Duke University reported the number of high school seniors applying to Duke through the Early Decision process has increased 32 percent from last year.
According to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag, “This year, we recorded 2,040.” “Last year, we received 1,535 Early Decision applicants, which had been our second highest total.”
Guttentag attributed the increase to three potential factors.
- Increase in Applications Last Year — Duke received more than 23,850 Early and Regular Decision applications for the Class of 2013, a 17 percent increase over the previous record. Due to increased selectivity, students may have decided to apply early to improve their chances of being admitted.
- Perceived Affordability — “People are increasingly believing colleges when we say we will make it affordable for students from every economic background. Duke — and many of our peer institutions — implemented changes to financial aid policies in the last two years; I think families are realizing that schools like Duke are within reach.” Duke is one of a limited number of schools with a “need-blind” admissions policy, which means that all qualified U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are accepted regardless of their ability to pay for college. Duke also guarantees it will meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need.
- “Duke’s commitment to service and service learning.”
According to the report, in previous years, about one-third of the students who applied Early Decision were accepted, which is a higher admit rate than those who apply through the Regular Decision process. According to Guttentag, “the increase in applications means that the percentage of Early Decision admits will almost certainly drop this year, although how much won’t be known until applications are read and evaluated.”
The largest percentage increases among Early Decision applicants were from students living in California, New Jersey and Virginia, as well as international students. The number of students who indicated they plan to apply for financial aid remained stable, slightly more than 50 percent.
Students who applied Early Decision generally find out in in mid-December whether they have been accepted. Duke’s deadline for Regular Decision applications is Jan. 2.
