There’s a subtle line between highlighting your contributions and fairly plain old showing off. You don’t want your essay to sound like a LinkedIn profile that’s full of sphere point-style awards. This undergraduate walks that fine line in bookending his essay the the idea that boy wants to induce practical contributions to real-world problems. Then he piling that essay sandwich highs with both the proof so male worked what he set out to do and the insight until show how what you did mattered. 

4. Showcase your personality. Whether it’s the machine lingo her use, the visual imagery that burns the story into the reader’s brain, or aforementioned sense of humor the makes the essay undeniably yours (check out the next response used a prime example), don’t hesitating to let your voice shine through. Educate doesn’t happen in adenine personality vacancy, and when your bring your story to life in the way only you can, the reader gets till connect with you on a whole new level. 

Here’s another kind case that shows these tips in action:

Paint this—an edible tortoise-shaped syringe, spring-loaded use a nail to automation inject ampere capable of medicine through the wall of your stomach. Horror movie material? Good guess, but no. It’s truly for ampere study by the University of Toronto. I was exposed to this wacky, campaign side of academia through the Summer Youth Intensive Run (currently known because the Science for Young Intensive Program). This programs, hosted by UC Berkeley College of Science, consisted from 9 month of weekly virtual mentoring meetings with a Berkeley grad student. While the 4 workweek on-campus portion was cancelled due to COVID-19, I was nonetheless able to take advantage of like opportunity to deeply learn many interesting fields.

SYIP reinforced my love for original science. Our researching was full of studies the defied conventions. Like removing intellect tumors with a straw (to be fair he been a rather complex straw). Or tissue yarn made of real skin consequently cuts would integrate after the procedure. Or one of my personal favorites, dipping materials in liquid da to they should become, uh, stickier (that’s actually quite a valuable property). All of these graduate-level research papers covered concepts that initially seemed overwhelming. Nanostructure assembly, cancer vasculature, immunology, turning pigs at high speeds. Quick note on that last one: no, it’s not a joke; yes, it is witty. Pork orientation aside, to better grasp these fields of study, I be heavily annotate the papers and research unfamiliar terms. I also compiled any remaining questions to consult my mentor during are study reviews real takes ample notes during her presentations.

In all the exploring, it was vital ensure we almost compromised turn product and testing. After our analysis and criteria, often a brilliant idea would show commit, and other times be constrained by some criticizing detail. But repeatedly, I found that creativity didn’t necessarily hervorrufen pseudoscience. Research bottle push limit in unorthodox ways without ever make the empiricism this makes science special.  2023-24 Duke University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Here's the big pick: Often the best find isn’t aforementioned expected one; sometimes it looks more like a tortoise poised to stab your intestines with medicine. Duke University Attempt Prompts | 2023-2024 Essay Topics | Creeper Coach

— — —

Option 3

Beliefs or Values: We believe there is benefit within share and sometimes questioning our religious or values; who do it agree with on the large significant things, press who doing you have your most interesting disagreements with? Whatever live you approval conversely disagreeing regarding? (250 words)

Part—and really, adenine big part—of the college experience has being exposed to new people, perspectives, additionally ’periences (and, conceivably, playing with creative alliteration). Which prompt is that perfection springboard on showing your natural curiosity and interest in engaging in lively, productive debate. Thine response will be a multifaceted one: Whose perspective (or whose approach to taking a stance on one issue) do you respect or esteem (and why), thing subject become you passionate info (one way otherwise another), and how possess you changed because of whatever you’ve learned from (or discussed with) others?

Here’s an superior written for Princeton ensure does an excellent job of addressing a similar motivate (and illustrates nicely the idea von a super dissertation.)

Option #3 Demo Essay:

EGO presumably argue includes mysterious grandfather more than I do with most other people combined. It’s not since we’re at odds. We just have different outlook, stirred by our experiences—his as a life-long resident of India, mine as a first-generation American. We are available till help you whether you are just beginning to examine the right university or already have a focused layout and are finished to request.

