Duke Class of 2023 ED Results

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

Feel free to post decisions when they come out, and try to follow the format below:

Pick one:
Decision: Accepted
Decision: Waitlisted
Decision: Rejected

State intended major

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):
ACT:
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load:
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities:
Essays:
Teacher Recommendation:
Counselor Rec:
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s):
School Type:
Ethnicity:
Gender:
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

General Comments:

2

Writing this before decisions come out to avoid bias. I’ve been looking at these throughout the process, so it only seems right that I pay is forward to future classes.

TRINTY:
Decision: Rejected

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1540 (780 Math, 760 English)
ACT (breakdown): C:35 (E35,M36,R35,S34) one sitting
SAT II: Math 2: 800, US History: 760
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8UW
Weighted GPA: 4.2W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School does not rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH(5), World(4), Gov(5), Macro(5), Lang(4), Euro(5), Lit(4), CalcBC(4), ABsubscore(5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): IB Candidate, have not taken any exams yet.
Senior Year Course Load: AP micro, HLbio, HLmath, HLenglish, SLcomputerScience, Theory of Knowledge, SLspanish, HLhistory
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit commended, National AP scholar, 3rd in state mathematics test, 2nd in local math contest, local university math award.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Physics Club (President), Travel Soccer (captain), NHS, Student Council (committee head), Math club (numerous awards), Basketball club
Job/Work Experience: Soccer Referee
Volunteer/Community service: Lots of tutoring, mostly math, but also reading for some younger kids. Lots of other volunteer work on a variety of things as my school mandates volunteering hours.
Summer Activities:
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App (6/10, tough to rank, it’s risky in the sense that it may not show me in the best light. Talks more of a personal struggle than anything academically/ extracurricular related. The writing was okay but not my best work ever.)
Why Duke/ Trinity: (7/10, Pretty conservative, well written, just a thesis on why I like Duke so much.)
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: Math/ AP Research/ Extended Essay teacher, not really sure tbh, no sense in rating.
Teacher Rec #2: AP Euro/ HL History teacher, super intelligent Ivy League educated PHD, he has a few guys he likes more than me, but he does like me. I got a 5 on Euro and do the work in his class. He’s kinda a jokester, but I’m sure he recognizes the magnitude of recommendations…again, no sense in rating.
Counselor Rec: She doesn’t really know me but I’m sure it was fine (I kind of came off as an obsessive memorizer in our interview because I knew all these stats better than her).
Additional Rec: none
Interview: did not receive one

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: no
Intended Major: Stats/PoliScience/Econ
State (if domestic applicant): Midwest
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public Charter
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: high
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

Reflection

Strengths: test scores, math state comp win
Weaknesses: GPA, uncertainty on recs, common app could be either strength or weakness.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

General Comments: I know it’s not a stats game and they’re trying to create not the smartest class, but the BEST one.

3

TRINTY:
Decision: ACCEPTED

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1470 (800 Math, 670 EBRW) - taken in sophomore year one sitting
SAT II: Math 2: 800, Chemistry: 740
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9UW
Weighted GPA: N/A
IB (place score in parenthesis): IB Candidate, have not taken any exams yet. Predicted Grades 40+/45
Senior Year Course Load: HL EngALAL, Math, Economics, SL Business, Chemistry, IndonesianALAL
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Top Scorer IGCSE 2017 in Economics in Indonesia, Math Modeling Research Award, etc

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Council, etc
Job/Work Experience: Accounting/Finance Internship (2)
Volunteer/Community service: Math Tutor to elemntary students, etc
Summer Activities:
Essays (rating 1-10, details): -
Why Duke/ Trinity: Economics with Finance Concentration. Why this program is unique and perfectly fits my interest
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: HL Math/Extended Essay teacher FERPA Waived
Teacher Rec #2: HL Economics/ FERPA Waived
Counselor Rec: FERPA Waived
Additional Rec: Employer & Research Mentor
Interview: did not receive one

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: no
Intended Major: Economics with Finance Concentration/Statistical Science/Mathematics
State (if domestic applicant): -
Country (if international applicant): Indonesia
School Type: Private Christian
Ethnicity: East Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Medium/High
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): -

Reflection

Strengths: IGCSE award, Research Award
Weaknesses: low SAT ERBW
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

General Comments: Awards and other aspects may compensate for lower SAT scores, especially if you have rigorous classes.

4

Trinity:
Decision: Rejected

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 1410
ACT: NA
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.5W, 4.0 UW
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School does not rank
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):NA
Senior Year Course Load: AP Statistics, AP English Lit, AP Psychology, AP Gov
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Student Council representative, Soccer, Yearbook, Beta Club (secretary), Key Club.

