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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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Duke University 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Duke University 2020-2021 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One required 200-word essay, one required 250-word essay, and two optional 250-word essays. Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community

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)

Why Duke? You’ll have plenty of space to gush about Duke’s academic offerings in response to the next prompt, so we recommend saving your academic interests for later. Instead, this space is a wonderful opportunity for you to address your personal connection to Duke. Were you able to tour campus last year? What drew you in? What part of campus could you see yourself hanging out in? Where did 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.

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)

This is a classic Community Essay , through and through. Admissions Officers want to know what or who has made you into the person you are today. Where do you come from? What has shaped you as a person, and how has that made your perspective unique? What you focus on here can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or specific to you and only you. Admissions is looking to add diverse perspectives to the melting pot that is their student body. Is there anything you can teach your classmates about your hometown, traditions, culture, cuisine, orientation, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? Also consider why your particular background or experience will be useful in an academic setting. How will it help inspire and/or inform others? Were you raised in a Muslim family? Do you identify as genderqueer? Were you adopted as a child? What has influenced your identity? What do you believe and how will your worldview bring something of value to the community at Duke?

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)

Duke was one of the first schools to embrace the subject of sexual orientation in their essay questions (see the community essay prompt), and this is yet another step in their overt attempt to recruit a truly diverse pool of applicants. The school wants you to know that they are embracing all sexual orientations, and if you are open to discussing your own history and identity, feel free to share your story. Note that this question will likely not be applicable to all students, so if you don’t have a related story to tell, this is one of the few “optional” supplemental essays that we would encourage you to skip.

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Duke University is an Ivy League college in Durham, North Carolina, that consistently ranks in the top 10 national universities. It has an undergraduate population of 6,500 students, and in the 2020-2021 admissions, there was only a 5.8% acceptance rate. 

As a highly-selective university, Duke’s supplemental essays help personalize the admissions process, so that the admissions committee can admit a diverse incoming class. This is true of many institutions; look at Emory supplemental essays for further inspiration.

Duke supplemental essays for 2022-23: requirements and guidelines

College Essays: Supplemental Essays

Supplemental essays are an imperative part of the college application process. Click here to read more

Duke University essays are a crucial part of your college application. Use each Duke University application essay to show that you are invested in your education and are passionate about attending Duke. The admissions committee wants to admit a diverse, passionate group of students. 

Each Duke admissions essay gives you the chance to convey more about your personality, goals, and passions. Take advantage of each of these essay questions to personalize your college application and give yourself a competitive edge. 

Test scores and high school GPAs are important but supplemental essays are key in the Duke application process.

Why Duke essay: 5 tips that can help you earn admission to Duke University

As with many highly-selective institutions, Duke University requires at least one supplemental essay, often referred to as the “why Duke essay.” This essay prompt is as follows: 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 to admit students who are passionate about attending Duke and plan to fully take advantage of its unique educational opportunities. Use this Duke writing supplement to show that you have researched Duke University thoroughly and are passionate about their unique opportunities, especially as they relate to your academic and professional goals. 

In this article, we will focus on tips and strategies for how to write Duke supplemental essays, as well as look at several accepted Duke essay examples. 

Use detailed language

The more specific you can be, the better! Reference specific courses, programs, and professors by name. Duke wants to admit Duke students who will take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. 

Naming specific aspects of Duke’s unique curriculum shows that you are passionate about the school and are able to take initiative. Mention any specific internships, majors, minors, certificates, classes, research opportunities, and clubs/sports teams that interest you.

State your goals clearly

Use this Duke supplement to state your personal, educational, and professional goals clearly. Of course, not all incoming freshmen will know what they want to study — and this is okay! — but do your best to write clearly and with intention. Write about your interests, passions, and ideas for the future.

Use the tone of your essay to reflect your personality

Duke writing supplements are meant to personalize the admissions process. Give the admissions committee a reason to choose you by showing them a bit more of your overall personality. 

Use words and phrases that reflect the way you speak, think or interact with the world. Be creative. Funny. Thoughtful. Use this personal statement to demonstrate who you are and what you’re passionate about. How can you contribute to the Duke community?

How can Duke help you reach your goals?

While it’s important to include lots of personal details about your goals and passions, it is just as important, if not even more important, to connect every personal detail back to Duke University. 

How can Duke University, specifically, help you reach your personal, educational, and professional goals? While preparing your response to this Duke essay prompt, read each of your sentences carefully and ask yourself if each and every detail can be connected back to Duke University.

Duke University supplemental essay prompts

In addition to the “why Duke essay” prompt, there are two Duke optional essays. Duke essay prompts are designed so that the admissions committee can gain a more holistic understanding of each applicant. 

Use your Duke supplement essays to show the true depth of your character, goals, and passions to strengthen your overall application and personalize the admissions process.

Prompt 1: perspective and experience

The first of the two optional essays focuses on your perspectives and experiences. The prompt is as follows:

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)

Strategies to consider for this prompt.

The most important thing to do for this 250-word essay is to be sincere. While some students may already have lots of interesting and inspiring life experiences, this is certainly not always the case. 

Do not exaggerate or make anything up in this essay! Be genuine and sincere. The Duke admissions committee wants to get to know you, so make sure you give them that chance.

Again, this is the most important strategy for addressing this Duke essay prompt. Be.     genuine and speak earnestly.

Write concisely

      To do this well, focus on including lots of detailed language. You only have 250         words to convey something deeply personal, so make each word, phrase, and            sentence count!

   A helpful strategy for writing succinctly and powerfully is to not worry about the       word limit initially. Free write. Get all your ideas on paper. Sometimes you need to start writing to gain momentum and realize your most important details.   

Think outside the box!

What is the most engaging way to tell your story? Even if you don’t have a particularly unique story, you can still be creative! Consider the overall structure of your essay thoroughly before you begin. 

If you are interested in theater, perhaps you could write your essay with stage directions. If you’re interested in science, perhaps you could structure your essay in the style of a lab report. The possibilities are endless!

Prompt 2: sexual orientation and gender identity

The second of the two Duke optional essays focuses on sexual orientation and gender identity. The essay prompt is as follows:

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)

Remember, this essay is optional. Only include this essay if your gender or sexual identity has played a significant role in your life experiences. Generally speaking, only include this essay if you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As with the other Duke writing supplementals, use detailed language. Be specific and precise. Share lots of personal details. This does not mean you have to be overly personal and share experiences you would rather keep to yourself. Always respect your boundaries! Rather, focus on details that will contribute to the overall tone and imagery of your essay. Try to personalize your statement so that it is memorable.

