@coffeeat3 I actually emailed them today asking if my situation qualifies as special circumstances. The answer they provided was vague and basically said that I can ask for a review of other financial materials when I receive my financial aid package upon acceptance. On Duke’s website, it does say that they consider “one-time income” as a special circumstance (“withdrawal of retirement funds for emergency purposes”), so I have some hope. A clearer answer from a Duke officer would ease my worries, though.