Like the Ivies, it would have been good for them to get their act together and inform students in advance so it is not a guessing game. I always tell my kids that how people treat them initially is an indication of how they will be treated later on. If I measure Duke by that yardstick, they would fall way short. Silence after application received email.
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MIT for instance, was exceptional in this regard. They kept to their timeline as always even thought they too had a substantial increase in apps. Same with several other schools, and they informed students in advance, even if their was going to be a delay so students are not nervous wrecks. What has been most obvious this year in college admissions has been the lack of empathy shown to these seniors by the schools (especially the name brand ones with a few exceptions of course), but a lot of lip service about how they know it has been a difficult year etc etc. Their actions haven’t matched their words, for sure.
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A university the caliber of Duke should be able to make a reasonably well-informed determination on when they can finalize and release the results (like the Ivies and several other schools have done) and not keep everyone in abeyance.
Having said that, I am sure it has been difficult due to the challenges posed by not only the extraordinary and unfortunate COVID-induced circumstances but also the unprecedented rise in the number of applications. We will get there with patience and empathy.
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I agree. Test optional was the only concession, and ironically that has caused much of the chaos we are seeing now (and disadvantaging some kids who would normally be very competitive). Kids are expected to have not skipped a beat with grades, extra-curriculars, using their free time meaningfully, etc. In the middle of a worldwide pandemic when their lives have turned upside down! Seriously, it really shows a lack of humanity at times.
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Couldn’t agree with you more!
I have applied to 19 schools. Not by choice but due to circumstance (having been unable to visit schools forced me to apply and have a reverse experience), and I would say almost all, but Duke, have communicated in some way after the initial confirmation of receipt of app.
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I don’t buy into this or that they were “blindsided” by the number of apps they received in ED. If you look at the number of ED apps the received 2 years ago, they received only a few hundred more than then. Last year they actually received less than 2 years ago, when they didn’t extend any deadline. So the mere fact that they had only a few hundred more this year than 2 years ago AND extended the deadline and they weren’t prepared, is on them.
Here were there ED applicant numbers over the past 3 years:
2020 - 5036
2019 - 4300
2018 - 4852
They can whine all they want about the number of RD applicants being way more than in the past since they had over 36k last year vs the 50k something this year. That’s a valid fact, but to say they were blindsided with the number of ED applications, no way. It was only a 3.6% increase from 2 years ago, and I am sure they were prepared for at least what they had at that point and even if you only compare to last year they had 15% increase whereas many other schools had much bigger increase. I think it’s fair to say a school like Duke can certainly handle that.
I wonder if they don’t want to commit to a date if it’s more about avoiding those “hacks” that everyone is trying to find on various application portals. Everyone was talking about UC-Berkeley and a giveaway and sure enough there it was. And Georgia Tech has a tell, Purdue had a tell, and god knows what others? So maybe they just want to put it out there on their terms, or maybe they’re just trying do their job correctly. I agree it’s frustrating and some transparency would be nice, but it just is what it is and apparently how they operate.
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I’m surprised they’ve kept the decision in the dark for so long. In other facets of their high school recruiting process, they are very smooth and pro-active (the campus tour they offered before shutdowns were pretty good).
How organizations (colleges included) react in times of crisis do say a lot I think. Doing a nice job on a college tour is of course great. However, that is a standard part of their “sell” and planned. How they handled the unplanned (as everyone has had to) is more telling, unfortunately. It is a great school and no one should take that away from these criticisms. However, good to discuss.
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I get it. It’s super annoying. But, I also understand it from their standpoint. They have to locate and hire more people than they could have ever anticipated to read all those additional applications, plus train those people on what their colleges are looking for. That takes some additional time for them. I’d rather the colleges take the time to do right by us than just get it done quickly. If admissions offices rapidly got through everything, they’d probably be doing stuff like eliminating students with lower grades w/o fully reading all parts of the app. I don’t want that either. So, I remind myself of their perspective while waiting for these things to roll out. Yeah, it’s hard though.
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This is definitely something we consider at all the schools, because this tells you how they may handle any emergency, not just covid.
