The coming admissions cycle marks a turning point for Duke, as the University navigates financial pressures, federalinvestigations into its admissions practices and the departure of its admissions dean of three decades.
The Chronicle sat down with Interim Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Kathy Phillips to understand the changes Duke has made to its essay questions, applicant review process and recruitment efforts.
Essay Questions
A key aspect of the admissions process are written response questions. For the past six application cycles, Duke has maintained the same format of having one required long essay prompt asking applicants why they are applying to Duke, along with four to six supplemental prompts. Students are typically given the opportunity to respond to two of the supplemental prompts, this year it’s only one.
The required “why Duke” essay asks students not only about their “impression of Duke as a university and community,” but also their reasoning for why Duke would be a good match for them…