optional letter: will be used but not part of evaluation???

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>In Duke's "Pre-application" there is an "optional" letter that can be included from a "parent, sibling, other relative, or friend." The application notes that this "information will be considered in our understanding of you as a person, but will not be formally evaluated as part of your application. If you choose not to submit the information, your chance of admission will not be affected."</p>

<p>I guess I don't understand. Wouldn't a better understanding of an applicant be one aspect of evaluating him or her? If not, what is the point?</p>

<p>I'm thinking of asking my Dad, but he clearly sees me through rose-colored glasses. I'd discount it if I were on the admission committee. I don't want him to go to the trouble if there's really no point to it.</p>

<p>What do other folks do?</p>

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<p>My daughter asked her cousin, a Duke grad and a lawyer, to write a letter for her app. Otherwise, I doubt if she would have sent anything. I agree with you: what's the point?</p>

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<p>thanks for the feedback.
My Dad will write a letter...but not because he thinks it will matter in terms of its content.
"Optional" does not feel like 'Optional."
It seems to me that they should either require it or not...ah well.</p>

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<p>I'm writing one for my friend, who is doing likewise. It seems like a "bonus," for lack of better terminology. It just has to be sincere.</p>

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<p>thanks for the reply. I feeling better about it now.</p>

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<p>maybe we can write our own..they wont reallu know will they? unless ur way of writing is similar on essays and the letter hahha</p>

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<p>I'm going to apply online, but does anyone know how and where should I send this optional evaluation?</p>