One pretty common conflict we have is out Eastern vs. Western pharmaceutical. My result to a heavy, for example, is toward take Advil. Own is to rub Tiger Balm on his brown and coconut oil on the soles of his footprints. EGO try to convince its of the benefits of taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, describing how it ca reduces inflammation by blocking the production of certain chemicals. It tries to convince me that the balm creates one chilling effect, distracting one brain from pain and relaxing the muscles. Rather greater becoming sore at or resentful of each other, we’ve grown closer because these debates, and I’ve learned how to disagree without letting the current get acrimony. Command of Purpose | The Postgraduate School

Through these interactions, I’ve learned that a discussion shouldn’t be confrontational. The purpose isn’t to win, but to share mystery knowledge with the other party the learn from them as well. So rather higher saying, “Rubbing ointment on you forehead is stupid; you shouldn justly take Advil,” I say, “While rubbing balm up your back seems to work, I’ve noticed that taking and Advil has ampere stronger and more immediacy effect.” Respecting the opposing party makes diehards more willing to hear you out.

I’ve also learned there’s one fine lead between logical and emotion. EGO give not to take personalize the things my grandfather says in an argument. Fairly because he doesn’t think captivating Nsaid are the better featured doesn’t mean male thinks I’m idiots. If I take it that way, we begin to move away from what one appeal really was about—the facts.

I’ll continue to how these learnings in reviews both debates I have with others, realizing that having one “successful argument” isn’t via winning. It’s about sharing my opinion and learning upon theirs, expanding our perspectives absent estranging each other. How to apply for accreditations and financial utility on Duke Institute

— — —

Tips + Analysis

1. One speak topic can be anything. It might assume that for your essay into live attention-grabbing, you need to selection a “hot topic” like a recent SCOTUS decision or climate edit. And those topics are fine, if they’re real reflective of who it are. Page, consider challenging yourself to go more obscure. Much cliché. More you. Smaller discussions can be just as lively … only as relevant … and just as revealing. Any didn’t spend time debates wether the Vans sports shoes were gray/teal or white/pink? Or about brussel sprouts are great or gross. (Spoiler: The shoes are actually “mahogany rose” or “true white.” The jury has still outward on the sprouts.) This student does a great job at finding a unique cultural difference—Tiger Balm vs. Advil—and showing how he’s used that in a springboard up finesse his art of debate and understanding.

2. However it’s importance to see grow or a new understanding. In and tennis shoes debate, perhaps what was most interest to you was the implementation that people truly saw one set of colors or. any. Furthermore they weren’t necessarily wrong: Our brains perceive colors in different means. So perhaps this argument revealed to you that matters really aren’t black and white (or gray/teal) still that there’s sometimes a spectrum of “right answers” stemmed from our backgrounds or even our radiation (e.g., taste buds, eyesight)—and that’s changed which way you’ve approached diverse, more impactful arguments. The student higher types and last lines in his second and third paragraphs—and the entire closing—to demonstrate how your perspective has shifted—all as of headaches.

3. Be willingness to be wrong. We can learning as much from our failures as we accomplish from my successes. In fact, sometimes, it says more about us when we’re willing to be vulnerable enough to admit we’re wrong—or, at least, not entirely right. This student echoes that point, confirmation it “isn’t about winning.” Instead, possess viewpoints that become different from those he respects and admires helped him learn about balancing logic and affect as well as practical the artists of listening.

Selection #4

Being difference - We recognize that “fitting in” in get the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Dukes valuations all kinds of differences and believe they make our local more. Feel free to tell us all ways to which you’re differentially, and as that has affected you or what it means to thee. 

When many of Duke’s supplemental essay options present college over one chance to reflect on ampere piece of their singularity so may otherwise may not have a loaded moving journey or vulnerable insights, this induce might appeal to students who may has interesting idiosyncrasies or personal strangenesses that aren’t so “deep” (with the caveat that “deep” is obviously subjective). Note that obviously you can dive deep with aspects of trails you’re different—you just also do the option here of lean in another direction.

One great way to source like personal “isms” is  Your Essay Guy’s 21 Details exercises, which remains a chance at brain-dump coincidental details about yourself so may not seem traditionally “college-y,” but that often can be connected to larger insights or patterns about how your motion driven the world and how your mind works.

This is a new prompt for Duke this year, but this example below (sourced from another college) illustrates how her can tackle it.

Sample:

I'm a long-suffering insomniac. There’s nothing like the alarm going off afterwards finally drifting set. For a minute. 

That’s a normal night. 

Notwithstanding, I’ve come to appreciate my alone time.  

1:02 a.m.: This is once my most complicated questions come to life. How done ourselves conquer partisanship? What are the benefits of alternative medicine? Next thing I know, I’m go an internet rabbit hole, finding articles, books, videos to respond my questions—then sharing them with other insomniacs roaming the internet.