Job/Work Experience: Worked at a local Restaurant
Volunteer/Community service: Lots of volunteer work with clubs like KeyClub and Beta Club
Essays: Common App (8/10 I liked it, but could have been a little better), Why Duke (8/10 I thought it was pretty creative), Diversity ( also 8/10, I was pretty happy with it.)
Teacher Recommendation: Got it from an English Teacher I knew very well, I have taken two of her AP English classes
Counselor Rec: Not sure, but she knows me pretty well
Additional Rec: I got it from my school librarian. She knows me well, and I thought as an English major that might help.
Interview: did not receive one

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
State (if domestic applicant): NC
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): English
School Type: Small Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: <100,00
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

Reflection

Strengths: GPA, Essays
Weaknesses: Test score, no hook
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
I guess I was rejected because I didn’t stand out enough in the applicant pool

General Comments: Congrats to all that got in

5

Decision: Rejected

Public Policy

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 1510
ACT: none
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.81
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesnt do
AP (place score in parenthesis): Psych 5 Apush 5
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Stats AP gov APES random english econ mock trial elective
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): idk this one

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
conducted research at university
job in remote technical support for company
duke tip
stanford epgy
badminton team
eagle scout
raised 28000 dollars for religious organization
senate internship
CSF

Job/Work Experience: remote technical support
Volunteer/Community service: CSF
Summer Activities: basically the rest of my activities besides sports and eagle scout
Essays:8/10 is probably the lowest id rank them
Teacher Recommendation: both should be 8/10+
Counselor Rec:6/10+
Additional Rec:10/10 both
Interview:7/10+

Other

State (if domestic applicant):California
Country (if international applicant):USA
Intended major(s):Public Policy
School Type:Large Public
Ethnicity:Indian
Gender:M
Income Bracket:high
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):none

Reflection

Strengths:LORs and ECs seemed good
Weaknesses: lack of subject tests and gpa
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: reasons i stated, mostly because of lack of subject tests, super competitive school as well

General Comments: grats to those who got in

6

Decision: Rejected

Trinity: Chemistry/PreMed

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): NA
ACT: 34C(34E,35M,35R,32S)
SAT II: 800 - Math 2
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.95UW with max rigor.
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): NA
AP (place score in parenthesis): AB subscore - 4. BC - 3, Lang - 3
IB (place score in parenthesis): NA
Senior Year Course Load: Multivariable calc, College Physics 2 w/ Lab, AP Lit, Civics Honors, AP Chem, Spanish 3 Honors
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NA

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Research that ended in a published poster.
Shadowing surgeons at local hospital
Tutoring algebra/geometry and precalc
Varsity Science Olympiad for 3 years. Mentoring an autistic JV member.
Math Team
Job/Work Experience: NA
Volunteer/Community service: Volunteering at events my brother attended who had cerebral palsy. This was a major EC for me due to my personal connection to it.
Summer Activities: Took College Physics 1 w/ Lab during summer as well as worked on research.
Essays: Wrote my commonapp about growing up with au-pairs after my dad died. 7/10 - 8/10
Wrote my WhyDuke about how in middle school, Duke students did a project where they built him a rotating canvas 9/10 - 10/10 no lie the best essay I wrote
Wrote my diversity essay about how I’ve lived in so many areas of the US (midwest, westcoast, eastcoast) and growing up with parents who immigrated from Britain.
Teacher Recommendation: AP Lang teacher who liked me a lot 7/10 - 8/10.
Physics professor who didn’t know me that well, but still probably gave a decent rec 5/10 - 6/10
Counselor Rec: Transferred schools, so I didn’t know her that well should be a 4/10- 5/10
Additional Rec: My MIT alumni tutor who gave me a very strong rec easily 9/10 to 10/10.
My research mentor should’ve been a strong rec 7/10 - 8/10
Interview: Very very good interview 9/10 to 10/10.

Other

State (if domestic applicant): NC
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Chemistry/Premed
School Type: best public in my area
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 140k-150k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Legacy through mom

Reflection

Strengths: Legacy, good test scores, research, meaningful volunteering, great interview, and good Duke supps.
Weaknesses: possibly weaker recs, no awards, good rec from my tutor, no major leadership roles, AP scores

Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I honestly am dumbfounded that I got flat out rejected. I thought I would at least get deferred, but I really thought I had a strong shot. Even when I posted the chanceme on here people said that I was extremely likely to get in and thought I was flexing.

General Comments: I can’t believe I didn’t get at least deferred especially with my legacy+good stats+decent ECs+good essays. I am just incredibly disappointed.

