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August 8, 2023

2023-2024 Duke Supplemental Essay Prompts

Duke University has released its supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 college admissions cycle. In addition to The Common Application ’s Personal Statement, Duke’s Class of 2028 applicants must write one supplemental essay. Two additional essays are optional. Of course, as loyal readers of Ivy Coach ’s college admissions blog know all too well, any optional essay in elite college admissions should not be considered optional. If students want to get in, they must write both optional essays as well.

2023-2024 Duke Essay Topics and Questions

Required essay.

The first prompt, the required essay, has a limit of 250 words and reads as follows:

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.

It’s a Why Duke essay prompt. As such, an applicant’s approach should be filled with specific examples after specific examples that only apply to Duke. Name-dropping professors or listing classes are not genuine specifics about a university . Instead, it should be an applicant’s goal to capture the enduring specifics of a school — programs, institute, culture, traditions, activities — and how a student will contribute their singular hook — rather than well-roundedness — to the institution.

Optional Essay Prompts

Applicants are offered the opportunity to answer two of the following five prompts in 250 words or less. These essays are optional, though they should not be treated as such.

1. Perspective response

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.

In the wake of the Affirmative Action ruling against Affirmative Action, this essay prompt presents an opportunity for students to share the prism of their experience. While it can certainly focus on a student’s race or faith (as Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion makes clear), it doesn’t have to and can instead spotlight an applicant’s unique lived experience that has nothing to do with their racial or religious background.

2. Intellectual experience

Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating.

Ideally, an applicant’s answer will zero in on their hook. All of Duke’s admissions essays should be considered puzzle pieces. The specific topic that a student writes about in their Personal Statement should never be written about again since doing so would be redundant. Still, each essay should dovetail one another to showcase how a student is going to contribute their singular hook to Duke’s community.

3. Beliefs & values

We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?

Duke, like all highly selective universities, wants to admit students who will respectfully disagree with one another. It’s why it’s crucial to Duke that they accept a class filled with students of varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Duke’s admissions committee wants to see that even when someone voices an opinion that differs from theirs, they can hear them out and be malleable to alter their mindset.

4. Being different

We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.

The “being different” prompt is another opportunity for Duke’s applicants to highlight the diversity they will bring to Durham. Even though the Supreme Court outlawed the overall consideration of race in admissions decision-making, it can still be considered within the context of an applicant’s life narrative. But one’s answer to this Duke essay prompt, of course, doesn’t have to relate to race. It can relate to faith — or sexuality, gender, diversity of thought, or anything else.

5. Orientation, identity, expression

Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.

Duke’s admissions committee has long asked its applicants to express their thoughts and feelings on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. But an applicant need not be a member of the LGBTQ+ community to be able to answer this prompt. 

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Duke University Essays

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to Duke’s Class of 2028 by submitting powerful essays that wow Duke admissions officers, fill out Ivy Coach ’s consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services .

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College Essays

Do you want to be a Blue Devil? If so, you'll need to submit strong Duke essays as part of your application.

Duke requires its applicants to answer two essays, one as part of the Common or Coalition app, and one "Why Duke" essay. Students will also have the option to answer up to two more personal essay prompts, but they aren't required.

We're going to break down all the prompts for you and walk you though how to write amazing Duke supplement essays. So let's get started!

What Is the Duke Supplement Essay?

Duke requires that you submit two to four essays as part of your application. You're required to answer one "Why Duke?" essay prompt, as well as a Common Application essay or a Coalition Application essay (depending on which one you use to apply). Additionally, you have the option of answering up to two more essay questions.

Duke requires the Duke supplement as part of its application process for a couple of reasons. First of all, written essays are a great way to assess your preparedness for college. Duke wants to see that you can write clearly and concisely and can follow all of the necessary grammar conventions.

Duke also wants to get to know you more as a student and possible member of its campus. Essays are a great way to learn more about who you really are beyond your test scores and other credentials.

Finally, your Duke essays are where you can demonstrate your affinity for Duke itself. Why do you want to go there? Your essays can highlight your passion for the university.

It's extremely important to put time and effort into each one of the Duke supplement essay prompts so that you're able to meet all of these needs.

Duke Supplement Essay Prompts

You'll have to answer at least two and as many as four Duke supplement essay prompts for your Duke application. All students are required to write one longer essay. The essay you write will be determined by whether you're submitting the Common Application or the Coalition Application (Duke accepts both).

You're also required to answer the "Why Duke" essay prompt. There are four more personal essay questions that are optional for all applicants. You can answer up to two of them.

2022-2023 Duke Long Essay

The long essay prompt is actually the essay you'll write as part of your Common App or Coalition App. There's not a separate "long essay" prompt for Duke, so don't worry when you don't see the prompt pop up when you click over to the writing supplement tab.

On the other hand, that means that the long essay prompt you submit will depend on whether you're using the Common App, QuestBridge App, or Coalition App. These apps have slightly different essay prompts associated with them!

If you apply to Duke via the Coalition Application, you'll select one essay prompt to answer. For more information on how to ace your Coalition Application essay and an analysis of each prompt, check out our in-depth guide .

If you apply to Duke via the Common Application, you'll also need to select an essay prompt to answer. For more information on how to craft an amazing Common Application essay and in-depth look at each prompt, check out our blog post dedicated to that very topic .

2022-2023 "Why Duke?" Essay

All Duke students are required to answer the "Why Duke?" essay . Here's the essay prompt for 2022-2023:

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there's something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit)

For more information about how to answer this question, you can check out our in-depth post to the "Why Duke?" app. 

2022-2023 Optional Duke Essays

You also have the option of responding to optional Duke essays. There are four prompts, and you can answer up to two of them. However, you don't need to answer any if you don't feel the need to. Duke makes it clear that these Duke admissions essay prompts are completely optional. Their exact phrasing is, " Feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application." For each prompt you choose to answer, you can write up to 250 words.

Here are the four prompts:

We seek a diverse student body that embodies the wide range of human experience. In that context, we are interested in what you’d like to share about your lived experiences and how they’ve influenced how you think of yourself. 

We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?

 What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Duke's commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you’d like to share with us more about your identity in this context, feel free to do so here.

Required Duke Essay, Analyzed

Guess what: 250 words isn't a lot of words to describe your love for Duke! You'll need to be clear, succinct, and honest in order for your Duke admissions essay to stand out.

Because the word limit is so constrained, it's better to focus on one or two specific ideas, rather than trying to cram as many thoughts as possible into your short essay. For instance, while you may be enamored of Duke's entire faculty, choose one specific professor whose work you admire and expand on that. Any depth you can achieve in this small space will go a long way.

The key here is to be specific about why Duke is the best school for you. We just mentioned discussing faculty, but you can also talk about specific classes you want to take, academic organizations you want to be involved in, or even research opportunities you want to pursue. That means you'll need to do your research, but trust us: it will make a huge difference.

If you're still confused about this prompt and want a little extra help, don't miss our entire article about how to write an amazing "Why Duke" essay!

Optional Duke Admission Essay Prompts, Analyzed

Treat this question as an opportunity to share more about yourself. If you have something real and important to write about, do so. But don't try to invent an experience that doesn't actually belong to you—it'll come across as fake and insincere. Unless you really have nothing to say, I'd suggest including something.

If you choose to answer this question, lean into authenticity. Don't be scared to be vulnerable or honest. While the question talks about Duke's commitment to diversity, don't feel like you have to invent diverse experiences just to fit in.

Share about your unique perspective. Be sure to indicate why this point-of-view belongs to you, and you alone. Your perspective is made up by your experiences and interactions, so you can highlight how these have affected you.

For this prompt, Duke is giving you the chance to share your values and how you communicate and respond to opinions different than your own. College is a place where you'll encounter people with many different beliefs, and Duke wants to make sure its students are able to respectfully talk about big topics, even if the people you're speaking with don't have the same beliefs or values as you do.

If you decide to respond to this prompt, think about a person or people you particularly love debating or having discussions with. Be sure to explain who you agree/disagree with, what topics you discuss, if you generally agree or disagree, and specifically how you make sure the conversation is respectful and thoughtful. 

Show Duke that you're able to contribute positively to any discussion, even if you disagree with what's being said .

What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Here Duke wants to know what motivates and excites you academically. Did you love partaking in a class debate? Maybe your best experience was bonding with a study group and helping each other learn the course material, or maybe it was doing a deep research dive to become an expert on a particular topic.

The specific experience you choose matters much less than your explanation of why it was so positive. Be sure to discuss exactly what you found about the experience you found enjoyable and  what you took away from it. If you can, try to tie it in to how you'll be a strong student at Duke and continue to find positive academic experiences.

Duke's commitment to diversity and inclusion includes gender identity and sexual orientation. If you would like to share with us more about either, and have not done so elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here.

Don't answer this optional essay unless you have something real to say. Don't feel intimidated or scared that ignoring this question will reflect badly on you. It won't. You should really only address this prompt if you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

What will reflect badly on you is making something up that comes across as insincere, or worse, ignorant. Speak truthfully and from the heart.

Similarly, if you do have reflections on gender identity and sexual orientation, don't feel like you have to share them. Remember, this essay is optional. It's completely fine if you're not quite comfortable enough or ready to talk publicly about these topics.

If you choose to answer this question, only speak about real experiences that happened to you. It's better to keep them personal. This essay isn't the place to reflect on the overall political climate surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, especially if those issues don't relate to you. It is, however, the space to talk about your specific identity and journey.

How to Write Great Duke Essays

If you want your Duke essays to stand out and help you get admitted, follow these tips!

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Duke wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Cliched or Overused Phrases

When writing your Duke essays, try to avoid using clichés or overused quotes or phrases. These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Strive for originality.

Similarly, avoid using clichés, which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work. Don't speak in platitudes about how the struggle for gay and lesbian rights has affected you… unless it actually has!

#3: Check Your Work

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Duke essays are the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Duke application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your Duke essays, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

That being said, make sure you don't rely on them for ideas or rewrites. Your essays need to be your work.

#4: Only Answer What You're Comfortable With

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. You're better off answering less, honestly, then you are answering more, dishonestly.

What's Next?

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet? Not sure which one you'll do best on? Read our guide to choose the test that's right for you .

If you've taken the SAT and want to improve your score, check out our guides to improving your Reading , Writing , and Math scores.

Not sure what you want to major in? Don't worry! With our advice, you'll figure out what you should study as an undergrad.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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2021-2022 Duke Supplemental Essays Guide: Tips & Prompts

When applying to selective institutions, supplemental essays are a huge part of the process. Supplemental essays are an essential tool admissions officers use to assess student fit, and so Duke supplemental essays help assess whether or not you belong at the university.

Think about it: every other part of the application is relatively generic. Every college will receive the same information from the student including their name, demographic information, transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, and personal statement.

Supplemental essays dig a bit deeper into the student’s personality, passions, etc. As such, these additional questions should be taken seriously. It is important to use these essays to your advantage and prove to the school once more why you belong at that institution.

Review the guidelines and requirements for Duke supplemental essays.

Along with the Common App which contains your personal statement, Duke asks that students complete 1-3 short supplemental essays. The Duke supplement essays consist of a 200-word essay and two optional 250-word essays. For the 2021-2022 application cycle, your Duke application essays should be submitted with the Common Application on January 4th for Regular Decision and on November 1st for Early Decision.

