Ask a Blue Devil

More than 190,000 Blue Devils are standing by to help you with advice and introductions.

You ask.
They answer.

Duke alumni love helping students and fellow alumni. So what’s one question you have for someone who’s done what’s ahead of you?

How It Works

01

You ask.

Need help with “opening doors”? Wondering about career options?

02

We recruit.

Our technology (powered by Protopia) uses AI to find the best experts to answer you.

03

Get answers.

We search until you have one or more responses. Delivered right to your email inbox.

04

Say ‘thank you.’

And build your network by continuing to stay in touch (such as via LinkedIn).

Not sure how to ask? We’ve got a short video that will turn you into a networking rock star.

“I want to say thank you. Ask a Blue Devil has been such an amazing system for me. Both times I have used it I have been contacted by multiple generous alumni. Most recently, it has helped me find a remote internship for the summer. I definitely intend to use Ask a Blue Devil again and would highly recommend it to others.”

“Ask a Blue Devil facilitates connections between community members needing assistance and alumni that can provide it. When I needed mentorship, support and encouragement for an unfamiliar project, I turned to the platform. I received boundless, genuine guidance from accomplished alumni. This very powerful tool should be utilized by those seeking knowledge or new understanding.”

“Thank you so much for this resource! It is wonderful to be in touch with alumni who have explored so many career paths. The future can be intimidating, and it is incredibly comforting to be in contact with alumni who are willing to help us learn from their experiences and make the best decisions for ourselves.”

“I have always found that the Duke community generously shares their time and expertise. Ask a Blue Devil is fueled on the generosity that Dukies intrinsically have and fosters new relationships with alumni that are outside of one’s own circle. With one question, I was able to connect with four alumni that I otherwise would not have known.”

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Need inspiration? Here’s what others like you have asked.

“Hi, my name is Abby and I am a sophomore. I plan to pursue medicine, but I have recently become more interested in user interface / user experience.

I would love to speak with alumni working in the field who have advice for someone in my position. I am hoping to learn about resources and faculty who you found helpful, your experiences in general and what your daily work looks like. I would also find it incredibly helpful to shadow someone to determine if I truly see myself working in the field.

Thank you!”

Need inspiration? Here’s what others like you have asked.

“I am Sari, a rising senior. I am interested in helping provide resources to marginalized groups of people. My goal is to be able to help people overcome inequality and oppression.

I would like to speak to alumni who share either of my majors (Sociology / Gender, Sexuality and & Feminist Studies) for advice on a career path, internships and how to prepare myself for life after graduation.

Thank you for your time.”

Need inspiration? Here’s what others like you have asked.

“Hi – I hope you’re doing well. I am Farah, an international student and a junior majoring in psychology. I’m considering a master’s degree in clinical psychology and then a career in therapy.

For alumni pursuing a career in therapy, how did you know practicing therapy was the right fit? For other psychology graduates, what other career options did you consider or are currently pursuing?

Thank you!”

Need inspiration? Here’s what others like you have asked.

“My name is Jeremy. I graduated in ’17 with an economics degree. I am applying for MBA programs in the hope of pivoting to direct-to-consumer or business-to-consumer marketing. My long-term goal is to become a chief marketing officer or consumer experience leader..

What type of experiences should I focus on gaining during my MBA to position myself after the two years?”

Thank you in advance for your help!

Need inspiration? Here’s what others like you have asked.

“I am a 2018 grad currently working in nonprofit consulting, but I am interested in computational linguistics and am debating applying to grad school. I am a bit nervous about the job prospects in this field.

Is anyone available to discuss this type of degree or work, as I try to determine what a job in this field would be like? I would love to know the variety of opportunities available, and whether or not pursuing a grad program makes sense for me.

I really appreciate your assistance. Jayne”

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Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT CAN I ASK?

Literally anything to help with your academic or professional development. There are thousands of alumni, faculty, staff and friends that can help with class projects, building and growing a startup, or figuring out career options.

WHAT'S A GOOD QUESTION?

Think of your question as an advertisement. Share who you are, what you are doing, and what you need help with. Focus on keywords that will get you the right connections. Keep it short and sweet. Here’s a short video on how to craft a great question that will get you results and help build your network.

WHO WILL SEE MY QUESTION?

We send your request to the best alumni, faculty, and staff in your area of interest.

CAN I REQUEST SOMEONE SPECIFIC?

No. We make our matches based on availability, proximity, experience, and skills.

CAN I ASK A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?

Yes, of course! Once we make a match you’ll have direct, one-to-one communication and can ask additional questions.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET AN ANSWER?

Our goal is to get you answers within 3 business days. But it depends on what you’re asking. It can go as quickly as an hour to as long as 10 days or more.

WILL MY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BE CONFIDENTIAL?

Your question will not be made public. It will be seen only by matched experts and a handful of administrators.

IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW OFTEN I CAN ASK?

No. You can ask as many questions as you would like. In fact, we encourage it as this is the simplest way for you to build your professional network.

Go ahead and ask

It has never been simpler to get help from others that have done what’s ahead of you.

Seriously.

The use of Ask A Blue Devil is subject to our Terms Of Use. Questions? Contact us at help@daa.duke.edu