7

Decision: Accepted

Computer Science

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): none
ACT: 36C, 12W
SAT II: Physics - 800, Math II - 800, US History - 800
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.00
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): ~10th of ~500
AP (place score in parenthesis): All 5s on World, Physics 1, Env Sci, Lang, Calc BC, Comp Sci A, Stats
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Chem, AP Lit, AP Bio, AP Physics C, AP Micro
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Founded multiple computer-focused clubs, etc. Published research paper. Eagle scout.
Job/Work Experience: Lifeguard
Volunteer/Community service: ~300 hours
Summer Activities: Camp counselor
Essays: Common App: 10/10 (literally the best thing I’ve ever written), Duke supplement: 6/10 (procrastinated)
Teacher Recommendation: English: 10/10, Science: 10/10: both teachers offered to write recs on their own initiative; English teacher absolutely raved about my writing
Counselor Rec: 5/10 (big school, doesn’t know me too well)
Additional Rec: 8/10: research mentor, probably focused on my technical skills
Interview: 8/10 - interviewer’s background/interests didn’t match mine but we still had a decent conversation

Other

State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Computer Science
School Type: Large Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Upper middle
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

Reflection

Strengths: extremely strong on objectives, subjectives good enough to fill the gap
Weaknesses: a bit STEM-skewed; Asian male
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: having published research in my area of interest was probably a huge plus; academics and perfect test scores couldn’t hurt

General Comments: The best way to get into a school is to do what you love. They love seeing that! Best of luck to everyone!

8

TRINTY:
Decision: Rejected

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1590 (800 Math, 790 English)
ACT (breakdown): didn’t take
SAT II: Math 2: 800, Chemistry: 800, Biology: 800
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0UW
Weighted GPA: 4.88W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School does not rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chem(5), Bio(5), Stats(5), US History(5), World(4), EnviSci(5), Calc BC(5), Physics 1(5), Physics 2 (5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP micro, AP Research, Advanced Calc, AP Lang, AP Psych, AP Gov, Science Research, Linear Algebra (Stanford online course)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 1st place in local science fair, Intel science finalist, National AP scholar, 1st place in ocean bowl, National Merit Finalist, president volunteer gold

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Environmental science Club (President), Climate Club (President) Varsity Water polo (captain), varsity football, NHS VP, SNHS President, Mu Alpha Theta Secretary, Sophomore year class president, start up non-profit environmental organization
Job/Work Experience: Tutor Environmental science, paid science research internship in local aquarium
Volunteer/Community service: leader of docent in local aquarium, docent in local salt marsh, chinese school
Summer Activities: MIT Research Science Institute, COSMOS, volunteer program in Costa Rica about environmental conservation
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App (9/10, personal story about how I get interested into protecting the environment))
Why Duke/ Trinity: (10/10, details about how I can take advantage of Nicholas School on Environment and Duke Marine Lab)

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: AP Envi Sci teacher (10/10): definitely the best rec ever, we are very close
Teacher Rec #2: APush (8/10) Nice person, know me well
Counselor Rec (6/10): don’t know me much
Additional Rec: none
Interview: Had a 2 hr relaxed conversation. We both enjoyed a lot

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: no
Intended Major: Envi Sci
State (if domestic applicant): CA
School Type: Huge Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: high
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

Reflection

Strengths: EC, test scores, GPA
Weaknesses: Asian male
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Being Asian Male
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Don’t know any yet

General Comments: I’m depressed

9

Decision: Accepted

Intended major: Computer Science

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 1480
ACT: 35C, 11W
SAT II: Math 2 - 800, Biology E - 790
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4
Rank: N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): BC Calc (5), Biology (5), Chemistry (4), CompSci A (5), English Lang (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Abstract Algebra, Dual Credit C++ Applications, Dual Credit Python, Robotics, Gov/Econ, English Honors, Game Design, Database Design, Intro to Artificial Intelligence, and Independent Study in Web Design (everything except physics is a semester long)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Mock Trial (co-captain), Youth in Government (club president and conference leader), varsity basketball, Natural Helper (kinda like a peer counselor, considered a part of student leadership)
Job/Work Experience: N/A
Volunteer/Community service: Computer Science Tutor, Chemistry Tutor for middle schoolers
Summer Activities: Research intern at Furman University
Essays: Common App (8 / 10), personal statement (6 / 10). Both were well written regarding grammar, but the subjects were a little forced
Teacher Recommendation: English teacher (10/10), Biology teacher (9/10). My English teacher has a PhD and is known to write really good recommendations, and he also liked my writing. My Biology teacher also had a PhD and I was one of his favorite students
Counselor Rec: 7/10. My counselor only had to worry about 50 kids, and I was one of the few to apply early so she knew me pretty well
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: N/A

Other

State (if domestic applicant): South Carolina
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Computer Science
School Type: Public Boarding School
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Lower Middle
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A

Reflection

Strengths: I go to a a science and math school that has a really good reputation, and I think that’s what pushed me over the top. The classes I’m taking this year sound really impressive and I took all APs my junior year. My recommendations also came from teachers who really liked me and both have PhDs.
Weaknesses: My essays were a little bland and my test scores aren’t outstanding as far as Duke standards go.