You can read about the requirements on the official website .

Why Duke essay: 4 tips that can help you get admission in Duke University

The first prompt asks for a “Why this college” essay.

Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you.  Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attract you?  (200 words maximum)

Admissions officers want students who will both excel and enjoy their time, so the case has to be made why you prefer Duke rather than any other top university.

1. Make sure your reasons are clear.

First and foremost, before you start any writing and planning, make sure the answer is clear to yourself. Sometimes our preferences for colleges at first can be instinctive or general, which is fine at first. But for these essays, your reasons will have to be articulated. If your reasons do not single out Duke from other universities, you are not really answering “Why Duke.” Before you make the case for Duke, make the case for yourself!

You may want to try rehearsing and answering yourself or writing it in 1-3 sentences. You will have space to elaborate and give examples but having a general point from the outset will make your case clearer and have a greater impact. This will also help you avoid your essay reading like a list, which can be both uninteresting and inadequate. Giving a list of good qualities of the university does not say why those qualities appeal to you.

2. Research the university .

Doing prior research can help you articulate the “Why Duke” question for yourself.

Read about Duke, from the official website and ranking websites to know the reputation of programs that interest you. Reading about things that are relevant to your college experience, like departments you are interested in, professors, student services. Read how the university talks about itself and what it says it excels at. Once you have found the things that you like about the university, you will have to consider why those things appeal to you.

3. Outline and plan your essays.

You may find that some things you are considering mentioning could fit under different prompts or are already mentioned in your personal statement. Whatever you do, plan the essays in advance to allocate the points you make so you do not repeat yourself. If something is important enough that you feel the need to mention it in another prompt, be brief.

Planning can involve outlining the essay before you write it. Because of the short length of the essay, you will probably only have room to make a few key points. Whatever points you make, know that in asking “Why Duke,” you are also being asked about yourself. Your point should not be just that Duke has this or that program. You should give reasons related to your interests, experiences, future plans, or values for why those programs fit you.

It may be a helpful practice to take a half-hour to write a quick draft early on. This way you can see what works or does not work when structuring your essay and figure out what points you have trouble articulating. You can then redraft it or outline it with these issues in mind.

4. Be particular. 

Finally, be particular. Pay attention to the phrase, “is there something in particular.” This question is asking you to provide specific reasons why you want to attend Duke University. Generic answers will not cut it here. Cite professors, professional resources, programs, internships, or other opportunities that genuinely excite you. Doing good research will make this task far easier. However, it isn’t good enough to simply name a professor or class without connecting it to why it is important to you. You can show that something is important to you by referring to your experiences or mentioning how that thing will help you.

Don’t write: 

I imagine myself taking Professor Smith’s Data Visualization for Gender Inequities. The class seems interesting and I would be excited to learn how to visualize data.

Instead, say:

Since my involvement in the debate club, I have been curious about how we can use empirical data to rectify societal issues. I imagine myself taking Professor Smith’s Data Visualization for Gender Inequities. This class will provide an important framework about the ways in which we can not only obtain data but how to use it to inform policy. 

Do not use this essay to brag to the university about how prestigious they are. In other words, don’t tell Duke you want to go there because Duke is a highly ranked institution; they already know that. And for everyone applying, the prestigiousness and quality of education is already a reason for applying. So, being specific and giving good reasons will also help you stand out among other students. What else matters to you about the institution? Do you like the culture, the classes, programs, majors? If you can’t think of a reason to attend Duke other than because it is Duke, you may want to reconsider why you’re applying.

Another way of being particular is talking about your personal connection to the university. This connection may be about the culture, a personal experience with the school, a visit, or a talk with an admissions officer. If you have not had the opportunity to visit, perhaps there are student support systems that appeal to you or alumni you look up to.

Duke’s Optional Supplemental Essays

Duke offers two optional supplemental essay prompts. Here is the first:

Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)

Some keywords to pay attention to in this prompt are diversity, perspective, experiences, community, cultural background. This supplement essay is intentionally broad so that everyone should be able to answer it. Duke wants to see that you have your own perspective that you will bring to the university community.

You can use this essay to discuss an ethnic, cultural, or religious identity you belong to. Some students may feel their identities do not say anything special about who they are – but that’s okay. If you find that these kinds of identities have not impacted you in a significant way, you can think of other communities you belong to that matter to you. Perhaps the city where you live shaped your identity, or maybe the school club you belong to shaped your way of thinking. No matter what your background is, you should answer this optional essay. If you don’t, you are wasting an opportunity to make a case for yourself.

This essay is not a list of facts about yourself. You need to show how this background impacts your perspective. For this reason, it is a good idea to discuss both your past and your future, because the major takeaway from this essay is how you will use these experiences to diversify the incoming class. An easy structure to use for this kind of essay is (1) what it was like having this background, (2) how it affected you, and (3) how this will affect your experience at Duke. For example, you may say growing up in a Hispanic household taught you the importance of family and community. Then, you can discuss how to plan to promote that culture with students at the university.

Of course, it should offer a perspective not offered anywhere else on your application. Therefore, if you wrote about a certain part of your identity as the topic for your personal essay, choose a different aspect of your life for this essay.

Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about your identity, you can do so here, or use any previous essay prompt you feel is appropriate. (250 words maximum)

This essay has a similar purpose to the last essay. If you choose to answer it, make sure that you do not make the same point in both essays. Again, what is important for this essay is not that you have a certain identity, but that you show how it has informed your perspective. This perspective that you talk about – whether it is your passions, values, future plans – does not need to be something you are fully certain of. Your response here can be more reflective. You can talk about different possibilities or how you hope to change in the future. For both these optional essays, what is important is that you demonstrate genuine reflection on your background or identity.

You may feel that this essay is not applicable to you, or that you are uncomfortable answering it. It is fine that you skip this optional question. The first optional essay serves a similar purpose, so do not worry as long as you fill that one out.

Key takeaways on Duke University supplemental essays

For all of these Duke supplements, what matters more than the identity you chose is how you explain the effect your identity had on you. In other words, do not simply write about your cultural heritage or involvement in a community without explaining how it shaped you. Similarly, the “Why Duke” essays cannot be answered by only saying things about Duke. Ultimately, the question is why you think you belong at the university. Always relate whatever it is you are talking about back to yourself. By showing passions and purpose – that is how you stand out from other students on these essays.

Finally, clarity and conciseness are essential. Take advantage of the space you have and do more with less. Preparation and trying to understand the reasons Duke appeals to you will make the writing process easier and the essay better. If you genuinely are interested in going to Duke, you should have good reasons, and take the time to find the right words for them. The more convinced you are, the more passionate and authentic your writing will come across.

FAQs related to Duke essays

How many supplemental essays does duke have.

Duke requires one supplement essay and offers two optional ones. The required essay is 200-words and the optional ones are 250-words each.

Should I answer the Duke optional essays?

Yes, you should take advantage of more opportunities to make your case. Many approaches can be taken for the first optional essay. However, you may find that the second optional essay is inapplicable to you or you may be uncomfortable answering it. If you find it difficult to answer, you probably should not.

When do the Duke supplemental essays come out?

The latest versions of Duke’s supplemental essays come out sometime around mid-August. The essay prompts for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle have been released on Duke’s website .

How do you stand out to Duke?

Be genuine. These Duke writing supplements are not only about qualifications but about finding people who really care about the university. If you like the university, find out how to express and explain it. Connect everything you talk about (what you like about Duke, your background) back to yourself.

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Browse the topics below for more information and frequently asked questions about Duke’s admissions process.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re a new member of Duke’s Class of 2028, visit the admitted student page for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

How is Duke addressing systemic racism on its campus and within its community?

Duke is fully committed to addressing systemic racism on our campus and setting an example for our nation and the world. The University recognizes that its efforts will need to be focused and sustained, with clear goals and transparency as we work toward them.  Visit anti-racism.duke.edu to visit the central repository of information about the University’s anti-racism work, including data regularly collected and publicized to monitor our progress, details of new and ongoing programs, research highlights, and educational and training materials for wider use across the Duke community.

What is Duke's stance on peaceful protests?

Duke has always valued active and responsible engagement in civic life among its students and applicants. We will always consider all applicants fully and individually, and ever part of the application, including disciplinary sanctions, in the unique context of the applicants themselves and the values of the institution we represent, which include civic and personal responsibility. An applicant’s participation in peaceful protests has never been a reason for us to deny or rescind an offer of admission.

Will Duke be test-optional for applicants in 2023?

Duke University will be test-optional for both first-year and transfer applicants in the 2023-24 admissions cycle.

Students who apply without SAT or ACT scores this year will not be at a disadvantage in our consideration of their applications. Our decisions are based on a student’s comprehensive application materials, with or without test scores. We will continue to consider SAT and ACT scores as part of the application of students who choose to submit them and will accept self-reported scores for purposes of assessing an application. Scores sent from testing agencies will be required from those students only if they enroll at Duke.

We do not require SAT Subject Tests, but we will consider those scores, along with other scores like AP and IB, if you choose to report them. Please note if you choose to not have your scores considered, we will not suppress SAT Subject Test scores or AP scores if they are already on file with Duke.

Duke CEEB Code: 5156

HOW SHOULD I DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE MY SAT OR ACT CONSIDERED?

The decision of whether or not to have your SAT or ACT considered is entirely yours. Choosing not to have SAT or ACT scores considered will not impact your admissions decision. You may wish to consult our  ADMISSIONS PROFILE for students admitted to Duke in previous years as a guide. If you’re still uncertain, you may wish to opt-out of having your scores considered when you apply because you will be able to opt-in later.

How do I let Duke know I plan to apply test optional? Can I change my mind?

You will indicate on your application whether or not you want your SAT or ACT scores considered.

If you elect to have your scores considered, you may report those scores on your application or later through your application portal, and/or you may have official scores sent by the testing agency. You will not be able to change from “Yes, consider my scores” to “No, do not consider my scores” once you have submitted your application. If you choose to have your scores considered but never report them, we will assess your application without scores.

If you elect NOT to have test scores considered, you will not need to report any scores. If you already have SAT or ACT scores on file with Duke those scores will be suppressed. If you change your mind and decide you would like your scores considered, you have until November 30 for Early Decision or January 25 for Regular Decision to change your preference and self-report scores on your application portal.

Early Decision candidates whose applications are deferred who originally chose not to have their scores considered may change their preference by January 25 and self-report scores on their application portal. We will then consider the scores in our Regular Decision review.

What happens if I already reported my scores to Duke when I took the SAT/ACT but don’t want them considered?

Duke’s application supplement will ask if you would like to have your scores considered or not. If you choose not to have your scores considered, they will be suppressed during the selection process.

IS DUKE TEST-OPTIONAL FOR EVERYONE?

In the 2023-24 cycle, we will be test-optional for Regular and Early Decision applicants, including international students and students who wish to be considered for our merit scholarships. We will also be test-optional for transfer applicants. Some exceptions may apply for ROTC scholarship applicants.

IF I CHOOSE NOT TO SUBMIT TEST SCORES, WILL I BE ELIGIBLE FOR MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS?

Students who choose not to submit testing will be eligible to receive Duke’s merit scholarships. 

I AM PLANNING TO APPLY FOR A ROTC SCHOLARSHIP, IS TESTING OPTIONAL?

