Does Duke Consider Demonstrated Interest?

Hi everyone, I'm pretty interested in applying to Duke, but I want to know how important it is to show my enthusiasm for their school. Does Duke consider demonstrated interest in their admissions process? If they do, any suggestions for how I can show that I'm really interested? Thanks!

Duke University does not consider 'demonstrated interest' in the traditional sense, although they do state that you should be able to communicate 'demonstrated knowledge' of the school. What this means is that there is no admissions benefit to emailing or meeting your regional admissions officer, or things of that nature.

Instead, Duke recommends that prospective students explore what Duke has to offer them in light of their hopes and expectations for college, and to think carefully about why there may be a good match between Duke and themselves. Doing this research will help students write a thoughtful and detailed answer to Duke's "Why Us?" essay.

For more on Duke's essays, along with in-depth guides to responding to all their prompts, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-duke-university-essays

Remember that while what is normally considered 'demonstrated interest' may not be a factor, you should have a good understanding of Duke and what it has to offer. Emailing admissions officers or visiting the campus may be a good way to get this important knowledge for your essays. Good luck!