Admissions Requirements and Process: Duke has two options for applying: Early Decision and Regular Decision. Early Decision, which is binding, is due November 1st. Regular Decision, which is non-binding, is due January December 20th if you want priority consideration for an alumni interview or January 2nd for the final application deadline. The differences in application processes are described here. You can use the Common or Coalition application to apply. The Early Decision applicant pool had a 21% admissions rate, while the regular decision pool had a 6.4% admissions rate, so make sure to weigh which option is right for you, especially if Duke is your #1 choice and are comfortable committing to admission in November. Duke is evaluating applicants on their strength of curriculum, grades received in those classes (you can only bring 2 transfer credits from Dual Enrollment courses), test scores, and then the personal pieces of the application: teacher and counselor recommendations as well as the 2 essays. They are specifically wanting to know what you are bringing to Duke? Are you taking what you've learned and applying it outside the classroom?
Scholarships: Duke is committed to meeting 100% of a student's need, capping loans at $5,000 a year for students whose family income is below $60,000. They also have 100 merit-based scholarships, with no separate application.
Majors/Minors: There are two paths at Duke: Liberal Arts and Engineering. Duke Engineering likes to get students out of the classroom, with maker spaces on campus for engineers to use what they are developing, the experience at Duke really takes what you are learning and puts it into action.Duke also has opportunities for exploration, where 82% of their students take part in, earning either another major, minor, or certificate in another area of study. For example, a student would pick an area to focus on, such as Anthropology, then earn a certificate in a supplemental field, such as Human Rights, to integrate the two. You don't apply for a major at Duke until Sophomore year, and just apply to the specific school you are interested in. Each student will have 34 classes to graduate.
Unique Programs/Helpful Info:
Students are required to live on campus for the first three years, and the first years all live together for the first-year experience.
The Focus Program is for freshman, taken their first-semester, to learn interdisciplinary disciplines, exposing students to different ideas, vantage points, and information as they learn from the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
DukeImmerse is a semester-long seminars, similar to what Freshman experience in Focus, to engage and learn from the professors' research and about the integrated topic at hand, also providing off-campus opportunities to enhance the curriculum. Examples of curriculum themes are: race, science and power, food studies, global refugee crisis, rights and identities, and urban policy and society.
DukeEngage- is a summer community service project, where students serve for 6-10 weeks in a specific area. Some examples of the areas for group projects are children and youth, disability services, arts, race and ethnic relations, technology and media, science and engineering, homelessness, and immigrants and refugees, to name a few! There are also opportunities for an individual project.
90% of Duke students complete an internship, and half of students do some form of research. There are both organized research opportunities and independent studies that students can do. Students can earn class credit or get paid for their research.
Duke also partners with UNC and NC State academically to provide students the chance to take classes at those institutions.
Global Learning houses their study away programs, which has programs in 6 of the continents! There are also chances for students to study at another program within North America if, for example, a student wants to learn the film industry in LA or policy-making in DC.
Students are required to live on campus for the first three years, and the first years all live together for the first-year experience.
The Focus Program is for freshman, taken their first-semester, to learn interdisciplinary disciplines, exposing students to different ideas, vantage points, and information as they learn from the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
DukeImmerse is a semester-long seminars, similar to what Freshman experience in Focus, to engage and learn from the professors' research and about the integrated topic at hand, also providing off-campus opportunities to enhance the curriculum. Examples of curriculum themes are: race, science and power, food studies, global refugee crisis, rights and identities, and urban policy and society.
DukeEngage- is a summer community service project, where students serve for 6-10 weeks in a specific area. Some examples of the areas for group projects are children and youth, disability services, arts, race and ethnic relations, technology and media, science and engineering, homelessness, and immigrants and refugees, to name a few! There are also opportunities for an individual project.
90% of Duke students complete an internship, and half of students do some form of research. There are both organized research opportunities and independent studies that students can do. Students can earn class credit or get paid for their research.
Duke also partners with UNC and NC State academically to provide students the chance to take classes at those institutions.
Global Learning houses their study away programs, which has programs in 6 of the continents! There are also chances for students to study at another program within North America if, for example, a student wants to learn the film industry in LA or policy-making in DC.
Visiting Duke: Duke has several different opportunities to visit, from campus tours, attending classes and overnight visits, you can find what is best for you in how to see the campus and experience life at Duke.