It’s about your sexual identity — not about sex

Use discretion when writing about this prompt. Remember, you are writing about your identity, not about your sexual experiences.

Don’t worry about defining terms

Don’t feel pressured to use defining terms. It’s okay to not know how to label your experiences, just as it’s okay (and good!) to change your mind. Focus on writing honestly and authentically, without necessarily worrying about terms. 

The Duke essays that worked: winning Duke supplement essay examples

One of the best ways to prepare for your Duke application is to read several accepted Duke essays. There are lots of Duke supplement essay samples online for you to peruse. 

Gain insight into what the admissions committee is looking for by examining at least one Duke optional essay example before beginning your writing process.

Essay example #1

I love many things, but learning and sports top the list. the moment i stepped onto duke’s campus, i leaned over to my mother, gasping, and said, “whoa,” even before beginning my tour. i was stunned to immediately see signs of my loves everywhere. my dreams of tenting in k-ville for the annual duke-unc game almost made my mouth water. as for learning, the cross-disciplinary study options that duke offers ignite my passions. i have always loved business, and as i have aged, i discovered a deep interest in education. at duke, i saw the opportunity to combine these two interests in many ways. i would love to initiate lunches with professor elizabeth garcia, whose work focuses on educational motivation, and mark t. brown, director of the management communications center. exploring commonalities in business and educational spheres would be uplifting, and will engage all of my most profound interests., why did this essay work.

This essay is detailed, well-paced, and clearly shows the student’s personal and academic passions. The tone is upbeat and excitable. As a reader, you get a glimpse into who this student is as a person — what motivates them and brings them joy. 

The student clearly states why they are passionate about attending Duke, and the fact that they mention specific professors and programs by name shows that they can take initiative and are passionate about their course of study.

Essay example #2

I look around my room, dimly lit by an orange light. on my desk, a framed picture of an asian family beaming their smiles, buried among us history textbooks and the great gatsby. a korean ballad streams from two tiny computer speakers. pamphlets of american colleges scattered on the floor. a cold december wind wafts a strange infusion of ramen and leftover pizza. on the wall in the far back, a korean flag hangs beside a led zeppelin poster. , do i consider myself korean or american, a few years back, i would have replied: “neither.” the frustrating moments of miscommunication, the stifling homesickness, and the impossible dilemma of deciding between the korean or american table in the dining hall, all fueled my identity crisis., standing in the “foreign passports” section at jfk, i have always felt out of place. sure, i held a korean passport in my hands, and i loved kimchi and yuna kim and knew the korean anthem by heart. but i also loved macaroni and cheese and lebron. deep inside, i feared i’d be labeled by my airport customs category: a foreigner everywhere., this ambiguity, however, has granted me the opportunity to absorb the best of both worlds. look at my dorm room. this mélange of cultures in my east-meets-west room embodies the diversity that characterizes my international student life., i’ve learned to accept my “ambiguity” as “diversity,” as a third-culture student embracing both identities., now, i can proudly answer: “both.”.

The use of imagery in this essay is particularly impressive and effectively acts as an anchor and overall structure for the essay. By seeing the inside of this student’s dorm room you are able to gain insight into their inner world. You get a clear understanding of their likes, interests, and priorities. You are also privy to their inner trepidations, cultural insecurities, and personal growth. 

By including so many personal details and examples, the student can demonstrate what both their Korean and American cultural identities mean to them. This essay’s sincerity and candor are what help this student stand apart from other applicants.

Essay example #3

I belong to a community of storytellers. throughout my childhood, my mother and i spent countless hours immersed in the magical land of bedtime stories. we took daring adventures and explored faraway lands. imagination ran wild, characters came to life, and i became acquainted with heroes and lessons that continue to inspire me today. it was a ritual that i will never forget., in school, i met many other storytellers—teachers, coaches, and fellow students whose stories taught me valuable lessons and enabled me to share stories of my own. my stories took shape through my involvement with theatre. i have learned that telling stories can be just as powerful as hearing them. when i tell a story, i can shape the world i live in and share my deepest emotions with the audience. this is exactly why i love theatre so much. the audience can relate to the story in many of the same powerful ways that i do., i love to perform with my theatre class to entertain and educate young audiences throughout my community. to tell our stories, we travel to elementary and middle schools performing plays that help educate younger students of the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and bullying. as storytellers, we aim to touch lives and better the world around us through our stories..

This essay is well organized and follows a clear narrative arc. The student uses this essay to display their strong storytelling skills and abilities. Not only does this essay demonstrate the student’s passion for theater and its communicative potential, but it also shows their level of engagement with their craft and community. 

This essay covers a lot of material in a small space. The student starts their essay with their childhood and their overall source of inspiration, addresses their background in theater thoroughly yet succinctly, and ends with their plans and excitement for the future.

Key takeaways on Duke University supplemental essays

For your Duke writing supplements, focus on writing detailed, concise statements. Make each word, phrase, and sentence count. Be sincere and authentic. For the Duke optional essays, ask yourself if responding to each of these prompts will enhance your overall application. Use your best judgment. 

Take time to honestly reflect on your answers and decide if each of these prompts will give your application a competitive edge. Sometimes less is more, so don’t feel pressured to respond to the optional prompts if they don’t resonate with you. 

FAQs related to Duke supplemental essays

Read on for some frequently asked questions and their answers as you organize yourself and prepare for college applications.

How many supplemental essays does Duke have?

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

Should I answer the Duke optional essays?

Use these essays to further personalize your application. Duke is highly-selective, so take advantage of every opportunity to make your application memorable. If you are struggling to come up with meaningful responses, however, the optional essays may not enhance your application. Always be genuine and sincere. Do not exaggerate personal details to seem like a more desirable applicant. 

When do the Duke supplemental essays come out?

Duke supplemental essay prompts are typically released by mid-August. Check their website to stay the most up-to-date. The prompts will be released by the time the common application is open. 

How do you stand out to Duke?

Use each Duke application essay to show off your passions and personality. Do your best to write creative, genuine, well-structured essays. To stand out, you need detailed, memorable essays. As you respond to each Duke essay prompt, ask yourself if your answers are interesting, engaging, unique, or creative in some way. Even if you don’t necessarily have a unique answer, you can find a unique way to share your experiences. Think outside the box!

