<p>Hey, I'm a junior and am very interested in Duke. After hearing about the record-setting number of applicants this year, I realized that the acceptance rate won't go anywhere but down. Duke is definitely a top school for me, and I would love it there. I KNOW that I want to pursue pre-med, and Duke has great resources for that. </p>
<p>However, I don't know if I should apply to Duke ED or RD next year. Here's the situation: my stats are pretty good... not AMAZING, but very respectable. If I applied to Duke RD, that would give me a chance to apply to Harvard as well. If I got into Harvard, there's no doubt that I would go there. However, if I got rejected by Harvard but accepted by Duke, Northwestern, Penn, etc. there is no doubt that I would pick Duke. </p>
<p>So basically... is it worth it for me to even try Harvard? They are super competitive in their admissions and I don't know if I would even stand out enough to gain acceptance. And if I end up choosing RD, then my chances for Duke go way down too... I'm puzzled. Please help!</p>
<p>This is the ultimate question for students debating the Early Decision path. Here’s my advice. Do NOT apply early decision to ANY school unless you know for a 100% certainty that you would go there over any other school. If you would go to Harvard over Duke, then I would suggest not applying to Duke Early Decision, just because of the “what if?” factor down the road. Personally, I think it would be amazing to go to Harvard, but if I got into both, I would still choose Duke. I knew that Duke is the school that I wanted to go to the most, so that is why I ultimately applied Early Decision.</p>
<p>I agree with Ballinallday, if you apply ED, it should be to your top choice. I considered the “what if” question but decided that Duke was it for me. I am also premed and as you said, Duke has great resources (such as a hospital right on campus!). To be realistic, you yourself consider your stats to be respectable but not amazing. Unless you have something very very special extracurricular wise, your chances of acceptance at Harvard are slim, same as the Duke RD round. However, if you know that Duke is the school for you, what do you have to lose by applying ED? </p>
<p>So my advice, go ED!</p>
<p>I disagree a little with the previous posters. ED confers a not insubstantial benefit to applicants, and for that reason it should be considered as an application strategy. Look through the Harvard results threads from past years and, in April, from this year. It’s astonishing the students who get turned down–truly exceptional people whom H just doesn’t have the space for. If your stats are competitive with those who were accepted to H in past years, it might be worth it to apply to HYPS RD; if not, why not play all your cards by applying to your number two early?</p>