Pursuing higher education in the USA is a dream of several international students. One of the most prestigious universities in the USA is Duke University. It was established in 1838 and ranks among the top 100 universities in the world. Duke University has a very selective admission process. It requires students to submit various kinds of academic documents like a personal statement, essay, and resume. Out of these documents, a major role is played by your Duke application essay. Based on the course you have applied for, you need to write a 250-word essay, and you can also choose to write 2 more optional essays for the same word limit.
Duke University admits students who not only have an exceptional academic record but also are eager to learn, are open-minded, and are deeply committed to the values of the institution. A Duke Application essay presents you with an opportunity to provide greater insight into the various events and circumstances that have shaped you, and how you wish to contribute to the Duke community.
How to Write Duke University Essays?
If you are interested in studying at Duke University, you might have already had a look at the type of questions that are asked. However, you are a bit confused as to what your answers should be like. Here is a basic idea of the questions that will be asked and what you will have to write about in your essay.
You must answer the following Duke application essay question, which is:
1. What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 words)
→ The above-mentioned question requires you to provide a proper explanation as to why you choose to study at Duke, and what sense you make of the university’s values. You can write about the factors that drew you to study at Duke or write about how you came to know about the university. Write about the details about your choice of course, and about how studying at the university will play an instrumental role in shaping your career.
Even though it is not compulsory, you can choose to write two other essays. This way, you may impress the admission authorities even more and significantly improve your chances of being accepted for a program at Duke University.
Apart from the compulsory essay question, the two other additional essays (250 words each) that you can choose to write from any of the 5 questions mentioned below are:
2. We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.
→ While answering this question, you need to write about your ideas, beliefs, and values that have shaped your personality, and how that has influenced your perspective on life. You can write about any specific event from your life which taught you a valuable lesson, that can also serve as a source of inspiration for your teachers, and classmates at Duke University. Overall, you need to provide an insight into the kind of student you are, and how you wish to contribute to the Duke community.
3. Tell us about an experience in the past year or two that reflects your imagination, creativity, or intellect.
→ If you choose to answer this question, then you must write about any event from your recent past that has had a major impact on your life. For instance, you can write about a particular place that you visited, or a seminar that you attended, which made you look at life differently, or brought in certain positive changes within you.
4. We believe there is benefit in sharing or questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?
→ For this particular question, you need to write as to how you deal with situations where you might disagree with someone over a particular issue. You can also write about the things that you agree or disagree with, and your reasons for doing so. If you require any sort of guidance in dealing with a particular situation, whom do you consult or take help from? Write in a way, which provides an insight into how your interactions with your peers at Duke University will turn out to be in case you are working together on a group project or are having a debate/ class discussion.
5. We recognize that not fully “fitting in” a community or place can sometimes be difficult. Duke values the effort, resilience, and independence that may require. Feel free to share with us circumstances where something about you is different and how that’s influenced your experiences or identity.
→ While answering this question, you can write about something specific or unique about it or share your experiences where you took time to adjust to a particular environment, and how you managed to do so. What were the new things you learned about yourself or about certain challenges that you overcame?
6. Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.
→ Amongst all universities in the world, Duke University was one of the first to incorporate the subject of sexual orientation, and gender identity in their essay questions. This is one of the ways through which they wish to attract a diverse group of students. If you are comfortable, then you are free to write about your identity, and how you embrace your sexuality.
Below is the Sample Essay for Duke University
1. Professionalism & The Five Principles are the pillars of the Duke MEM program. Choose one principle and explain how you plan to contribute in that way at Duke MEM and beyond.
Answer
One of the main reasons why Duke MEM caught my eye was its principles. Since I have had extensive work experience, I feel that I can connect with these principles, and not only extract value from the program but also contribute meaningfully to the cohort. The principle that I relate to the most is ‘teamwork’.
During my schooling, I was elected as the Head Girl and entrusted with the responsibility of leading the student representative bodies of different houses in the school. This equipped me with the much-needed confidence and organizational skills. During college, I interacted with people from different backgrounds as I marked my participation in various college clubs. This taught me the value of networking and teamwork.