• August 9, 2022
• 11th Grade , 12th Grade , College Admissions

How to write Duke supplemental essays (2022-23 essay prompts guide)

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Duke University Essay Guide 2020-2021

In this Duke University Essay Guide, CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts Anya (Duke ‘17) and Gagan (Duke ‘13) will cover how to approach the 2020-2021 Duke supplementary essays. For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

Applying to Duke University

Established in 1838, Duke University is one of the preeminent institutions of higher learning in both the United States and the world. A private university located within the heart of the Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina, the schools boasts a student body of approximately 7000 undergraduate students and an overall acceptance rate of 7.6% (6% for regular decisions and 21% for early decision).

The undergraduate experience is split across two schools: ‎Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and ‎Pratt School of Engineering. The University also has ten graduate and professional schools, many of which allow undergraduates to either take classes, engage in the community, and conduct research.

If you’ve decided to apply to Duke, you know that it’s a powerhouse research university best known for its decorated men’s basketball team. However, there are two aspects of the university’s culture that are essential to consider when approaching Duke’s supplemental essays:

First, Duke values the concept of “knowledge in the service of society.” Accordingly, admissions officers gravitate towards applicants that demonstrate that they will contribute to the campus community and use their education for real world impact.

Additionally, the university values self-awareness , opting for students who understand how the multifaceted aspects of their experience have informed their personality, values, and aspirations. This essay guide provides aspiring Blue Devils the tips and guidance needed to integrate these two themes and craft the best, most nuanced personal statements.

Essay Questions

As part of the Duke admissions process, you are asked to complete a series of short and long essay prompts. When applying via either the Common Application or the Coalition Application, you must answer either of the essay prompts noted in the respective application systems. In addition to this long essay, Duke has one required supplemental essay and two optional essays, the prompts of which are discussed below.

Prompt 1 (required):

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).

Anya: This is a classic “Why X School?” prompt, and the admissions committee has done you a favor by signaling how to structure your essay. In the first sentence, the prompt asks you to share why Duke is a good “match” for you. That word choice is intentional, suggesting that you need to speak to how attending Duke will provide a springboard to achieve your aspirations.

The best responses to this prompt will establish your goals early and argue that Duke’s academic, extracurricular, and cultural offerings will help you explore a topic of interest, positioning you to make real world impact. For example, you might start your response by noting that you aspire to get PhD in neuroscience to explore myelin development in neurons, contributing to a new body of work developing medical interventions for multiple sclerosis.

The best goal statements are specific. Rather than stating a passion for “environmental science,” hone in on a narrow interest, like “developing affordable technology to reduce farm level food waste in developing economies.” Also, aim for one that’s unique — try to pinpoint an interest that no one else in the application pool will discuss.

Next, you want assert that Duke’s resources will position you to achieve this ambition and provide ample evidence to support your claim. For example, when I applied to Duke, I expressed an interest in exploring how social conditioning shapes gender norms. I cited that Duke’s “Program II” would allow me to create my own major synthesizing coursework from the neuroscience, psychology, and gender studies departments. Additionally, I noted an interest in conducting research with Dr. Sarah Gaither, whose work explores how identity markers impact social behavior.

I recommend including 4 – 6 specific examples across academics, extracurriculars, special programs, and unique aspects of Duke’s culture to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework. Style wise, craft your sentences to highlight the unique value of Duke’s offerings. You never want to say something like “Duke has an excellent economics department,” as you could say that same about any of its peer schools. Instead, pinpoint the specific courses, programs, and resources that align with your goals.

Two hundred words isn’t a lot, but if you use tight prose, you can also provide the admissions committee insight on how you can contribute to the Duke community. Let’s say that your goal statement showcases your passion for multimedia storytelling to reduce stigma on mental illness. You might highlight your enthusiasm to discuss historical portrayals of bipolar disorder in the class “Medical Stories on Stage,” and note that you can add value to discussions by sharing about your experience starring in a production of the musical Next to Normal in high school.

Gagan: Duke places great emphasis on fit, and this essay aims to (1) ensure that you have done your due diligence and researched what Duke has to offer, and (2) get an understanding of how you will engage with what the school offers. This is not an essay for broad brush strokes, but rather one where specificity will set you apart. An understanding of Duke’s niche offerings is essential. Don’t make generalized comments about “xyz” major or broadly mention sports or service. Instead, show in detail how each offering is unique to Duke.

The university has two “sub-colleges” for undergraduate studies — Trinity and Pratt —so show off your knowledge of whichever school you’re applying to. Strong examples include mentions of specific professors, research labs, or opportunities (ex. Bass Connections) that you would both take advantage of at Duke and, more importantly, how this opportunity is essential to your learning and career aspirations. Although there a million and one topics you can choose from, refrain from the heavily used ones such as sports/Duke basketball, fraternity/sorority life, or even Duke Engage, unless you can make a specific and unique argument.

Remember, you only have 200 words for this, so there is no way to list off all the things that make Duke awesome. Be concise and direct with what you love about the university and how no other university is the perfect match for you.

Prompt 2 (optional):  

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).

Anya: The purpose of this prompt is not only to discuss a formative aspect of your identity, perspective, or experience, but also to highlight how this attribute will add value to the Duke community.

“Diversity” encompasses a broad spectrum of attributes and experiences, including but not limited to:

• Gender Identity
• Socioeconomic status
• Sexual orientation
• Racial / ethnic identity
• Country of origin
• Family history
• A unique hobby
• A formative extracurricular or experience
• A challenge you’ve overcame
• A personality trait central to your identity

To tackle this essay, think about the life experiences that have made the largest impact on your worldview. What matters to you, and why? Then, pinpoint concrete examples highlighting how your experience has shaped your values, personality, and goals. Finally, allude to how your chosen experience will strengthen the Duke community.

The key to writing a memorable response is tracing a clear link between your unique experiences and your personality, goals and passions. For example, you might explain that working on your family’s farm every summer has helped you develop a passion for strengthening local food systems, which you hope to continue pursuing at Duke by taking on a role with the Duke Student Dining Advisory Committee. Or perhaps facing discrimination as a child of Pakistani immigrants in Sweden has attuned you to the emotional impact of identity-based bullying at school, and you see yourself working with Duke Student Government to craft a hate speech policy on campus.

