Applying to Duke: Who We're Looking For: Our Process

Our Process | What We Seek | Class of 2013 Profile

In assessing individual applications, the Admissions Committee considers a variety of factors, both academic and personal, for each candidate. Certainly, academic ability and enthusiasm for the intellectual challenges presented by Duke's curriculum are among the first factors we consider. Beyond that, however, the Admissions Committee looks for students who will bring a variety of experiences and opinions to campus, who will be energized by ideas, and who will contribute to and benefit from the active co-curricular life here.

Because there is no formula for admission to Duke, it is impossible to predict a candidate's chances of admission by looking at the academic record and test scores alone. Instead, the decision to admit a student hinges on the interplay of six main factors:

The rigor of a candidate's academic program
Academic performance
Letters of recommendation from teachers and a counselor
Extracurricular activities and personal qualities
The quality of thought and clarity of expression evident in a candidate's personal statement/essay
Standardized testing

Students we accept haven't just gone through the motions—they've put heart and soul into the areas that interest them. To be honest, students we do not admit usually have these qualities as well. That's why the Admissions Committee members spend countless hours evaluating applications each year. Ultimately, we compare every applicant to the pool as a whole and try to determine which students will make the best match with Duke.

Because admission to Duke is competitive, applicants often have many questions about the application process and wonder exactly what we seek in admitting students to Duke.