10

Accepted!!!

TRINITY

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 1510 (720 CRW, 790M)
ACT: -
SAT II: Chinese with Listening: 800, Math II: 800, Chemistry: 770
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn’t rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Chinese (5), APUSH (5), AP Calc BC (5), AP French (4), AP Chem (4), AP Euro (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis): -
Senior Year Course Load: AP US Gov, AP Microecon, AP Physics C, AP Comp Sci A, Multivariable Calc, Orchestra
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Chemistry Club (President), French Honor Society (Secretary), Cubes in Space (Research Group Leader), Clarinet section leader of my school’s orchestra, participated in All-State Band two times. Won three awards from the French National Contest. Nothing really special though.
Job/Work Experience: Works at a local community college as a math tutor since the end of junior year.
Volunteer/Community service: 400+ hours. Selling fast food, tutoring math/Chinese/chemistry/music, wilderness camp volunteer. Again, nothing really special.
Summer Activities: See work experience. (In sophomore year summer I took classes there)
Essays: 9/10 I really poured my heart into them.
Common App: I wrote about my difficulties after moving here in 6th grade, and how I began redefining/reshaping myself after this. (my love of language and math, becoming extroverted & warm hearted after encountering with so many friendly people here)
1st Supplemental: I wrote about Duke’s academic freedom and some of Duke’s programs that I’m interested (Focus, DukeEngage)
2nd Supplemental: I wrote about my work experience (the community college that I worked in was a really diverse community and I’ve encountered quite a lot of different people). I saw a lot of really parallel experiences with the students and my colleagues there, and I felt ashamed for having prejudices with community colleges earlier in high school. Since then I began valuing my community as an important part of my education.
Teacher Recommendation: 10/10. I’ve maintained very close relationships with my Math and French teachers. They loved me.
Counselor Rec: 10/10 Same as above.
Additional Rec: None
Interview: 10/10 The interviewer shared a lot of similar experiences with me and we talked straight for nearly two hours.

Other

State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant): -
Intended major(s): Math, French Studies, Statistical Science
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese)
Gender: M
Income Bracket: prefer not to say, but middle class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Not really but I’m an immigrant who started English in middle school so maybe that helped a bit.

Reflection

Strengths: Essays, interview, letters of rec, GPA, unique work experience?
Weaknesses: SAT (a lot of my friends had better scores than me). No major awards. ECs are kind of pale. Typical “hardworking immigrant.”
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think my essays really stood out as I spent a lot of time rewriting them. I also maintained close relationships with my teachers and counselor so their LORs are definitely great. The interview also went really well.

General Comments: I applied at the very last day possible and thought I would get rejected. Don’t lose your hopes, even if you think you have no chance of getting into your top choice schools. I think what’s more important than grades/activities/awards is personality. Anyways, I’m glad to join the Blue Devil Family and I can’t wait to see you guys next year!!!

11

ACCEPTED!
Pratt
Intended major: Mechanical Engineering

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):
ACT: 33C, 11W
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.73 (Weighted was 4.5)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): unknown
AP (place score in parenthesis): Total of 15 with 4s and 5s on all
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Differential Equations, Tragic Hero, Bio mechanics, Post-AP Spanish
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 3rd for Engineering at AzSEF, won the air force research laboratories outstanding project in stem award there also
Went to the World Robotics Competition twice and won a bunch of local tournaments
National AP Scholar since 10th grade
NHS, SHH(spanish honor society)

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
-Robotics: Spent most of my time on this club and was part of it since 7th grade
-Founded a club this year teaching kids at my school
Job/Work Experience: Worked at McDonalds over summer
Volunteer/Community service: Was part of a Club this year where I volunteered at a Transitioning home for parents and their children, we taught the kids science
Summer Activities: Chilled with friends, worked, and started a project to create a solar powered aircraft that I will be building with an ASU professor
Essays:
Duke Essays 9/10: I put a lot of time into the essays for the first one I mentioned a ton of stuff Duke engineering has to offer and why that would make me a better person and for the second one I talked about loving Arizona rain and used it as a metaphor for taking advantage of every moment, ik kinda weird
Teacher Recommendation:
Science: 10/10: From my engineering teacher and my sponsor for my engineering project and my sponsor for club this year, spent a lot of time with her and she let me see the essay
Other Science: 9/10? From my Physics/ Bio mechanics teacher I had known for a while, my counselor said it was good but I didn’t read it
Language: 9/10? From my language teacher also didn’t read it
Counselor Rec: 9/10: I got to a small school with a huge emphasis on college so I got to know my counselor really well
Additional Rec: None
Interview: 8/10 9/10? It went well, I showed up to a different place though and spent an extra 20min getting to where my interviewer was at bc the directions were wrong. All in all though it went pretty well and she said she saw me as the perfect fit for duke.