I talked about how my experience dealing with a traumatic brain injury gave me a personal perspective on the relationship between brain and behavior, driving my interest in pursuing clinical neuroscience research. Ultimately, your goal is to show the reader how the unique components of your identity will inform your participation in the Duke community.

Gagan: While this essay is optional, it is worth the time and effort to show Duke how your background and perspectives are unique, and how your presence on campus would enrich the lives of those around you. The university recognizes that diversity comes in many forms, so now is your chance to show the distinct values and ideas you would bring. If you come from a marginalized group, use this essay to highlight your lived experiences and why they are essential at Duke. As with the previous essay, do not speak in generalized statements, but go in-depth on one or two core aspects of your background and highlight those.

If your background is considered to be more “typical,” focus on what makes your community, culture, or values unique . Maybe your family has certain traditions that you carry with you, or perhaps you have a set of values that you bring to all your engagements — whatever the case may be, show Duke that you are unique.

The one thing to note: this essay should cover your diversity beyond sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, as Duke has a separate essay for this (see below).

Prompt 3 (optional):  

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).

Anya: Duke University’s admissions team added this supplemental essay after student advocates emphasized the importance of sending a clear message to LGBTQIA+ applicants that the Duke community is a place where they can be their authentic selves. If you identify as a member of the queer community, consider using this prompt as a space to discuss your experiences. If you don’t belong to the queer community, sit this one out!

To make the most impact, shy away from talking about the general political climate on LGBT+ rights, and focus on your individual story . Strong responses will avoid platitudes and highlight the intersection of your identity and other aspects of your experience. Perhaps you’re a first-generation Indian American, and a conversation with a lawyer relative taught you that the penal codes prohibiting homosexuality in India were introduced by the British, attuning you to how colonialism perpetuated discrimination in your ethnic community. Or perhaps you haven’t shared your identity with anyone yet, but draw inspiration from Vita Sackville West, a 20th Century English author who flouted the strict gender conventions of her aristocratic upbringing.

Like in any other prompt, your goal is to showcase the factors that have shaped your perspective and tell a story that no other applicant can tell.

Gagan: Similar to the essay above on diversity, this essay has a similar aim, but with a narrower focus. If you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, this is your chance to share about how your experiences have defined you, your perspectives, and your ambitions.

In some rare cases, you might consider answering this prompt even though your background is adequately represented. However, only answer this prompt if you can write about a real, legitimate, identity-shaping part of your experience. Avoid answering it just to showcase how open-minded you are — if you do not identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, only write this essay if sexual orientation or gender identity is deeply personal to you and a crucial part of your experience .

If this question is truly not applicable to you, this is one of the few “optional” essays that is truly optional. Regardless of where you stand and the narrative you take, as you reflect on the past, be sure to also address how each aspect of your life will influence your future ambitions.

This Duke University essay guide was written by Anya Ranganathan (Duke University ‘17) and Gagan Vaseer (Duke University ‘13) . If you want to get help writing your Duke application essays from Anya, Gagan, or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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The Ultimate Guide to Acing the Duke University Supplemental Essays 2021/22

Duke University received a record 41,600 applicants for their class of 2023. Clearly, it takes much more than an exceptional academic record to get into this prestigious school. Each part of your application must shine. Duke’s supplemental essays allow you to show the admissions team who you are and what qualities make you the perfect Duke university student.

How to stand out in your duke university supplemental essays for 2021.

Considering the sheer number of applicants, you’ll want to use every aspect of your application to show your unique traits, abilities, accomplishments, and drive. The admissions committee is interested in understanding your thought process and personally getting to know you. Don’t be scared to show your vulnerability, humility, or candidness.

How Crimson Can Help You Stand Out

Crimson’s advisors take a personal approach to helping their students with their supplemental essays. By getting to know each student first, they can help them craft their essays based on their dreams, aspirations, goals, and any aspect of their story that’s unique.

Learn more about Crimson student Allie’s journey to Duke in the video below!

How Allie Got Into Duke University to study Political Science

Crimson Education is the world’s leading university admission consulting company. Our expert admission strategist can help you narrow down your ideas and word choice to help you craft the perfect essay prompt response. Get your essay reviewed today!

What are the Duke University Essay Prompts for 21/22?

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), 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), how to answer prompt 1.

The first step is to identify your strongest passions . These could be experiences, hobbies, interests, academic pursuits, or anything you consider relevant to you and integral to your personal and academic development. Then, you’ll need to learn about Duke and identify an aspect (program, professor, research, community, etc.) unique to the school and relates to one of your passions. Lastly, you’ll need to draw the connection between the two and convince the reader that attending Duke will contribute to your growth and the Duke community.

If you need help identifying your passions, start with reflection. Who am I? What is important to me, and why? If you have difficulty with this, ask someone who knows you well what they think is important to you. It may help you identify something you didn’t notice before or realize something you thought was important was not important at all. Start with reflection and then consult other people.

Choose a passion you can support with evidence : an activity, event, project, etc. The evidence demonstrates the degree of passion you have for something. While there’s nothing wrong with exploring a potential new passion, Duke admissions will have a harder time believing you’ll actually realize this new passion.

To answer this question with authority, you’ll need to research everything about Duke. Duke’s website is a great place to start. It’s where you’ll find plenty of information about majors, academic programs, social life, clubs, and more. Get to know Duke’s values before picking a topic to tie to your passion . Choose an aspect of Duke that resonates with you and tie that to your previously stated passions/interests.

Be concrete with your writing.

• What events would you like to run?
• Which competitions interest you?
• Which types of students would you want to connect with?

The Essay That Got Me Into Duke

How to Answer Prompt 2

As evidenced by this prompt, Duke values diversity . When a reader finishes your essay, they should feel like they better understand you and your community. Be sure to write in your voice. Make sure it is grammatically correct, but if you have a strong sense of humor, don’t be afraid to show it. If you love literature, include quotations from your favorite books. Aside from content, the reader can learn a lot about you just from the way you write.

Think About Your Life Experiences

Think first and foremost about your most meaningful life experiences, not necessarily the most impressive. Again, Duke included this prompt so you can convey your personality to an application reader. If you choose a topic you’re not passionate about, it will show. The most reliable way to identify ideal topics is reflection. Start by identifying an experience or relationship that is important to you. Don’t think too hard. Just identify the first thing that comes to mind.

• Who is the most important person in your life? Why?
• When was the last time you felt pure contentment and joy?
• What about that experience made you feel whole?