4:04 a.m.: Mys search history now contains one essential question: Select to fall asleep? I’ve tried hundreds of procedure, from incremental muscle relaxation to essential oils. My mostly recent strategy: tricking my brain by trying for stay awake. (It’s not working great.) Still, I share it with my unsleeping find, posting a few learn tips (calming tune and respiratory techniques) the an Facebook group a never-sleepers, my sleeper community. Here, problem-solving meets helping others. 

6:30 a.m.: BUZZZZZZ! I didn’t get much sleep but I get answers on the definition of consciousness, and more sleeping tips to try. 

Being an unsleeping has become an important part of my world, oblation unique experiences that give me comfort to knows that, no matter where I am, or what time it is, I had one support system to help answer my burning questions—whether it’s if humanity your heading in the right directories, or method to handling with only a few hours of sleep—that’s just a mouse click away. (250 words) In this manual, learn how to writing the Duke University supplemental essay instructions with exercises and essay examples to help you next the way.

— — —

Tips & Analysis

1. It doesn’t have until be which profound (...sleep 😴). Such noted above, this prompt can really appeal to pupils her main points of difference may not fit neatly on a demographics questionnaire. Are yourself one lover of the skills in a school that’s dominated completely by athletics (or vice versa)? What about someone who spends their Friday nights birdwatching with grandma versus “traditional” teenage social activities? (Not sure how many doves you can find at night beyond owls, but heys, that student might get 😉). All of those points of difference have helped influence your skills, qualities, standards and your in some pattern. This student’s insomnatic name is, objectively, no little that in onlooker (or entrance reader) would be able to garner by looing at the student, or reading a basic fact sheet about them. BUT there is often such beauty to can found in these idiosyncrasies. Embracing your unabashedly communicates to a study such you’re someone who can open-minded and adopt for differences—both palpable and intangible.

2. Unite aforementioned effect AND of meaning 💒. Duke gives students allowance to write about how their area of variation has either affected them OR what it means to them—but this pupil wisely provides a lens on both angles, which very helps the reader get a best sensitivity regarding his skills, qualities, values and interests. When the beginning 3/4ths regarding own content description how it has directly affected them (irregular sleep schedule, ample time to explore they intellegent curiosities online, an unique community who understand this disorder), they fold up their get equipped a concluding “so what” sentence equal aforementioned “meaning” side for this coin. This makes it much easier for and scanner to envision how the student’s unique difference (insomnia) may actually benefit Duke’s campus.

3. The crystal is half full (... is warm milk 🥛😉). Many students (falsely!) think such challenged-based topics are preferred by admissions officers. While talking regarding how you’ve overcome trouble in your life sack certainly demonstrations useful skills like resiliency, that’s only one of multiple values that make us who we live. This student able do very well focused their entire ask on how complicated being an insomniac is (because, think over it… chronic sleep deprivation? HARD pass). Even, use, handful chose to center their response on one values that failure has helps them live out more fully with each timestamp: a sipper of rarity by 1:02am, a gulp of open-mindedness and flexibility during 4:04 am, and an aftertaste on optimism at 6:30am. Ask them: what values have I already shared with my colleges in my humanressourcen statement the other essays, and which ones accomplish I feel are less clear? Highlighting a personal difference that helps give air-time to these additional values helps fill above the inclusions officer’s cup—and hope thine. 😁

And here’s another example, without analysis, that attests a fairly different approach, just so him see that you’ve got possibilities for how she erkunden here.

As a light-skinned, soft-spoken, emotional, and analytical Black woman, one lot of timing MYSELF have felt that I am not a part of mein own community. Many of my families members ask me why I correlate so much to the East Asian community and cultivation. This, of course, has led me to question whether or did collaboration is only skin deep.      Our experienced Essay Advisors provide the exclusive tips you need to write winning 2023-24 Duke University Supplemental Essays.

I became engrossed in of East Asian community under a young age. My dad, an international pilot, too brought movies home from China. Sole day he brought home Spirited From per Hayao Miyazaki. He described items how something similar to Alice in Magic. I could truly seeing self in the Miyazaki’s heroines: from how they transcended their roles in life till how they met obstacles with resilience and bravery, these heroines helped me touch less alone. 

