I am doing a lot of work assisting first-year students in making the most of the Career Center and put together this list of some important things that many students wish they knew in their first year at Duke.
Whether you are a first year or not, this is important information for you.
I first joined the Career Ambassador (CA) Team at the Career Center as a rising sophomore that really marked the beginning of my career development journey at Duke. I came across someone tabling for CA application in front of marketplace during freshman spring semester and out of whim, I applied and was later accepted as a CA.
So, I’m a senior now and feeling pretty sentimental. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about my time at Duke, and it somehow feels simultaneously like a blur and a lifetime. When I think about the past three, almost four years, I find it difficult to delineate each step, each decision, that made my Duke experience what it is now.
Class of 2023,
Welcome to Duke! Now that you are here and beginning to get acclimated into your new environment, I would like to take a moment to let you know what we have available for you!
Skills, not major are what matter along with developing the competencies necessary to thrive in a dynamic environment, whether it be Duke University or a changing work world!
That is one of my favorite questions to ask my students at Duke. I ask it because Durham is the home of Duke University and because so many exciting things are happening here. I also ask this question to help my students reflect on something very important: how are they a part of a larger community, and what
As the academic year comes to end and you are off to enjoy your summer, please take a moment to reflect on the year you have had and what you have learned along the way.
Congratulations class of 2022, you made it through your first year at Duke! I hope that you were able to adjust well in your new environment, learn to navigate through some of your resources, and make new friends! As you are off to enjoy your summer–spending time with family and friends, working, interning, traveling, and creating new experiences, we
Congratulations on getting to the end of your first year at Duke! You are in the home stretch of finishing your classes and moving on to your summer plans. This is a great time to reflect on what you learned about yourself and to think about what you hope to accomplish next year. Here is our best advice on setting yourself up for success in your sophomore year.
Questions to ask yourself• If I were to choose a major at this moment, what would it be and why? • What skills do I want to learn in order to prepare for a career? • If I could do one thing for free, what would it be? • What can I see myself doing for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? • What are the positive/negative sides of choosing this major? • What jobs/hobbies/extracurricular activities have I enjoyed the most so far? • How would I spend my time if money didn’t matter? • What are my goals at Duke? What are my goals in my career and life? How can they coexist? • What is my gut telling me regarding major choice? • Have I talked to anyone in the majors I am considering? • Have I met a Duke alum yet, and asked them what they studied? • Have I looked at Duke alumni on LinkedIn and/or Duke Alumni Directory to see their majors and different positions? • What interests do I want to explore? • Are there any problems I would like to address or solve? How might what I study factor in to my ability to tackle those problems? • What have I been successful in so far? (You can measure this success by coursework you’ve taken, organizations you’ve founded or been a part of, athletics, or by utilizing a particular skillset.) • What subjects do I like the most? Do these subjects come naturally to me? |
• Does this major allow for research, study abroad, and/or internships/fellowships?
• Why do students select this major?
• What are the implications of majoring in this subject versus minoring in it?
• How much flexibility does this major have? (Consider those college/life/career goals)
• What are the specific course requirements for this major?
• Are there scholarships/funding available specifically for students in this major?
• What skills will this major help me develop?
• What kinds of jobs do students with this major typically pursue?
• Is graduate school usually required to work in the fields associated with this major?
Hey Duke Students!