Try to identify your core values. For example, if the first thing that comes to mind is playing checkers at Christmas with your cousin, you probably value family, connection, and tradition. Or perhaps you and your cousin have a special relationship where you joke around and poke fun at each other. In that case, you value lightheartedness and not taking life too seriously. The idea is to show who you are at your core and what makes you tick.

Lastly, remind Duke that both you and Duke will benefit from your engagement in their community . Take a couple of sentences to indicate that you’re excited about continuing your personal development at Duke and can’t wait to engage with the community around you.

Final Thoughts

Don’t start writing until you’ve outlined your thoughts and ideas. While these essays should have a personal tone, don’t forget about grammar and spelling. They still matter! An outline will help you stay organized and focused so you can clearly tell Duke why you’d be the perfect fit for their school.

Need help with your supplemental essays? Crimson Education is the world’s leading university admission consulting company. Our expert admission strategist can help you narrow down your ideas and word choice to help you craft the perfect essay prompt response. Get your essay reviewed today!

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Acing your College Application Essay: 5 Expert Tips to Make it Stand Out from the Rest
• MIT Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Harvard Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Columbia Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Princeton Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Cornell Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Brown Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Upenn Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Dartmouth Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• University of Chicago Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• How to Tackle Every Type of Supplemental Essay
• 2021-22 Essay Prompts Common App Essay Prompts
• What are the Most Unusual US College Supplemental Essay Prompts?

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Analyzing the Duke Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

Padya Paramita

October 4, 2022

Duke continues to rock the admissions world with its continually declining acceptance rate. Its current admit rate of 6% makes it one of the most competitive schools in the country. And the admissions selection process is only getting tougher in Durham, North Carolina. If you’re planning to apply to this top ten university, stellar grades and test scores won’t be enough. You will need to convince admissions officers that you’ve done your research and know without a doubt that you’re a good fit. It’s time to put your all into the Duke supplemental essays 2022-2023 to show why you’re worth admitting over the competition. 

Upon reading your essays, admissions officers want to learn more about your intellectual pursuits and the communities that matter to you. Duke proudly boasts a diverse campus and looks for students who will take advantage of the school’s resources “intelligently, creatively, and enthusiastically.” Your essays must reflect how you plan to do so. To guide you through the Duke supplemental essays 2022-2023 , I’ve outlined the prompts, the do’s and don’ts of answering them, and tips to help you stand out in the tough application pool.

Required Questions

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)

Since Duke has become one of the most selective schools with increasing momentum, it’s going to take a lot more than saying you like all of its features, or that you really want to attend one of the North Carolina Research Triangle schools in order to impress the admissions officers. Since you don’t have a lot of available words, you have to be as specific as possible when writing the Duke supplemental essays 2022-2023 . 

It would be wise to keep the focus on your prospective major and talk about how and why you’re a good fit for the program. Do the necessary research to learn about specific courses within the major that align with your unique goals, talk about Duke facilities that can help you reach them, and find ways to connect your passion for your subject with Duke’s expertise in the field. The limit of 200 words might just allow enough space to discuss an extracurricular interest alongside your academic goals, so mention a student organization relevant to the theme of your application. This helps you touch upon the “other offerings that attract you” aspect of the question.

Because this is really a “Why Duke” question, while you can briefly refer to activities you’ve done in high school, you should keep your main focus on all the things you love about Duke and pack in as many details as you can within your concise essay. 

Optional Questions

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)

This question among the Duke supplemental essays 2022-2023 wants to gauge how you would add to the diversity of Duke’s campus. Remember, the word “diversity” doesn’t only include factors that are out of your control such as race or ethnicity. If you want to talk about your cultural or religious community—since your familial background is one of the topics that Duke has primarily encouraged—that’s great! But if you believe it wouldn’t make you stand out, think about a community that you’ve found thanks to an extracurricular activity or work experience. No matter what community you choose, you shouldn’t dedicate all of your words to your explanation of the premise. This essay should be about you —think about how your perspective has been shaped by the community and vice versa. How would you be different had this community not existed? 

Make sure you haven’t elaborated on this part of your profile elsewhere in your application. This essay is a great way of providing more context on something meaningful that admissions officers wouldn’t easily be able to guess. Even though this is optional, the vast majority of applicants will answer this prompt because it’s flexible, and you should too.

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)

Duke wants to make sure they’re admitting students who bring a variety of perspectives and part of that is ensuring that they provide a chance for LGBTQIA+ students to share their experiences. If you feel comfortable talking about your journey—do so. You could write a powerful essay highlighting how your sexuality or gender identity plays a role in your interests and goals or who you are as a member of your community 

Instead of general statements about identity, provide anecdotes on the ways it has changed your perspective and impact on others. How has your outlook changed since you realized you’re not straight or cisgender? Has it affected your extracurricular choices or career aspirations? Have you found community through this identity? Remember that this essay is optional, so if you’re uncomfortable talking about your identity, you don’t have to write this essay. And if you’re not LGBTQIA+, you absolutely should NOT write this essay.

Additional Tips for the Duke Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

• Emphasize What You Can Bring to the Duke Community - Since Duke admissions officers already know what makes the school great, the supplemental prompts are geared to understand how you would uniquely contribute to the Duke community. When you sit down to brainstorm your Duke supplemental essays 2022-2023 , make sure you think about how you can add to the multicultural flair that Duke prides itself on.
• Include Duke Specifics - It can be very easy to get carried away when talking about yourself. Yes, it’s your supplemental essays, but you don’t want to write a response that could be used for any school. So it’s important that you keep in mind the research you’ve done on Duke. Try to talk about how you and your perspective would thrive at Duke’s welcoming campus? If there is a pre-existing student organization at Duke that includes people with similar backgrounds—or you would like to start one—include that in your essay as well.
• Use the Word Limit Wisely - While 200-250 isn’t the most restrictive word limit range in the world, it’s not extremely generous either. When writing your Duke supplemental essays 2022-2023, prioritize the content necessary to get your narrative across, and cut any unnecessary statements. Each sentence should provide new information that makes you memorable in the reader’s mind. If you go over the limit—or start repeating your personal statement —it’s time to make cuts and keep what’s new and relevant.

While Duke University is by no means easy to get into, the Duke supplemental essays 2022-2023 provide a great chance to convince admissions officers that you’ve done your research and are a perfect fit. So take advantage of this opportunity and brainstorm essays that not only highlight your experiences but also convey your commitment to Duke’s academic programs and passionate community. You’ve got this!

