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Ranked 21st in the QS World University Rankings 2018, Duke University is one of the most prestigious universities in the USA, if not the world. Rated the maximum five QS stars, with full marks in research, innovation, facilities and specialist criteria, Duke University is also ranked 39th globally for student employability, making it one of the most reputed univerities to study in. The university excels in a number of subjects, including theology, religious studies and divinity, English language and literature, history, the biological sciences, medicine, economics and econometry, and life sciences and medicine.
Not only that, its business school namely Duke Fuqua School of Business is also counted among the Top 50 B-Schools in the world. Studying in Duke would be a dream come true for most students. But how about attending lectures here even before you finish high school? Nope this ain't a joke, as you can attend lectures here by attending Duke University's Summer Program for High School Students.
So what exactly is a summer program?
Also called Summer school (or summer university), it is a school, or a program generally sponsored by a school or university, wherein students can enroll in classes to obtain credit for classes to accelerate progress toward a degree or to lessen the load of courses during the regular school year.
Many universities offer short-term summer courses to attract both local and international students, and these programs are often surrounded by social activities.
About Duke University's Summer Program
Duke University through Duke Summer Session offers three life-changing summer programs for ambitious high school students. These programs all take place at the University’s campus and are:
Summer College: A four-week, credit-bearing program in which students take undergraduate-level Duke courses.
Summer Academy: A three-week program in which students take an engaging certificate course.
Intensive STEM Academy: A one-week, STEM-based program that consists of a variety of laboratory tours, faculty lectures, and workshops.
Summer College Online: An online program in which students will earn college credit by taking Medical Neuroscience from a Duke University professor.
Who can apply?
International students currently in grades 9 – 12 are eligible to apply to Duke Summer Academy and the Intensive STEM Academy. Duke Summer College accepts applications from international students currently in grades 10 – 12.
Entry & Visa Requirements
Duke's Summer Programs are rigorous, so it is only natural their entry requirements would be too. Students must submit an essay, resume, teacher recommendation, transcript, application. In addition to that students applying for Summer College and Summer Online for whom English is a second language must submit a TOEFL score of 100, an IELTS of 7.0.
Students can also submit the results of the Duke University EIS exam (not required for Intensive STEM Academy or Duke Summer Academy). International students must receive the following visas to attend Duke's Summer Program.
Summer College – F-1 Visa
Summer Academy – B1/B2 Visa
Intensive STEM Academy – B1/B2 Visa
Will it help candidates planning to pursue a Bachelors Degree in USA?
High school students stand to benefit immensely by participating in Duke Summer Program. Not only they will be getting credits to take forward to their undergraduate programs. They will also be awarded with certificates, likely to be viewed by admissions counsellors as one indicator of academic seriousness.
However students should keep in mind that attending Duke Summer Program does not guarantee them an offer of admission into Duke University's undergraduate courses.
Schedule
Admissions for 2019 are already over. For the 2020 batch information will be available after November 1, 2019.
Student Takeaways
Duke Summer Program will enable students to make the most of their summer holidays, wherein they will join more than 1,100 Duke undergraduates and 400 visiting students to broaden their college experience.
The immersive, international college experience ensures that students from a diverse array of backgrounds engage with each other and learn what being a college student in the U.S. entails. This all the while being taught by a variety of courses that are taught by experts in their fields.