@DukeShama Someone was saying that if you had only fafsa and css profile under the financial aid tab in the applicant portal, you were 100% rejected. If you had more than those, you may have been accepted or waitlisted. I don’t know about anyone else, but I only had css and fafsa and got waitlisted, so the scoop was false.
Accepted!!!
Deferred after applying ED, ACT 33, GPA 4.35 W, Incredible ECs (patent, multiple research internships, SciOly club president, etc.), strong essays (detailed interest in research), solid interview (we were laughing half the time), and good recs (teachers were good and really strong letters from employers). Sent a passionate letter of continued interest too.
Still has no result on portal. Application complete. Submitted before interview deadline. Had interview and it went well. Applying to Pratt.
ACT 34
GPA: 3.95 UW/4.3 W
SAT II: Math 2 - 790; Chem - 760
12+ AP and honors courses (all that could fit)
Boy’s State
8 varsity letters - baseball and football (4x captain)
Robotics team lead engineer and captain (team advanced to the 3rd round of competition last two years)
200+ hours volunteering at a local hospital
National Merit Commended
AP Scholar with Distinction
Editor school newspaper
Attended selective summer physics institute (Perimeter - YBSS)
Accepted: Purdue FYE; Georgia Tech (Aerospace), UVA, CMC (3-2 program)
Rejected: MIT, CalTech, Cal, SLO, Harvard, Columbia
Still waiting: Stanford
Just called Duke Admissions and they recommend trying a different browser if you cannot access your decision letter. Not sure yet if it worked for my D. (She is at school). Just thought I’d share that info for everyone else here.
Rejected–applied as a BME, out of state
1520 SAT
4.0 UW GPA
6APs, 2 DE semesters
National Merit Commended
TONS of ECs, leadership, work (including major-related), etc.
Strong essays, good interview
@Animegirl2018 I only had FAFSA and CSS under my financial aid tab and I was accepted, so I’m not sure where that idea came from but it’s not true. To future applicants, don’t analyze every little thing on your portal so much, you’ll only make yourself a nervous wreck. Whatever happens, happens 
Rejected but not surprised. Congrats to everyone admitted!! 
I was admitted! Duke seems so intimidating though. I wonder how they even chose me! Deciding between Brown and Duke now
@Marzzz Go to Blue Devil Days!! Meet the other students, walk around campus (EAST and West!!!) and, check out the opportunities available to undergraduates. It is a lot to take in but it is not as if you need to do so by day one. Remember, all the first years are feeling the same way;) Good luck with your decision.
@Marzzz , IMHO as a Duke alum, a Duke parent, a college admissions professional, and long time Duke interviewer, I hear what you’re saying. I think the Duke admissions presentation feels intimidating. Even as a very involved alum and parent of smart kids, I felt meek sitting there. But I promise, once you are at Duke as a student, you’ll see that’s not what Duke is like at all. My son sat in that info session and his take away was, “This place is great. Too bad I’m not amazing enough to be here.” He’s now a freshman in Pratt, LOVING life, doing great academically, involved in tons of activities, and just so happily at home and comfortable at Duke. He has found a collaborative, intellectual, fun, spirited, kind, and interesting group of friends who challenge and affirm him. Duke offers a world of opportunity that is rare even at its peer institutions. The kids are crazy smart and involved. But the feeling on campus is accepting and way more humble than you might think. Admissions presents the best of Duke-- and that is quite shiny and ambitious. But the energy on campus is much more accessible. Good luck in your decision! I’m sure Brown is great too. I think Duke is more structured than Brown-- and not just academically. Brown doesn’t have as much programing in place for freshmen. I bet that’s intentional too. Maybe Brown suits students who don’t want the structure and who prefer to build their own community that reflects their interests. Duke has Focus Groups and East Campus and pre-orientation programs and many other very intuitive ways to be a part of the community. They’re both excellent-- just different.
@Marzzz one more thing. When my oldest son started Duke, Dean Guttentag (dean of admissions) addressed the incoming class. He acknowledged that everyone on the outside looks so accomplished and clam but that on the inside most were probably thinking, “Oops, why did they pick me. Surely it was a mistake.” That talk stuck with me. I think the big challenge of Duke is conquered if you go in recognizing that no one else is perfect either.
Is the only Merit Aid offered the scholarships that were given out before admission decisions were released?
Accepted to Pratt for BME! Btw do all admitted students get a personal note from your reader detailing your strengths and what programs would suit you at Duke?
congratulations to you and your daughter nice options to have. My son got into Duke ED, best of luck
congratulations, my son got accepted ED to Duke, where in NJ are you from?
@yoshi2000 I got a personalized note too! In my opinion, regardless of the uniqueness of getting such a note, I still really appreciated the gesture, and no other college I was admitted to did that.
Do we have to apply to merit scholarships or are students automatically considered when they apply?
can’t wait to watch a basketball game live!!! why isn’t anyone else here hyped af about basketball!!!
I suppose you have to live in a tent for months to get a ticket. That’s why.
@GammaDelta The only one you absolutely have to tent for is the UNC game. Sometimes there is an additional game during that same time frame that requires this (a few years ago it was Sryacuse) but otherwise you just have to show up a couple hours before the game and wait in line.