<p>Hi everyone, first post. I’m an incoming high school senior and currently visiting Duke as it’s likely my ED option as a biology major (premed track). During my visit I have arranged to have a quick chat to meet the chair of biology here. Any advice on what to talk about or good questions to ask? I’ve mainly thought about asking about his research (as well as work I’ve done over the summer) and ways for undergrads to get involved in research and in the medical center.</p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>Honestly, if you are asking the professor to make time to meet with you, I would expect that you would already have some questions that you would like answered. I think it would be a mistake to think that leaving the professor with a sense that you are an amazing human being and a brilliant student is apt to have much, if any, impact on the likelihood of your getting accepted. So, if this is simply part of a strategy to increase your chances of an acceptance, I would advise against the whole idea. If you have some sincere questions, go for it. Otherwise, you should keep in mind that the professor probably has many other things to do besides meeting with high school students who haven’t been admitted yet.</p>
<p>It might make some sense to meet with a professor or sit in on a class once you are accepted and possibly weighing to go to one school versus another. At this point, if your real interest is finding out about options for research and getting involved in the medical center, your best option is probably to ask current undergrads that you meet on your visit. If you are that unsure about what Duke has to offer, you should probably continue to look at other schools and apply to Duke RD.</p>
<p>Best wishes for your efforts.</p>
<p>As a recent Duke alum who took a lot of Duke biology classes, including one from the chair (Dr. Noor) you are meeting with, I agree with ourmutualfriend’s response. Here’s a question I have for you: Why are you interested in Duke besides it’s great academics and its premed program? You can receive an excellent education and strong preparation for medical school at many other colleges too. You must have a specific reason Duke is appealing to you besides the strong academics and it’s premed program. For me, it was Duke’s interdisciplinary focus that permeated throughout their teaching and research missions, as well as opportunities to study and do research at the Duke Marine Lab. You will not unlock the full potential of a Duke education if you only focus on taking classes and pursuing opportunities solely for the sake of medical school- this coming from someone who plans to apply to medical school next year. View your undergraduate education as an opportunity to explore your interests, deepen your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and stimulate your intellectual curiosity- and by doing so, you will naturally obtain great grades and develop the habits necessary to prosper in medical school.</p>
<p>You better be prepared to have specific questions, especially because you are not admitted yet. Don’t just meet with him because you think he will put in a good word to the admissions office- he is very busy and Duke faculty generally have little involvement with the admissions process. Only meet with him if you have genuine questions about Duke’s Biology undergrad program. I also suggest you talk with current Duke undergrads or recent alums who majored in Biology. </p>
<p>That being said, you can ask him generally what makes Duke Biology unique from other strong biology undergrad programs in the country. If you have a specific interest in cell biology, ecology, evolution, animal behavior, or plant biology, you can ask him more about your specific field of interest. Dr. Noor is an awesome individual all-around, but it is still good to be prepared with specific questions. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to give you a hard time because quite frankly, I was clueless what to ask professors when I was a prospective student. However, you need to reflect on what you want out of a biology program (e.g. research opportunities, mentoring, specific classes, etc.) and formulate questions based on these characteristics to see if Duke Biology will be a good fit for you.</p>