Duke admissions decisions will now rely almost entirely on the applicant’s grades, which will have been built upon a foundation of the most astounding period of grade inflation in modern educational system history.

What could possibly go wrong?

Anonymous wrote:They say they are TO and won’t score essays but they consider the former and read the latter. How are applicants supposed to judge them a reach/target/safety if they have no discernible standards for admission?

It's relatively simple. Duke is looking for kids with SAT scores above 1550, ACT scores above 35 and perfect grades in courses of the absolute highest rigor. Admissions want national level awards for ECs, and LORs that confirm that students are destined to become leaders in their respective fields. Essays are no longer a big deal but should be coherent enough to clearly articulate "why Duke." It's a super reach school for almost every student, except for recruited athletes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

Grades are meaningless. Standardized test scores are meaningless. Essays are meaningless. What matters anymore?

Time to submit parents SAT scores.

This is funny! And relevant for those vicariously seeking validation of their parenting through admissions results.

They say they are TO and won’t score essays but they consider the former and read the latter. How are applicants supposed to judge them a reach/target/safety if they have no discernible standards for admission?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

Grades are meaningless. Standardized test scores are meaningless. Essays are meaningless. What matters anymore?

Time to submit parents SAT scores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

Grades are meaningless. Standardized test scores are meaningless. Essays are meaningless. What matters anymore?

-First gens
-Those with 7 figure donations

Anyone in the middle need not apply.

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

Grades are meaningless. Standardized test scores are meaningless. Essays are meaningless. What matters anymore?

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

Not assigning a score doesn’t mean they aren’t reading them.

Anonymous wrote:Essay should be done in SAT style.

Ironically, this was offered as part of the SATs in the recent past. It makes way more sense to me than the current style of essays that lead to rich people paying for them. I don’t know why it never caught on with schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

They highly value test scores, too. In fact, I think this shift away from essays will only serve to strengthen the weight given to SAT/SAT/IB/AP scores.

+1

Honestly I think it's odd that they relied much on the writing quality of essays. The essays should merely add explanation and context for the rest of the app.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

They highly value test scores, too. In fact, I think this shift away from essays will only serve to strengthen the weight given to SAT/SAT/IB/AP scores.

As it should. Essays and ECs are BS.

Anonymous wrote:So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

They highly value test scores, too. In fact, I think this shift away from essays will only serve to strengthen the weight given to SAT/SAT/IB/AP scores.

So they are basing their admissions decisions on GPA/transcript, LORs and ECs?

Essay should be done in SAT style.

Duke will no longer score essays, citing AI and involvement of paid essay consultants. (Their numerical combo score also drops tests just because they are still TO, though the consider if submitted, so that’s not really new.) They will, of course, still read essays to get a sense of person.

https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2024/02/duke-university-undergraduate-admissions-changes-numerical-rating-standardized-testing-essays-covid-test-optional-ai-generated-college-consultants

Personally, I think that’s as it should be. DC can write fine but, like many kids, is not great a navel-gazing, and did not use AI or consultants. And it seems an odd make-or-break point for applicants for the very reasons Duke gave. What if a student submitted a completely generic essay that does not make the case that the applicant knows anything about the school? That seems a fair takeaway from the essays for colleges to consider….