Questions For Current Duke Students? - Page 3

xiaojingteng · 01-04-2008, 04:32 PM

what courses are required for all trinity students in general. i know theres an english class. is there anything else??

Romanian · 01-04-2008, 05:22 PM

nmheta4: Yes, the deadline has passed, but I'm going to be applying next year. I'm a junior right now trying to find out all I can about colleges.

xiaojingteng: My friend told me that all he had to take was English as a required course.

loveduke22 · 01-04-2008, 06:00 PM

You have to take a Writing 20 class and a seminar during your freshman year. The great thing about them, however, is that they come in all sorts of different topics so you may have a math seminar or a physics seminar, and your writing class may not be about english at all.

Of course, you also have to fulfill your T-Reqs like foreign language, cross cultural inquiry, natural science, etc etc.

SirGecko · 01-05-2008, 12:55 AM

Romanian:

If you want to double major with an Engineering major you have to apply to Pratt. If you are considering engineering at all I'd consider applying to pratt just because it is easier to switch out than switch in. (oh and in many ways BME is the worst offender on the "engineering is hard" issue so just be warned; I'm a BME so I'm not saying don't do it, just know what you are getting into)

Mondo · 01-05-2008, 04:57 AM

So scared of Math 103, I may have to take it. I'm kind of considering Math or Econ major. However, it is likely I'm just going to become a history/psychology/polisci major if I want law school.

SBR · 01-05-2008, 10:38 AM

Don't be scared of math 103. If you are scared of it, you'll do badly. Just recognize that it's not an easy class and devote a healthy amount of time to it. Here are a few things that you can do to make math 103 a bit less painful:

1) Ask the upperclassmen for teacher recommendations, getting a good teacher versus a bad teacher can mean the difference between getting a B- and an A- for the same effort. This might be a bit late though seeing as spring semester registration is over.

2) Be proactive about the class, if you need help, ask. Ask questions in class, go to office hours, ask classmates, get a peer tutor. Do whatever it takes to understand the material.

3) Find something that works for you in terms of studying and stick to it. Whether it's reviewing notes immediately after class, or doing homework as they are assigned.

If you can do that, you can do well in the course.

dukie11 · 01-05-2008, 10:45 AM

Yeah it isn't bad unless you decide you're going to fail...having a good attitude in math classes is crucial. Otherwise you won't be motivated to pay attention to everything in class, ask questions EVERY TIME something is unclear, or do homework every night. If you have a bad attitude, it's easy to blow off class ("I have no idea what's going on anyway..") and just put off learning the material (which spells disaster because you it's impossible cram this stuff or even catch up after you've blown off previous chapters).

Romanian · 01-05-2008, 06:02 PM

Great advice from all of you. I suppose taking the closest equivalent of Math 103 over the summer at a community college wouldn't hurt, would it?

-- Coed vs Single-Sex (and why?)

-- How awkward are the first couple of weeks for freshmen?

-- Will not having a car hinder your social life, especially if you're not a drinker?

dukie11 · 01-05-2008, 06:09 PM

1. You don't get a choice of coed or single sex dorms. There is no such thing as a single sex freshman dorm. I think in 1 or 2 dorms they have single sex floors (boys on one floor, girls on the other) but most floors in freshman dorms are coed (with boys and girls hallways). You can't pick which dorm you're in, which room you're in, or whether you're on a coed or single sex floor. The housing process is completely random, though you can pick a roommate (and roommate requests are not always granted). You will always room with someone of the same sex and your hallway will be same-sex, but there will be people of the opposite sex down the hall most likely.

2. The first few weeks are not at all awkward. It's the opposite, actually. You meet a billion new people and have nonstop fun before classes start. I guess it could be awkward if you are awkward, but if that's the case then your whole Duke career will be awkward

3. It will not hinder your social life if you do not have a car. Most people do not have cars their freshman year. After all, you and most of your friends and classmates live on East Campus which is tiny. I know a lot of very social people who don't have cars on campus. In later years it might be different. Drinking doesn't have anything to do with it.

About the community college math course...the math department may or may not accept that credit, even if you try to test out of the course. Make sure to check with the department.

Math 103 is tough but important. It wouldn't hurt to take it over the summer and then take it again your first semester.

loveduke22 · 01-05-2008, 08:20 PM

I don't think Duke accepts credit from community college courses. You'd have to take the course at an accredited 4 year institution.

--Coed vs Single-Sex (and why?)

It doesn't matter at all really. There will be people of all sexes in your dorm and you'll meet tons of people. In terms of how loud it is, what people do, yada yada, it really doesn't matter...just pick one or the other basically.

-- How awkward are the first couple of weeks for freshmen?

Yeah- Not at all. Most people don't know ANYONE so you just kind of introduce yourself to everyone and meet tons of people and it's like...whatever. Just steer clear of using "I think we're facebook friends..." as the opening line of a conversation. Be yourself and you'll realize that everyone is just looking to find their niche. Everyone will obviously have some awkward moments, but I mean, you'll have awkward moments throughout college.

-- Will not having a car hinder your social life, especially if you're not a drinker?

Nope. There's a lot to do on campus and shortly off east. If you're not going out or anything, you'll definitely find stuff to do around your dorm...people hanging out and watching a movie or something...it's really not a big deal. Even as an upperclassman if you don't have a car it doesn't matter much at all because you'll find things to do. Plus you'll definitely know people with cars, so if you need to go anywhere it's not a problem.

Madboy121 · 01-06-2008, 02:58 AM

What are the benefits to having a car on campus, then? (there's a great chance I already asked this question, but I'd like to hear some more responses, please

hahaha great ice-breaker "I think we're facebook friends." Imagine how that conversation could take off:

"So...what's your highest Jetman score?"
"Do you like to poke or be poked?"
"My friends back home voted me #14th in "Most Cuddly" so I'm kind of a big deal...how cuddly are YOU?"
"Want to go on the Oregon Trail with me?"

anyone care to continue the list of awesome facebook ice-breakers?

dukie11 · 01-06-2008, 03:08 AM

-you will make a lot of friends because everyone will want a ride to shopping/food
-you can drive to a bunch of different restaurants and spots in durham instead of walking, which can be a pain (for example, you can't walk to the target or the chipotle)
-you can drive to the southpoint mall, northgate mall, unc-chapel hill, or just about anywhere else entertaining in less than 20 minutes
-you can drive to class and avoid the bus rush, although parking can be difficult

Trust me you will never regret bringing your car. Late night runs to Cookout are awesome, as you will quickly learn.

Romanian · 01-06-2008, 03:18 AM

Heh, I'm getting way ahead of myself by bothering with this. But I'm so nervous/excited for sending in my apps. My common college app is already half done

I ride my bike a lot; would a bike be good enough to go shopping for food and for such common tasks as going to some club?

dukie11 · 01-06-2008, 03:23 AM

Most people either walk or take cabs to the clubs. They're very close. A bike is a great asset for getting around on campus, though. Tons of people have them. There's also a bike rental system if you can't bring your own.

Topi48 · 01-06-2008, 04:03 PM

I got accepted to Trinity and am thinking of Majoring in Biology B.S, what are some classes Im going to have to take Freshman year? which ones will be the toughest? will I have to take the dreaded Math 103 at all?

Also I heard people at Duke dont have time to date, is this true?