To be considered for a National Air Force, Army, or Navy ROTC Scholarship, applicants are required to submit  ACT or SAT to those scholarship programs.

Please check with the specific Duke Detachment you are considering for more details. Contact information may be found here .

If I take both the SAT and ACT, do I need to send both scores to Duke? What about multiple scores?

We will always consider your highest score regardless of test type or test date, and you are welcome to send us SAT scores, ACT scores or both. Applicants may choose the Score Choice option for the SAT and choose to submit scores from specific ACT test dates. We do NOT require applicants to submit all of their test scores–just the ones necessary to fulfill the testing requirement. Students may self-report their scores on their applications.

If I take the ACT, can I also submit SAT Subject Tests?

Although we do not require or expect SAT Subject Test scores from candidates who take the ACT, we do accept them and will consider them as an additional demonstration of subject proficiency.

Will it hurt my candidacy to take standardized tests multiple times?

No. However, standardized testing should not become one of your extracurricular activities! We’d rather see you spend your time pursuing your curiosities and interests, and most students don’t see significant score improvements beyond their second or third sitting for a given test.

SHOULD I SUBMIT SAT SUBJECT TESTS?

SAT Subject Tests have been discontinued. Duke does not require students to submit Subject Tests, but if you choose to report them, we will consider them as one of many factors in our review of your application. Please note, if you choose to not have your scores considered, we will not suppress SAT Subject Test scores or AP scores if they are already on file with Duke.

If I took the SAT or ACT before high school, can I use these scores in my application?

No. Only testing that is taken in high school will be considered in the admissions process.

If I have taken Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations, what role do those scores play in the admissions process? Should I report those scores officially?

We value those scores when available as demonstrations of subject mastery to complement your academic transcripts. You should self-report these scores in your application. We will require an official score report from students who matriculate at Duke who wish to use those scores for credit or placement.

I had my test scores sent to Duke before I applied. Why don't I see them in my Duke Application Checklist?

If your test scores were released to Duke prior to submitting an application, you have elected to have your scores considered, and you only recently applied, please allow several business days for us to connect your scores to your application materials. If after that point your scores are not displayed on your checklist, and you have verification from the testing agency that they’ve been received, you may call our office or send us an email. We will investigate and then respond to your inquiry.

We will suppress scores for students who elect NOT to have scores considered, so you will not see them on your checklist.

How will changes to my school’s instruction and grading in response to COVID-19 affect my application?

Duke uses a holistic process in evaluating applications and considers your school context and opportunities available to you in our assessment. In regards to courses and grades since the onset of COVID, including courses graded pass/fail, we understand that school policies are beyond a student’s control, though we expect you to make the choices that best suit your circumstances. If you are given the choice, we prefer you choose letter grades over pass/fail grades so that we have a better understanding of your comparative performance in a class. We also understand, however, that COVID and other circumstances affect students differently. You and/or your school counselor may explain those circumstances in your application to provide additional context for your academic performance.

When I apply, do I have to select a specific program?

When you apply to Duke, you must apply to either the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering. The application will also ask you to indicate your preliminary academic interests so we can get to know you intellectually. Please refer to the overview of Trinity and Pratt as well as their majors and minors if you have questions about the best program for your interests. It is not easier or harder to be admitted to one program or another; pick the school and academic fields that best match your interests.

Does Duke offer preprofessional majors?

Because of Duke’s core commitment to a liberal arts education, Duke does not offer pre-medicine, prebusiness, or prelaw majors, minors, or certificates. Instead, we offer a number of robust preprofessional advising resources through the Office of Health Professions Advising , Pre-business Advising , and Pre-law Advising . While offering superior preparation for preprofessional school and tremendous flexibility to pursue their studies, opportunities for our students are endless. Our medical school and law school acceptance rates are 85% and 98%, respectively, and many of our alumni go on to be leaders in medicine, business, and law. Duke does not offer a 7-year medical, law, or MBA program.

The Duke University Career Center also provides students with counseling and networking opportunities that encourages personal, educational, and professional development.

Does Duke accept Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) credits?

Duke recognizes Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate work and grants a limited amount of elective credit and placement into advanced courses.

Entering students who have completed internationally recognized college-level examinations with high scores will receive international placement credit in essentially the same way that credit is awarded for AP and IB exams.

Duke’s current AP/IB credit policy for Trinity College of Arts and Sciences can be found  HERE  and for the Pratt School of Engineering can be found  HERE . Given the changes in exams as a result of COVID-19, Duke academic officials are currently reviewing their policies and practices, and there may be some adjustments to how exams from 2020 are used for placement. Please know that our first priority is student success: Duke wants to ensure that students are well prepared for the rigor of the classes in which they will enroll.

Does Duke consider students with a GED?

Duke considers students with GEDs in both our first-year and transfer admission processes.

How can I decide between Early Decision and Regular Decision?

Apply Early Decision if …

• Duke is your first choice
• You’re ready to apply by November 1
• You’ve completed your initial standardized testing by November 1
• Your family is comfortable with their anticipated financial commitment
• You’re willing to commit to enroll if admitted

Apply Regular Decision if …

• Another college is your top choice, or you haven’t yet determined a top choice
• You want more time to finalize your application
• You want to take additional standardized tests
• You want to be able to compare different schools’ financial aid packages
• You want to see what merit scholarships you might be awarded, at Duke and elsewhere

Other things to consider …

• There is an advantage, at least statistically, in applying Early Decision
• It is unlikely that one additional semester of grades will improve your chances of admission if you wait to apply Regular Decision
• Your financial aid award will be the same regardless of whether you apply Early or Regular
• In some cases we may release families from the Early Decision commitment for financial reasons

Can I apply to any other schools early if I apply to Duke in Early Decision?

Students can apply to any other colleges through regular, rolling or early programs as long as they comply with the requirements of both schools. Students cannot apply simultaneously to more than one binding program, and we ask our applicants to respect not only their binding agreement with us if admitted, but also to honor agreements with restrictive early action schools.

Is there an advantage to applying through the Early Decision program?

There is an advantage in the admissions process to applying Early Decision. In 2022-2023, we admitted 16.5% of students who applied Early Decision and 5.2% of students who applied Regular Decision. There is no financial aid advantage or disadvantage in applying Early Decision and we meet full demonstrated need, but students who wish to compare different schools’ financial aid packages should apply Regular Decision.

How do I commit to attend Duke without knowing if my family can afford it?

Duke commits to meeting full demonstrated financial need for every admitted student, and there is no financial aid advantage or disadvantage in applying Early Decision. You can learn a great deal about our financial aid practices and get an estimate of your financial aid award by using the Net Price Calculator on our Financial Support website . If you are admitted and fill out the required forms by the appropriate deadlines, you will receive your need-based financial aid package at the same time you receive your admissions decision.

In the rare instances when students ultimately cannot afford to attend Duke, they may be released from the binding Early Decision commitment after discussions among the family, the Financial Support Office, and the Admissions Office.

Does Duke have a "gap year" or deferred enrollment policy?

As you prepare for college, you may want to explore other interests such as personal and professional development, religious or mission work, travel, or required military service. If your gap year, or “deferred enrollment,” is approved and you adhere to the gap year conditions, we hold your place in the following year’s class. Students who defer their enrollment are expected to enroll at Duke at the end of their gap year.

Duke offers two options for students who plan to defer their enrollment: the  DUKE GAP YEAR PROGRAM , a selective program that offers community and the possibility of funding to support eligible gap year experiences, and independent gap years.

Note: In general, Duke students do a one-year gap, but depending on the request, we can approve up to two years.

To request a gap year/deferred enrollment:

• Enroll at Duke University through your student portal (no deposit required).
• Apply to the Duke Gap Year Program or request an independent gap year on your student portal. The forms will open in the spring.

If Participant’s request for a gap year is approved, Participant must agree to the following Terms and Conditions, and Participant’s parent/guardian must acknowledge that Participant has agreed to these Terms and Conditions and to support Participant in doing so:

• Participant will not apply for admission as a degree-seeking student to any other college or university during the remainder of this year or during the coming year.
• Participant will not enroll as a full-time student or degree-seeking student at another college or university during your gap year.
• If Participant chooses to take any college courses for Duke credit, Participant understands and acknowledges that Duke will only recognize the credits in accordance with relevant Duke policies.
• Participant will not enroll in a post-graduate program at a secondary school.
• Participant will abide by the Conditions of Application that Participant agreed to when Participant applied to Duke and the conditions contained in Participant’s letter of admission to Duke.
• Participant is required to maintain high standards of academic performance and personal behavior in and out of school, as mentioned in the letter of admission to Duke University. This includes abiding by our  Community Standard .
• If there is any change in the information Participant provided in Participant’s application to Duke—including any academic, personal, disciplinary, or legal matters—Participant agrees to contact the Duke admissions office within 48 hours.

You can learn more about gap year options on our gap year page .

What is the Duke Gap Year Program?

Students who wish to participate in Duke’s intentional gap year community are invited to apply to the Duke Gap Year Program. Applicants to the DGYP may request between $5,000 and $15,000 in funding to support eligible gap year experiences. DGYP participants must adhere to the gap year conditions and fulfill a few other requirements, including but not limited to contributions to the DGYP  BLOG  and  INSTAGRAM  account. Applications open in the spring.

Remember: if you do not apply or are not admitted to the DGYP, you can still request an independent gap year on your student portal.

READ MORE ABOUT THE DUKE GAP YEAR PROGRAM

Does Duke have campus police?

At Duke, we strive to provide a safe and secure campus that allows for as much individual freedom as possible. Our safety programs and security initiatives at Duke include an on-campus police force with round-the-clock patrol, a locking system for residence halls 24 hours a day and using Duke cards for entry, emergency notification systems, and hundreds of “help phones” located around campus. The Duke University Police Department provides round the clock security services to Duke’s campus and the medical center. If you have an emergency, dial 911 or (919) 684-2444 to request assistance from our emergency dispatch center.

Where can I find information about campus safety?

The Annual Clery Security Report for Duke includes specific policies concerning campus safety and security, as well as statistics for the previous three years. A copy of this report can be obtained by contacting the Duke Police Department at (919) 684-4602 or by accessing the report online . The pertinent statutory authority is at 34 CFR Part 668.41 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports include institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, and statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Duke University and adjacent public property, and fires that occurred in residence halls. A copy is available online or upon request to the Duke Police Department at 919-684-4602.

A printed report is available by visiting the Records Division, Duke University Police Department, 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708, or by calling (919) 684-4602.

What is Duke's alcohol policy?

While drinking alcohol is not uncommon among American undergraduates nationwide, Duke has clear expectations and strict policies about breaking state laws and university rules. Breaking the rules has serious consequences.

WHAT IS DUKE’S SMOKING POLICY?

As part of our commitment to the Healthy Duke initiative and to creating a healthy living and working environment, Duke is smoke-free on all property and grounds owned and leased by Duke University.

How do I get involved in athletics at Duke?

Our 27 Division 1 teams generate incredible school spirit. Students can attend all sporting events for free. If you have questions about the recruitment process for Division 1 teams, please visit goduke.com .

Sport Clubs provide the opportunity to participate in organized sport and competitive activities. Each Sport Club is composed of individuals who share a common interest in recreation sport and organize to collectively pursue their goals to either compete locally or at the national level. While previous experience in the sport you choose is helpful, it is not required. Our Sport Clubs are inclusive, which means there are no tryouts or cuts made.