Other

State (if domestic applicant): AZ
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Anything engineering
School Type: Charter
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: >100k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths:
I think my essays, my course load throughout high school, bc I took basically 5 AP classes every year since 9th grade ,my teacher recs, and my stuff in robotics
Weaknesses: Definitely my GPA, although it did increase throughout high school. My ACT was also on the low side
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Honestly don’t know, maybe it was because of the teacher recommendations I did not see but I thought for sure I was going to be denied

General Comments:
Can’t wait to go to Duke and if you guys got deferred or rejected guys do NOT worry I know a lot of people who didn’t get into what they thought was their dream school but ended up being really successful anyways so as long as you are driven and take advantage of your opportunities, then I know you guys will do amazing.

12

Decision: Accepted!

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): didn’t send
ACT: C: 36 (E36, M35, R36, S35 W10)
SAT II: Math II: 770, Spanish with Listening: 780
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0UW, 4.62W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): Micro(5), Macro(5), Spanish(5), APUSH(5), Stats(5), Physics(4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Chemistry, AP European History, AP Calc AB, Civics, Journalism, Gender Perspectives in Literature, Anatomy & Physiology, Internship (I’m interning with a biological anthropology professor at Yale this spring)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semi-Finalist, National Hispanic Scholar, Columbia Book Award, AP Scholar with Distinction

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Model UN (president), La Vida Latina (president), Warde Voices for Equity (Hispanic Chair), Field Hockey, Indoor and Outdoor Track, Students Demand Action (president and founder), National Honors Society (Secretary), National Math/ Science/ Social Studies/ Spanish Honors Societies, worked on a Congressional Re-election Campaign
Job/Work Experience: Receptionist (3 months), just started at a bakery
Volunteer/Community service: National Charity League (6 years), Mentor Reader at local bilingual school
Summer Activities: 2017- archaeological dig in Mallorca, Spain; 2018- archaeological dig in Redondo, Portugal
Essays: Common App (9/10 I wrote it on my first archaeological dig and the cool stuff I found in a narrative of my activities through the day, easily one of the best things I’ve ever written), Why Duke (7/10 very specific on programs I would want to take advantage of but everything was really short so not able to expand), Background/ Heritage (8/10 wrote a really touching- in my opinion- piece about switching mindsets from not feeling Hispanic enough to becoming an advocate for our Hispanic students and being involved in the community)
Teacher Rec #1: Chem teacher from sophomore year, 10/10, he really loved me and I go back and talk to him all the time, he wanted me to read the letter- I cried it was so nice
Teacher Rec #2: APUSH/ Civics teacher, 9/10, I talk to him about anthropology all the time and he’s known for writing really great letters, counselor said this was my stronger letter
Counselor Rec: 8/10 I know her really well and she was my field hockey coach one year but she had to write a lot of them
Additional Rec:
Interview: 9/10 I loved my interviewer he was really interesting only 2 years out of college and we really just talked about civilization and modernity and things like that it wasn’t like a normal interview

Other

State (if domestic applicant): Connecticut
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Cultural Anthropology or Evolutionary Anthropology
School Type: Suburban Public
Ethnicity: Hispanic, White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: upper middle class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Hispanic, archaeologist

Reflection

Strengths: ACT, odd interests, lots of extracurriculars?
Weaknesses: not a great why Duke, talked to my admissions counselor a lot so maybe I annoyed her
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I don’t know why I got in over other equally qualified applicants, but I’ll take it! I’m over the moon.

General Comments: GO BLUE DEVILS!!

13

Accepted
Pratt

State intended major: Mechanical Engineering

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 1590 (800 Math, 790 Reading) single sitting
ACT: didn’t take
SAT II: 800 Biology, 800 Math II, 760 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92 UW
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 30/500
AP (place score in parenthesis): BC Calc (5), Eng (5), Chem (5), Physics (5), APUSH (5), Spanish (5), WHAP (4), Bio (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Multivariable Calc, AP Physics II Mechanics/E&M, AP Eng, AP Gov/Econ, AP Euro, Orchestra, AP Comp Sci
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semifinalist, AP National Scholar

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity sport (captain), Orchestra (section leader), Boy Scouts
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: Worked with cat rescue/adoption group
Summer Activities: year-round travel sport
Essays: 8/10
Teacher Recommendation: waived so don’t know
Counselor Rec:waived so don’t know
Additional Rec:
Interview: short

Other

State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Mechanical Engineering
School Type: public
Ethnicity: white
Gender: male
Income Bracket:>100K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): legacy parent/sibling

