Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina, can be said to have it all: exemplary academics, athletics, service, extracurriculars, students and faculty. Of the four universities I visited this Thanksgiving Break, Duke tied for my favorite, especially since Duke freshman Abby Birrell, who graduated from MHS last year, showed me around campus, told me about the school and took me to see her dorm. I’ve included what I think are the highlights of the university below.

Why should you attend Duke?

• Renowned campus with landmark buildings on East Campus, West Campus and Central Campus
• Separate housing, classes and libraries for freshmen at East Campus
• Location in the Research Triangle: Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill
• All applicants are automatically considered for Duke’s limited merit scholarships, 100% of demonstrated need met and financial aid is recalculated annually
• Mid-sized university with 6,526 undergraduates as of last year
• Student to faculty ratio of 8 to 1
• Two undergraduate schools: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and Pratt School of Engineering
• Duke Marine Laboratory and Home Deport Smart Home
• Focus Program (see more info below)
• Program II- interdisciplinary program of study designed by individual students to meet their unique academic and intellectual goals
• Intense NCAA Division I sports scene (see more info below)
• About 400 clubs and organizations
• Duke Engage (see more info below)

Why shouldn’t you attend Duke?

• If you are looking for a large school, Duke is more of a mid-sized university.
• If you are looking for spacious freshman dorms, Duke’s freshman quarters are relatively small.

The Focus Program is special to Duke University. According to focus.duke.edu, Duke’s Focus Program for first-year students provides clusters of courses designed around an interdisciplinary theme. Topics for study include the cognitive sciences, ethics and global citizenship, genomics, knowledge in the service of society, global health, international politics, contemporary and medieval cultures and social ideals. Focus faculty come from academic departments in Arts & Sciences, Medicine and Engineering and are leading researchers in their fields. Early-decision students apply to the Focus Program in February while regular-admission incoming first-year students apply to the Focus Program during April and May. Abby, who is currently enrolled in the program, highly recommends the Focus Program and encourages accepted students to apply.

The passion and excitement involved in Blue Devils sports is well-known throughout the nation, so if you love sports (especially basketball) and if you love academics, this school is the place for you. Before important basketball games like the ones against North Carolina and Michigan, students camp outside Cameron Indoor Stadium as much as a month ahead to ensure seats. There is never a dull sports season at Duke, and the student body can be counted on to support its athletes with intensity, school pride and unrelenting energy.

During my information session, the presenter emphasized Duke’s spirit of service, headed by the DukeEngage Program. According to dukeengage.duke.edu, the program provides one-time funding for Duke undergraduates who wish to pursue an immersive (minimum of eight weeks) service experience by meeting a community need locally, domestically or internationally. As of summer 2013, more than 2,400 Duke students have volunteered through DukeEngage in 75 nations on six continents.

Personally, I found the beauty of the campus breathtaking. It really is just as beautiful as it seems in brochures and photographs. Also, the study halls I visited underneath the library were the most impressive of any I’ve yet to seen. It sounds insane, but I was actually motivated to start studying then and there in the well-lit, modern, colorful, 360 degree whiteboard-walled rooms. The physical feel of the university was alluring. Please be warned, however, that Duke requires two SAT Subject Tests for applications, and the university is know for its competitive applicant selection.