We just got back from visiting UNC, Duke and UVA yesterday. UNC was literally dead. I was surprised it was as dead as it was and i said in another thread that it was deader than a summer visit. I’ve been on way too many college visits over the last 8 or so years and this one took the cake. The nice thing was no traffic and finding a parking spot! The bookstore was open of course at all schools it was open as my son picked up a shirt at all the places even if he doesn’t attend any he will wear them at least at home he said, lol. My girls do the same so I’m good with that. UNC as I recall was one of the first to announce full open and they had a plan and then they were a disaster and had to close right away. So yeah that still resonates with me a little.
Duke shockingly had lots of people all over. Playing sports, walking in groups, sitting out. It was a little surprising both because we had just driven over the same day from UNC but also because Duke just had the huge outbreak about 2 weeks ago and were just coming off of an essential lockdown. I don’t think Duke has handled Covid all that well either. They told Greek life they couldn’t rush this semester so instead the Greeks all disaffiliated from Duke with help from the national chapters and then just did whatever the hell they wanted and then all hell broke loose with the Covid issues. So that sounds like a disconnect there and lack of working together which is a little worrisome. Something to consider.
UVA has had it’s issues with covid too, but we found out if you have to quarantine they stick you in the old crappy dorms that were supposed to be rennovated this year. I guess that’s some punishment but still not incentive. On all campuses we did see signs for covid testing, but UVA they only do it once/week, not sure about the others. We didn’t ask. But UVA was also a lively campus, everyone wearing masks, even outside and more people milling around than at UNC. UVA however did seem more like it was a summer visit than Spring visit.
yet, the have failed to communicate well…
MIT had it together. I agree with you about them! Very impressive!
I get it, but at least they could be transparent about it. We barely know anything about this whole process. The Ivies sent out an email literal months ago telling us when to expect our (delayed) notifications. It’s annoying they’ll be late, but at least we knew what to expect. Duke’s problem is that they haven’t even taken that step.
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Despite the outbreak a couple of weeks ago, Duke has done a great job of handling Covid. I was happy to see that they owned up to the outbreak instead of trying to hide it or shrug it off. Compared to other schools, I’d say Duke did well. It is a shame about the problems with Greek life, but their hands were kind of tied after they disaffiliated.
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Greek life can honestly be so toxic. I really respect Swarthmore for just getting rid of it a couple years ago. The sheer quantity of sexual assault and rape that happens in those houses is terrifying. Of course, the school can lose so much money in donations by going against Greek life, but I’m not sure it’s the worst thing in the world.
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Totally agree. I’m not a fan of Greek life at all.
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@Lil_Shortay @ngobolont In the end, most (if not all) schools were confronted with the same challenges this year, but some handled it way more professionally. I do not believe clear communication and compassion for the applicants whose lives are on hold as they wait, should be considered a bridge too far
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That’s been my point all along. Public relations and clear communication should never be considered optional extras
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@kiggenstane and @riverandsasha3 There are some really BAD things about Greek life yet there can also be some real positive things. I do think schools need to be more on top of things and have relationships with the Greek houses. If Duke had worked with the Greeks to begin with to have a safe rush for Spring and set clear guidelines then they would not have had the problems they had. That’s on both Duke and the Greeks. Both my daughters are in Greek life and the one that goes to school where they do it in Spring for both male and female it was all virtual with very specific guidelines and it worked.
The problems however occur with a lack of oversight by the university. There are plenty of sexual assault and rape that occurs @kiggenstane in non Greek parts of schools as well. There is a huge problem in athletics and other areas as well. It’s not just Greek and to label it as such is really not fair as it’s not a one size fit all kind of thing. There are also business frats and engineering frats at schools that can be considered “Greek” that are coed that have nothing to do with some of the things you talk of and yes there are plenty with bad seeds too.
I wasn’t in Greek life in college, but my daughters experiences have been amazing and they’ve really thrived. I think it’s really about finding your fit not going somewhere that you think it’s “cool” or partaking in activities because you think it’s required.