At Veritiv Corp, I was a part of a continuous improvement program, where I spearheaded continuous improvement projects and delivered impressive results. From interacting with stakeholders across departments to involving key executors in brainstorming solutions, I involved people to contribute to the success of the projects. This experience proved useful as I led a team of 300 associates at IBM and successfully delivered all KPIs through my team’s extensive efforts.
At Duke, I bring with me the ability to build networks and interact with people from various backgrounds. I will channel my experience towards my involvement in group projects, internships, student-led clubs, and events; thereby proving to be a valuable asset to the campus.
2. Do any of the elective tracks within the Duke MEM program appear to fit your needs? If so, which one and why? If not, and understanding you are free to change your mind later, list 3-4 electives within or outside MEM and how they will help you meet your career goals.
Answer
In addition to elevating my technical and managerial skills through the Duke MEM program, there are other areas as well that I would like to explore through the electives. The three electives that particularly pique my interest are Product Development, Technical Entrepreneurship, and Data Science for Business Intelligence.
Through the Product Development electives, I seek to acquire insights into the life-cycle of a product and the way it is planned, forecasted, produced, and marketed. I intend to gain a knack for negotiation, managing the development of products, and the strategies involved. I also want to learn about project management, market research, design thinking, and innovation management.
From the Data Science for Business Intelligence elective, I want to learn how data science is used to advance, fast-track, and transform a business. This elective will equip me with the nitty-gritty of big data, data science, artificial intelligence, and the practical applications of these concepts. Also, I will have the chance to learn about Machine Learning and Data Visualization in greater depth.
Technical Entrepreneurship is another interesting elective that will familiarize me with the supply chain. I will learn to design, operate, and ameliorate the supply chain of the business, and will also gain a robust knowledge of concepts like forecasting, operations management, and supply chain management. I am eager to add value to my skill set through these electives.
Conclusion
If you are about to apply for a course at the prestigious Duke University, USA, then you must focus on presenting an application that stands distinct from the other applicants. An important role in the application process is played by the way you write your essay. While writing a Duke Application essay, you need to write about your values, beliefs, experiences, and how you wish to contribute to the university. You should be able to facilitate a clear understanding of the kind of student you are, and how you deserve to be a part of Duke University.
Now, while writing such an essay, if you feel that you wish to improve upon your writing skills, you can seek the help of professional writers. We, at Contentholic, have a team of experienced writers, who have written several essays for universities worldwide. Our writers are well-versed in the nuances of essay writing and will help you write an impressive essay. You can also avail of our SOP and LOR writing services. So, feel free to reach out to us.
FAQs
1. What is the word limit of a Duke application essay?
The prescribed word limit for a Duke application essay is 250 words.
2. Why does Duke University ask students to write an essay?
The university wants to know more about your personality, the kind of student you are, and how you will contribute to the Duke community. They wish to know about your share of experiences, values, and beliefs that have determined your choices and perspectives about various things in life. They have a keen interest in knowing how studying at the university will help you advance both in the personal and professional domains.
3. Can I take references from some of the Duke sample essays available on the internet?
Yes, to have a basic understanding of the format and what you need to write in a Duke application essay, you can take references from some of the Duke sample essays which are available online.
4. Do I need to write the Duke optional essays as well?
Apart from the compulsory essay that you have to write, if you wish, you can choose to write two other essays as well. Even though you don’t need to do so, it is always better to write these essays. This way, you are likely to create a greater impression on the admission authorities which might significantly improve your chances of admission.
5. How can Contentholic help me write my University of Wisconsin essay?
Contentholic has a team of professional writers whose expertise lies in essay writing. You need to provide us with the essential details regarding your Duke application essay, after which we can help you write a well-written essay as per the prescribed format and guidelines.
6. How do I get better results while searching for a Duke application essay?
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7. Can I find admission essay samples on the Contentholic’s website?
Yes, you can find and download several Admission Essay samples on our website, such as the Duke Application Essay and many more.