Reflection

Strengths: very engaged in small number of extracurriculars all 4 years
Weaknesses: only a few extracurriculars and no math/science extracurriculars
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: High test scores, rigorous curriculum, legacy

General Comments:

14

Decision: Waitlisted

State intended major: Neuroscience

Objective:

ACT: 33C (35E, 32M, 33R, 33S)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.76
Rank: n/a
AP: not offered, all courses are “advanced/accelerated” curriculum
Senior Year Course Load: Nonfiction English, Calculus, Biology, Forensic Science, Psychology, French 4
Major Awards: not offered at school, but Illinois State Scholar

Subjective:

Extracurriculars: President of Young Women in Science, Senior Grade Representative for Curriculum Committee, Treasurer of Medicine Research Club, Online Director of Power of Education Club, Current Events Manager of Clean Water Club, Member of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Photographer for School Newspaper
Job/Work Experience: Worked at Country Club Pool as a server over the summer
Volunteer/Community service: Volunteered in Morocco this summer, volunteered in Thailand/Cambodia/Laos/Vietnam Last summer
Summer Activities: Above activities plus month long psychology pre-college program in Paris taught in French
Essays: Really liked my common app essay so 9/10 but Duke’s essay was so short I feel I couldn’t get my point across fully so 6/10
Teacher Recommendation: One was my advisor so 10/10 and Math teacher was 8/10
Counselor Rec: 8/10
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: Interview was weird, the interviewer only asked one question “What do you plan to major in at Duke” and then she kept asking if I had any questions to ask her so we talked for 45 minutes

Other

State (if domestic applicant): IL
Intended major(s): Neuroscience
School Type: Small Private
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $750,000+

Reflection

Strengths: Solid grades/scores with an appealing personality, so my interview went well
Weaknesses: Don’t necessarily have a hook
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: A few other people applied from my school, and typically people don’t go to Duke from my school, so that was against me. Additionally, the Duke essay only allows 150 words so I feel like I didn’t say anything special that other applicants didn’t already say.

General Comments:

15

Decision: Accepted

Intended major: Political Science

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t send
ACT: 35C (36E/35R/35M/35S)
SAT II: Didn’t send
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 1.2% of Class
AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geography (5), Government (5), Microeconomics (5), Statistics (5), English Language (5), Physics C: Mechanics (5), Biology (5), Calculus BC (5), Calculus AB Subscore (5), US History (5)
Senior Year Course Load: Distance Calculus (Linear Algebra/Multivariable Calculus), AP World History, AP European History, AP Spanish Language, AP English Literature, AP Chemistry, AP Macroeconomics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NMSQT National Merit Semifinalist; State/Regional Level: Governor’s School for Social Studies, Girl’s State Senate Nominee, MUN stuff, Piano stuff

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Didn’t report all but - Social Studies National Honor Society (President), School community service club (President), Habitat for Humanity (VP), School community service club (VP), National English Honor Society (Publicist), NHS, Ambassador Program at my school, MUN, Piano for 12 years
Job/Work Experience: Internship for now-congresswoman in a swing election
Volunteer/Community service: 200+ Hours of volunteer service
Summer Activities: GHP, Girl’s State, Duke TiP
Essays: 7-8/10 Common App Essay, 9/10 Why Duke Essay, 7/10 Diversity Essay. Not sure how to rate them tbh.
Teacher Recommendation: Teachers knew me quite well so 8/10 for both too?
Counselor Rec: 8/10
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: Great interview! Talked a lot about my goals and stuff, great conversation. Told him a lot of stuff that I couldn’t fit into my application

Other

State (if domestic applicant): N/A
Country (if international applicant): N/A
Intended major(s): Political Science (and want to do Pre-Med)
School Type: Top 10 Public school in my state
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $250k+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Legacy

Reflection

Strengths: GPA, Legacy, interview (I have pretty ambitious goals, and I think I conveyed them very well), Why Duke Essay, ECs very relevant to what I want to do
Weaknesses: I didn’t have strong national awards/leadership positions in extracurriculars
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My overall application had good direction (with ECs and essays). I had good stats and well, legacy.

General Comments: I purposely kept some parts vague, since I think one of my friends will be looking for this… :P. Good luck if you’re applying! Congrats to the accepted, and for those who were not, I’m sure all of you have the work ethic and attitude to succeed, and no one can take that from you.

Good luck all :slight_smile:

16

I didn’t see a lot of Deferred applicants here, so I thought I’d post my stats, just because I know how helpful these are for future applicants.

Pick one: Trinity
Decision: Deferred

Objective:

ACT: 33 ( 36 E, 35 R, 29M, 31S)
UW GPA: 3.9 (4.65 weighted)
Rank: 9/106
AP: APUSH (5)
***IMPORTANT: I went to a dual-enrollment school for 11/12 grade. I will graduate with 60 credits of college coursework completed. That is why I only have one AP class!

