dukempp1

Our first-year cohort is relaxed and close. Weekend happenings -- basketball games, hikes, birthday celebrations, downtown excursions, etc -- are openly advertised on the Facebook group every week, and everyone feels comfortable partaking. Rarely does a weekend go by where I, an extreme introvert, don't find something fun to do with my classmates, both first-years and second-years alike. I'll also testify that the heavy levels of group work here ensure that you get comfortable with all your classmates. It's true that Duke undergrads have a tough reputation. As MPPs, though, we aren't an elitist bunch. Think instead smart, capable people who are hungry for a more interesting, impactful career.

Hey TimB, another first-year MPP here with interests in development and global policy. I'm very satisfied with our career staff here. Two ladies more or less run the whole show. Donna works with domestic-oriented students. Carmella helps the more internationally focused crowd. Both of them keep the class informed of key deadlines as the year rolls on, help you identify Duke alums worth networking with, and plan workshops to prep for the internship hunt (mostly resume and cover letter stuff). I probably drop by Carmella's office every three weeks or so. Since she knows my interests well, she's done an excellent job uncovering great opportunities for me that I probably wouldn't have found otherwise (e.g., a World Bank post in a country I recently lived in). Languages are indeed clutch for State internships. Most of my classmates who received offers have language skills in areas of strategic political importance -- think Russian and Indonesian -- that came from Peace Corps service. Another has at least studied abroad in her country of interest. I know of one current second-year student who's been studying Arabic, and others who are taking French. Brushing up on foreign languages is certainly possible.