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Duke University
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Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
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Duke SAT score requirements?

Hey, I've been researching Duke and I'm trying to find out their SAT score requirements for admission. Anyone familiar with Duke's admission process, could you help me with this info? Thanks!

2 years ago

Duke University does not have strict SAT score "requirements" for admission, as they practice a holistic review process, which considers all aspects of a student's application, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations. However, it's still useful to know the general range of SAT scores for admitted students to get a sense of where you may want to be.

In recent years, the middle 50% of accepted students at Duke had SAT scores between 1500–1560. This statistic means that 25% of admitted students had scores below 1500, 25% had scores above 1560, and 50% had scores within that range. While these scores are not strict cut-offs, having a score within or above this range will likely make you more competitive in the admission process.

If your SAT scores fall below this range, don't be too discouraged. Duke still considers many other factors in their admissions decisions, so a strong application overall with compelling essays, great extracurriculars, and solid academic performance could help offset a lower test score.

For example, writing strong responses to Duke's school-specific supplemental essay prompts can be a great way of distinguishing yourself from other highly qualified applicants. For tips on how to tackle Duke's current prompts, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-duke-university-essays

It's also worth noting that Duke is currently test-optional, so submitting an SAT score is actually not required. However, at a school as selective as Duke, you generally want to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible, so aiming high on the SAT will likely be worth your while. For more detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

Lastly, remember that standardized test scores are just one part of your application. It's important to focus on building a strong overall application to demonstrate to Duke that you're a well-rounded and capable applicant, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. Good luck!

2 years ago

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.