How to Get Into Duke UniversityThree Parts:Fulfilling the Basic RequirementsFilling Out the ApplicationStanding Out and Getting AcceptedDuke University is an elite institution with a tradition of admitting the most qualified students. On average, only about 13% of applying students are admitted. The admission process includes official applications, recommendations, an essay and submission of standardized test scores. If you want to give yourself the best chance of success, learn the basic requirements for admission and some tips for making yourself stand out.

Complete your high school education. Duke is an elite university, highly competitive, and it's necessary to complete your high school education with excellent academic standing to apply. While you attend school, it's important to specialize in broad curriculum, high-level classes, as well as supplementing your application with diverse extra-curricular activities and above-average grades.◦ Take courses in high school that include natural science, 3

years of mathematics, a foreign language, 4 years of English and social studies. Include electives that demonstrate your willingness to be challenged and expand your knowledge base and makes you an erudite.

◦ If you plan on applying to the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke, coursework in calculus and physics are strongly recommended during high school.

While you may technically apply to Duke having attained a High School equivalency, like the GED, it's very difficult to get into Duke without a nice high school record. It's important to finish High School and graduation with outstanding grades if you want to get into Duke.

Take Advanced Placement courses or honors classes, if possible. Duke University looks for students who have taken accelerated classes, and these course may, in some cases, be counted for credit at Duke. If AP courses are available at your high school, find out what it takes to enroll, and do so.◦ Typically, AP courses are offered during 11th and 12th

grade, are somewhat more advanced, and will end with a standardized AP test, in addition to a final. Typically, the AP test itself is optional, but you'll want to take it and do well if you want to get into elite universities like Duke.

If you take AP courses and tests, you'll also typically need to arrange to have these sent to the Universities to which you hope to apply. The sooner you know you want to go to Duke, the sooner you can arrange to have your AP scores sent.

Get involved with extra-curricular activities. To get into Duke, you need to display that you've received a well-rounded education and were fully engaged in a diversity of activities at your school. Get involved in a school sport, band, club, or other organization to make your application really stand out.The Duke Office of Admissions cautions students from involving themselves with too many activities. Duke officials stress that it is the quality of the participation that counts, not the number of activities. Pick one or two that you really care about, instead of joining up with the Xbox club just to have something to put on your app.

Keep your GPA as high as possible. Your grade point average is a demonstration of your consistency and ability to achieve at all levels in high school. Trying to maintain a consistently high GPA is a good way to stand out among your

peers and demonstrate that you're a consistent and serious student and potential Duke grad.◦ Pay attention to your class rank, as well. If you're

somewhere near the top 25 or even top 10 of your class, this is important to keep in mind when you're applying to Duke. While the GPA is the most important thing, it looks nice and tidy if you can also let them know you were one of the best students at your school.

Your GPA is another good reason to take AP courses, which are typically offered on a 5 point, as opposed to 4 point, scale. That means an A in an AP course is typically worth more GPA points than an A in a regular course, so you can skew your GPA higher as a bonus.

Take the required standardized tests. Duke University requires that students submit test scores from either the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), so it's a good idea to sign up for one or both as soon as possible to give yourself enough chances to get a high score. While Duke does not have a specific minimum score requirement for admission, accepted students typically fall into the upper 50th percentile.◦ Typically, for admission, students score above 29 on the

ACT as a potential Arts & Sciences student, and above 32 as a potential engineering student.

◦ On the SAT, students typically score at least 680 on the verbal section, 690 on the math section and 660 on the writing section.

On average, students accepted into Duke received scores slightly higher than the minimum requirement, between 700 and 800 on both sections of the SAT and roughly 31-35 on the ACT.[1] All students accepted into Duke are in the top 50th percentile.

Have your high school transcript sent to Duke. Coordinate with your school's guidance counselor to send official grade reports and a high school transcript to Duke University as soon as possible upon your graduation, and talk about acquiring unofficial transcripts to complete your application.[2]

Acquire two recommendations from teachers who know you well. While you're still in high school, it's important to cultivate good relationships with at least two teachers who will be willing to write you glowing recommendations. Duke University requires recommendations be from teachers who have instructed you within the last two years.◦ If possible, find out whether or not any of your teachers have

attended Duke in the past. Letters from Alumni typically stand out more than recommendations from other teachers.

Be sure to ask for a letter as early as possible in the application season, preferably early in the Fall semester, if you want a good letter. Teachers will quickly get swamped with requests, and you want to be early in the line.