Whether you’re a competitive sports enthusiast or looking for a source of exercise, Duke’s Intramural Sports Program provides a wide variety of activities. Compete with friends and colleagues or sign up as free agents. There are no additional fees to participate.

Does Duke consider demonstrated interest in making its decisions?

Like many things in the admissions process–it’s a little complicated.

“Demonstrated interest” as most people use the term is not a plus factor in our process.  Students don’t need to visit the campus, and we discourage students from contacting the Admissions Office in order to demonstrate their interest in us. There is no benefit to emailing or meeting your regional admissions officer. 

What we do recommend is that students take the time to explore what Duke has to offer them in light of their hopes and expectations for college, and to think carefully about why there may be a good match between them and us. That will allow them to write a thoughtful and detailed answer to our essay on this subject. Our experience is that students who have fully investigated Duke, whether virtually or in person, are better able to articulate why Duke is a good match for them. We do our best to make enough information about Duke available to everybody.

If you want a term to use for what we look for, you could say that applicants should be able to communicate their “demonstrated knowledge” through their application rather than their “demonstrated interest” through the number of times they have visited, met, or contacted us. 

Our list below will give some suggestions for how students can learn about any college, not just Duke, including those that place weight on “Demonstrated Interest.”

How can I learn about a college, and then show a college that it’s a good match for me? How can I enhance my “demonstrated knowledge?”

Get on the college’s mailing list. 

• Admissions offices still communicate primarily through email, and will let you know about application or scholarship deadlines, information about programs they’re hosting, and news about the college that way.

Consider creating an email account just for the college admissions process.

• If you use email a lot, or don’t review your email very often, consider creating an email account just for this process. That will help you in not missing important information

Attend virtual events or information sessions sponsored by the colleges you’re interested in.

• One positive result of the pandemic is the strong shift to virtual programs. No matter where you are, you can attend. Colleges do their best to make them informative and interesting.

Take a virtual tour of the campuses you’re interested in.

• We know it’s hard, sometimes impossible, to manage campus visits these days. Many colleges offer virtual tours. While they’re not the same as being there, they can give you a sense of the place. And colleges are working to improve them to make them more authentic reflections of the place.

If a college offers a virtual admissions interview, either as part of the application or separately, you should sign up. 

• It’s a great way for them to get to know you as an individual and for you to show how much thought you’ve given to that college.

Explore the college websites. 

• There is so much information there, including a lot geared towards current students that will give you insight into the college. Give yourself some time to explore.

Many colleges ask you why you’re interested as part of their application. Be well prepared to answer this question in some detail and with thought. 

• Make lists of everything that appeals to you in the colleges you’re considering. Dig into what you’re looking for in any college, and how that particular college meets your needs. Don’t just talk about what everyone knows about the college; think about the specific match between you and the college.

Don’t worry about visiting the campus if you can’t afford it or if it’s too far away! 

• Admissions offices understand that college visits take time and resources, both of which can be hard to come by. But if the campus is close, and you have the means to visit on a one-day trip, try to do that. You’ll learn a lot, including how accurately the college presents itself online.

If there is a link in an email that the college sent you, and it looks interesting to you, click on the link and see where it leads you. 

• While recent developments will make it harder for colleges to see if you’ve opened or read their emails, they will still be able to tell if you’ve clicked on links. Colleges that closely track “demonstrated interest” will notice this.

Will applying for financial aid hurt my chances of admission to Duke?

No. For U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens, an applicant’s need for financial aid, or the fact that a student has applied for financial aid, will not disadvantage a student in the admissions process. Students needing financial assistance are strongly encouraged to apply for aid at the same time as for admission. Please go to the Financial Aid website for more information.

When will I receive my financial aid package?

Admitted students who submit all the required forms by the financial aid deadline (November 1 for Early Decision; February 1 for Regular Decision) will receive their financial aid package at the same time as their offer of admission.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

2 Strong Duke Essay Examples

With a very low acceptance rate, Duke is one of the most competitive U.S. colleges to get into. Alongside killer stats, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation, admissions officers are looking for engaging, concise, and thorough essays to put you over the top.

In this post, we’ll share a Duke essay written by a real student and analyze what it did well and where it could be improved. Hopefully, you can take away some insight that will help you write your Duke essays.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Duke essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Duke Pratt School of Engineering Essay Example – Why Engineering?

Prompt:   If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as a first year applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke (250 words).

One Christmas morning, when I was nine, I opened a snap circuit set from my grandmother. Although I had always loved math and science, I didn’t realize my passion for engineering until I spent the rest of winter break creating different circuits to power various lights, alarms, and sensors. Even after I outgrew the toy, I kept the set in my bedroom at home and knew I wanted to study engineering. Later, in a high school biology class, I learned that engineering didn’t only apply to circuits, but also to medical devices that could improve people’s quality of life. Biomedical engineering allows me to pursue my academic passions and help people at the same time.

Just as biology and engineering interact in biomedical engineering, I am fascinated by interdisciplinary research in my chosen career path. Duke offers unmatched resources, such as DUhatch and The Foundry, that will enrich my engineering education and help me practice creative problem-solving skills. The emphasis on entrepreneurship within these resources will also help me to make a helpful product. Duke’s Bass Connections program also interests me; I firmly believe that the most creative and necessary problem-solving comes by bringing people together from different backgrounds. Through this program, I can use my engineering education to solve complicated societal problems such as creating sustainable surgical tools for low-income countries. Along the way, I can learn alongside experts in the field. Duke’s openness and collaborative culture span across its academic disciplines, making Duke the best place for me to grow both as an engineer and as a social advocate.

What the Essay Did Well

A strength of this essay is how it grows in specificity as it progresses, and in college-essay-writing, specificity is key. In the first paragraph, there’s a smooth yet concise transition from a general childhood fascination with engineering to a more mature and specialized field of interest. We learn more and more about this student, almost in layers; first we learn they loved math and science, then engineering, and then biomedical engineering. In every sentence, each of this student’s personal qualities and traits builds off of the one before it, adding more dimension and nuance to their character.

In shifting from her past experiences to Duke’s academic offerings, this student uses their similarly interdisciplinary natures to connect the two. This penchant for smooth, concise transitions is an especially important asset when working with a sub-300 word limit. This applicant chose Duke-specific opportunities to discuss, giving no generic desires for “great professors,” a “top” program, or empty appeals to emotion (“The campus just felt like home!”)

The final sentence serves to nicely tie the essay up, re-affirming the student’s personal qualities and how they suit the student for Duke, personally and academically.

What Could Be Improved

This essay could be made stronger with some improvements to the second paragraph. When including Duke opportunities they want to take part in, this student tells us “ I am fascinated by ,” and it “ interests me ,” but this is fairly basic writing. The reader shouldn’t have to be told about your interest and excitement over something; it should jump off the page.

Rather than telling us they are fascinated by interdisciplinary research, they could write something like this: “ I’d take the thrill of finding connections between two seemingly unrelated topics, knee-deep in library archives, over the drop on the Kingda Ka rollercoaster.”  Notice how this sentence doesn’t explicitly say anything about how they find research fascinating, but by describing it as a more thrilling experience than a rollercoaster, the reader gets a strong visual of the student’s passion.

Another thing missing from this essay is the  why behind this student’s interest in helping others. They clearly flush out their motivation for pursuing engineering, but they never explain what draws them into being a social advocate. Throwing in how they want to “ improve people’s quality of life “, “ create sustainable  surgical tools for low-income countries “, and be a “ social advocate ” has little impact if we don’t understand the importance. A sentence or two that provides background on this student’s compassionate side and where it originated from or what it looks like in action would help bring more weight to their claims of becoming a social advocate.

Duke Essay Example – Why Duke?

In the last six years, my community has been disconnected from the national grid. The result? I watched my mother spend so much money on fuel and patronizing nearly every generator technician in town so we could access electricity. I developed the habit of going to my tutorial centers with my phone charger, hoping that by some streak of luck, the generator would be on. However, with Duke’s minor in Energy Engineering, all these could become things of the past. I especially look forward to courses like ENERGYER 310: INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY GENERATION and ENERGYER 490:RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, which will equip me with the knowledge I need to design cheap and environmentally friendly energy systems.

Outside the classroom, I hope to contribute to Duke’s mission of supporting positive change worldwide by participating in some of Duke’s signature programs, especially the Duke engage gateway program. I am a big fan of math competitions and math in general. As a result, I worked with some of my friends in 2019 to set up a math enrichment organization for high schoolers. I plan to someday have the Duke engage program work with our organization to help provide STEM classes and encourage hand on design projects among Nigerian high school students. I look forward to the academically challenging classes, interactions with strangers, and all the other things that come with being a blue devil.

This essay, which is responding to a textbook example of the “Why This College?” prompt, does a nice job of clearly explaining this student’s motivation for pursuing the specific opportunities at Duke they mention. Because of the story at the beginning about what this student and their mother went through to access energy, the reader understands the personal connection this student has to energy engineering. That personal connection, coupled with the fact the student names specific energy engineering classes at Duke, proves that their interest in the subject is genuine.

The student’s discussion of the Duke engage program is also backed with a personal story that deepens the connection between their past experiences and the things they hope to accomplish at Duke. Rather than just saying they want to join the engage program because they like creating positive change, their description of creating a “math enrichment organization” in high school shows Duke admissions officers that they have already embodied that value of making the world a better place.

One way this essay could be improved would be to more empathetically drive home the theme of making the world a better place. Between this student’s passion for bringing energy solutions to their community and helping Nigerian students access STEM resources, they clearly have a genuine desire to be a force for positive change. Right now, however, the essay feels somewhat like two distinct anecdotes stuck together, rather than a cohesive story focusing on this aspect of their personality, with Duke-specific opportunities woven into that story.

Centering the essay on this quality would shift the focus from the programs at Duke, and how the student fits into them, to the student’s personality, and how Duke aligns with it. It might seem like a subtle difference, but the result would be an essay that both flows naturally and highlights the student’s admirable character.

How would the student go about making this change? The essay could start with a sentence that shows us their passion for helping others in general, rather than in the context of their local power grid of the math organization they cofounded. This line could be quite simple, for example: “ ‘To help others!’ That’s how I answered my mom every year when she asked what I wanted for my birthday. ” 

Then, the student could move into talking about the helplessness they felt not being able to fix the power grid, and how that feeling motivated them to pursue energy engineering. Their story would continue by transitioning into a discussion of how they hope to help people in a variety of ways, not just by improving their access to electricity. They could cite their math organization as an example of another way they’ve worked to make people’s lives better, and demonstrate their commitment to that organization by describing how they hope to grow it with the skills they learn from the Duke engage program.

This version of the essay, by centering on their personality from start to finish, would feel more cohesive, while still incorporating why the student wants to attend Duke specifically.

Where to Get Your Duke  Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Duke essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Duke University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 2

You Have: 

Duke University 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One required 250-word essay and two optional 250-word essays Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Communit y , Diversity

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you?  If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit)

Admissions is truly asking you to do your homework here. What do you make of Duke and why do you want to go there? This space is a wonderful opportunity for you to summarize the aspects of a Duke college experience that call to you and to address your personal connection to this elite school. Were you able to tour campus last year? What drew you in? What part of campus could you see yourself hanging out in? Where do you see yourself studying for exams? Admissions knows that Duke is a prestigious university, with impressive alumni to boot, so make sure to personalize your answer. Instead of showering Duke with compliments, focus on how Duke has attracted your interest and how you hope an education at Duke will prepare you to accomplish your goals—academic and otherwise.

