What Does it Take to Get Into Duke University?

Duke University Is One Of The Most Iconic Universities In The U.S…

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke has become a globally-recognized university, pioneering the way for private research universities all over the world. Since its founding in 1838, Duke’s student body has built the university into what it is today by consistently pushing past the boundaries of research and innovation.

Because of this stellar reputation, every year Duke receives applications from tons of hardworking students who are ready for the next step in their education. If you picture Duke being a part of your educational journey, then it’s time to start thinking about applying.

In this college guide, we’ll walk you through how to get into Duke, from your application and essays, to Duke’s campus culture and what life is like as a Duke Blue Devil.

What You’ll Find In This College Guide:

• Duke’s Ideal Student
• What You Need to Get Accepted Into Duke
• Duke’s Campus Life
• From Application to Career: What You’ll Experience at Duke
• Your Future at Duke

Duke's Ideal Student

The average GPA and test scores of incoming freshmen are:

• Average GPA: 3.94 (based on predictions)*
• SAT: 1510
• ACT: 34

Duke’s admission requirements are highly competitive, meaning Duke looks for students who graduate in the top two percent of their class.

In addition to carrying an excellent academic record, Duke seeks out students who possess certain qualities that will further their mission, vision, and values. Duke hasn’t been known to waver from their official requirements, but they still care about the character and values of their students just as much as their performance in the classroom.

Note: Duke does not release the official average GPA of their incoming freshmen. This estimate is calculated based on Duke’s acceptance rate, required scores in order to be considered for acceptance, and data from current classes

SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP

As noted in their mission statement, Duke places a strong emphasis on bringing in students who have the potential to be the next great leaders in their careers and communities. However, leadership alone isn’t enough for a prospective Duke student. A solid leader at Duke must also know how to support fellow peers and classmates while always maintaining good leadership values.

• Were you ever appointed the leader of a project but had to take a step back in order to support your group as well?
• Did you serve as captain on a sports team or President of a club?
• Were you ever faced with a situation where you had to lead from the sidelines or from the middle of a group, rather than as a leader?  

OPEN INQUIRY & INNOVATION

Duke approaches their research efforts with a sense of curiosity. In order to fulfill this part of their mission, Duke needs their students to conduct their research with a willingness to ask difficult questions and be ready for unexpected results. Duke also prizes research that’s completed through innovative and sometimes unconventional methods.

• Explain a time when you struggled with being open-minded with a certain research project. How did you overcome it?
• Was there ever a project that you had to complete using unconventional resources and tools?
• How have you approached your assignments with a sense of curiosity?

COLLABORATION

Like many research universities, Duke’s classroom settings are steeped in the principles of collaboration. Group projects and class activities are the cornerstone of their curriculum, so they need students who work well in groups.

• Be honest about how well you work in groups, and whether or not you hope to improve in this area.
• Were you involved in a group project that was particularly difficult? How did you overcome those obstacles?
• How did you use communication to smooth out a group assignment?

VISION FOR CHANGE ON A GLOBAL SCALE

One of Duke’s primary goals is to use their research to spark change on a local, national, and global level. They have a heart for international efforts, and often send their research to other parts of the world for collaboration.

• Is there a certain global crisis or concern that propels your research efforts forward?
• How do you see yourself fitting into Duke’s efforts to affect global change?

WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE: DUKE’S PROGRAMS

• Public Policy (#1 in the U.S.)
• Nursing (#3 in the U.S.)
• Political Science (#3 in the U.S.)
• Environmental Science (#4 in the U.S.)

Duke has two undergraduate schools: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering. Every student will eventually take classes under the Trinity school, as it serves as Duke’s core liberal arts curriculum.

Duke’s education experience is unique in that students can mix and match as many majors and minors as you’d like. Duke encourages its students to pursue every field they can manage and to be creative with their class schedules. They’re known for their vast range of study areas; Duke students have a total of 437,989 possible academic combinations.

IN SUMMARY: DUKE’S IDEAL STUDENT

Duke students conduct collaborative research that has one goal: to spark positive change in their local, national, and global communities.

Duke’s ideal student has above average grades and standardized test scores, reflecting their work ethic and consistency in the classroom. This student also has a passion for approaching everything they do, in or out of the classroom, with a sense of open inquiry and curiosity.

