<p>Is the optional essay really optional? Will it hurt admission chances if it's not done? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>By optional they mean strongly suggested…so unless you have perfect scores, grades, and have some absurdly impressive EC’s, I suggest you do it. Even then, you should still do it, especially if you are applying RD.</p>
<p>No, it will not hurt your admissions chances if you don’t do it. It might actually hurt your admissions chances if you do do it if its poorly written.</p>
<p>I’m a recent Duke grad and I never wrote the Optional “Why Duke” essay when I applied and I got in. The admissions office is not lying to you; YOU DO NOT NEED TO WRITE THIS ESSAY IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT ADDS NOTHING TO YOUR CANDIDACY.</p>
<p>This is somewhat iffy. It’s well known that Duke uses a scoring system to filter applicants. From that perspective, the optional essay is not rated or factored into the composite score. If that’s enough to put you in the top 10-15% or whatever the cutoff these days are for auto-admit, then it’s fine. However, a significant portion of admitted students get a committee evaluation which I would imagine can get pretty subjective. If two people are similar, and one has a good optional essay, it could potential tip the scales in some adcom’s mind no matter how impartial they try to be. </p>
<p>But I would agree that not writing one is better than writing a bad one or one that would detract from your application.</p>
<p>I’m interested. Could you elaborate more on the scoring-based admissions system? Like how much would a perfect test score factor into it, recommendations, etc. I’ve only heard of such a thing at UMich from like a decade ago.</p>
<p>I believe that there are several different “areas” of the app, such as test scores and recommendations. Each of these areas is “rated” by the admissions officer based on your perceived performance/ability in these areas. I believe the scale is 1 to 6, but I may be wrong. Each area is given equal weight, so as to give a more “holistic” approach to admissions decisions and not place too much weight on test scores or anything. Therefore, while a candidate may have perfect test scores - and thus a 6 (if that’s what the scale goes up to) in that area, but has very low scores in other areas, such as extracurriculars and essays, said candidate will probably be denied admission. Balance is the key.</p>
<p>SBR- You said that “It’s well known that Duke uses a scoring system to filter applicants.”
Does that mean if i have a 3.4 (extremely strong upward trend) and a 33 i could be filtered out automatically because my GPA seems low even though if they look at it holistically they will see how much i have improved?</p>
<p>Grades, standard test scores, and strength of course load would IMO being weighted more heavily. I would bet in Dukes new one review can lead to a rejection policy that would be first cut criteria. After that the other areas would be in play. In the end, because of the strength of Duke’s application pool, the accepted applicants will be higher on the scale for all areas unless you have a hook. Looking at the posts that detail applicant criteria, I have occasionally seen an accepted candidate that looked a little low in test scores or ec’s. I have not seen an accepted candidate with a GPA less then 3.75 although I’m sure there are. GPA and strength of courses appears to be a starting point for further consideration.</p>
<p>So like, I have a pretty low GPA (4.06 W maybe 3.57 UW idk) but I got a 36 ACT, high 700s on the SATs, and I “know someone”. Does my low GPA hurt my chances a lot</p>
<p>Maybe this article I found will help explain the process a bit.</p>
<p>[University</a> streamlines admissions | The Chronicle](<a href=“http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/university-streamlines-admissions]University”>University streamlines admissions - The Chronicle)</p>
<p>So applications first go to regional admissions officers and depending on what they think it either continues to go through the process or they are rejected?</p>
<p>Would it make a difference if i submit my RD application now as opposed to closer to the deadline??
If you looks at my stats i have a 3.4 but 2.9 freshman year(unusual circumstance) 3.5 sophomore and 3.85 junior year. with a 33 composite ACT.</p>
<p>I would look at it another way. If 1/3 of the applicants aren’t qualified out the gate 2/3 are. I’m positive Duke will have substantially more candidates that are strong in all 6 areas then they have positions. Nothing in itself eliminates you, but if you are short in a particular area, what is it in another area that is so strong that makes you a better candidate then someone who is strong in all areas. I assume knowing someone would be some kind of a hook. I guess it depends on who that somebody is.</p>
<p>Well there is a school named after him so I’d hope he has some sway.</p>
<p>@gmichski, “knowing” someone in this sense is a lot like a letter of recommendation. It can help, but it doesn’t mean an automatic acceptance…unless your family can donate a building as well. (That would be your hook.) </p>
<p>I know a VERY famous person who had attended Georgetown and called the school on behalf of an applicant s/he knew. The applicant did not get in. (However, that applicant did enroll at USC.)</p>
<p>Yes yes I am aware, but it can’t hurt. If only my family could donate a building…</p>
<p>Other than my GPA (which is partially due to the death of my mother) though, I feel I am a qualified applicant</p>
<p>As with all of us give it your best try. The only sure thing about the admission process is that it can be random.</p>
<p>That sums it up nicely I think.</p>