We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. Feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application.  Four optional questions are available – a maximum of 2 can be selected.

Please select 0 – 2 optional essay topics. (respond in 250 words or fewer.), 1) perspective response, 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..

Admissions wants to know what you will contribute to the Duke community. What has shaped you as a person and how has that made your perspective unique? What lessons have you learned and applied? What can you share with others? Is there anything you can teach your classmates or peers about your hometown, culture, religion, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? Duke wants to know how your personal perspectives, beliefs, and/or lived experiences will affect the conversations you have and the ways in which you engage with the Blue Devil community, so tell them a story that helps them to imagine the kind of student you’ll be on campus next fall.

2) Intellectual experience

Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating..

It’s no surprise that Duke is hoping to invite students to campus who are excited about learning, so take this opportunity to geek out about an awesome learning experience you had recently. Maybe you were given permission to write your research paper on a historic event that has always amazed you and, through that project, you were able to deepen your understanding of the complex social hierarchies during the Qin dynasty. Perhaps you had the opportunity to take a class or seminar with a thought leader you really admire or you went on a reading retreat that expanded your horizons. Whatever it may be, this is the perfect place to show admissions your passion for intellectual endeavors.

3) Beliefs & values

We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with what are you agreeing or disagreeing about.

This prompt is an inquiry: how do you communicate with others about difficult topics and issues? Duke wants to foster the kind of learning environment that encourages respectful discussions about beliefs and values, so tell them about someone you speak with about issues you hold dear to your heart. Maybe it’s a mentor in your life, who you consult when you feel overwhelmed by current events. Do they provide reassurance that you’re on the right path? Perhaps it’s a family member who tends to disagree with your worldview and vision for a better future. How do you approach these complex conversations? Have you ever questioned what you believe in, or perhaps, discovered a new perspective you hadn’t considered before? How have you become a better listener or speaker because of these chats? Don’t forget to mention the topic or issue of importance here, so you can also give admissions insight into what you care about.

4) Being different

We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you..

We have all felt different from those around us at some point in our lives, and with this prompt, admissions is inviting you to talk about your lived experiences. Perhaps you are one of few South Asian students at your Midwestern high school, and that difference has led you to explore your heritage and connect with family members overseas to better understand what it means to be you. Maybe you have lived with a physical disability for as long as you can remember; how have the ways you move through the world and take up space impacted the way you interact with your surroundings and vice versa? Whatever has kept you from “fitting in,” admissions knows that difference makes communities stronger, so invite them to learn a little bit about what it’s like to be you and what the world looks like through your eyes.

5) Orientation, identity, expression

Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community..

Duke was one of the first schools to embrace the subject of sexual orientation and gender identity in their essay questions, and this is yet another step in their overt attempt to recruit a truly diverse pool of applicants. They want you to know that they embrace all sexual orientations and gender expressions, so if you are open to discussing your identity, feel free to share your story. Note that this question will not be applicable to all students, so if you don’t have a relevant story to tell, we recommend responding to two of the other three prompts!

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How to write the duke university essays, updated for 2023-2024.

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit) – Required

Explanation:

This question is essentially a version of the “Why This College?” question. You should focus your answer on a specific class, lab, resource, or program that is of particular interest to you at Duke. What about Duke makes it the best fit for you and offers you the chance to do something that you could not do at any other university? Don’t write about the academics as a whole; instead dive deeper and do your homework about what you plan to take advantage of once on campus. Lastly, don’t forget to make this entry fun to read. No matter what you are saying, there is always an engaging way to say it!

Playing soccer for over fifteen years, I am grateful for the countless friendships I have forged. Unfortunately, many inevitably hang up their cleats after high school and adapt to a more sedentary lifestyle, one often accompanied by mental health struggles.

While soccer initially ignited my passion, promoting health and well-being has become a stronger calling. Working with our school doctor, I conducted a survey to yield insights into the prevalence of mental health challenges and sedentary behavior among students. Results highlighted barriers to physical activity, like lack of social connections. These insights helped shape school-wide strategies for encouraging healthier student lives.

Eager to continue learning “the Duke way,” I seek to cultivate my passion for Psychology and Neuroscience at Trinity, where I’ll study the neural influences on motivation and decision-making in neuroscience courses, and improve my understanding of the benefits of physical activity through courses like Exercise and Mental Health.

I look forward to continuing my wellness research through Duke’s Bass Connections, working on a project like Creating a Contemplative Community: The Impact of Mindfulness on Student Well-Being.

Much like soccer’s camaraderie, Duke’s community wonderfully emulates the team environment inside and outside of the classroom. From engaging FOCUS group seminars and dinners to contributing to the Blue Devil Wellness Exchange, I know I’ll feel right at home on campus. Although as a cheering fan on the sidelines, there’s no doubt in my mind I’ll still feel very much a part of the Blue Devil family.

We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. Feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application. Five optional questions are available – a maximum of 2 can be selected. (250 max)

Though Duke notes that the questions are optional, you should never pass up an opportunity to fortify your application.

1. Perspective response 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.

This supplement is asking all about your community. Which communities do you come from? What impact have they had on your views, beliefs, and experiences? Who and what has shaped you? This is a time to be transparent and honest—paint your readers an authentic, self-aware picture of yourself. We are all a product of our environments, so write about how some of the other key players have had an impact on your life. Remember, trying to impress admission officers will likely come off boastful, and groups like National Honors Society typically do not have a strong, meaningful community associated with them. Be honest, humble and tell readers something that they may not learn about you from the rest of your application. You may choose to define community traditionally—your sports team, classmates, religious youth group—or a bit more creatively—a fan group you are a part of, a geographic or linguistic community, an expatriate community—for example.

“Yoga is not about the shape of your body but the shape of your life.”

Every Sunday at 7 p.m., my yoga teacher welcomes our class to the mat with this quote.

Jenn, who is nearly seventy, leans into her down-dogs to my right and Nick, her nine-year old grandson, frequently lets out soft giggles as he cat-cows to my left. Just ten hours earlier, I leave soccer practice exhausted, ruminating on my coach’s instructions to set one physical goal for the coming week; shave our mile-time ten seconds, three long runs when last week he only imposed two… The list is always demanding, meant to push us to meet his exacting standards. There’s a method to his madness, and it has produced results for my team. We finished our last season as reigning state champions, bested only by Florida in the national finals last winter.

Yoga, on the other hand, has brought me the opposite gift: radical acceptance. You bring your present self to the mat day in and day out—linear progress is not the name of the game. Some days, Jenn slips into scorpion pose while Nick slips into a brief nap. Becoming a part-time yogi has taught me to meet my body, mind and my community where it is—a lesson that I will bring into this new chapter. As a member of the Duke community, I plan to be present, authentic, and teachable, knowing that accepting myself and others is the foundation for learning and growth.

2. Intellectual experience Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating.

This does not necessarily have to be written about a standard class in school – any ‘learning experience’ will do, in fact the more unique your subject matter of choice is, the better! In answering the question, be sure to both describe the experience and clearly convey why this experience fascinated you. What specifically about it piqued your interest? You want to demonstrate your passion vividly, so write with detail! Discuss how this experience impacted you intellectually and personally. Did it change your perspective, inspire new interests, or reinforce existing passions? Reflect on the knowledge or skills you gained as you explored this interest and how they might influence your future endeavors. Finally, explain how this intellectual experience aligns with your aspirations and goals as a student at Duke. Discuss how Duke’s resources, programs, or community can help you further explore or expand upon this intellectual experience.

Upon waking, I immediately roll over and grab my pen and notepad from my nightstand and begin scribbling, my eyes barely open. Growing up, I was obsessed with decoding dreams and uncovering the message behind their vivid imagery. Learning about lucid dreaming and REM sleep fueled my curiosity about the mind. Stacks of “Dream Dictionaries” littered my nightstand.

An avid podcast listener, I chanced upon “The Huberman Lab,” hosted by Andrew Huberman, a neuroscience professor at Stanford University. His engaging discussions unraveled the complexities of neurobiology and psychology, weaving them into practical insights for everyday life. As I spent hours soaking in each episode that revealed the neuroscience behind a new phenomenon—from dreams and memories to growth mindset and goal-setting—I was not only fascinated by Huberman’s endless knowledge, but how he made it accessible to the public, enabling anyone to apply his teachings and improve their own lives.

Drawing from the podcast’s wisdom, I initiated “Thriving Tools,” an educational series within my high school’s Psyched Club. This endeavor aimed to empower fellow students with science-backed strategies for improving memory, motivation, and effective learning. Friends’ successes—better sleep, information retention, and increased classroom confidence—were the ultimate reward.

I hope to continue these efforts of translating scientific understanding into tangible improvements in well-being through efforts with Duke Synapse and Bass Connections’ Brain in Society projects. As I step into the next phase of my academic journey at Duke, my aspiration remains steadfast: to help others live a healthier, more empowering life.

3. Beliefs & values We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?

You will need a strong personal anecdote to begin this essay, so take some time to reflect. Start by thinking about areas where you generally align with others. These could be political, ethical, or personal beliefs. Who are the people (your family, community, or public figure), with whom you find common ground? What specific issues or values do you share? Now explore instances where you hold differing views from those around you. Who are the individuals you have engaging debates or disagreements with? What topics or values are at the heart of these disagreements? Are they based on differing perspectives, experiences, or ideologies? Now reflect on how your beliefs and values have evolved over time. Have you changed your stance on certain issues? Have disagreements led to a deeper understanding or a willingness to consider different perspectives? The end goal when writing this supplement is to demonstrate growth and open-mindedness.

In our family of seven, my mother gave birth to five daughters, and the reaction is always the same: “Wow, your poor dad! 5 girls? He must have really wanted a son!” Initially, I responded with genuine curiosity, but as the refrain persisted, irritation set in.

“Why poor dad?” I questioned. Poor mom, I thought. The implication seemed to be that our father lacked a son for backyard catch. Yet, I challenged this notion.

Ironically, these same people assumed my name, “Jesse,” was short for “Jessica.” Swiftly, I corrected them: “No, it’s just Jesse.” Was the assumption due to my gender? I refused to be confined to the “Jessica” mold. I despised the color pink; capris, shorts, and sneakers were my preferred attire for impromptu soccer or volleyball during recess.

Growing up with four sisters, our household radiated empowerment, encouraging us to create, lead, play, and voice our opinions. It was within this supportive environment that I began to understand the misconceptions of society’s predetermined gender roles and constraints that women are placed within.

Simultaneously, I recognized my own inconsistency; my resistance to typical female roles clashed with my quick dismissal of “Jessica” and my pink projection of her, demonstrating my own predisposition for stereotyping.

As I continue my journey to dismantle these stereotypes, I strive to carry this empowerment forward. By fostering an environment that encourages everyone to defy rigid roles, acknowledge their own prejudices, and embrace their true selves, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse society.