If you’re hoping to get into Duke, don’t be afraid to employ unconventional tactics to go above and beyond in your academic projects. If Duke’s ideal student profile highlights your qualities, you should consider applying to Duke!

What You Need To Get Accepted Into Duke

Duke’s requirements ensure that they only receive applications from students who are serious about attending their college. Fortunately, Duke admissions have fashioned their application process in a way that helps students present their best selves on paper.

THE APPLICATION

You can begin your application for Duke through either the Common App or the Coalition for College App. All components of the application are made available on Duke’s admission website, but only students who open an account and begin the application process will be given access to the official Duke application checklist.

SCHOOL REPORTS & TRANSCRIPTS

Duke takes the academic excellence of their students seriously, and they require several different forms of school reports and transcripts to see the full picture of your classroom performance.

• First Quarter Grades (only for Early Decision)
• Mid-Year School Report (due February 15th)
• Unofficial Transcripts
• College and Summer School Transcripts
• Final Official Transcripts (to be submitted at the end of the school year)

Duke admissions wants to know every academic endeavor you pursued in high school, which is why they want you to include any supplementary courses you took either online, over the summer, or at a local community college.

They also want to keep track of your performance during your senior year, so they ask for updated school reports as the year progresses.

STANDARDIZED TESTS

All students who apply for Duke must take either the ACT or the SAT, though one is not preferred over the other. Duke admissions will accept both official and self-reported scores on the application.

While the main two portions of these standardized tests are required, submitting your scores from the essay portion of these tests is optional. If you plan on taking the SAT only, Duke strongly recommends that you also take two SAT Subject Tests of your choice As a bonus, Duke admissions takes part in “superscoring,” and will accept the highest standardized test score on your report if you take a certain test more than once. For international students, an English proficiency test is required.

ESSAYS

Duke admissions requires its applicants to write one long personal essay as well as complete a short answer question that is specific to Duke. If you’re using the Common App, you will choose one of seven long essay prompts, and if you’re using the Coalition App, you will choose one of five essay prompts.

For the short essay prompts, Duke admissions asks that you choose the one that relates closest to your desired area of study. Duke has two undergraduate schools: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering. The short answer prompts that become available to you will automatically be presented to you based on your selection of these two schools.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Duke admissions requires three letters of recommendation: one must be from a school counselor and the other two must be from teachers who taught a major area of study like English or Math. For prospective engineering students specifically, one of these letters must be from a math or science teacher.

You may submit an additional letter of recommendation from a mentor, coach, or employer as well, but this is not required.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

If you’re artistically talented, Duke welcomes you to submit any supplementary artistic materials through their preferred online portal, SlideRoom. However, Duke will not accept any extra material like a resume, cover letter, research projects, or media files that don’t pertain to your artistic talent.

THE APPLICATION FEE

The application fee for Duke University is a non-refundable $85. Fee waiver options are available on both the Common App and Coalition App. If you opt for a fee waiver due to high financial need, your school counselor will automatically receive a prompt to approve this request.

DEADLINES

You can apply for Duke under two deadlines:

• Early Decision: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 3rd

Students who submit under early decision can expect an admissions decision by mid-December, and students who submit under regular decision should receive a response by mid-March.

CAN I GET INTO DUKE?

Duke’s requirements are built to ensure that they only receive applications from the best and brightest students around. After all, they need sharp, driven students to further their mission of creating widespread, global change through their research.

The most important part of the Duke application process is setting aside an ample amount of time to complete it. Make sure you pay special attention to all the details of your school reports and essays and be aware of the school report deadlines throughout the year. By staying on top of deadlines and planning, you’ll be submitting an excellent application to Duke, and get one step closer to joining their exceptional group of students!

Duke's Campus Life

A college wouldn’t be balanced if they operated purely for academic reasons; students need an exciting campus culture to supplement their academic programs, and this is one of the things Duke does right.

In addition to nationally-ranked academic programs, Duke offers its students a wide range of extracurricular activities including music, fine arts, sports, and activism. Whatever your passion, Duke has a group where you can grow and collaborate with like-minded individuals.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Duke has over 400 student organizations dedicated to fostering community and individual growth. These organizations cover topics like culture and the arts, political activism, community service, and religion. Duke also offers alliances for specific students, catering to every background, hobby, passion, or interest.

One of the components of Duke’s campus culture is their thriving Greek Life. The fraternities and sororities range from identity-based to academic, and over 2,000 Duke students pledge to their Greek organization of choice every year.

