You’ve probably heard of Duke University. You might even have a friend who plans to attend the school. But, if you’re like most students, you’re wondering how to get into this highly selective university. We will answer that question by discussing what it takes to get into Duke in the first place and then sharing some best practices for boosting your chances of admission.
What does Duke University look for in a candidate?
- Academic achievement. Duke expects you to have a solid academic record, including good grades in a rigorous curriculum and competitive standardized test scores from other applicants.
- Extracurricular activities. Duke also looks for involvement in activities that show interest outside of schoolwork–whether it’s a sport, musical instrument or club, volunteering at your church or local community centre or working part-time to help pay for college expenses. You should list all your extracurricular activities on the Common Application (and include any leadership positions held). The more involved you’ve been outside of classwork, the better!
- Leadership skills demonstrated through participation in student government, clubs, and organizations will enhance your application but are not required for admission.* Personal qualities such as maturity/responsibility/dependability
How to Get Admission to Duke University
Duke University has a holistic admissions process. This means that the admissions committee looks at many factors, including your academic performance, extracurricular activities and interests, personal statement (if you choose to submit one), and recommendations from teachers or employers. The goal of Duke’s holistic approach is to find students who will be successful in their studies and thrive on campus–and this can only be achieved by considering all aspects of your application as a whole.
Duke University Admission Eligibility & Requirements
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in 1838, it is now one of the wealthiest universities in the country.
The university comprises ten schools: architecture; biology; biomedical engineering; chemistry; earth sciences; electrical and computer engineering; history; joint policy research centre at Duke University & Central European University (CEU); law; medicine/health sciences/public health; neuroscience, and psychology.
Duke University Application Deadlines
- The deadline to apply is November 1. This deadline applies to all students, regardless of when they are applying or their current grade.
- If you meet this deadline, your application will be considered complete and not reviewed by the Admissions Committee until completion.
Duke University Application Requirements for International Students
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. The university is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Duke’s campus covers 8,569 acres (35 km2) on three contiguous Durham campuses and a marine lab in Beaufort. Duke’s main campus–the East Campus–includes Gothic-style buildings such as the chapel and Memorial Hall which was built after the Civil War by William Aiken Walker, who also designed many other facilities at Duke University, including its library; it is now home to both undergraduate and graduate students. The West Campus contains most first-year student housing and several major academic buildings, including those for medical sciences and engineering; this section also includes two large lakes that supply water to all three sections of campus via underground pipes called aqueducts.
What if I can’t attend my counsellor’s office to take the SATs or PSATs?
If you can’t go to your counsellor’s office to take the SATs or PSATs, there are several options:
- You can take them to a local testing centre. If you need help determining your nearest testing centre, check out [this website](https://apps.collegeboard.org/sat/register/search-testing-centers).
- You can take them online through [test accommodations](https://www3.collegeboard.org/student/testing_ accommodations).
Applying to Duke is a competitive process, but there are many ways for students to get their best scores.
Duke is a highly selective university, so there are many ways for students to get their best scores. You can take the SAT or PSAT multiple times, sign up for a prep course, and take subject tests if you have time left over. You should also make sure that you’re applying early enough so that your application will be reviewed by someone who has seen all of your work before the deadline passes.