Subjective:

Extracurriculars: Preprofessional Ballet student for 10+ years, NHS President

Volunteer/Community service:

  • NHS President: wrote, presented, and implemented 2 grant projects to benefit homeless teens in my community
  • Assistance Teach for Dance Outreach Program
  • National Charity League Member

Summer Activities:

  • Summers at competitive ballet programs (Boston Ballet, American Ballet)
  • Volunteered for a dance outreach summer program

Essays: I think my essays were good? I spent a lot of time and thought on them.

Recs: Recs all came from teachers who knew me well and were a big part of my transition to a new high school.

Interview: I did receive an interview, which I thought went really well. My interviewer was great and obviously had a lot of love for Duke!

Other

Country: US
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: F
Hooks: Really nothing, I’m a pretty normal kid.

Reflection

Strengths: Non-traditional high school experience, deep passion for my extracurriculars, Arts Supplement, good GPA
Weaknesses: ACT could have been higher?
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Honestly, Duke saw a huge increase in the number of ED applicants this year, and while I feel a little sad that I was not accepted, I know that the pool of applicants was very strong! I will be ecstatic if I am accepted this spring!

General Comments: Duke is a fantastic school, but they can’t accept all the great applications they receive. I love Duke and hope that whoever is reading this next year and is considering ED finds my stats helpful!

17

Decision: Accepted!!!

Linguistics and Music

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): didn’t take
ACT: 35/36 36 all sections except math 32 writing 10/12
SAT II: 800 Math2
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.72
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calc AB (5) Calc BC (5) Bio (5) English Lang (5) APUSH (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load:
AP Stat
AP Chinese
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Western Traditions
Honors Choir
Humor in Literature

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
none

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Peer support group (group leader)
Varsity Hockey
Harpist 7 years
Eastern European Culture Club (secretary)
Chinese Language (awarded at the local and state level)
Job/Work Experience:
Receptionist at tennis club
Intern at Chem Lab
Babysitter
Cook at fast food restaurant
Volunteer/Community service: none
Summer Activities:
Toured internationally with harp ensemble.
Harp summer intensive.
Held a job.

Essays:
Ngl my essays were bomb. I think one way I really stood out was my common app essay. I wrote an extended metaphor comparing myself to an egg casserole. My Why Duke essay was also really detailed and gave a really good picture of the specific things I wanted to do there.
Teacher Recommendation:
Hopefully they were good. I wasn’t allowed to read them. One of my recs was an alumni but I don’t think that did anything.
Counselor Rec:
Again, not allowed to read. Don’t know but I’m generally pretty likeable so hopefully it was good.
Additional Rec: none
Interview: Funny thing, I actually missed my interview but I was newly concussed so I really wasn’t lucid at all. I could barely speak so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

Other

State (if domestic applicant): Michigan
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Private, Top 20
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: Highest
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
None

Reflection

Strengths:I think the biggest strength of my application was the fact that I’m a national level harpist and you don’t meet one of those everyday. My essays were also really interesting. I think my personality really shown through.
Weaknesses: My grades for sure. Weighted I had a 4.22 and that’s all my school reports but they can do the math and comparatively my unweighted is pretty low.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think I’m very unique. I have a weird combination of skills, hockey, harp, chinese, etc and I have decent enough grades and good test scores so why not I guess. I don’t think I was like a stellar applicant but I do think that I’m an interesting one which could be all you need.

General Comments: Someone I know who’s also EDd got deferred and I think they were a better applicant than me so really it’s a crapshoot. I love Duke and I am so excited to go but at the end of the day, don’t kill yourself tryning to get in. Enjoy high school and realize you’ll be happy anywhere you go.

18

Decision: Accepted

State intended major: Public Policy

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT: 33C 36R, 34E, 31M, 30S
SAT II: 800 US History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Human (5) APUSH, AP Lang, AP Art History, AP, World History(4) AP Physics 1(2), didn’t send Physics
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, BC Calculus, AP European History, AP Macroeconomics/AP Government, AP Literature, Orchestra, Debate
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Mock Trial, 10-12
Debate 11-12
Orchestra [11-12]
Art History Club [10-12]
Pre-Med Club 9-12

Job/Work Experience:
N/A

Volunteer/Community service:
None I reported on my Common App

Summer Activities:
Watching my brother

Essays: 7/10, not bad, decently unique topic, but nothing super innovative or crazy

Teacher Recommendation: No idea, have not read

Counselor Rec: Have not read, probably never generic

Additional Rec:
None

Interview:
8-9/10. Really clicked with the guy, and I thought the conversation was really natural

Other

State (if domestic applicant): Texas

Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Public Policy

School Type: Public

Ethnicity: Black

Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 80-110k

Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
URM

Reflection:
Very happy for it to be over with. Keep ya head up if you got rejected or deferred, you’re going to do great

Strengths: URM, Subject Test, Interview

Weaknesses: Mediocre EC’s, average GPA, not a real pop in my application, weak math test scores

Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

Good hook, my essays, GPA, test scores were all pretty solid if I had to guess my interview pushed me over the top

General Comments:
Go Blue Devils!

