Abida Chowdhury

How hard are the academics at Duke University?

The academics are definitely hard, but I think it's more the workload and pace than the actual material. Most of my classes have assigned anywhere from 30–100+ pages of reading between class meetings, plus papers, quizzes, group projects, and exams throughout the semester. Midterm season can get pretty intense because everything seems to happen at once. I'm a Psychology and Global Health major, and my experience has been a mix of research papers, journal articles, presentations, data analysis, and exams. Some of my psychology classes have been discussion-heavy with lots of scientific reading, while my global health classes involve reading case studies, analyzing public health issues, and writing policy or ethics papers. Labs and statistics courses have definitely taken the most time outside of class. One thing that surprised me is that almost everyone at Duke was one of the smartest students at their high school, so the competition can feel intimidating at first. But professors, TAs, office hours, tutoring, and study groups are all really helpful. It's challenging, and you'll have to learn good time management, but it's definitely manageable if you stay on top of your work.

Duke University · 1d

What are the dorms really like at Duke University?

I've lived in Southgate and Few, and I've been in almost every residence hall on campus. Honestly, I think they're all beautiful. It really depends on where you're placed, but even the older dorms on East Campus have their own charm. West Campus is especially gorgeous with the Gothic architecture. I haven't had any complaints about Duke housing overall. I think it's stellar.

Duke University · 1d

Is Duke University worth the cost, and how good is the financial aid?

As a Duke student, I'd say it's worth it if you're getting good financial aid. I honestly wouldn't recommend paying full price because it's insanely expensive. Duke meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, and a lot of students get really generous aid, which is why I was able to come here. I think the biggest value is the opportunities. There are so many research labs, internships, student organizations, and people who genuinely want to help you succeed. You do have to put yourself out there, though, things don't just come to you. If Duke is affordable for you, I'd definitely recommend it. If you'd have to go into a ton of debt, I'd probably choose a cheaper school instead that also has a great education.