Does anyone get in Duke

[Anonymous]

My kid just got back from study aboard where there was a mix of kids from other schools. Said the Duke kids were insufferable and cliquey as a group (only wanted to be with other Duke kids). YMMV.

[Anonymous]

MY DH was a TA there while getting his PhD. He said the kids were the smartest, most self-directed, most motivated he's ever seen. Cliquey, sure, insufferable, probably. But also very very competitive.

There's a very prestigious "school of math and science" public highschool in durham adjacent to Duke. I wonder if it's a major feeder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got in.

- 3.92/4.0 GPA, 4.45 wGPA
- 1540 SAT
- plays two varsity sports (not recruited)
- captain of debate team
- part time work for 1 year in fast food

FCPS HS, UMC, no hooks.

Congrats! For 2026? Which major?

Are you rich or poor?

2026, economics. Our income is $360k, so not quite poor I think

The advice that I think helped was for DS to work 6-12 months to demonstrate humility, "not a jerk", etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got back from study aboard where there was a mix of kids from other schools. Said the Duke kids were insufferable and cliquey as a group (only wanted to be with other Duke kids). YMMV.

who'd they say the nicest kids were??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got in.

- 3.92/4.0 GPA, 4.45 wGPA
- 1540 SAT
- plays two varsity sports (not recruited)
- captain of debate team
- part time work for 1 year in fast food

FCPS HS, UMC, no hooks.

Congrats! For 2026? Which major?

Are you rich or poor?

2026, economics. Our income is $360k, so not quite poor I think

The advice that I think helped was for DS to work 6-12 months to demonstrate humility, "not a jerk", etc.

PP. I asked which major and year, but not income. Thanks for responding. Congrats again. My kid also ED for economics. I think it is a very competitive major for Duke. Keeping fingers crossed for my kid (no hook, not pointy, well-rounded, well-liked, high-stat, great ECs kid)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got back from study aboard where there was a mix of kids from other schools. Said the Duke kids were insufferable and cliquey as a group (only wanted to be with other Duke kids). YMMV.

who'd they say the nicest kids were??

Everyone else. Duke kids were obnoxious and stuck to themselves while kids from all the other colleges got along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stephen Miller.

Ok, but any humans?

[Anonymous]

From our private high school, at least one or two get in a year. Exclusively ED admits. Some hooked (legacy), but ALL are top of their class (probably 5%, minimum 10%), highly academically motivated, highest rigor across the board, and almost all, were very active on the robotics team.

Duke is what the Ivy league was 30 years ago, now that the Ivy league is more interested in FGLI and URM and athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From our private high school, at least one or two get in a year. Exclusively ED admits. Some hooked (legacy), but ALL are top of their class (probably 5%, minimum 10%), highly academically motivated, highest rigor across the board, and almost all, were very active on the robotics team.

Duke is what the Ivy league was 30 years ago, now that the Ivy league is more interested in FGLI and URM and athletes.

The top ranked kids at our private still select the Ivies over Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From our private high school, at least one or two get in a year. Exclusively ED admits. Some hooked (legacy), but ALL are top of their class (probably 5%, minimum 10%), highly academically motivated, highest rigor across the board, and almost all, were very active on the robotics team.

Duke is what the Ivy league was 30 years ago, now that the Ivy league is more interested in FGLI and URM and athletes.

The top ranked kids at our private still select the Ivies over Duke.

Even Cornell and Columbia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From our private high school, at least one or two get in a year. Exclusively ED admits. Some hooked (legacy), but ALL are top of their class (probably 5%, minimum 10%), highly academically motivated, highest rigor across the board, and almost all, were very active on the robotics team.

Duke is what the Ivy league was 30 years ago, now that the Ivy league is more interested in FGLI and URM and athletes.

The top ranked kids at our private still select the Ivies over Duke.

Even Cornell and Columbia?

Yes

[Anonymous]

My DC was accepted to Duke last year RD (applied undecided) from a top FCPS. Blue Devil Day was fun, but ended up at HYPSM

[Anonymous]

I find it funny how much this forum reveres Duke because of how few they take from the DMV. Perceptions of schools on here are just driven by perceived exclusivity, and it's gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stats of anyone who got in in ED? Just a few deferred from our school. All hooks

Only legacies from our HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stephen Miller.

Ok, but any humans?

Please keep politics out of the College subforum. Take it to the politics one if you want to discuss.