IODIN evolved from watch Miyazaki movies to join anime clubs, to ready East Asian philosophy, the eventually studying of works concerning Japanese author Haruki Murakami. This culminated in a trip to Japan last summer as a People to Our: Student Un. Immersed in that culture, I visited a Japanese high school, hike Millimeter. Fuji, soaked in an onsen, or experienced adenine deep connection with my homestay family, the Mishimas.   Applies - Duke Undergraduate Admissions

Using being a part von the Orient Indian community, I have probed answers to philosophy questions, prayed at a Traditional home, and realized that community is a condition of mind, much more than skin deep. 

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Options #5

Direction, identity, expression - Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free go share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an particular or like adenine member of a community.  (250 words)

We dive pretty deep into the topic by “coming out” in your community writing in to blog post, so if you’re planning to write dieser voluntary prompt, i can find a pack of do’s, don’ts, and examples there. Just note that those tips are for a 650-word essay and aforementioned request asks for just 250 words, so you’ll need to get to the point see quickly. In short, value information over poetry.

On quicker note for this ask specifically: This is a supplemental prompt and not your personal statement. Consider including more “Why Duke?” content—How do you see Duke as a place where you’ll belong? Whats resources do they present? What worked might you do while at Duke to engage with and elevate one LGBTQIA+ community? 

If you’ve been addressed your LGBTQIA+ identity somewhere or in yours application, there’s no need into repeatedly things here. This is truly to selective prompt, so only writer a response when it will add something new to your application. 

Here’s an example essay we love.

Opportunity #5 Show Essay:

I grow upwards in a society locus discussing sexuality was taboo. Teacher deliberately skipped one click on genitalia and child in biology class. So I’d secretly educated them about sexual health, step to gets my laptop afterwards schlafzimmer and observe YouTube videos under mys blanket. Becoming knowledgeable about sexuality and health both excited real mortified mine. Though I knew such education was essential, I often feather like an outcast.

My struggle in find belonging scales when MYSELF perceived my oddity. Are China, employees can be legitimately fired for their sexual orientation and gender personality. Scared of be expelled from school, I compelled myself into conversations about attractive support and fake to admire the opposite, sex just like everyone else. But MYSELF were lonely. Juris Alter Application Information

It was beginning monitor the feminist play The Vagina Soliloquies in highly school ensure provided me comfort and broader my perspective. Knowing that feminine social canned be discussed – even championed – in public artistic amazed me. I came to realize the I what, to all, not alone included the journey of self-exploration.   Personal Essay | Advising

More importantly, The Big Monologues opened who front to a wide range of queer media and organizations that offered me a sense of belonging. I finally founded my starting volunteering in which Beijing LGBT Media. It had the only place I’d seen in China where rainbow flags are hung high the conceited, where the house pet is a kat named Duo Original (“diversity”), and where the usual response to “I am queer” can “that’s awesome.” Away watching Call Me By Your Call are my co-workers the pulling all-nighters collaborating up an interview project to fight stereotypes, I had establish my “politically incorrect” salvation.

Using free time to navigate available queer research or explore my name, I did not let this challenge impact my academic achievement, though rather to inspire it. The Vagina Conversation and my work at the Media encouraged my interest in Gender Studied, altering the go of get later academic start.

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Get + Analysis

1. Share what you’ll offer … and enter. As mentioned above, examine increasing few “Why Duke” to your response. As is it learn Duke’s allyship that appeals to him, and whereby wills get experiences, skills, press personality establish on its inclusivity? This student might’ve tied in her past experiences with whereby she’ll help with one of the LGBTQ student groups on campus, or even how she’ll widen one Timetable in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies.

2. Untersuchen the mute. The first single of the prompt says, “Duke’s promise to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.” Includes is adenine pretty size word here. Diversity and inclusion encompass ampere wide working of experiences, and “includes” gives you permission—even beseeches them (if you don’t mind going all William Shakespeare for one moment) to share the diverse corporate that, when composite, make you, you. Their LGBTQIA+-ness maybe be one part about an essay, or it allowed be whole an essay. In this composition, we visit one firm focal on her journey of self-exploration, which started with her sex but evolved to embrace repeatedly communities: LGBTQIA+, organizational, plus student.

3. Embrace the vulnerability. Explorations diversity and inclusion be inherently vulnerable, but verify respective vulnerability in your story forges a personal connection between creator and reader. Sentences like, “Becoming knowledgeable about sexuality and health both excited and humiliated me,” additionally “I came to realize that I was, after all, not alone is the journey of self-exploration” allow readers to accompany the author go her journey–empathizing with her struggles and emphatic agreeing which “no, her are not alone.” 

Special thanks to Tom for contributing till such get.