I’ve wanted to go to Duke for the past two years. After getting a 36 on my ACT, I knew I had a great shot applying early decision. My grades are at the top 10% of my class, and I am involved in numerous extra curricular activities. I have over 800 community service hours. In addition, I am an under represented minority: Hispanic. I’m not trying to toot my own horn, but knowing I am a qualified applicant for many schools, should I hold off on the early decision process? Should I shoot higher for a school like Stanford in the regular round, or secure my chances at Duke in the early round? One of my concerns is never being able to know what could have happened. Then again, Duke is a fantastic school and I’m sure I would have an amazing experience there. What should I do?
My opinion is, if you have any doubts about whether or not Duke is your first choice school, you should not apply early. Think carefully about whether you would regret locking yourself into a school early.
The best school for any applicant is the one you most want to go to, not the one that is ranked highest. Stanford may be marginally harder to get into than Duke is, but that does not make it a higher quality education per se. At the level of school you are looking at, the educational experience will be outstanding whichever you go to. Early Decision is your best chance to get into a school you really want to go to, because it improves the odds slightly. If Duke is your dream school, let them know by applying early. You may have a few moments of wondering ‘what if,’ but those will disappear once you start attending whichever school you get into. You will be totally immersed in the actual college experience. Pick a school you love, get it your best shot, and no need to look back!
Duke is very up front about the fact that applying there ED does provide an admissions boost. That is not true of all schools. Many kids who make it in at ED, may not make it in at RD, due to the larger pool. If you love Duke, apply early.
So you’ve wanted to go to this school for two years and after (I’m assuming) a lot of hard work you’ve achieved the scores, grades, and ECs to make that happen. Congratulations. What am I missing here? I totally agree with the other advice in this thread, but just because there are other great schools out there doesn’t mean they’re YOUR dream school, which it seems like you found and found early.
Also: don’t get too cocky. Schools like Duke get far more amazing applicants than they could ever accept. It’s not a sure thing you’ll get in.
Is Duke affordable for your family?
You may want to apply to 5 - 10 schools so you can weigh the cost and your options. Like others have said, Duke isn’t a sure thing, no high ranking school is.
Having options will make you feel like YOU got to choose, in the end. That will be very comforting when you go off to college.
Congratulations on doing well!
If you are 100% sure about duke apply ED. This is by far your best chance. BUT with a 36 act you have a great shot at other tops schools. If you are unsure apply EA/ regular and I’m sure you will get accepted to at least one of your top picks. I agree with not getting cocky. If you really love duke you will be doing yourself a favor applying ED.
If you love Duke, apply ED. You have a very good chance of getting in and it’s a way better chance than RD. Base your decision on your love of the school, not its prestige.
Applying ED shows the admissions officers that the college is your first choice, and that you really want to study there. If you’re sure Duke is your first choice and you have good grades from freshman to junior year, then you might want to try considering ED
If you love Duke, then by all means apply. Just be weary of financial aid. If you’re in a good spot financially and wouldn’t need any assistance to attend, then you should have no problems if accepted. However, if you do need financial assistance, ED prevents you from comparing financial aid packages from different colleges, and you could get screwed over by not getting enough money. If that isn’t a component for you, or you don’t hold it as a big concern, most definitely shoot for ED. If this would be an issue, weigh the pros and cons of applying ED and make the best decision for you and your situation.
Apply ED only if: 1) Duke is your definite top choice and you will never wonder if you could get into a school you preferred and 2) you have no need to compare financial aid offers between schools. If both conditions are not true then I would recommend RD.
@rygo13 When you are a very competitive applicant like yourself ED is for your absolute first choice. If you love Duke enough that you would turn down every other school, including Stanford, if given the choice between the two then ED is for you. If on the other hand Stanford is your absolute first choice then go for Stanford. You are qualified enough to afford to go after your dream school. Both your grades, scores, ECs are very competitive and the fact that you are hispanic will also help during the early round where the applicant pool tends to be more homogeneous so you will even more of an underrepresented minority.
thank you all so so so much for replying it means a lot to me. i am still considering both options, but will make my decision very soon. also, my high school nominated me for the robertson scholarship (full ride to duke), which would be an absolute dream come true. does anyone have information whether my chances of getting this are higher early, regular, or does it not matter?
I think the people that are nominated for that all have 35+ ACT scores, top of the class etc. So in terms of that you have a “regular” chance. I think that applying early will help, as if you apply to late you have more competition- isn’t there usually a deadline for these types of scholarships?
Have you run the Net Price Calculator for Duke?
the deadline is november 15
If you have doubts, don’t apply ED. It’s as simple as that.
Congratulations on being nominated for the Robertson. Your chances don’t change if you apply ED or RD. Receiving a merit scholarship is about far more than ACT scores, GPA, or service hours. They are looking for leaders, people deeply and creatively involved in their schools and communities. You can look up the profiles of the recipients on the Robertson site.
The very strongest applicants don’t need to get locked into ED. Although you express a liking for Duke you do not seem to “know” it is your top choice, especially with regard to Stanford. In addition, money is an issue, so giving up the leverage of being allowed to compare multiple financial packages is not the best solution.
We had many of these issues too. I suggest you find somewhere you like and apply there as non-binding EA or REA. Maybe that is Stanford for you. In addition, pick some financial safety schools, where you will get big merit aid. This will let you then play with “house money” and apply RD to a smattering of schools like Duke and Stanford and others that can be generous with aid.
You will not get into all these schools, as there are, frankly a lot of kids out there with those same high stats and great qualifications. My daughter was a 2400 SAT and she did not get in everywhere amongst those lottery schools. But she did get into multiple schools in that “high-reach lottery zone.” She also got all kinds of merit at all the great financial safety schools, often being a direct admit into special honors or gateway programs and winning named scholarships on top of the layers of merit that seem to be based on stats.
When you have all your choices in front of you in April, you will then be in full control of the situation with plenty of great options that fit both your aspirations and your budget.
The Robertson Scholarship will still be available in RD. Don’t underestimate how hard it is to win those in a pool where many many kids are valedictorians and 36/2400 with leadership and service accolades. This is also why you will want to apply to multiple lottery schools, since you are not going to get into them all….
Another benefit is this gives you 6 more months to figure out what you really want. Many times kids are driven by prestige or other factors instead of figuring out where they will truly be most happy. When you exert control and give yourself multiple options you never have those “what if” regrets.
You have the stats to give yourself plenty of great options. Winning the college game means you being in control of the decision and optimizing for what is important to you. And no regrets.
I wish you the very best of luck!