<p>Just wondering if I am at least in the ballpark...I know it says 1-2 paragraphs, but I don't know how long they want a paragraph to be.</p>
<p>Mine was about 350. I would say anything over 400 is pushing it.</p>
<p>EDIT: words, that is.</p>
<p>Mine was about 275 I think.</p>
<p>287 words.</p>
<p>On the Duke Website, it actually says one to three paragraphs, so around 400 is more than fine.</p>
<p>Mine was 500…had I cut anything out, it would’ve taken away from the essay significantly. I think anything up to about a page is probably fine, but more than that might make them skim it and toss it aside.</p>
<p>Yeah, mine was around 425 and cutting it down would have detracted from its overall effect as well. I truly believe that as long as it is a well written essay, and is not overly overly long, they do not care how long your three paragraphs are.</p>
<p>Their Common App supplement says TWO paragraphs. Are you saying the website says THREE? Which should we believe? Which is official?</p>
<p>If you go to “How to Apply” on the Duke admissions website, then click the tab that says “Applying on Paper” and go to the bottom of the page and click “Duke Student Supplement Form”, you will see that it says one-three paragraphs. I am not sure which one is the version they intended for us to see, common app or their website, but I’m almost absolutely sure that if your essay is 2 or 3 paragraphs it will not matter. They just give a limit so they don’t end up with 5 page long essays.</p>
<p>Either way, it’s not like they’re just going to tear off a third paragraph of your essay if they only wanted two. It’s a very general, broad guideline for length. Paragraphs can be anywhere from one word to a few hundred…</p>
<p>Could just say i want to go to a school that has a great reputation requires very little effort on my part to get decent/good grades…</p>
<p>[Duke</a> University](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/Duke.html]Duke”>Duke University)
[Forty</a> Questions: Grade Inflation at My Old Stomping Ground](<a href=“http://fortyquestions.blogspot.com/2009/03/grade-inflation-at-my-old-stomping.html]Forty”>http://fortyquestions.blogspot.com/2009/03/grade-inflation-at-my-old-stomping.html)
[Forty</a> Questions: Grade Inflation at My Old Stomping Ground, Part 2](<a href=“http://fortyquestions.blogspot.com/2009/03/grade-inflation-at-my-old-stomping_23.html]Forty”>http://fortyquestions.blogspot.com/2009/03/grade-inflation-at-my-old-stomping_23.html)</p>
<p>Or that you love top notch basketball and lacrosse!</p>
<p>
There’s grade inflation at most top schools, so your point is moot at best.</p>
<p>I went to the “paper” Student Supplement form on the Duke website, as advised, and it clearly states ONE - TWO paragraphs. I cut and past the directions below. What about “one or two” don’t you guys understand and why rationalize three paragraphs (oh, they won’t tear off the last one!) when the instructions say one to two? Next you guys will be justifying 1,000 word essays to Yale when Yale explicity says they only want around 500 words and make a big deal of it on their admissions web site. I guess because Duke doesn’t pound the table about “one to two paragraphs” you guys all go and give yourself a pass? Read directions, people.</p>
<p>FROM THE DUKE STUDENT SUPPLEMENT:</p>
<ol>
<li>The following questions are optional—and, yes, they truly are optional! If you choose to answer them, please use the additional page provided at the end of this form unless noted otherwise. If you choose not to answer them, your chance of admission will not be affected.
a. (For Arts & Sciences App licants Only) If you are applying to Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular at Duke that attracts you? Please limit your response to one or two paragraphs.</li>
</ol>
<p>b. If you have participated in any significant research activity outside of school, please provide a brief description and limit your response to one or two paragraphs.</p>
<p>so i got an email from duke saying if i wanted an interview i need to submit the student portion of the common app by december 10th. does that mean i need to send them the app and supplement and pay by then? because i applied to a school ED and would prefer to wait to hear from them before paying/sending my app to duke</p>
<p>@kellybkk, fact of the matter is, Duke doesn’t give a word count. It’s irrelevant to talk about a paragraph guideline in comparison to a strict word count. Additionally, on the essay information page on the website, it says 3 paragraphs.</p>
<p>[Duke</a> University Admissions: How to Apply](<a href=“http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply-essay.html]Duke”>http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply-essay.html)</p>
<p>Calm down…sheesh. This isn’t the write-in-the-box-or-we’ll-cut-off-whatever-else-you-say SAT essay.</p>
<p>@danktank, you have to submit either your Supplement or your Common App to be put in the system for an interview. You do have to pay the application fee when you submit either, I’m fairly certain.</p>
<p>@kellybkk</p>
<p>You are completely right, I just looked at it again, and apparently I had been looking at the length requirements for the engineering and transfer essays instead of the option essays. Sorry for the misunderstanding.</p>
<p>Nevermind, someone else brought this link to my attention.</p>
<p>[Duke</a> University Admissions: How to Apply](<a href=“http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply-essay.html]Duke”>http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply-essay.html)</p>
<p>Click it and you will clearly see that it says one-three paragraphs.</p>
<p>Mine is 403 words</p>
<p>Mine is a hefty 0 words :)</p>