4. Being different We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.

Begin by identifying the aspects of yourself that make you unique. These could be personal qualities, experiences, cultural background, or anything that sets you apart from others. Consider qualities and traits you have not already mentioned in other sections of your application or Duke essays. Consider how these unique aspects have influenced your values, beliefs, and outlook on life. Have they led to specific experiences or challenges that have shaped your character? Make sure to focus on one trait or characteristic only. Now use personal anecdotes to highlight your experiences in feeling ‘different’, and how they influenced you. Did you have a positive experience? What were your challenges? Did you build resiliency or empathy? Be sure to reflect on this learning experience and what embracing differences means to you. Finally, describe how your individuality can contribute to Duke’s community and enrich its culture.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Michaelson—I have an accommodation for extra time.”

I said the words as quietly as possible, looking around to ensure that none of my classmates were in earshot. For years, I felt ashamed of my dyslexia. My sisters are all neurotypical learners—they read voraciously and have always felt at home in the classroom. Their effortless understanding of new material often made me feel defective and unintelligent—I worried that the admission that I needed extra time or an audiobook option would make my peers think less of me.

However, that day in Mrs. Michaelson’s class during the first week of junior year, one lingering student heard my whispered acknowledgement. When I stepped into the hall, a bubbly classmate was waiting to greet me, letting me know that there was a group of students who had formed a community around their own neurodivergent learning styles and inviting me to join. Though I was hesitant at first, I eventually joined their lunch meeting and began participating in group chats and study sessions in which we would share resources and help each other grasp the material. Their zeal for learning and pride in their own unique ways of intaking information expelled the shame I had for my dyslexia. Now, I view my learning differences as an asset, a unique part of who I am, rather than an impairment.

5. Orientation, identity, expression Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.

Duke is very proud of its inclusive culture and they want students of all orientations to know they have a place on campus. If you feel as though there is a part of your story that you haven’t shared and would like to, here is your chance.

“We should only invite queer students to queer prom.”

The argument, lauded by many members of Gay Straight Alliance, diametrically opposed the reason I had proposed we host the event in the first place. Being a member of the queer community can easily be a siloed experience, and I wanted to invite allies to better understand the struggles that queer students face, while also sharing in the joy and diversity of what it means to be a queer student.

In the end, the event was a beautiful expression of solidarity from student allies as well as a fun event for all of the students who attended. Despite our initial disagreements, students who had intended to only allow queer students ended up seeing the value in coming together as a community. As a part of the event, we held a raffle to raise money for the Trevor Project, ultimately raising more than $5,000 for at-risk LGBTQ teens. By opening the event to everyone, we not only saw the positive impact of inclusivity on our own campus, but mobilized our community to help others in need.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, duke transfer process.

I've been thinking about transferring to Duke and I'm just a little bit stressed about the whole process. What should I be focusing on in my application and how competitive is it for transfer students? How can I make a strong impression on their admissions committee?

Transferring to a university like Duke can indeed be competitive, but with the right preparation and focus, you can maximize your chances.

First, make sure you maintain a high GPA at your current institution. While Duke does not require a minimum college GPA to submit a transfer application, the average accepted transfer student had a GPA of 3.9. So, aim high.

Essays are another crucial part of a transfer application. Duke typically requires a few supplemental essays in addition to the Common App transfer essay. When writing your essays, focus on your reasons for wanting to transfer to Duke and how the school can help you achieve your academic and personal goals. Be specific about programs, professors, or opportunities at Duke that align with your interests, and demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for joining their community. Keep your perspective positive, by highlighting your interest in Duke rather than speaking down on your current institution.

Duke also values extracurricular involvement, so continue participating in your chosen activities through your current college or community, and seek leadership opportunities if possible. Showing commitment to activities and interests outside the classroom at your current institution will give Duke admissions officers confidence that you'd do the same at theirs.

Letters of recommendation can also have an impact on your transfer application. Seek recommendations from professors at your current institution who can attest to your academic potential and your ability to thrive at Duke. They can give the admissions committee detailed insight into who you are as a student and person.

Additionally, keep in mind that Duke requires all of your college transcripts and high school transcripts, so make sure to request and submit these documents in a timely manner. Furthermore, even though Duke is currently test-optional for both first-year and transfer applicants, when applying to a school as competitive as Duke you want to have as many gold stars on your application as possible. So, if you took the SAT or ACT in high school, you'll likely want to submit your scores. Make sure you can access them well in advance - if your account was linked to your high school email, for example, you may need to do some digging to find them (but don't worry, they are still accessible).

Lastly, note that the transfer process at Duke is highly competitive. Their acceptance rate for transfer students is often even lower than their freshman acceptance rate. While this shouldn't deter you from trying, it's a good idea to apply to other schools as well to provide yourself with alternative options.

In summary, focus on your GPA, write strong and specific essays, maintain extracurricular involvement, gather solid letters of recommendation, and submit all required application materials in a timely manner. Doing so should help you make a strong impression on Duke's admissions committee and improve your chances of being accepted as a transfer student. Good luck!

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Duke Transfer Acceptance Rate and Requirements — 2024

December 13, 2023

In 2024, Duke University is as difficult to gain acceptance into as an Ivy League school. This school’s combination of world-class academics, a picturesque campus, and a passionate sports scene is hard to match. Therefore, it’s little surprise that 50,000+ teens apply each year and 94% of that group is ultimately turned away. However, if you were part of that 94%, the dream of becoming a Blue Devil still has a heartbeat. This blog will share the Duke transfer acceptance rate as well as other essential pieces of information like the Duke University transfer deadline, requirements, decision date, and much more.

Duke Transfer Acceptance Rate

Below we present the most current available Duke University transfer acceptance rate as well as historical data.

For entry in the fall of 2022, 2,126 students applied for transfer admission, and 89 were accepted. This means that the Duke transfer acceptance rate is 4.1%.

For entry in the fall of 2021, there were 1,679 transfer applicants and 81 individuals were accepted. This means that the Duke transfer acceptance rate was 4.8%.

When trying to get the complete picture of how difficult it is to transfer into a given school, it is important to look at historical data. Many schools have wild fluctuations in transfer acceptance rates from year to year. Yet, this is not the case here. As you can see, the Duke transfer acceptance rate has been consistently under 7% for the last five years.

Historical transfer rates are as follows:

Duke Transfer Deadline

The university offers only a fall transfer option. The Duke transfer deadline for fall applicants is March 15. If you are submitting supplemental art materials, they can be submitted between February 1 and March 15.

Duke Transfer Requirements

The Duke transfer requirements are as follows:

• Completed Common App for Transfer
• Final high school transcripts
• College transcripts
• SAT or ACT scores (optional in 2023-24)
• College Report
• Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a college instructor)
• Alumni interview (optional and available on a limited basis)
• Supplemental materials for exceptional talent in dance, theater, art, or music

Duke Transfer Acceptance Rate (Continued)

Students who have the best chance to gain admission to Duke have the following attributes:

• In the process of completing at least one full year of credits.
• Are rising sophomores. Duke admits a limited number of rising juniors as well.
• Earned exceptional grades in their first year at a community college or 4-year university.
• Possess special talents inside or outside of the classroom that set them apart from other high-achievers.

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.

Duke Transfer Writing Supplement

All transfer applicants must respond to the following four essay prompts.

• We would like to understand more about you and your academic path. Why and how did you choose your current or most recent college or university? What has changed since then, and what has led you to consider transferring? Please respond with an essay of between 1500 and 3600 characters.
• What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (1500 character max).

Duke University Transfer Acceptance Rate (Continued)

You can also answer between 0 and 2 of the following optional prompts (up to 1,650 characters each).

• 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.
• Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating.
• We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?
• We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.
• Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.

Duke Transfer Decision Date

The Duke University transfer decision date is in mid-May. However, they sometimes notify applicants earlier.

Final Thoughts – Duke University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Duke typically matriculates about 50 students per year, many of whom are looking for a more rigorous academic experience or major not offered by their previous institution. Although you can indicate your top three academic interests on the application, you will not be accepted to a specific major. Instead, you will be accepted to either the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences or Pratt School of Engineering , and will work with an advisor to obtain credit for previous coursework as well as choose a course of study. Furthermore, Duke offers robust support for transfers with programs like the Summer Transition Series and Project Transfer , a required experiential orientation program.

If you are dead set on leaving your current college, you’ll want to apply to other schools in addition to Duke University. Even if you have a 4.0, admission into Duke is far from a guarantee, so you’ll want to create a balanced list of institutions that include safety schools.

For more about the transfer experience at Duke, check out this article from The Chronicle , Duke’s independent news organization.

If you are looking for information on how to apply to Duke as a first-year student, you may find the following blogs to be of interest:

• How to Get Into Duke
• Duke Supplemental Essay Prompt and Tips

Those searching for application info on other institutions may wish to visit our Dataverse pages/blogs:

• Transfer Admissions Deadlines
• Transfer Acceptance Rates
• How to Complete the Transfer Common App

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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6 Duke Supplemental Essays That Worked for 2023

Getting into Duke University is difficult in 2023. But you make sure you have your best chances by writing great supplemental essays.

In this article, I've gathered 6 essays from admitted Duke students so you can get inspired.

What is Duke University's Acceptance Rate?

Duke University has highly competitive admissions, and this past year over 45,000 students applied to Duke. Duke had an overall acceptance rate of 4.8%.

Duke University Acceptance Scattergram

If Duke is your top choice school, then consider applying Early Decision. For the Class of 2026, the acceptance rate for ED admissions was 21.3%!

Regardless of if you apply regular or early, admissions to Duke is competitive. But that only means writing stellar essays matters even more.

What are the Duke University Supplemental Prompts for 2022-23?

This year Duke asks applicants to write one required essay of 200 words and two optional essays of 250 words each.

Here are the 2022-23 Duke writing supplement prompts:

• Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attracts you? (200 word limit)

We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. Feel free to answer them if you feel that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already expressed elsewhere in your application. If you have already addressed either or both of these questions in your application, please don’t worry about leaving them blank. We appreciate how much time it takes to fill out this and your other college applications.

• Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 word limit)

Duke University Nondiscrimination Statement

• Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about your identity in these areas, you can do so here or, if you feel you have adequately represented your gender and sexual orientation in other parts of your application, feel free to not respond to this prompt. (250 words maximum)

If you're serious about getting into Duke, you should definitely answer the second optional prompt.

Because everybody has a unique background, and this prompt is another opportunity to show admissions officers why you deserve admission.

6 Duke University EssaysThatWorked

Here are 6 of the best Duke essays that worked that respond to the writing supplement.

I've also included an example of a Common App personal statement essay from an admitted Duke student.

Let's get started and inspired writing great admissions essays like these.

• Duke University Essay Example #1
• Duke University Essay Example #2
• Duke University Essay Example #3
• Duke University Essay Example #4
• Duke University Essay Example #5
• Duke University Essay Example #6

#1. Duke "Diversity" Essay Example

Prompt: Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words max)

The pitter patter of droplets, the sweet smell that permeates throughout the air, the dark grey clouds that fill the sky, shielding me from the otherwise intense gaze of the sun, create a landscape unparalleled by any natural beauty. I have gazed upon the towering cliffs of Yosemite, stood next to Niagara falls as the water roars, succumbing to the power of gravity, and seen the beaches of Mexico basked in moonlight, yet none of these wonders compares to the simple beauty of an Arizona rainstorm. To me, our rain represents more than humidity and darkness; its rarity gives it beauty. The uncertainty of when the next day of rain will come compels me to slow down, and enjoy the moment.

