Tyler Conforti, 2029
EAST CAMPUS
COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
For most students, the Duke first-year experience begins together on East Campus. As you make that transition to college life, it’s comforting to know that the students around you are navigating many of the same experiences. First-year courses and programs, shared experiences, and traditions like Marketplace brunches create a sense of connection and community that is foundational to the Duke experience.
Just a five-minute bus ride from the Gothic-style West Campus, the Georgian-style East Campus showcases beautiful red brick from its residence halls to the library, auditorium, and recreation center.
DUKE EMBARK
Beginning in Fall 2027, Duke Embark offers a small cohort of Trinity students the opportunity to begin their Duke experience on the coast, spending the fall semester learning and living together at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC before joining their classmates in Durham in the spring.
Your first year at Duke is full of new people, new ideas, and new group chats. You’ll take a class that becomes your entire personality, develop oddly specific campus opinions, and meet people who make Duke feel like yours.
QUADEX
IT'S NOT WHERE YOU LIVE BUT HOW
QuadEx represents an all-encompassing living and learning initiative that leverages Duke’s rich history, core values, and vibrant spirit to elevate and harmonize the social, residential, and academic experiences of undergraduate students. Within the QuadEx framework, various components and support systems collaborate synergistically to fortify on-campus communities, facilitate deeper exploration of intellectual passions, and foster the holistic development and well-being of our students.
Upperclass Student's Guide
Make Your Best Duke
Duke has endless opportunities to choose from. How can first-years make the most of their early days on campus? In this guide, upperclassmen share some advice on how to make a smooth transition to life at Duke.
“Walking to Pincho Loco with my Faculty-in-Residence once a month for free ice cream, the East Campus Carnival, and concerts at Coffeehouse — those are some of my favorite first-year memories.”
— Rachel Collins, Class of 2026
“Try a meal at the Freeman Center—especially on dairy days. Some of the best food on campus!”
— Gabby Mendoza, Class of 2027
“I quickly became very close with other students in West House. During the fall semester, we’d all have dinner together every night at Marketplace, squeezing ten or twelve people into a table meant for six. There was so much laughter at every meal.”
— Stella Kaye, Class of 2029
“My first year at Duke was filled with meals at Marketplace, relaxing on the quad outside Lilly Library, and so many other great moments. I loved going on runs around East and heading downtown just minutes away—there’s always something to do.”
— Connor Biswell, Class of 2026
“One of my favorite memories is sitting outside Baldwin on the lawn. When the weather was nice, we’d pull the blue chairs into a circle and spend time together—music playing, laptops out, but mostly just enjoying being with friends. During the first few Saturdays of fall, we’d also have informal watch parties in the common room for away Duke football games—never planned, just understood we’d all be there, catching up and getting ready for the week ahead.”
— Ben Childress, Class of 2026
