What are Duke admissions officers looking for?

We strive to identify and enroll students who demonstrate intellectual strengths, a love of learning, a sense of imagination and open-mindedness, and a commitment to their communities; we seek students who make things better and treat others well.

What does Duke want in an applicant?

We like ambition and curiosity, talent and persistence, energy and humanity. Created with Sketch. 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.

How does Duke evaluate applicants?

When evaluating applications to Duke, the admissions committee reviews several documents that make up each file. As a part of our holistic approach, we consider both your academic and personal interests, what you've accomplished, and your unique experiences, perspectives, and background.

Does Duke care about demonstrated interest?

This represents a 6.4% acceptance rate. As you can see, demonstrated interest does matter at Duke—this is why the Duke Early Decision acceptance rate is far higher. However, regardless of which Duke application deadline you select as you plan how to get into Duke University, expect Duke to be a “reach” school.

Does Duke University look at legacy?

The best chance a competitive student has to get in is as a legacy during ED. Especially because, for theClass of 2025, "Legacy students were more likely to apply early decision than regular decision to Duke—81.7% versus 54.4%, respectively."

College Admission Officers, What Made You Declined A Student?

Who is considered legacy at Duke?

Who is a Legacy at Duke? Duke defines legacy as “children and grandchildren of alumni.” Many top colleges only consider children of alums and not grandchildren, so Duke is slightly unique for considering both. Notably, Duke rarely uses the term legacy.

Does Duke care about GPA?

You should also have a 4.13 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Duke, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.

What major does Duke accept the most?

What kind of students does Duke look for?

Duke University is looking for well-rounded applicants who've excelled academically and have unique qualities or talents. They value challenging coursework, solid grades, and test scores (though always check their latest requirements).

How likely am I to get into Duke?

The acceptance rate at Duke is 6.3%.

In other words, of 100 students who apply, only 6 are admitted. This means the school is very selective. Scores are vital to getting past their first round of filters. After that, you will need to impress them beyond just your academic scores.

Does Duke give interviews to everyone?

While Duke makes every effort to interview all applicants who submit applications by these deadlines, interviews are not guaranteed. Regular Decision. Candidates who wish to enter Duke as first-year students must submit a completed application no later than January 2 of the year in which they intend to enroll.

Is it easier to get into Trinity or Pratt at Duke?

Applicants with very high numbers across the board but a subpar story to tell should apply to Pratt over Trinity. Conversely, applicants with lower numbers but a unique story to tell should apply to Trinity.

Does Duke care about class rank?

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 is it that you find the most appealing about Duke?

Duke's undergraduate programs provide students with a robust liberal arts education that combines a strong foundation in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This interdisciplinary approach encourages students to think critically, analyze complex issues, and develop a well-rounded perspective.

Why is Duke so hard to get into?

Duke is one of the most sought-after non-Ivy schools. In fact, it's commonly mistaken for an Ivy. Getting into Duke is a matter of balancing stellar academics (they care about these a lot) with values like ambition, curiosity, and persistence that the school is very transparent about.

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 much does the Duke interview matter?

While the Duke admissions interview is optional, it is recommended for students who are serious about being accepted as it offers a chance to supplement their GPA and academic performance by showcasing their personality and interest in the university.

How do I prepare for a Duke interview?

We recommend doing a mock interview about 7-10 business days prior to a scheduled interview and do your traditional mock with an advisor you do not know. You may find this Question Generator is useful for additional preparation.

Can I get into Duke with a 33 ACT?

Average ACT: 34

In other words, a 34 places you below average, while a 35 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute ACT requirement at Duke, but they really want to see at least a 34 to have a chance at being considered.

Is Duke more prestigious than NYU?

Duke is more prestigious, although they are both good schools. NYU is in New York City- so you can expect cold weather, but lots of nightlife, restaurants, etc. Duke is in a small town in North Carolina. The weather is good, and it's quieter, with less traffic.

Is Duke more prestigious than Cornell?

Both are great schools. Duke is better in some areas and Cornell is better in others. Duke is rated more highly in most rankings, but not by much.

What is the lowest GPA Duke will accept?

Can I get into Duke with a 3.5 GPA?

The requirements are, that you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1570 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.13 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

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.

How many valedictorians does Duke reject?

The University of Pennsylvania and Duke University reject three out of five high school valedictorians”…