Should I do both optional essays for Duke?

However, you should plan to complete the two “optional” essays. With the Duke acceptance rate so low, well written essays can help your Duke application stand out to admissions. Students applying to Duke must also answer one of the Common App essay prompts.

Should I do the Duke supplemental essays?

Remember, Duke's optional essays are just that—optional. It can be tempting to respond to everything on the application and if you have an important story to tell, you definitely should. However, if you have nothing to say, don't feel like you need to make something up.

How much does Duke care about essays?

Despite the changes, Guttentag wrote that essays and standardized testing scores are still considered in the admissions process. “Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we're just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student's actual writing ability,” he wrote.

How many supplemental essays for Duke?

Duke University has three supplemental essays. One of these supplemental essays is required; the two others are optional. The required Duke essay is often referred to as the “why Duke essay.” The two optional prompts differ year to year but generally focus on life experiences and cultural diversity.

Should I do an essay if they are optional?

The answer, in short, is yes. You will not be penalized for not writing these college essays. However, if you have something meaningful or worthwhile to talk about, you should absolutely write the optional essay. Doing so will add more dimension to your application and further demonstrate your strong writing abilities.

My accepted Duke supplemental essay - the *optional* diversity essay

Do colleges look at optional essays?

Most experts recommended that applicants only use optional essays to inform the admissions committee of extenuating circumstances, anomalies in their backgrounds, or in some rare cases, an extraordinary accomplishment not covered by the required prompts.

Should you submit college essay if optional?

When should you not answer an optional essay prompt? If you do not have anything substantial to say about the topic, or if the question does not apply to you at all, these are good reasons to skip an optional prompt. No reader wants to spend time on an essay that essentially tells them nothing.

What does Duke look for in essays?

We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.

How hard is it to get into Duke?

With an acceptance rate of 5.9%, you might be fooled into thinking that Duke is in the Ivy League. It's not—it's just a really good school. Of the nearly 50,000 Duke hopefuls who apply each year, 94% are denied admission. To avoid being one of them, you'll need more than good grades and a few extracurricular accolades.

What is Duke University's acceptance rate?

Duke University has an acceptance rate of 6%. Half the applicants admitted to Duke University who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1490 and 1570 or an ACT score of 34 and 35. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges.

Why is Duke so hard to get into?

There are eight factors that Duke ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, application essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, and character/personal qualities.

What kind of student does Duke look for?

Duke offers a multitude of opportunities to its undergraduates. We're looking for students ready to respond to those opportunities intelligently, creatively, and enthusiastically. We like ambition and curiosity, talent and persistence, energy and humanity.

Is Duke a stressful school?

Let's face it, Duke is stressful. No matter what year you are, what classes you are taking, or whether you are balancing being a student and a part-time worker. For me, finding that balance as a freshman has been one of the most difficult parts of transitioning.

Should I submit a 32 to Duke?

The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35. Even though Duke likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 34 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application.

Does Duke look at class rank?

Applicants generally need to have a composite score above 75 out of 100 points in order to have a serious shot of getting into Pratt: Duke SAT/ACT scores = 30 points. Grades and class rank = 20 points.

Does Duke give preference to legacy students?

Being a legacy will most likely help your student get into Duke. Even if that just means the admissions office takes more time reviewing their application. However, simply being a legacy isn't enough to guarantee entry.

Is Duke or UNC harder to get into?

Duke admitted a mere 6.3% of applicants for the class of 2026 — a rate that puts the school on the same footing as Harvard and Yale. Meanwhile, UNC admitted 16.8% of applicants for the class of 2026 — a much friendlier figure but small compared to many state schools, which often accept between 50-90% of applicants.

Can I get into Duke with a 3.7 GPA?

Duke Transfer GPA

The minimum recommended GPA by the university is 3.7. However, in our experience, you will need a GPA of 3.85 or above to be a truly competitive applicant to Duke. Those admitted in 2022-23 possessed an average GPA of 3.9, with a mid-50% range of 3.85 to 4.0.

Can I get into Duke with a 4.7 GPA?

To get into Duke University you should have a 4.13 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you must compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

Is Duke really test optional?

Duke University is another school that has decided to be test-optional. Students are not required to submit their test scores but can through self-reporting or through the official testing website. Duke also no longer requires the SAT Subject Test to be taken.

What GPA does Duke want?

Duke Acceptance Rate

The colleges at Duke will reject your application if you can't make it to a high score in any of them. To be assured enough, you should reach the 75th percentile SAT score of 1570 and a GPA of 4.13 or higher to be the highlighted candidate.

How important is the Why Duke essay?

The Why Duke essay is a small but important part of your Duke application. This is the place where you explain exactly why you love Duke so much. However, there are thousands of students who want to attend Duke, and only a small percentage of them get in.

Should I do optional secondary essays?

The secondary essay has an optional essay: is there anything else you want to tell us? Now, here's a do – fill it out. But there's also a don't – don't fill it out. If you truly have something to say, if there's some part of your story that hasn't really fit anywhere else, then write about it in that spot.

Can colleges see if you submit the same essay?

Do colleges know if you use the same essay? Colleges do not have a way to determine whether you submit the same essay to multiple colleges. This is because admissions officers are too busy reading their own schools' applications to compare the essays with other schools.

Does the optional essay affect ACT score?

An image of your essay will be available to your high school and the colleges to which you have ACT report your scores from that test date. Taking the writing test does not affect your subject area scores or your Composite score.