Out of the three realms of time; past, present, and future, the present is the only one we can experience, and I take advantage of every moment I have. When I pause my running to enjoy a sunset that dazzles the sky with brilliant colors of purple and orange, when I touch my brush to a canvas and focus on my movements in the present, when I drive home after a long day of improving our robot, and decide to drive around my neighborhood to finish “Garota de Ipanema”, which just popped up from my playlist of 700 songs, I am taking advantage of the moment.

So next time it rains, step outside. Close your eyes. Hear the symphony of millions of water droplets. And enjoy the moment.

#2. Duke "Diversity" Essay Example

Prompt: We seek a diverse student body that embodies the wide range of human experience. In that context, we are interested in what you’d like to share about your lived experiences and how they’ve influenced how you think of yourself. (250 words max)

Ever since I can remember, the comforting lullabies my mother sang to me planted a deep seed in my mind. In my dreams, I began a journey for my identity to discover the hidden stories within those songs. Perhaps that's what led me to explore Hindustani music. "Sa-re-ga" encodes my ancestors' songs just like "do-re-mi." With this solfege, I began exploring a vocal part of my culture, collecting the keys to my identity.

Each song I learned further educated me about myths and legends that helped form who I am today.

When I face adversity in male-dominated activities, I remember Sita, who fought heroically in revolutionary conflicts hundreds of years ago. This has empowered me to believe in my talents and goals, whether I am doing research or organizing a STEM fair in my community. The character Arjuna, who became one of the best archers, taught me perseverance and a desire to learn from others. When chosen to fly to Denmark to play badminton with local clubs, I embraced this experience to play among outstanding competitors and to enhance my competitive abilities. As an Asian American, I am reminded by the Indian National Anthem that I am an American and an Indian.

I plan to bring my music and stories with me to college. The keyboard in my Duke dorm will ring with strong Hindustani notes. I hope to share with my dorm mates and friends the history of those heroes and the strength I gleam from them every day.

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#3. Duke "Why Engineering" Essay Example

Prompt: If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as a first-year applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (150 words max)

At Duke I was equally entranced by the articulate movements of 3D printers in the Co-Lab and the stunning Gothic architecture. Instead of forming a dichotomy, these aspects of Duke blended to symbolize its emphasis on interdisciplinary education, which will offer me a nuanced perspective of the world integral to becoming a leader in engineering.

I will join the Academy for Model Aeronautics and share my passion for designing drones, while taking fascinating courses such as “Taboo Markets” and “Banality of Evil”, while simultaneously working on an engineering project that improves real people’s lives in “Engineering Design”. By joining the Duke Robotics Club, I can expand upon my love for robotics, and I hope to write for the Duke Engineering magazine, as well as join the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. By drawing from this diverse range of educational experiences, I can become a leader in creating a better future.

#4. Duke Personal Statement Example: "Forest of Lights"

Common App Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (250-650 words)

The diamond leaves of gnarled oak trees throw spectrums of color onto mounds of frosty snow that gleam melancholily under the moonlight. The leaves chime as wind violently rustles them in a haunting melody. I splinter a leaf off its branch and inspect the shard of my illusion, eyes dancing with amusement.

As I dwell in my worries, a cold hand reaches from behind me and taps my shoulder.

I jerk away, fear bubbling in my amygdala as I look into the nonexistent eyes of my intruding visitor.

The moon illuminates a blob of pink squish as it draws back slowly, points its spindly hands towards my drink and asks: “Could I have some of that?”

The blob wipes its invisible mouth with its nonexistent sleeve. I ask: “What are you?”

The blob tells me to stop looking at it so suspiciously. “I can prove it,” It says. I tell it, please, go ahead.

Suddenly we are back in the glowing forest. “Diamonds? Pah!” The blob dismisses them. Instantly, the leaves turn solid gold, the snow melts, and the wintry world is thrown into a blistering summer.

The blob laughs heartlessly. “Your cortex is under my control,” it says smugly.

“I heard you had a question for me?” It taps its invisible ears knowingly.

The blob wriggles its invisible brows as it waits.

It smiles that wicked smile. It laughs that sinful laugh. Then that insufferable blob wakes me up.

As I sit up in the dark and rub my bleary eyes, I am vaguely aware of the deep­set unfulfillment settling itself inside me. I yawn and plop back into bed, the soft red glow of my alarm clock indicating that it is still before midnight.

Why This Essay Works:

One thing is for sure about this essay: it has a unique idea that has surely not been written before. Regardless of your topic, you want your essay to be unique in some way, even if it isn't as fantastical as this essay. You can use a unique structure, such as having central symbolism, metaphor, or being structured as a recipe, for example. But this can easily become "gimmicky" if it doesn't have a clear purpose. In general, the most effective way to have a unique essay is to focus on having deep and unique ideas and reflections. By focusing on interesting takeaways and connections that are ultra-specific to you and your experiences, your essay will standout regardless of the structure.

What They Might Improve:

This essay uses a lot of fiction-like writing that is fantastical and "flowery." Although moments of this kind of writing can make your essay more vivid, it is quite easy to end up with dense storytelling and descriptions that ultimately don't share anything interesting about you. The purpose of your essay is ultimately to learn about you: your values, your ideas, your identity, etc. By using dense story-like writing, it can be easy to lose focus of what admissions officers are looking for. In general, avoid writing "fancy" stories like this essay, unless you have a clear and distinct purpose for doing so. Everything in your essay should have a purpose in "going somewhere" (i.e. reaching interesting ideas and takeaways).

This essay is definitely creative, but lacks meaningful takeaways and ideas. By the end of the essay, we don't know much about the author besides the fact that they have an affinity for creative writing and are "on a search." Although the content is unique, the end result comes off as quite generic and surface-level because no interesting thoughts are explored deeply. The most interesting part of this essay is "I open my mouth and ask it my most crucial question," but this is super unsatisfying because the question is never divulged. Instead, the reader is teased by this fantasy story and the essay goes nowhere meaningful, which comes off as gimmicky and "creative for creative's sake," rather than deeply personal and interesting.

This essay ends on the idea of "continuing my search," but for what exactly? It is never explained, elaborated, or even implied (besides one reference to painting earlier). That makes this conclusion comes off as somewhat surface-level and uninteresting. Admissions officers won't care about "your search" unless they have a reason to care. That is, unless it tells something specific about you. On it's own, this idea of "exploring" and "searching" is meaningless because it is too broad and unelaborated.

#5. Duke Personal Statement Example: "Shadow-Box Stick Art"

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (250-650 words)

This essay shows a strong thinking ability because the author shows how they view the world differently than others. Specifically, the author is able to see something as mundane as fallen branches as an opportunity to create artwork. Showing how you view things differently is a great way to demonstrate your unique perspective. Another strategy is to think deeply about things that are often easily overlooked or things that are mundane on the surface. Everything can be reflected upon deeply, and doing so shows a strong thinking ability and level of thoughtfulness. Ask yourself: what do you see differently than others around you? What do you find fun that others find "hard"? What do you find fascinating that others find "boring"? What is something mundane in your life that you do, and what's the greater meaning behind it?

This essay uses a lot of narrative writing—that is, recounting of a specific story and moment. While most essays use storytelling, what most applicants get wrong is they describe unimportant details to the story. Don't write like a fiction book and describe everything in the scene, like what others were wearing, what people looked like, what the environment was, each small action that took place. This is a common mistake that students make in trying to write compelling stories, but it ends up with a lot of unnecessary details. This author shows how a story can still take up a lot of the essay, while also including interesting reflections throughout the story and making it purposeful by only including details that move the story forward.

This essay has a somewhat unexpected conclusion where the author connects to their significant accomplishment of starting and running a charity. Even though this is such a large and meaningful activity, the author chose to only write about it when it came in naturally and not make it the whole focus of the essay. Counterintuitively, by de-emphasizing your biggest accomplishments, they will seem more impactful and you will seem more ambitious. This is because students often try to showcase their achievements and make them the focal point, but instead if you have the attitude of, "Yeah, this is what I did, but really it is nothing in comparison to what I'm going to do" it makes your accomplishments even more impactful. You don't want to be nonchalant, but you do want to make your accomplishments small in comparison to your future goals and achievements, which will show both humility and ambition.

This essay is almost 100 words less than what is given. In general, you should try and make your essays as close to the word limit as possible. Why? Because you should have a lot to say and it should be a challenge to fit it all into your essay, not the other way around. Especially for personal statement essays, its almost always better to use most of the words. Being within 10-20 words of the limit is usually the target. In this essay, they could include further meaningful details that make their essay more vivid. They could describe what their "stick art" actually looks like, because it is hard for the reader to imagine since it is an obscure type of artwork. They could reflect on the impact of their charity: how many people did it help so far? What are their goals for the future of it? What have been challenges with it? Don't add words just to add words, however. As with everything, each sentence should be meaningful and have a clear purpose, but this essay could definitely use more words.

#6. Duke Personal Statement Example: "Kiki's Delivery Service"

Common App Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (250-650 words)

I spent much of my childhood watching movies. I became absolutely engrossed in many different films, TV shows, and animations. From the movie theatres to the TV, I spent my hours enjoying the beauty of visual media. One place that was special to me was the car. My parents purchased a special screen that could be mounted on the back of the headrest, so that I could watch movies on trips. This benefited both parties, as I was occupied, and they had peace. Looking back, I realize this screen played a crucial role in my childhood. It was an integral part of many journeys. I remember taking a drive to Washington D.C, with my visiting relatives from Poland, and spending my time with my eyes on the screen. I remember packing up my possessions and moving to my current home from Queens, watching my cartoons the whole time. I can comfortably say that watching movies in the car has been an familiar anchor during times of change in my life.

I used to watch many different cartoons, nature documentaries, and other products in the car, yet there has been one movie that I have rewatched constantly. It is called “Kiki’s Delivery Service” by Hayao Miyazaki. My parents picked it up at a garage sale one day, and I fell in love. The style of the animations were beautiful, and the captivating story of a thirteen year old witch leaving home really appealed to me. To be honest, the initial times I watched it, I didn’t fully understand the story but the magic and beauty just made me happy. Then, the more I watched it, I began to see that it was more about independence, including the need to get away from home and establish yourself as your own person. This mirrors how I felt during that period of my life,with mehaving a little rebellious streak; I didn’t agree with my parents on certain topics. That is not the end of the story though. As the years passed, and I watched it a couple more times, although with less frequency than before, my view of this movie evolved yet again.

Instead of solely thinking about the need for independence, I began to think the movie was more about the balance of independence and reliance. In the movie, the girl finds herself struggling until she begins to accept help from others. Looking back, this also follows my own philosophy during this time. As I began to mature, I began to realize the value of family, and accept all the help I can get from them. I appreciate all the hard work they had done for me, and I recognize their experience in life and take advantage of it. I passed through my rebellious phase, and this reflected in my analysis of the movie. I believe that this is common, and if I look through the rest of my life I am sure I would find other similar examples of my thoughts evolving based on the stage in my life. This movie is one of the most important to me throughout my life.

What Can You Learn From These Duke Essays?

