Note to Parents of high school students
Welcome to Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. We understand that choosing a college is one of the most exciting, daunting and important decisions your child will make. We also understand that as a parent, you want what’s best for your son or daughter, and have questions and concerns of your own.
Duke's Pratt School of Engineering offers a superior engineering education—pairing the rich resources of a top-tier research institution with an outstanding liberal arts school. Our students have won Rhodes, Fulbright, Churchill and Goldwater scholarships. They have gone on to noteworthy, productive careers in engineering (both as academics and in industry), as well as medicine, law and business. A rigorous engineering education gives students a solid basis in quantitative problem solving, and this is a skill that transfers to any number of careers.
Our goal at Pratt is to build men and women with the skills to be leaders in our increasingly technology-based, global society. Our philosophy is to encourage students to craft an educational experience that truly suits them. We view education not just as taking classes and labs—but also being active in student groups and clubs, attending lectures from visiting scholars, study abroad, and taking part in community service learning projects and hands-on research. These activities expose students to new ideas, new people and new challenges that help them figure out what they want to do in their careers, and more importantly, their lives. We like students who make intelligent and interesting mistakes, students who understand that only in risking failure do we become stronger, better, and smarter.
While Duke offers the advantages of a world-class research institution, it retains the benefits of a small university such as small class size and close relationships with faculty. In addition, we believe that every student can be successful at Duke—not just a select, elite handful from each graduating class. Our curriculum is challenging, and we have our straight-A students, but we also recognize that there are many different ways to be successful. We celebrate the contributions of our engineering students, from those who excel in engineering designs contests or make research advances through independent study, to those who pair their academic excellence with accomplishments in athletics or music or humanitarian efforts.
Throughout the Pratt School of Engineering Web site, we have included a wide range of student profiles and feature stories about engineering student groups to help you and your student see what’s possible here at Duke. We also encourage you to fully explore Duke’s undergraduate admissions site.
Walking Tours
Summer Tour Schedule 2008
All tours begin in the atrium of the Fitzpatrick Center, at the bottom of the staircase on the first level. The atrium side of the Fitzpatrick Center contains the SMIF, the DiVE, and the SoundSense room. Please be sure you are in this location at the bottom of the stairs (and NOT at the bottom of the stairs next to Twinnie's Cafe). Park in the visitor parking section of the Bryan Center PGIV Parking Garage. Print out these directions to take with you.
Tours are NOT offered on the weekends, and reservations are NOT necessary. The Pratt tour schedule allows visitors the opportunity to attend both the University tour, as well as the Pratt tour--which lasts approximately 45 minutes. The summer tour schedule begins on May 19, 2008 and runs through June 20th. The tours will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday @ 10:30 a.m. during this time.
Please check back for the tour schedule that will run from June 30th to August 6th. Our Fall 2008 tour schedule will be begin on August 25, 2008 and run through December 5, 2008---please check back for those details as well.
Because we rely on the expertise of our students, tours will not be taking place on the following dates:
- Monday, May 26th (Memorial Day Holiday)
- Monday, June 23rd through Friday, June 27th (End of Summer Session 1 and Finals)
- Friday, July 4th (Independence Day Holiday)
- August 7th through August 22nd (end of Summer Session 2 and Finals; Interim and Freshman Orientation)
- Monday September 1st (Labor Day Holiday)
- Friday, October 10th through Tuesday, October 14th (Fall Break, tours will resume on Wednesday, October 15th)
- Wednesday, November 26th through Friday, November 28th (Thanksgiving Holiday, tours will resume on Monday, December 1st)
- Monday, December 9, 2008 through Monday, January 12, 2009 (Holiday Break, check back in December for the Spring 2009 tour schedule)
Questions about tours can be directed to Lupita Temiquel-McMillian at 660-5573 or lupita.mcmillian@duke.edu.
Questions about regular university tours can be directed to the Admissions Office at 919-684-3214.