Duke ED Essay topic?

Colleges & Universities Duke University
1

<p>I visited Duke’s campus this past summer and fell in love with the campus, people, atmosphere, everything. Also, Duke’s philosophies align to both mine and my parents’ perfectly. It’s currently my first choice school, so I plan on applying ED to increase my chances. My grades are decent (~3.8 GPA, no SAT yet after first quarter of junior year), I have leadership, volunteerism, and a lot of involvement in ECs that relate directly to my passions of science, medicine, and the performing arts. I believe that I could have a chance at Duke ED for Premedicine if I write a good essay, and I’ve been brainstorming topics early. Which one, do you believe, would be the best to write about assuming that I can match it to a prompt?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The importance of Model United Nations in my endeavors to become a physician (international relations and medicine)</p></li>
<li><p>Being half-Chinese, where I was raised more Chinese than not, but living in a small town in PA where there are about 5 other Asians in my school and all of my friends but the Chinese ones find my culture to be somewhat strange and cannot relate (leading to an identity crisis where I don’t feel that I fit in my community)</p></li>
<li><p>Having cancer when I was younger and other medical issues, one of which is incurable, which led me to want to give back to the medical community by becoming a physician</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you so much! If you have any other suggestions, please mention them; I’d love to become a Blue Devil someday!</p>

2

<p>The essays are Why Duke and elaborating on an extracurricular activity so the only idea that really relates at all is 1. But it is way too early for you to worry about essays. What I thought I was going to write about completely changed over time. Even what I thought I would write about during the summer before senior year was not what I wrote my essays about. So don’t worry about essays yet. Just focus your time on committing to your ECs, keeping good grades, etc. Also do what you enjoy, please don’t do activities just to get into Duke. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Its possible the essay topics may change, though this is somewhat unlikely. The most important thing to consider when making your application is to not only show that you’re well rounded, but also that you’re passionate about something, that you care about something. I think that all three essay topics are good, but it will depend on how you approach them. Also, though its good that you have started thinking about your essays, it really is a bit early! Give yourself some time to progress and come back to your essay ideas in the summer. A lot can change between now and next year. Good luck, and hope to see you at Duke!</p>