How competitive is Duke Ellington to get into?

[Anonymous]

Anyone know anyone who got in from outside DC? How hard is it? I know it depends a little bit on the program they are applying to, but am wondering how competitive it is overall. From my understanding, they only take outside applicants if there is space. I don’t really understand that since if enough kids are applying from DC, wouldn’t they fill all the spots, or is the school actually really selective, as in, you have to be really good at whatever it is you are applying for?

[Anonymous]

I know one- she got in for musical theater but didn't stay long.

[Anonymous]

It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

Not true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know one- she got in for musical theater but didn't stay long.

Do you know why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

Not true

I find this hard to believe. Everyone at the school that I’ve talked to say they only take MD/VA students if there’s space. So I assume in those cases, there aren’t enough qualified DC applicants. So I guess my question is, how high is the threshold for “qualified”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

Not true

I find this hard to believe. Everyone at the school that I’ve talked to say they only take MD/VA students if there’s space. So I assume in those cases, there aren’t enough qualified DC applicants. So I guess my question is, how high is the threshold for “qualified”?

This is highly dependent on the program for which the student is applying. Or programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one- she got in for musical theater but didn't stay long.

Do you know why?

Inconsistency of the program; social issues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

Not true

I find this hard to believe. Everyone at the school that I’ve talked to say they only take MD/VA students if there’s space. So I assume in those cases, there aren’t enough qualified DC applicants. So I guess my question is, how high is the threshold for “qualified”?

The thing is they adjust the number of kids they admit to each program each year depending on the applicant pool. So they have a lot of control over these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

Not true

I find this hard to believe. Everyone at the school that I’ve talked to say they only take MD/VA students if there’s space. So I assume in those cases, there aren’t enough qualified DC applicants. So I guess my question is, how high is the threshold for “qualified”?

The thing is they adjust the number of kids they admit to each program each year depending on the applicant pool. So they have a lot of control over these things.

But they also have a hard overall cap on the number of out of state admissions permitted. After the enrollment controversy a few years back this is now very carefully managed.

[Anonymous]

Current enrollment around 578 with 48 non-resident students (i.e., not DC residents)

[Anonymous]

I believe the non-resident cap is 10%.

[Anonymous]

I know a couple VA kids there. One in dance which sounds like it was very competitive. The other is museum studies, which her mom thought was less competitive. I don't know how interested she really was in that field vs really wanting to go to school with her friend the dancer.

[Anonymous]

Would love to hear thoughts from non-residents if anyone wants to chime in! Though I’m afraid they won’t because there seems to be such hate towards non-residents…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple VA kids there. One in dance which sounds like it was very competitive. The other is museum studies, which her mom thought was less competitive. I don't know how interested she really was in that field vs really wanting to go to school with her friend the dancer.

We also know someone (DC resident) who is trying to get in for museum studies, exactly because it's less competitive. The kid just really wants to go to Ellington, even though they live on the Hill and the commute will be horrific.