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How To Write The Duke Supplemental Essays

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 11/16/23

Follow along to learn everything you need about the Duke University essays, including prompts, tips, and examples. 

If you are on this page, you are probably doing some college research and may have Duke University on your list. With an acceptance rate of 4.8%, Duke University is one of the most competitive schools in the U.S. 

Writing compelling essays is one of the most crucial parts of your Duke application. You may feel pressured to be as perfect as possible, but the good news is we’re here to help. If you’re struggling with your Duke application, look at our definitive guide on how to get into Duke and read on for info on the all-important secondary essays.

Here, we break down each supplemental essay question, give you tips on how to write them, and share examples of excellent essays. By the end of this article, you'll know how to write the Duke supplemental essays.

Let's get started!

Duke University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

In addition to the long personal essay on the Common Application or the Coalition Application, Duke has six supplemental essay prompts, and five are optional questions in which a maximum of two can be selected. The following prompts can be found on the Duke admissions page .

“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.” 

“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. (Optional)”

“Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating. (Optional)”

“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? (Optional)”

“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. (Optional)”

“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. (Optional)”

All of these supplemental essay prompts have a 250-word limit. Make sure you choose the essay prompts you know you can answer well! 

How to Write Each Essay Prompt For Duke University

Here, we’ll cover how to write each essay prompt for Duke University. 

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Duke University prompt #1 : “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.)” 

Analysis of prompt #1 : This essay prompt is your classic “Why do you want to go here?” question. Admissions want to see if you’re truly interested in what Duke offers. This includes specific programs, research opportunities, or extracurriculars. 

Duke is a very popular university with thousands of applicants each year. What can this school offer you, and how can it help you reach your goals? 

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Tip #1: Make it Personal :  You should make your essay as personal as possible. Share your interests and academic and career goals. Make sure to tie those into Duke’s mission and how you’d be a great addition to the school’s community. Be sure to add anecdotes as well. 
• Tip #2: Avoid Mentioning Elements Beyond the School's Control : such as the school's location, climate, or city. This information does not provide specific insights into what makes Duke unique. Remember, the prompt asks you about Duke specifically and why you’d like to attend the school. 
• Tip #3: Be Specific : Mention some specific things that Duke offers, such as a particular program or research opportunity. It’s always best to focus on a couple of things the school offers rather than adding a long list. 

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompts #2, 5, and 6 : Essay prompts two, five, and six are all considered diversity essays and are open-ended questions. These essay prompts help Duke learn more about you and your lived experiences. Duke University values diversity and believes it makes its community better. 

These prompts are an opportunity to share anything that makes you different, such as:

• Socioeconomic class
• Disabilities
• Gender Identity
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Gender expression
• Interests/hobbies
• And anything else that makes you different!

Share what being a part of these communities means to you, how it has affected you, or what it can bring to the Duke University community. 

Here are some tips to help you out:

• Tip #1: Reflect on Your Background : Discuss aspects of your background, such as cultural heritage, family dynamics, or personal challenges, that have shaped your identity. Don’t list a bunch of things that make you different. Stick to one and focus on it. 
• Tip #2: Share Personal Stories : Provide specific examples or anecdotes illustrating your differences. Personal stories can make your response more engaging and help the admissions committee understand your experiences more deeply.
• Tip #3: Show Resilience : If you've faced challenges related to your unique life experiences, discuss how you've navigated them with resilience. This could include overcoming adversity, advocating for change, or finding support networks.

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #3 + Analysis and Tips

Duke University prompt #3 : “Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating. (250 word limit.)” 

Analysis of prompt #3 : Duke is interested in learning about your intellectual pursuits and your approach to the learning process. You have the flexibility to explore various aspects, such as a specific class that ignited your curiosity, an independent research project you started, or an experiment you conducted in a science course, among other possibilities.

• Tip #1: Choose One Genuine Experience : Select an intellectual experience that fascinates you. This could be an academic project, a research opportunity, a challenging course, or any other intellectual endeavor that left a lasting impression. 
• Tip #2: Express Your Passion : Convey your passion for the subject matter. Describe why this particular experience captured your interest and why it was so compelling. Use descriptive language to express the depth of your fascination.
• Tip #3: Share Any Challenges and Growth : Share any challenges or obstacles you may have faced during this intellectual journey. Emphasize how you overcame difficulties and highlight the personal and intellectual growth that resulted from the experience.

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #4 + Analysis and Tips

Duke University prompt #4 : “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? (250 word limit.)” 

Analysis of prompt #4 : This prompt focuses on your internal beliefs and values. The core of your essay should involve revealing one of your significant values to the admissions committee. Be careful not to get too political. Instead, talk about a role model or someone who inspires you and why.

• Tip #1: Choose a Role Model :  Choose a role model or someone who inspires you. You can talk about a time your role model let you down, or you had a differing opinion, but be sure to focus on what you learned from that experience.
• Tip #2: Pick Thoughtful Examples : Choose examples that reflect substantial beliefs or values in your life. These could be related to ethics, morality, societal issues, or personal principles. Select instances that are meaningful and can provide insight into your character.
• Tip #3: Highlight Learning Moments : Emphasize what you have learned from agreements and disagreements. Discuss how they have contributed to your personal growth, expanded your understanding, or solidified your convictions.

Examples of Duke University Supplemental Essays That Worked

Below, you’ll find some Duke University supplemental essays written by successful applicants who were admitted to the school! Let’s look at each one and discuss what worked about it.

Sample Essay #1

Prompt : “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.” 

“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…”

Why Essay #1 Worked

In this excerpt from a “why Duke” essay example, the student answers the prompt with specific aspects of Duke University. They relate the Co-Lab and Duke’s Gothic architecture with their interests in engineering, and they explain why these things are a good match for them. 

Sample Essay #2

Prompt : “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.”

“The pitter patter of droplets, the sweet smell that permeates throughout the air, the dark gray 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.”

Why Essay #2 Worked

This essay tells a great story about the student’s unique perspective observing a seemingly mundane event in their community. They use specific and compelling language to capture the reader’s attention. They show us a few of their interests rather than simply telling us they like to paint, build robots, and listen to music. 

Sample Essay #3

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

“Embarrassment’s red glow covering my face matched the red ink circling the “44” grade atop my AP Biology exam on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration. I was devastated that day in Room 46.

