How to Get Into Duke

University
Three Parts:Fulfilling the Basic RequirementsFilling Out the
ApplicationStanding Out and Getting Accepted

Duke University is an elite institution with a tradition of

admitting the most qualified students. On average, only about
13% of applying students are admitted. The admission
process includes official applications, recommendations, an
essay and submission of standardized test scores. If you want
to give yourself the best chance of success, learn the basic
requirements for admission and some tips for making yourself
stand out.

Complete your high school education. Duke is an elite

university, highly competitive, and it's necessary to complete
your high school education with excellent academic standing
to apply. While you attend school, it's important to specialize in
broad curriculum, high-level classes, as well as supplementing
your application with diverse extra-curricular activities and
above-average grades.
Take courses in high school that include natural science, 3
years of mathematics, a foreign language, 4 years of English
and social studies. Include electives that demonstrate your
willingness to be challenged and expand your knowledge
base and makes you an erudite.
If you plan on applying to the Pratt School of Engineering at

Duke, coursework in calculus and physics are strongly

recommended during high school.
While you may technically apply to Duke having attained a
High School equivalency, like the GED, it's very difficult to get
into Duke without a nice high school record. It's important to
finish High School and graduation with outstanding grades if
you want to get into Duke.

Take Advanced Placement courses or honors classes, if

possible. Duke University looks for students who have taken
accelerated classes, and these course may, in some cases,
be counted for credit at Duke. If AP courses are available at
your high school, find out what it takes to enroll, and do so.
Typically, AP courses are offered during 11th and 12th grade,
are somewhat more advanced, and will end with a
standardized AP test, in addition to a final. Typically, the AP
test itself is optional, but you'll want to take it and do well if you
want to get into elite universities like Duke.
If you take AP courses and tests, you'll also typically need to
arrange to have these sent to the Universities to which you
hope to apply. The sooner you know you want to go to Duke,
the sooner you can arrange to have your AP scores sent.
Get involved with extra-curricular activities. To get into
Duke, you need to display that you've received a well-rounded
education and were fully engaged in a diversity of activities at
your school. Get involved in a school sport, band, club, or
other organization to make your application really stand out.

The Duke Office of Admissions cautions students from

involving themselves with too many activities. Duke officials
stress that it is the quality of the participation that counts, not
the number of activities. Pick one or two that you really care
about, instead of joining up with the Xbox club just to have
something to put on your app.

Keep your GPA as high as possible. Your grade point

average is a demonstration of your consistency and ability to
achieve at all levels in high school. Trying to maintain a
consistently high GPA is a good way to stand out among your
peers and demonstrate that you're a consistent and serious
student and potential Duke grad.
Pay attention to your class rank, as well. If you're somewhere
near the top 25 or even top 10 of your class, this is important
to keep in mind when you're applying to Duke. While the GPA
is the most important thing, it looks nice and tidy if you can
also let them know you were one of the best students at your
school.
Your GPA is another good reason to take AP courses, which
are typically offered on a 5 point, as opposed to 4 point, scale.
That means an A in an AP course is typically worth more GPA
points than an A in a regular course, so you can skew your
GPA higher as a bonus.

Take the required standardized tests. Duke University

requires that students submit test scores from either the
American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test
(SAT), so it's a good idea to sign up for one or both as soon as
possible to give yourself enough chances to get a high score.
While Duke does not have a specific minimum score
requirement for admission, accepted students typically fall into
the upper 50th percentile.
Typically, for admission, students score above 29 on the ACT
as a potential Arts & Sciences student, and above 32 as a
potential engineering student.
On the SAT, students typically score at least 680 on the verbal
section, 690 on the math section and 660 on the writing
section.
On average, students accepted into Duke received scores
slightly higher than the minimum requirement, between 700
and 800 on both sections of the SAT and roughly 31-35 on the
ACT.[1] All students accepted into Duke are in the top 50th
percentile.

Have your high school transcript sent to Duke. Coordinate

with your school's guidance counselor to send official grade
reports and a high school transcript to Duke University as
soon as possible upon your graduation, and talk about
acquiring unofficial transcripts to complete your application.[2]

Acquire two recommendations from teachers who know

you well. While you're still in high school, it's important to
cultivate good relationships with at least two teachers who will
be willing to write you glowing recommendations. Duke
University requires recommendations be from teachers who
have instructed you within the last two years.
If possible, find out whether or not any of your teachers have
attended Duke in the past. Letters from Alumni typically stand
out more than recommendations from other teachers.
Be sure to ask for a letter as early as possible in the
application season, preferably early in the Fall semester, if you
want a good letter. Teachers will quickly get swamped with
requests, and you want to be early in the line.