If you're trying to get into Duke, writing great essays is one of your best ways at standing out. These 6 Duke essays that worked are successful examples of essays admitted into Duke so that you can get inspired and improve your own essays.

What did you think of these Duke essays?

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Princeton Admitted Essay

People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

MIT Admitted Essay

Her baking is not confined to an amalgamation of sugar, butter, and flour. It's an outstretched hand, an open invitation, a makeshift bridge thrown across the divides of age and culture. Thanks to Buni, the reason I bake has evolved. What started as stress relief is now a lifeline to my heritage, a language that allows me to communicate with my family in ways my tongue cannot. By rolling dough for saratele and crushing walnuts for cornulete, my baking speaks more fluently to my Romanian heritage than my broken Romanian ever could....

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A cow gave birth and I watched. Staring from the window of our stopped car, I experienced two beginnings that day: the small bovine life and my future. Both emerged when I was only 10 years old and cruising along the twisting roads of rural Maryland...

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Duke University Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Requirements

There’s no denying it. Duke University is one of the best schools in the world.

Founded as a Quaker and Methodist seminary in 1836, Duke University has grown to be one of the country’s most respected institutions.

The school’s beautiful North Carolina campus houses a state-of-the-art marine lab , a historic chapel designed by African-American architects Julian Abele and Horace Trumbauer, and a world-renowned medical center .

Over the years, Duke University has been associated with an impressive list of alumni and faculty members. 

Graduates include former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon and Senator Elizabeth Dole, as well as winners of every major award, including five Nobel Prize laureates. 

Duke has trained business leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

With such an impressive pedigree, it should come as no surprise that it’s challenging to be accepted into Duke University. Just like every other elite private school, thousands apply to Duke each year, and only a tiny percentage are offered admission.

That goes double for transfer students. While nearly everyone would want to leave their current institution to study at Duke, the school accepts only those who can offer something unique to their student body.

To successfully transfer, you must know not only what your odds will be, but also what’s expected of you. With more information at your disposal, you can put yourself in the best position to study at one of the finest schools in the world.

Duke University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Each year, Duke allows approximately 50 students to transfer from their current institution. The overall percentage varies, but it tends to be between 3% and 7%.

Even at its highest end, those numbers indicate that Duke is extremely selective when it comes to accepting transfers. 

But those numbers aren’t much lower than Duke’s usual acceptance rate. Over the past few years, Duke has sent offers of admission to between 5.76% and 7.68% of freshmen applicants .

These numbers are to be expected for elite private schools such as Duke. For example, Yale University has a 1.7% transfer acceptance rate. 

Princeton is even more competitive, with a microscopic 1.2% transfer acceptance rate.

It’s hard to say why elite schools accept so few transfer students. However, like most schools, Duke prefers to transfer students who come from community colleges.

Application Requirements & GPA for Duke Transfers

Duke does not have a minimum GPA for its transfer applicants as with its freshmen applicants. Nor does it require potential transfers to submit standardized test scores.

However, the school does report the average grades and test scores of those accepted for transfer. On average, transfer students had a GPA between 3.75 and 4.0 in a challenging academic program. The average ACT score was between 33 and 35, while the average SAT score was between 1460 and 1560.

While these numbers provide some guidance for transfer students, they only tell part of the story. Duke uses a holistic approach to evaluate its transfer potentials. In order to get a complete look at transfer applicants, Duke employs a thorough application process.

In addition to a standard application (the school accepts either a Common Application or a Coalition Application), hopefuls must also submit a special application to transfer and transcripts from high school and any higher education institution they attend.

Duke requires two evaluations from instructors, at least one of which should come from a college instructor. These evaluations are recommendations. 

They should speak about your academic abilities and the qualities you bring to the student body.

If students wish to submit their standardized test scores, they should also be included in the application. 

While Duke does not require standardized test scores, a strong showing on the ACT or SAT can make an impression on admission counselors, possibly giving you a better chance to be accepted.

Duke requires transfer applicants to write an essay based on a predetermined prompt as with the standard application. 

In the past , prompts have asked potential students to describe the specific attributes they bring to the school or to explain their commitment to diversity and community.

While essays can sometimes seem like a rote bit of busy work in an application, they are particularly important for transfer students. More than any other part of the application, the essay gives potential students the best chance to explain themselves. Because Duke holds such high standards for transfer students, the essay is essential for standing out.

Duke University Transfer Deadline

For those hoping to transfer to Duke University, the application deadline is March 15 th every year . If attempting to transfer into a program that needs a portfolio or an audition, those elements must make it to the school by March 20 th .

If the school assigns an interview with an alumnus, that must also be completed by March 15 th .

This date comes much later than the standard deadlines for first-year students. At Duke, the early admission deadline is November 1 st , and the regular deadline is January 4 th each year .

To be sure, there are drawbacks to the later due date. The longer it takes to apply, the longer it takes to hear about a decision.

However, there are real advantages to the later date as well. Transfer applicants must submit more materials than those trying to enter Duke as a freshman. 

With an additional two months before the deadline, they have more time to gather those additional materials.

More importantly, the extra time can be used to work on the application essay. Because the essay gives potential students the best chance to stand out, the later deadline means more time to choose the right words and examples.

What is the Decision Date for Duke University Transfers?

Duke University notifies transfer applicants of its decision at some point in mid-May . The fortunate few must send transcripts from their final year at their current institution by the end of June. 

They must also reply to Duke with their decision to accept by June 5 th .

To be sure, that decision date comes later than the regular January 4th decision date for freshmen, and much later than the early decision date on November 1 st .

As frustrating as it might be, though, this disparity isn’t a surprise. Transfer students are very different from incoming first-year students, and the decision process is as complicated as the application process. 

The school needs as much time as possible to consider all of the possibilities before accepting or rejecting them.

Deciding Whether You Should Transfer to Duke University

There’s no way to sugarcoat the truth. It is extremely difficult to transfer to Duke University. Applicants must compile far more application materials than they did for their first-year admission.

Even worse, most people won’t be allowed to transfer to Duke. Only 3% to 7% of students are accepted, which means that, at best, 93 out of 100 will be rejected each year.

But the very fact that 50 students do transfer to Duke each year should give you some hope. In other words, even if they don’t take many transfer students, they do take some. And they may take you.

Those numbers look even better when put into the context of Duke’s regular application rates. On average, Duke accepts only 7.7% of applicants. And yet, they still received materials from 39,783 students last year.

As these numbers show, it doesn’t matter how low the odds are. People want to go to Duke, so they continue to apply each year.

It’s not hard to see why.

By every metric, Duke University is considered one of the best private schools in the world, comparable with even the Ivy Leagues.

U.S. News & World Report puts Duke at 9 th in the nation in National Universities, higher than Ivy League schools Dartmouth, Brown, and Cornell. 

According to that same outlet, tied for 13 th in Undergraduate Teaching, #16 in Most Innovative Schools, and #13 in Best Value Schools.

As hard as it is to transfer to Duke University, it is unquestionably worth the challenge.

RECAP: How to Apply As a Transfer Student to Duke University

As we’ve seen, it is complicated to transfer to Duke University, no matter what school you’re coming from. The best chances belong to those with top-notch grades and a unique story to tell. Every one of your materials must make a strong impression on evaluation committees.

Duke University admits only 50 transfer students each year for a 3 – 7% acceptance rate. To determine that 50, the school has a strict evaluation process.

All application materials must be sent to Duke by March 15 th . Those materials include the application, evaluations from instructors, high school and college transcripts, and reports from your current institution. 

In some cases, students will be asked to interview with alumni, which must also be completed by March 15 th .

If your program requires a portfolio or audition, those must be completed by March 20.

At some point in mid-May, Duke will provide its answer to applicants.

For most people, that answer will be a rejection. But for a small few, they will have the chance to finish their college career at one of the world’s best intuitions.

A difficult process? Absolutely.

Worth it? Without question.

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Duke Supplemental Essay Prompts & Examples

• college application essays
• supplemental essays
• application strategy

Thinking about applying to Duke this Fall? Check out Duke’s supplemental essay prompts and examples from the 2017-2018 application cycle. You can expect similar prompts for the upcoming cycle.

Duke Application Prompts

1. short essay required for engineering applicants:.

If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as either a first-year or transfer applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (150 words maximum)

Essay Excerpt on How Duke’s Engineering School Stands Out:

“One of the undergraduate aspects at Duke which particularly appeals to me is the diversity of research at Duke. I always ask colleges, “What makes your research opportunities different than the other guys?” Duke is unique in its extensive animal research. I love studying the diversity of wildlife and I can’t imagine any other university offers quite the same experience as Duke, with attractions such as the largest lemur sanctuary outside Madagascar.” 

-  Gchenfc, Duke ‘19, Mechanical Engineering

Essay Excerpt on Duke’s Academic Approach:

“Trapped in a stuffy cubicle, the common engineer creates spreadsheets and technical reports. Sounds thrilling, right? I view the common engineer as a bland technocrat, a worker bee of sorts. Why Duke? Duke stresses the significance of interdisciplinary work. The best engineers are not those who take the most technical classes, but dynamic thinkers who are also acquainted with the liberal arts.”

-  Andk, Duke ‘18, Economics (Applied as Mechanical Engineering)

2. Short Essay Required for Arts & Sciences Applicants:

If you are applying to the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences as either a first-year or transfer applicant, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something particular about Duke that attracts you? (150 words maximum)

Essay Excerpt on Pursuing Arts & Sciences at Duke:

“For a university with unprecedented academic caliber, Duke’s dance program is without parallel. After my first campus visit, when I participated in an advanced  ballet class, I realized that at Duke, I won’t have to give up my passion for dance to pursue a career in medicine.”

- Epasquale, Duke ‘19, Biology

Essay Excerpt on Duke’s Culture:

“To be physically lost as you stroll through Sarah P. Duke Gardens and East Campus, yet intuitively know you’re where you belong. Duke is impressive numbers and figures, but to you, Duke is the promise of intellectual and personal growth. YOu are not architecture, who you are is not set in stone, and Duke understand that long before you did.”

- Andiaz, Duke ‘21, Biology

3. Optional for All applicants:

A. Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had to help us understand you better—perhaps related to a community you belong to or your family or cultural background—we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)

“On the surface, I am the antithesis of diverse. I come from an average family with two kids and two dogs. My parents’ marriage, like many others, ended in divorce. As a blonder in southern California, I’m fairly accustomed to blending in. While I may seem merely average in these terms, I have realized that it is my wide range of experiences and interests that takes me away from the normal crowd.”

- Detwylerder, Duke ‘19, Bioengineering

“Growing up in the melting pot that is Beijing’s expat community, I’ve been exposed to countless different cultures, religions and perspectives. I’ve travelled with my school’s teams to play basketball in Japan and Korea and to run track in the Philippines. My middle school group of friends come from four continents: Sandy from Australia, Tadi from Zimbabwe, Valentine from Mexico and Roman from the United States.”

- Daniel99, Duke ‘21, Economics

B. Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes gender identity and sexual orientation. If you would like to share with us more about either, and have not done so elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here.

Hope this was helpful for those considering applying to Duke this fall! Interested in reading these students’ full personal statements in addition to their full responses to the Duke supplemental prompts? Unlock all of them in one go with our  Why Duke Package ! 

For further access, upgrade to our  premium plans  offer different levels of profile access and data insights that can help you get into your dream school.

About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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