19

Decision: Deferred

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT: 35 one sitting (E:35 M:33 R:36 S:34)
SAT II: N/A
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.85 UW 4.17 W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): didn’t send any
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics 1, AP Calc BC, AP Gov, AP Stat, AP Studio Art, Yearbook, Dual Enrollment English 12/writing 101
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): GPA 4.0+ all four years, Girls State City Council Delegate, School Woman Scholar Athlete Award, Honor Societies (Art, Spanish, National), and #1 Voted poem on an online magazine

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Started a club/nonprofit at my school (very unique & different…I work with a lot of people in my community and founder/president), started a jewelry business and all proceeds are donated towards gun reform (business owner/founder), summer internship at a law firm, one week internship at a district court in my city, softball team (captain and most utilized player award), golf team (captain and made regionals all four years of hs)
Job/Work Experience: elementary/middle school tutor for autistic immigrant students
Volunteer/Community service: softball umpire, coach, clinic coach, church youth group assistant
Summer Activities: so much interning
Essays:
-Common App: one of the best essays I’ve ever written about a reflection of myself and someone who’s had an impact on me
-Why Duke: targeted what I specifically want to do/what my passions are
-Diversity: super creative and really really good - an interesting metaphor
Teacher Recommendation: didn’t read any, but both of my teachers loved me so much and included examples of my impressive work when I was in their class
Counselor Rec: didn’t read but told me it was very detailed
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: It was amazing. We talked for 2 hours and she said she’d write me the best letter ever. She said I’d be happy at Duke and that Duke wants people like me (10/10)

Other

State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s): Public Policy, Middle Eastern Studies
School Type: super competitive public
Ethnicity: Asian (Korean)
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: would get some aid but not much
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A

Reflection

Strengths: I think my essays, recs, and ecs were super unique and strong and showcased my talents and passions
Weaknesses: Definitely my junior year grades, but I don’t know what else
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Honestly this is what I was expecting but it still sucks. Being Asian doesn’t help at all. Tried to be unique in the way I presented myself but it wasn’t enough I guess

General Comments:
Super bummed. Duke has been my dream school for so long and getting in RD is super unrealistic. It sucks seeing other kids from schools in my area get in who aren’t as qualified or passionate as me. This happened for a reason but it’s going to be hard to move on. Congrats to all who were accepted

20

TRINITY
Decision: Accepted
(Posting for my son’s results since I have “lived on CCfor the last few months!)

State intended major: Public Policy

SAT I (breakdown): 1560 800 Math, 760 CR
ACT: n/a
SAT II: 730 Bio, 710 Math 2
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0, weighted 5.2
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 7/560
AP (place score in parenthesis): 3 5s Lit, Bio, psychology, 4 4s AB calc, APUSH, human geography, World history, 3 chem
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: 3 APs, 2 dual enroll, 2 electives
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP scholar, national Qualifier 4 years DECA

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): DECA (VP) , Debate (President), NHS, Brainbrawl
Job/Work Experience: camp counselor, finance intern
Volunteer/Community service: soccer coach, a couple service projects
Summer Activities: camp, soccer, family travel
Essays: decent
Teacher Recommendation: did not see
Counselor Rec: did not see
Additional Rec: did not see
Interview: 30 minutes, casual, comfortable

Other

State (if domestic applicant): FL
Country (if international applicant):
Intended major(s):
School Type: public
Ethnicity: white
Gender: M
Income Bracket: high
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

Reflection- honestly was so incredibly nervous as I watched CCposts and then saw other decision results coming in. He knew he wanted Duke for the last couple of years but almost talked himself out of applying for fear He was just another white kid with decent stats!

Strengths: SAT, GPA
Weaknesses: SAT 2s
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: not sure but I think he probably stood out in the context of his school and his essays were genuine, not over the top as to why He wanted to be a Bluedevil. Luckily he never came onto CC or might have had a more tough go of the waiting game.

General Comments: I know some of you all are incredibly disappointed and I feel for you. Yesterday sucked waiting for the decisions and I wish that was over for everyone. I was elated for many, and heartbroken for too many others. Although decisions aren’t personal, they feel that way. Give yourself 24 hours to be upset/sad/wallow and then go back to believing in yourselves and rock the next round. Good luck to everyone, I do believe there is plenty of opportunity out there, it is how you take advantage of what you have.