<p>Was there a specific reason for why Duke had delayed their regular deadline? I heard that it was because they didn’t receive enough applicants? Then does that mean admission rates should go up this year? If so, would duke’s rank drop significantly?</p>
<p>It’s possible to construct a chain exactly like you just described, but numerous other (more charitable) explanations are possible as well – the computers had a glitch, a couple of their secretaries had to take a day off, the phone lines were down, outgoing apps might not have been delivered on time, etc.</p>
<p>I suspect that these more benign explanations make more sense, because I really don’t think extending the deadline is likely to solicit extra applications.</p>
<p>No sense speculating until the numbers are in, but my understanding is that the preliminary numbers would contradict your thesis – that is, that the drop in RD is insignificant in and of itself and is unlikely to matter.</p>
<p>Duke had its second largest number of applicants ever this year (and largest number from NC and SC), so I don’t think that’s the reason.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2007/01/regular_decision.html[/url]”>http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2007/01/regular_decision.html</a></p>
<p>From the Duke lacrosse thread (parents cafe):</p>
<p>From today’s Chronicle:</p>
<p>"And updated application numbers from the admissions office seem to confirm the impression that Duke’s image has not suffered with college counselors, prospective applicants or their parents, Guttentag said.</p>
<p>Since the University issued numbers Jan. 9, applications have continued to trickle in. Earlier in the month, Guttentag announced that about 18,500 students had applied for admission to the Class of 2011.</p>
<p>Since then, the number has risen to 19,009, compared to 19,387 last year. The revised number of regular decision applications-17,813-was only down less than one half of one percent from last year."</p>
<p>Sorry, I don’t think the explanations are “benign”, nor do I agree with the claim that Duke’s image has not suffered. Duke apps are flat when other selective schools are showing large (10+%) increases (as one would expect for increased applicant pool and ease of on-line application). Duke is accepting 500 applications 2-4 weeks after the “official” application deadline. This is not due to a secretary’s day off. </p>
<p>Given the evidence that Duke has lost favor relative to comparable selective institutions, and will thus likely lose cross-admits as well, there are 3 possible scenarios: 1) Duke will increase admits (and decrease yield), 2) Duke will keep RD steady and take many more students off waiting list, or 3) Duke will have a smaller freshman class. Stay tuned…</p>
<p>Duke extends its deadline regularly. I think this may be the fourth or fifth consecutive year. They usually cite online glitches or holiday mailing problems. They should just officially move it to Jan 15th. </p>
<p>And not all selective schools are showing large increases in apps. Yale dropped 9.7%.</p>