Welcome to Duke!
From the moment you say "yes" to attending Duke University, New Student and Family Programs remains in communication with students and families in a number of critical ways:
- The Blue Book
- Summer Transition Series
- Weekly Digests for First-Year and Transfer students
- Social Media
From Experiential Orientation projects, packing lists, move-in day details, and much more, you will find the information you need here to ensure a smooth transition to Duke.
The Blue Book
One of the most important resources is the Blue Book. The Blue Book outlines critical resources and includes specific deadlines on everything you need to do during the summer before you arrive on campus.
The Blue Book for First-Year students is live!
The Transfer student Blue Book will be available June 2023...stay tuned!
If you have a question and need help finding the answer, please contact us at studentorientation@duke.edu.
Summer Transition Series
Unsure of which classes to register for? Want to chat with administrators about the health forms needed before arriving in August? Join us online for opportunities to engage in real time to answer your pressing questions. Make your transition easy with help from New Student and Family Programs!
The Summer Transition Series will help you:
- INTERACT: Meet influential members of the Duke community.
- COMMUNICATE: Talk directly with “experts” regarding topics that interest YOU.
- CONNECT: Access all sessions conveniently online. It’s as easy as checking your email.
2023 SCHEDULE
Sessions times will vary. Please check registration or see the schedule for times below.
Transfer Summer Transition Series 2023 Schedule COMING SOON!
Interact with staff from Housing Assignments, Dining, Financial Aid, Office of Information Technology/IT Security, DukeCard, and more.
Connect with advisors from the Trinity Academic Advising Center to get your advising and registration questions answered.
Connect with Pratt Deans to get your advising and registration questions answered.
Join team members from Duke Student Health, DuWell, and DukeReach as they answer questions and share insight into what to expect on campus this fall.
Connect with Prehealth Advisors to get your advising and registration questions answered. *You only need to attend one of these sessions.*
Connect with Prehealth Advisors to get your advising and registration questions answered. *You only need to attend one of these sessions.*
Join members of the New Student and Family Programs team as they answer your final questions for Move-In Day, experiential orientation, and your start at Duke.
The Duke Common Experience
For 20+ years, incoming Duke students have shared a common summer reading called the Duke Common Experience (DCE). The book is intended to be a common intellectual touchstone for Duke students that sparks engaging conversation outside of the classroom and introduces new-to-Duke students to the academic community at Duke.
We’re thrilled to share that this year the DCE selection is The Measure, by Nikki Erlick. This beautifully written novel engages an endless number of questions on mortality and morality, justice and equity, and the common existence we all share. It will undoubtedly leave readers asking themselves similar questions about how we engage one another and embrace every moment in the time we have left.
Additionally, the DCE is now an undergraduate-wide read. We’re encouraging all undergraduates, faculty, staff, and alumni to read this novel during the summer of 2023 to make this a true common experience.
Hard copies of the book will be mailed to all domestic first-year students in the early summer as a welcome gift to Duke. The e-book will be made available to international students in the early summer, with a hard copy available for students when they arrive.