The foregoing Chronicle article provides some exceptionally valuable information regarding Duke’s current Undergraduate Admissions process. I will reserve comment, however, there can be little doubt that this article offers important details – and real insights – and that Admissions cooperated (at least to some degree) with the Chronicle in its development.
@TopTier Thanks for posting this link. There’s nothing too surprising, but a fantastic summary of the process. I wonder if there is a way to pin this post, along with Guttentag’s Forbes interview, so that they will be readily available for all future prospects. You alone have probably answered 1,000 questions related to the information in the article!
I remember Guttentag also did an interview with some other news source last year describing the process. I think it’s cool Duke wants to make the process more transparent; it’s making me like them a lot more, honestly.
A couple things I thought were interesting: first generation immigrant status and economic diversity. How would they know how “economically diverse” a student is without knowing their family’s income? I assume by looking at the parents’ occuption, the applicant’s zipcode, economic diversity of the school, etc…
The immigrant thing is interesting too, considering they didn’t mention URM specifically at all. As an immigrant, I always wondered how colleges handled immigrant status because I’ve never seen a college mention it.
@thanksagain (re post #2): Other frequent indicators of “economic diversity” include recommendations (especially the GC’s) and essays. Applicants and teachers/counsellors often write about how challenges shaped one’s character, influenced one’s performance, initiated one’s long-term goals, ignited one’s passions, and so forth. Some of these often discussed difficulties certainly are financially-oriented. I suspect this is a clear and common way “economy diversity” becomes known to Admissions personnel – and generally quite important to their evaluations.
In the book “The Gatekeepers”, Wesleyan uses similar, if not exact, grading techniques to grade the applicants from “immediate rejection” to “We-gotta-have-you-now” scale.
I thought this system was not unique to elite, extremely selective universities? Only minor differences for individual institutions.
@thanksagain I don’t think indication of economic diversity has to be that complicated. The schools know whether of not the student had a need based application waiver. I read some information put out by Harvard awhile back and they stated that is how they make the determination.
People should just read Rachel Toor’s book Admissions Confidential. It probably gives real insights into Duke’s admission process back then, which probably isn’t too different from today.
@planner03 A bit too simple for my tastes. Somebody can be making just above enough to qualify for a need based waiver or simply didn’t bother asking for one, but I don’t deny the use of the waiver for economic diversity.
I’m much more interested in their criteria for evaluating first-gen immigrants.
@Jwest22 (re #6): With respect, I strongly disagree. Toor’s book was FAR more sensationalistic, than I was factual, analytical, or beneficial (except, of course, for Toor’s finances, which obviously was her principal intent 
). This isn’t my opinion alone; rather, EVERY – and I do mean every – Duke official with whom I discussed the book agreed with my foregoing statement. The book was – and is – replete with inaccuracies and was designed to sell through sensationalism . . . its literary and factual merits were (and are) quite similar to the “publications” found at supermarket checkouts.
Pretty standard stuff. While 1st gen students make great stories I don’t think second or third gen. students should be disadvantaged because their parents attended college. Adversity also makes for great stories and opportunity but not at the expense of hurting students who have not had an opportunity to overcome adversity. Sexual orientation should be irrelevant to the admission process.
@thanksagain I was just throwing that out because it seems more reliable than zip code or school district as you mentioned as possible indicators. I know it might seem foreign to many, but where we live kids from public housing rub elbows in the classroom and live in the same community/zip code as the kids whose parents are Drs, lawyers, engineers, and business owners. As far a parent occupation I don’t think that is very reliable either. There are plenty of blue collar workers that make a lot more money than college educated white collar workers.
@planner03 Yep, I agree. I like in a similar area so I know what that’s like.
I submitted a request to view my admissions profile. Any things people out there want to know about the app that I should look out for? I will be sure to relay any important comments I read
@spuding102 I’d love to know the type of comments they put on your essays, maybe even share one with us if you get the chance! And also their standards for test scores and GPA. That way we’d have an idea of what baseline test score or GPA they look for: if they put something like “scores on the lower end of spectrum for say a 2200” future applicants can have an idea of what to aim for while still realizing that the process is more than that and more holistic
Will definitely look out for that. Shouldnt be able to see until about 45 days or so
delete comment.
@spuding102 How do you request to view your admissions profile?
@siru95 Stanford’s The Fountain Hopper published the steps on its website http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c9d7a555374df02a66219b578&id=93a261f1d8
I assume you would just adjust them to Duke
Yes just send in a FERPA request to the registrar
Sent a request to the registrar several months ago when I got in ED and the Stanford article was released. They said I won’t be able to view that since I don’t officially attend yet. So I wouldn’t bother unless you are already a freshman or above.