Until then, Room 46 had been my magic school bus where we spent our time wandering wide-eyed through the world of science: dissecting pigs, testing our own DNA for the Alu insertion, and sharing community-creating laughs along the way. But receiving that “44” jarred me into feeling I didn’t belong there anymore. 

However, after meeting with my guidance counselor, contemplating dropping the class, and countless extra help sessions with my biology teacher, I realized my magic school bus journey wasn’t over yet, as I gradually concluded that my commitment to Room 46 was stronger than one bad test grade, that I was stronger than one bad test grade.

The journey was tricky and undoubtedly riddled with discouraging moments, but by applying myself and being resourceful, I made my “44” an isolated outlier before it was dropped from the gradebook entirely by semester’s end as my lowest grade. While my success can be quantified, it’s nonetheless my memory of Room 46 that’s continuously inspired me to transcend my limits and take on challenges even in areas of weakness (i.e. AP Bio). I consider this my best academic experience because it showed me what happens when you push past failure - success! - as I ended up getting an A in the class and a 5 on the AP test!”

Why Essay #3 Worked

This essay perfectly illustrates an intellectual journey the applicant had gone through that they persevered through. Initially, the applicant felt discouraged by their academic performance; however, they overcame it and learned through the experience and improved their grade tremendously. 

Get More Sample Essays Here!

Looking at examples of successful supplemental essays is a great way to discover strategies that work well. Use our extensive college essay database below to find many more samples!

Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions concerning Duke essays.

1. How to Write Duke Supplemental Essays?

When writing the Duke secondaries, choose prompts that lend themselves to your story as an applicant. Your chosen prompts should allow you to talk about important lessons you’ve learned and how you’ve grown. 

The only required essay is the “why Duke” essay, which you should do plenty of research for before you start writing. Understanding and conveying why Duke would be an excellent fit for you is crucial based on your unique interests, passions, and values. 

2. What Makes a Good “Why Duke” Essay?

The trick to writing an excellent “why Duke” essay is doing plenty of research. You should learn everything the school offers, including clubs, programs, extracurriculars, awards, and history. Your essay should demonstrate how Duke is a uniquely perfect school for you and highlight what parts of Duke excite you. 

3. How Should I Start Writing My Supplemental Essays?

One of the best ways to start writing is to brainstorm and reflect. Have all your ideas written down on a page so you can pick the ones you think are the best. Do your research on Duke. By the time you start drafting, you should know what direction you want to take your essay and how to end it .

4. What If I Cannot Think of Anything to Write About In My Essays?

If you cannot think of anything to write about in an optional essay, it might be a good sign that you should leave it blank. If you have ideas but are stuck, try taking a break from brainstorming. 

Ask thoughtful questions and answer truthfully to get inspired. Try not to worry too much. Writing a 250-word essay is probably not the most challenging task you have ever done. 

5. How Long Is the Why Duke Essay?

Duke University’s supplemental essays are 250 words or less long, including the “why Duke” essay. 

6. Are Duke Optional Essays Optional?

Yes, the Duke optional essays are optional. Duke University has one required essay prompt that asks you to explain why you want to attend Duke. The other five essays are all optional. You can write a maximum of two essays in response to two or none of the four prompts. 

Final Thoughts

The Duke essays ask you to hone in on your academic interests, tell a story about your diverse experiences, and reflect on your sexual and gender identities. You should start researching and planning your essay as soon as possible, giving yourself enough time to develop your ideas. 

Use your authentic voice when you write these essays. The admissions committee has read enough about what other people have to say about you, and they want to know the person behind the printed name, transcripts, and score reports. 

Do not be afraid to be vulnerable in your essays. Be mindful of your spelling and grammar, and write about things that are important to you. Make your passion clear to your readers, and you will leave a lasting impression on them. 

Access 190+ sample college essays here

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Duke Supplemental Essay Examples

Writing essays can be a tricky business, especially if you can’t see samples, which is why reading over some Duke supplemental essay examples will be just the ticket for your own essay writing process. This should give you a good idea of how to proceed, whether you need help with how to start a college essay , or are trying to edit and refine your first draft. Following the examples laid out below is a great way to make your college application stand out.

In this article, we cover all six possible short essays required by Duke for their supplemental section. Some of the essays are optional, but we provide examples for all of them; carefully read the prompts to find the examples relevant to your application. These are the essays that are truly unique to Duke. Then, we provide some notes on essay writing in general, and some expert college essay tips for Duke, in particular.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 11 min read

Short essay.

For all Duke applicants: “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.”

Word limit: 250 words, max.

Numbers never lie, and with Duke’s commitment to intellectual honesty, I know that I will feel at home in your institution. My interest in mathematics has been life-long, and from the time I was little and played with number-based toys, through my developing years applying math to music and music to math, I have allowed numbers to permeate my very way of life. Math is beautiful. It describes our universe and fills me with awe and wonder. It is because of this that I seek out unique experiences and understandings of mathematics, and novel approaches to the subject. Consequently, I have several reasons for wanting to study math at Duke.

The Lyceum is a concept that fascinates me. The idea of approaching the exploration of advanced mathematics through social interaction is strangely unique. I would think that more people would want this, but Duke has it. This forum would allow me to engage with my peers, my mentors, and those who have gone before and, when I am an older student, with first-year students as well – all of us learning together, from each other. What could be better than that?

Numbers don’t lie, as I said, and Duke’s high academic standard also means that my admission would truly mean something; acceptance from a discerning institution is valuable, indeed, and would provide a wonderful sense of accomplishment, while imbuing a sense of responsibility.

The Lyceum is one of my favorite concepts as a learning tool, and I itch to participate; I hope you will allow me that opportunity.

Duke emphasizes that these questions are optional for all applicants and notes the following:

“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 two can be selected. Please select 0–2 optional essay topics.”

Word limit: 250 words, max. per essay

Optional Essay No. 1: “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.”

My parents got divorced, and I know that that’s the oldest story in the book at this point, but this family schism – at first traumatizing and upsetting for me and my siblings – became a very important aspect of my life and shaped my worldview into what I think is a unique perspective.

My family is biracial, with my Black mom and white dad starting a family together. Although they parted ways, both sides of my heritage have remained intact, and I feel like I get two perspectives. We live in a racially charged world, and my experiences and sympathies allow me to understand the many facets that go along with current conversations about race.

