<p>This is what I sometimes don’t understand. If Duke does, in fact, have a filtering system, which can only be based on scores I would think, then why not release their cutoffs so applicants who have no chance don’t waste their time (and money) or Duke’s time.</p>
<p>^For acceptance rates and rankings ;)</p>
<p>And thanks, Haute.</p>
<p>Amazhon,</p>
<p>My hunch is that it’s because the bar is lowered (albeit not by much) for athletes, which is why they can’t give a “cut-off.” It would sort of be dishonest on their part if they do.</p>
<p>Yeah Rahul I applied ED and I’m so anxious! Don’t worry you have better grades and test scores than me.</p>
<p>You’re Hispanic… You’re in. T_T</p>
<p>Anecdotal evidence would have me believe that Duke will accept anyone who is suitably qualified regardless of whether or not it will lose the student to a school like Harvard or MIT.</p>
<p>Yes kenyanpride, the one thing I love about Duke is it doesn’t “yield protect”-it won’t turn down an incredibly qualified student just because he is likely to be admitted to HYPSM and will turn the offer of admissions. Duke wants the smartest students to enroll and Guttentag & co. know that even “Harvard’s leftovers” would be an incredible addition to the Duke community.</p>
<p>I think schools like Northwestern and UChicago are now focusing on admitting students who they believe will have a strong likelihood of enrolling rather than just going after the absolute smartest and most talented kids out there. It might artificially boost their yield but it will hurt these schools down the line.</p>
<p>I agree with that assessment, however, how come Chicago’s SAT averages are still improving? Is it because SAT scores are increasing across the board (for all students)?</p>
<p>Nothing is changing beyond the number of schools each applicant is applying to. From the so called Harvard leftovers you could easily comprise a class superior academically to what Harvard admits. The number of 4.0, 2300+, 5+ AP’s with fives that don’t apply to the HYP schools because they don’t think they would be given consideration is huge.</p>
<p>@kenyanpride</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, I actually think that SAT scores are going down on average, though this is probably because more and more students are taking it. I also read somewhere that for the first time ever, more people are taking the ACT.</p>
<p>Edit: <a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost;
<p>Yup. They went down, but very minutely.</p>
<p>There is NO filtering for yield-protection in the ED round (why would they, given ED-yield = 100% and binding). Duke is likely to have a target or desired-range of ED-admits every year, but it is the same for all ED-applicants. Stop fretting excessively even if Duke is your high-reach school, as you will get the maximum benifit of doubt in the ED round. Since you have already applied, worst-case, if you were a border-line-admit, you will get deferred, and get another serious look in the RD round. It is easier said than done, but try to direct all/any nervous energy toward your RD back-up school applications…</p>
<p>While I won’t make the same assertion regarding Duke’s RD yield protection, IMHO, Duke is amongst the fairest in the elite-top-10/20 schools. Anecdotally speaking, at DD’s local in-state public magnet/IB school, Duke admits approx 10 kids/year regardless of past matriculation rates. While 2-3 ED-admit every year, RD-yeild rate is not so hot (only 25-50%). Flag-ship UNC-CH, HYPS+MC and other ivies are the beneficiary cross-admit schools. Similar patterns are in evidence at NCSSM and couple of other top-schools in the RDU area. Duke’s charter preference for Carolina(s) does not seem to be a big factor either, as we routinely see other-highly-qualified kids from same schools get rejected who would have matriculated in a heart-beat (read FA not being huge factor).</p>
<p>@RKS, this is a general comment - PM for a chance opinion (as if you really need one) !</p>
<p>Goldenboy – “I think schools like Northwestern and UChicago are now focusing on admitting students who they believe will have a strong likelihood of enrolling rather than just going after the absolute smartest and most talented kids out there.”</p>
<p>Any evidence for this? I have no idea about Northwestern, but would think Chicago gets its pick of the MW students, many of whom do not even think about Ivies. Also, UC’s yield while steadily improving has not yet cracked 50%. </p>
<p>Agree though re Duke not practicing yield protection and think this is good idea as Duke offers some things that Ivies can’t (ala top basketball and great climate). I suspect there are more than a few top students, who after getting admitted to several top 10 schools, base their final decision on non-academic factors.</p>
<p>absolute smartest and most talented kids out there</p>
<p>There are 20 kids in my senior class alone with 2300+ SAT scores and UW GPAs of 3.95 or better. We have 30 plus honors and AP courses. We have a strong high school but there are also stronger. There are only 30,000 freshmen positions for all the top 20 colleges. Who a school considers the smartest and most talented is subjective to say the least. While we are considered a top 10 public school in a very large state we haven’t had a person accepted to a HYPS school since 2005. If you look at these schools in terms of numbers like SAT scores, national merit finalists etc., we’ve had 100 kids that would be in the top 25% of the admitted students for these schools over the same time period.</p>
<p>It is important to note that a far lower percentage of students applying to midwestern schools like Chicago and NU submit the SAT. Most students in that part of the country prefer the ACT for whatever reason. The students that do submit the SAT are obviously those that have performed better on it than on the ACT. It is almost like a selection pressure is being applied, and that is what could be causing the average scores to be inflated. The small sample size amplifies this effect, leading to skewed data.</p>
<p>I think you are an extremely well qualified candidate! I hope you get in! I can hardly sleep anymore I’m so nervous about decisions, I keep remembering all the things I did wrong on my application and the things I should have probably sent in but didn’t.</p>