Duke Applications Top Last Year's Record By Nearly 17 Percent

Duke University has received more than 23,750 applications for admission to the Class of 2013, the largest number in school history and a nearly 17 percent increase over the previous record set last year. This year's jump of 3,400 applicants over last year is the largest increase on record for Duke.

Last year, 20,352 students sought admission to Duke. The prior year, 19,206 applications were received, which at the time was the second highest total in school history.

Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag attributed the increase to a number of factors.

While we can never be entirely certain why students make the choices they do, over the last few years there has clearly been a growing appreciation of the quality of the Duke education and undergraduate experience nationwide and worldwide," Guttentag said. "That, I believe, combined with the impact of several recent Duke initiatives, explains much of this year's exceptionally large increase.

For example, I think it's taken a while for people to fully believe that we mean what we say about being committed to making Duke affordable to students from every background. We announced changes to our financial aid program a year ago, and I think it's taken that long for people to understand that it is indeed possible for them to attend Duke."

Duke is one of a limited number of schools with a "need-blind" admissions policy, which means that all qualified U.S. applicants are accepted regardless of their ability to pay for college. Duke guarantees it will meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need. In December 2007, Duke announced significant enhancements to its financial aid program to provide access to a Duke education for lower- and middle-income families. (See http://news.duke.edu/2007/12/financialaid.html/)

Guttentag said another likely reason for the increase is the popularity of DukeEngage, a program launched in 2007 that provides funding for Duke undergraduates who wish to pursue an intensive civic engagement experience anywhere in the world. Through DukeEngage, students apply what they have learned in the classroom to address societal issues within the U.S. or abroad.

"DukeEngage has really captured people's imagination and attention," Guttentag said. "Last year a very significant number of people mentioned it in their application, that it was one of the things that attracted them to Duke. And every time I visited a school this fall - -- whether private or public -- and talked about DukeEngage, students knew what I was talking about. In an incredibly short period of time, it has become a defining and distinguishing aspect of the university.

"We've also done a better job of contacting prospective applicants throughout the fall of their senior year. Many of the printed materials we send them are now quite distinctive, and I believe do a better job of presenting the particular appeal of Duke."

The number of high school seniors applying to the Trinity School of Arts & Sciences this year increased by 15 percent, while the number of students applying to the Pratt School of Engineering increased 23 percent.

Geographically, significant increases were seen in applications from the West Coast, including California, Washington and Oregon. The number of applications from students in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina and Ohio also showed a marked increased, as did the number of applications from overseas.

The percentage of students applying for financial aid was essentially unchanged from last year.

"This year, 62 percent of our applicants indicate that they're going to apply for financial aid -- a difference from last year of less than one-half of one percent. I don't think we would have expected such a small difference; it's clear we won't really know until the spring just how the economy is affecting the college choices students make," Guttentag noted.

In December, 1,539 students applied through the Early Decision admission process - -- the second largest number in Duke's history -- - and 547 were admitted. The applicants in the regular decision process will compete for 1,120 remaining spots in the entering class.

"The admissions staff will work very hard to understand and appreciate each applicant as a unique individual, and our job will be to strike just the right balance among all of our goals in creating the next class of Duke students," Guttentag said.

"It's obviously going to be a particularly challenging year with respect to the admission process. This year, more than ever, we'll wish we had room for all of the exceptional students who are applying."