You will be writing in a standard essay format: opening paragraph, body, conclusion. You will present a central idea, theme, or college essay topic , and work from there to deliver that idea quickly, and concisely.

Your opening paragraph should start off with a “hook” sentence that draws in the reader and makes it impossible for them to stop reading. The better the hook, the better the start, which will greatly help your readers enjoy your work. You also need to present your main focal point in the opening paragraph.

This is particularly important in Duke’s essays, as they have a 250-word limit; these essays are very short, and you don’t have a lot of space to include extra material. Check out some college essay introduction examples to boost your writing in this area, specifically.

In the body of your essay, you will have a few, short paragraphs to deal with your topic and answer the prompt. Get into as much detail as you can but stick to two or three main points. Again, you are constrained by the word limit, and you don’t have room to add a lot of detail.

Try to pack in some reflection on how you have grown as a person or student due to each event you discuss. The prompt can be answered, plus you can allude to academic achievements or some other accomplishments that the admissions committee will take a closer look at on your resume.

Your conclusion should focus on wrapping up the essay and summarizing anything set up in the opening paragraph. However, as noted, your conclusion should also make the committee want to hear more from you; give them someone they would want to meet in an interview. How to write a college essay can be tricky but following these steps will already get you headed in the right direction.

Remember to edit and refine! No essay is perfect from the start, so give yourself time to get feedback, do re-writes, and triple-check for spelling and grammar.

Please note that Duke also requires applicants to write other essays: one from a selection of Common App essays or Coalition Application essays, depending on which application you are using. Transfer students are required to write an additional essay as well. We have not written samples for these essays in this article.

Essay writing is a lot less intimidating once you have seen it done by someone else. These essay examples should prove invaluable to you while you create your own essays for your application.

Read as much as you can, both in terms of example essays and general technique, and focus on answering the prompts directly and skillfully.

Yes. Every option you have available to you should be exercised because each one is an additional opportunity to showcase your talents and abilities to the admissions committee.

Not formally, but they are reviewed by the committee, so a quality essay makes a big difference. Make sure every part of your application is the best you can make it.

About three weeks to write and refine your essays should be sufficient. This doesn’t mean 40 hours a week, but just that you’re setting aside time to ponder the prompts, brainstorm, write, and edit, which does take a lot of time if done well.

Yes. Never exceed any word counts, page counts, or character limits. Note that if you apply somewhere with a character limit, that limit probably includes spaces, so calculate carefully and err on the side of safety. Don’t let your essay or application fail because of an exceeded word count.

This goes double for deadlines: cutoff points are cutoff points, and you can’t exceed them.

You could ask teachers if they would look at your essays, but you can also check out college essay review services for assistance.

You can confidently submit your essay when you know you have corrected all errors, fully explored the prompt, answered any questions, put yourself into your essay – so that your character and individuality shine through – and shown your potential.

These are both application systems that streamline the application process to universities and colleges. The Common Application is more widely used, so you have access to more schools through it; the Coalition Application is intended for disadvantaged students, who might come from lower-income districts, or who have some other roadblock to higher education in their lives.

If your schools-of-choice are only available through the Common Application, you will probably use the Common App as your system. On the other hand, if you are from an underrepresented group, or need additional assistance, you might have a better overall experience with the Coalition App.

Yes. In fact, they accept students from many backgrounds. From their website: “Whether you’re an international applicant, one that is undocumented, homeschooled, transferring, or one with a disability – we are here to help you navigate the application process.”

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How to Write Duke’s Optional Human Experience Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Robert Crystal in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered:

What does diversity mean, why is duke asking this, relate your response to duke.

Duke has optional essays for this year’s application. Students can choose to respond to, at most, two of the four prompts. One option asks:

“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)

In this article, we break down what exactly this prompt is asking and how to approach it. If you are interested in learning more about Duke’s other supplemental prompts, you can read our article on how to write the Duke University essays . 

In this option, Duke is asking for you to share a unique perspective or experience you’ve had that would help Duke understand you better. You could talk about a community that you are part of, your family, or your cultural background. Don’t be intimidated by the word “diversity.” This word holds a great deal of power, and it can be intimidating because it covers such a huge spectrum of identities and experiences. 

Diversity could be related to your demographics, such as your socioeconomic status, health, culture, or ethnicity, which are often the areas that come to mind when you think about diversity. However, your own diversity can come from other areas of your life. It could be related to your interests, hobbies, values, and opinions. You can draw on anything that makes you different from others or something that makes you similar to a particular group of people. 

All these different elements of your demographic information are elements that are probably already indicated somewhere in your college applications. This essay is a great way for you to draw on an experience that has made you the person you are today but is not quite visible on your application.

This prompt enables students to discuss the diverse perspectives and experiences that they would bring to Duke. The university wants to accept students from unique backgrounds because it believes that this makes its community strong. You have 250 words to tell Duke how you will bring a different perspective to the school, so focus on the aspects of your life that make you stand out from other applicants. 

When considering your response, ask yourself this question: “What kind of communities will I seek out at Duke?” This is important to reflect on because it gets to the heart of the prompt. Admissions officers want to have an overall picture of what the incoming class will look like. They want to know what communities you will be part of or which areas of campus life you will contribute to if you attend the university. 

In a broader sense, Duke wants to discover who you are through these essays. It wants to know your unique perspectives and how you think about ideas and the world around you. Learning these aspects of your personality helps the admissions officers understand how you will function in the classroom and the community, so it is important that you are true to yourself in all senses. 

There is a common misconception around this prompt that your essay should be extremely profound and emotional. Your goal isn’t to make the reader cry. Your goal should be to give them an accurate representation of your life. Then, you want to connect that to your possible life at Duke .

Duke has an extremely unique culture because it is a large research university with a great athletics program and a lively social scene with a variety of opportunities for civic engagement and activities. The school particularly emphasizes the importance of students pursuing their academic and professional interests not only as a means for personal development but also as a way to contribute to the communities around them. 

In short, Duke has a collaborative environment that focuses on connecting each individual to their community. It wants to know what resources and communities you will seek out at Duke and more importantly, how you will give back to them.

While your essay doesn’t necessarily need to address characteristics like socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or disability, your essay should reflect the spirit of Duke’s unique campus community. It should demonstrate the unique perspective and experiences that you as an individual will bring to the school, and you should imply that you are eager to share your opinion with others and learn from those around you.

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