Amelia Cook

Why I Chose Duke Engineering

I was excited about Duke because my department has multiple tracks to fulfill my degree, which allow you to specialize your studies and follow your interests more specifically. Looking at the course catalog and the track requirements while I was applying, there were so many interesting classes it was hard to choose which ones I wanted to take! Duke also has a dedicated career center for Pratt students, which is a unique and powerful resource. I was able to speak with some of the professors during the admitted students events, and I was excited by their passion and eagerness to help new students, regardless of if they chose Duke or not.

Before Duke Engineering

I came to Duke directly after I graduated from my Bachelor’s degree at Tufts University. During my undergraduate studies I was able to take a broad range of really compelling classes, and once I knew what I wanted to focus on I realized I wanted more experience before I enter the workforce. Getting a Master’s degree empowered me to gain that experience and dedicate some more time to develop expertise in the things I was really interested in.

After Duke Engineering

After Duke, I am hoping to enter the workforce in the areas of firmware and low-level software development. My program is really helping me develop an understanding of what that will look like and focus on what I might want to do within those fields. I’ve become a better engineer by learning many topics within my focus areas and by deepening my knowledge more specifically, and I’ve had the opportunity to apply these skills with internships.

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting the Program

1. Get to know your professors
2. Look for classes outside your own department
3. Keep an eye out for all the fun events in the weekly emails
4. Attend office hours and meet your awesome TAs
5. Take advantage of the semester projects, because you can accomplish some really interesting things!