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Open House for Students from the Carolinas

First-year students raise their hands to touch confetti.
first year students talking to upperclassmen about student activities

Welcome to Duke!

Open House for NC & SC Students

Join us on Saturday, September 13, 2025 for our annual Open House for students from the Carolinas. This event is a day-long program introducing high school seniors to Duke University’s academic and co-curricular opportunities.

first year students talking to upperclassmen about student activities
First-year students raise their hands to touch confetti.

Event Information

Duke’s Open House for students from the Carolinas will include information sessions on the admissions process and the Carolinas Initiative for financial aid, academic opportunities, and our living and learning model known as QuadEx.

Several departments will also showcase resources at Duke including academic advising and the first-year experience. We hope you will be able to join us to learn more about Duke!

Questions? Please email Bucky Holmes at bucky.holmes@duke.edu.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

9:00–10:30 a.m. — Check-in
Schaefer Mall, Bryan Center (Upper Level)

9:30 and 10:00 a.m. — West Campus Tours
Bryan Center Plaza

10:30–11:15 a.m. — Welcome Address
Duke Chapel

11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. — Academic Sessions

  • Trinity College of Arts & Sciences — Page Auditorium
    Learn more about opportunities within Trinity College.
  • Pratt School of Engineering — Reynolds Theater
    Learn more about engineering at Duke.

12:15–1:45 p.m. — Concurrent Lunch / First-Year Experience Resource Fair / Tours Available

  • Lunch — Brodhead Center and Bryan Center.
  • First-Year Experience Resource Fair — Penn Pavilion
    Meet representatives from programs supporting the first-year experience and belonging, including:
    Constellations •  FOCUS Program • Duke Arts • Duke Farm • Duke LIFE • Duke Marine Lab • Duke Gap Year Program • Lilly Library • Mary Lou Williams Center • Pre-Health • ROTC Air Force • ROTC Army • ROTC Navy • Undergraduate Research
  • Tours — Meet at the James B. Duke statue in front of Duke Chapel (see map). Departures at 12:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.

2:00–2:25 p.m. — QuadEx

3:00–3:45 p.m. — Admissions Process and Financial Aid

  • Parents — Page Auditorium
  • Students — Reynolds Theater

4:00 p.m. — End of Programming

ALTERNATIVE & FREE TIME ACTIVITIES

Below are some suggested activities and locations to explore around campus.

Duke University Store & Gothic Bookshop
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Located on the upper level of the Bryan Center, the Duke Bookstore offers a variety of gifts, including official Duke clothing and books by Duke authors. Use the coupon you received at check-in.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Take a self-guided tour of one of the premier public gardens in the U.S. This 55-acre oasis is composed of four sections: the Terraces & Historic Gardens; the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants; the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum; and the Doris Duke Center Gardens.

Nasher Museum of Art
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
2001 Campus Drive
The Nasher Museum’s growing permanent collection includes some of today’s best contemporary art, with outstanding work by artists who live in North Carolina.

Duke Basketball Museum & Hall of Fame and Rubenstein Pavilion
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tours offered from Rubenstein Pavilion starting at 2pm.
Located adjacent to Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Duke Basketball Museum and Hall of Fame showcases Duke athletics. Rubenstein Pavilion provides a grand lobby to the south side of Cameron Indoor Stadium, featuring interactive displays and memorabilia. 

Rubenstein Arts Center — “The Ruby”
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Opened in January 2018, this 71,000-square-foot Arts Center is a campus-wide destination for the study and production of arts at Duke. The space includes classrooms and studios, a 250-seat theater, an exhibition gallery, performance spaces, and a cafe. 

East Campus
First-Year Campus
Take a bus from the bus stop in front of Duke Chapel to East Campus and explore the 97 acres where all first-year students live — complete with a dining hall, gym, theater, and more.

REGISTRATION

Students should complete registration through the link in your email invitation, or register by clicking on this link. Please make sure to use the student’s information when registering, including the student’s email address.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Duke is located near Interstates 40 and 85 in Durham, N.C. Though signs for Duke University abound throughout the area, you may need additional help. You can map your route to Duke with our searchable campus map.

PARKING INFORMATION

Parking will be available in the Bryan Center Parking Garage. Please print the parking pass that is included in your event confirmation email for complimentary parking.

For general information about parking, visit Duke Parking and Transportation.

LODGING

Lodging for the Open House is not required.

However, numerous lodging options are available if you are traveling from a significant distance and would like to spend a night in the Research Triangle.  Discover Durham is a helpful resource in identifying accommodations near campus.

STUDENT HOSTING

Overnight hosting with current Duke students is not available for this one-day family event.

DRESS CODE

The dress code is casual for our Open House for Students from the Carolinas. Duke’s campus is large, and you should expect to do a lot of walking, so bring comfortable shoes! Please check the weather forecast before you leave home (zip code: 27708) to prepare for rain or shine.

ACCESSIBILITY

Duke University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any accommodations, please contact Susan Semonite at undergrad-admissions@duke.edu or (919) 684-3214 at least 7-10 days in advance of your participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can attend the Open House for Students from the Carolinas?

All seniors from North and South Carolina are welcome to attend this event with their families on a first-come, first-served basis. Younger students should join our mailing list so that they will be notified of this and other visit opportunities in the future.

Will attending the Open House increase my chances of being admitted to Duke?

No, but attending the event will give you a full picture of the opportunities available to students at Duke, which in turn may help you decide if Duke is a good fit for you.

What if I am unable to attend the Open House for Students from the Carolinas?

If you are unable to attend the event, you are welcome to visit the campus any time. Go to admissions.duke.edu/visit for information session times and tour schedules for the days you are able to visit.

AT DUKE, COLLEGE IS A VERB

Our campus of 8,600+ acres gives students space to roam—both physically and intellectually. But it isn’t just the setting that makes Duke unlike any other university. It’s the feeling—the kinetic energy of connections forged, creativity sparked, and ideas born. It’s an electricity that inspires passion and action.

First year students waving their arms in the air with peer advisors First year students waving their arms in the air with peer advisors

YOUR FIRST YEAR

“Forever Duke” starts on East Campus, a community designed to support you.

Learn more about your first year

MAKE DUKE POSSIBLE

Duke remains committed to making all students’ education affordable, especially with our Carolinas Initiative.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

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