ATHLETICS

Duke University’s athletic program has provided the framework for most college athletic programs we have in the U.S. today. Aside from their world-famous basketball team, the Duke Blue Devils have taken home championships in nearly every single sport in their program.

In addition to competitive sports teams, students can opt into any of Duke’s intramural and club sports teams.

HOUSING & DINING

At Duke, all freshmen are required to live on East Campus. While East Campus is a small part of Duke’s campus, its open lawns, residencies, and dining halls can make it feel like a world of its own. After freshman year, upperclassmen can live on West Campus, Duke’s apartment-style dorms, or live off-campus.

Duke also offers alternate housing programs in which students can live with peers who have similar interests. The Selective Living Groups and Living Learning Communities are designed to help students pursue their passions outside of their chosen major.

For five years running, Duke has been in the Daily Meal’s Top 10 Best Colleges for Food, and there’s no wondering why. Duke offers its students 34 dining options on campus, ranging from marketplace-style to delivery. Whatever you’re craving, Duke has something for you, even if you have  allergies or food sensitivities.

DUKE’S LEMURS

Duke University is home to the world’s largest collection of lemurs. Duke’s Lemur Center holds 240 lemurs, which are one of the most endangered species in the world. Duke uses the lemurs for scientific research and preservation efforts, and Duke’s students can visit them anytime during the year!

From Application To Career: What You'll Experience At Duke

Duke sets the bar high with their application process, and this standard is consistent over everything that follows, including life at Duke and life after graduation. Duke’s admission office and career center are incredibly helpful resources, ready to ensure you have a positive Duke experience from start to finish.

YOUR APPLICATION

Duke University’s ideal student is passionate about collaboration in research, going the extra mile, and being a great leader from any position. On your application, be sure to highlight the areas of your high school career that have to do with research projects and leadership.

Duke also places a strong emphasis on global impact; be sure to share your thoughts on how you believe your participation at Duke will further their mission of making positive change in the world.

YOUR ESSAY

Before you begin writing your essays, you’ll need to know which department of Duke you will be applying to: the Trinity School of the Arts and Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering. From there, you can answer the specific short answer prompts that have to do with your desired area of study.

In your essays, make sure that you have a solid grasp on how you plan on using your Duke degree in the future. Remember that they are looking for students who want to research difficult topics and present their knowledge to their local community as well as the rest of the world. Draw connections between your vision for the future and Duke’s mission for its students so they can see you as their ideal student.

YOUR COLLEGE YEARS

While you’re at Duke, take advantage of everything they offer, starting with their housing program. Check out all the dorms on campus before choosing or opt for a more unique living arrangement through their Selective Living Arrangement program. From there, make a point to enjoy their dining program, join a sport, visit the Lemur Center, and immerse yourself in everything that has to do with being a Blue Devil!

Duke has one of the most tight-knit, community-centered campus cultures in the U.S. Their sense of camaraderie is enough to make any student feel at home, so make sure that you spend some time outside of classes enjoying Durham.

YOUR CAREER

Not only does Duke provide one of the best college experiences in the country, but they also have a highly resourceful career center. Last year, 94 percent of Duke students who secured a job after graduation used this center’s connections and resources.

In 2018:

• 73 percent of Duke seniors graduated with a job secured
• 55 percent planned on pursuing a Master’s degree
• Engineering students graduated with a job offering an average of $85K starting salary

No matter what career you pursue, Duke’s Career Center will help you launch seamlessly into your career after you graduate.

Your Future At Duke University

Duke University’s campus culture, academic curriculum, and world-renowned athletic programs make this college an icon in the collegiate world. Thousands of Duke students graduate every year with impressive resources and connections that launch them into long-lasting careers.

Joining the Duke community will provide you with a world-class education along with the right resources to bring your plans to the next level. Some notable Duke alumni who had similar experiences include the CEO of Apple Tim Cook, Olympic Bronze medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, Melinda Gates, and Parks & Rec cast member Retta Sirleaf.

As you can see, at Duke, you’re in good hands, and it all starts with your application! To help you perfect your application and boost your chances of being accepted, reach out to one of WeAdmit’s professional counselors. We can tie in the best parts of your application with Duke’s vision for their next class, helping you show Duke that you’re their ideal student.

Are You Ready? Get Started On Your Duke Application Today!