Duke's Approach to College Essay Writing: Explained
With an acceptance rate in the single digits, Duke University is one of the most sought-after colleges in the country. Getting in can feel like a dart throw–even for even highly-qualified candidates.
But how does Duke actually make admissions decisions? And—more provocatively—has Duke ditched the college essay?
Answers from a Dean of Admissions at Duke
That was the subject of a recent discussion on an episode of Your College Bound Kid, featuring host Mark Stucker and Christoph Guttentag, Duke’s Dean of Admissions.
His answer: Duke uses a four-category rubric with a 1-5 rating. The four categories are:
Strength of high school curriculum – “in the context of what’s available at that school.”
What does this mean? A high-achieving student at a high-poverty school won’t be penalized if their school offers limited courses. Curriculum varies from one school to another, and not all high schools can provide access to advanced coursework such as AP, dual enrollment, or International Baccalaureate programs.
Grades in academic courses from 9th grade through the middle of 12th.
An expansive look at “extracurricular activities.”
What does this mean? Admissions officers want to know how you spend your time outside of the classroom. That can include athletics, clubs, community service, activism, cultural exploration, home and family responsibilities, career exploration, performing and visual arts, and employment.
Letters of recommendation from teachers and the counselor, and a report from the student’s interview (if applicable).
In recent years Duke downsized its rubric, ditching two categories: standardized test scores – Duke went test-optional in 2020 – and writing ability, as demonstrated on essays.
Why Duke Dropped the Essay from Its Rubric
Guttentag explains Duke uses its rubric to make broad distinctions among applicants while sorting through tens of thousands of applications.
But—and this is key—the rubric isn’t good for making fine distinctions. That’s where the essay still plays a crucial role.
Rather than being used as a metric for scoring applicants, Duke now turns to the college essay for something arguably more important: insight.
According to Guttentag, the admissions committee sessions are about talking about the attributes that Duke values in its students. Qualities like:
Sense of imagination
Treating others well
Being a thoughtful communicator
Having a positive impact
And here’s the kicker: The essay is one of the best tools Duke has to uncover these qualities.
The College Essay’s True Value: Insights, Not Writing Ability
Guttentag made another interesting admission: Duke no longer views the college essay as a primary measure of a student’s writing ability.
Why? He acknowledges the rising use of artificial intelligence tools and the editing support students receive in the essay-writing process.
Instead, the essay serves a different purpose: it’s the one place in the application where students speak in their own voice, unfiltered, about what matters to them.
“We’re constantly trying to understand the applicant as an individual in the context of their community, school, and environment. We try to imagine what they will be like in the context of our community, our academic community, our social community, our cultural community. The essay is very important in that respect.”
My Take: This Is Music to My Ears
As someone who coaches students on their college essays, I tell anyone who will listen: a good college essay isn’t about sounding impressive. It’s about self-reflection. Too often, students get bogged down in what they think good writing should sound like. But here’s an admissions dean at one of the most selective universities in the country saying they’re not looking for a perfectly polished piece of prose. They’re looking for you.
So, has Duke ditched the college essay? Hardly. If anything, Duke has clarified its purpose: The essay isn’t about proving you’re a great writer. It’s about proving you’re a great fit.
