<p>Duke announced today that ED applications increased by 26 percent from last year. In 2012, the University received 2,540 ED applications; however, this year that number jumped to 3,191. Not only is this the highest number of ED admissions candidates ever, it is also the largest increase in a single year.</p>
<p>Where did you see this information on ED applications for Duke Class of 2018?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/11/12/early-decision-applications-26-percent[/url]”>http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/11/12/early-decision-applications-26-percent</a></p>
<p>There is also a Duke news release, available at duke.edu.</p>
<p>This makes me very very very nervous</p>
<p>Although I always planned to apply ED, once I heard about the astronomical ED acceptance rate last year, I knew that Duke was going to push like no other for more ED applicants. We’re indirectly suffering from that surge, unless they accept more ED applicants. Which I don’t think is likely to happen, considering they did that last year.</p>
<p>My D considers Duke RD and so the increased number of ED applicants made me nervous.</p>
<p>I think the acceptance rates really depends on the quality of the applicant pool. If the majority of the applicants are ones who normally would have no chance (sub par academics etc.) then they will accept less. If most of the applicants are all highly qualified, then they will accept more. But it is true, I have never heard a school encourage early decision more than Duke. At one Duke program I went to the admissions representative was practically begging students to apply early decision. I do not think the increase in applicants will change the admission standards for Duke.</p>
<p>Please consider the following hypothetical situation, to illuminate Duke’s emphasis on ED: two applicants are both superbly qualified, there is only one spot left in the Class of 2018 (obviously, this is absurd, but I use it only to enhance this hypothetical illustration), and one candidate is so enthusiastic and committed to Duke that he is willing to pledge that he will matriculate if accepted. Which applicant would you accept?</p>
<p>Right. That’s what I worried about. But the reason myD didn’t apply as ED was financial issue. Duke is my D’s top choice.</p>
<p>If Duke accepts the same number of ED applicants as last year (753), then the ED admit rate will drop from 29% to 24%. I would guess that this is the impact that Duke wants - reduce the ED admit rate while maintaining a high yield. The 753 admits would represent about 44% of the next freshman class.</p>
<p>“But the reason myD didn’t apply as ED was financial issue. Duke is my D’s top choice.”</p>
<p>Dad2013, I hope your daughter is admitted as a RD applicant; however, that decisive enthusiasm and commitment I emphasized in post #11 necessarily must include a financial obligation, since Duke both depends on accepted EDs to enroll and provides full need blind admissions and excellent financial assitance packages.</p>
<p>I am sure Duke realizes that many middle income families will not risk applying ED because they do not know how much financial aid they will receive, and obviously, cannot take the risk of eliminating potential offers from other schools. </p>
<p>ED applications really benefit high income or very low income families, as well as, athletes and legacies. </p>
<p>If Duke is your first choice, then apply to their scholarships and send in your application EARLY so that they know you couldn’t have applied to another school ED. If you send it in after the second week in December, it may appear that Duke is getting another school’s rejected applicant.</p>
<p>I suppose it all depends on one’s definition of “middle income.” Average family HH income in the US is ~$50,000-55,000. Make less than $60k / year and you’re given (basically) a full ride. </p>
<p>[Duke</a> Financial Aid: Award Statistics](<a href=“http://dukefinancialaid.duke.edu/undergraduate/stats/index.html]Duke”>http://dukefinancialaid.duke.edu/undergraduate/stats/index.html)</p>
<p>It is entirely possible for any family to approximate how much they expect to receive in financial aid by going to the college board website:</p>
<p><a href=“Net Price Calculator”>Net Price Calculator;
<p>laguanl wrote:</p>
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<p>This is not true. An ED applicant can apply to as many schools as desired using RD at any point. However, if accepted ED (and assuming FA is affordable), the applicant must withdraw all applications immediately. This also works to the advantage of the very high incomes who can afford to waste app fees and the very low income who receive unlimited app fee waivers.</p>
<p>I agree with cally’s argument that CC’s concept of “middle income” is significantly higher than the statistical category of “middle income”. However, I believe there are few successful applicants from the statistical category of “middle income” for full-need-met colleges. There are many applicants in the $60k-$150k income range who are competitive applicants but squeezed financially - and these applicants tend to post frequently on these pages.</p>
<p>Hey TopTier,</p>
<p>First, let me thank you for all of your posts. I applied ED for Duke this year and your presence on this site has helped me greatly through the application process. </p>
<p>As an alumni interviewer, do you know if Duke will release application numbers for this year’s ED class like they did last year? </p>
<p>Sorry to post on an old thread…</p>
<p>@classof2019a: I’m humbled by and appreciative of your graciousness in post #15; thank you so much.</p>
<p>While I have received no formal notification, I am quite sure Duke will release its ED numbers soon after 15 December. Your fastest and easiest way to find our ED statistics might be to check the Chronicle’s (Duke’s student daily newspaper) internet site in the days after the decisions are released. They always have a full report, including all the relevant numbers. </p>
<p>Again, I wish you good luck.</p>
<p>I don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, but this may help: <a href=“http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2014/11/05/duke-receives-more-3100-early-applications”>http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2014/11/05/duke-receives-more-3100-early-applications</a></p>