Duke University

Hey Mayra: At Duke, we have a Health Professions Advising team, and they help students gain a solid foundation in pre-health required courses while students can major in whatever field interests them. Many students also broaden their interest in medicine by working in the Duke University Medical Center next to West Campus or pursuing summer experiences or research opportunities. We do not have a major called 'pre-med,' but Duke is a wonderful place to begin a career in the medical field.

Dear Alesha: The website for Duke's financial aid is www.finaid.duke.edu. You can also access it from the link at the left hand side of this page, which takes you to www.admissions.duke.edu. We give away millions of dollars in financial aid annually, and we are need-blind, so for US citizens and long-term permanent residents, it doesn't matter as we evaluate your application whether you have applied for financial aid or not. Sue Coon

Dear Madison: Thanks for your interest in Duke University! The A. B. Duke Scholars are awarded to some of our finest applicants. Around 1-2% of our applicants receive merit scholarships, including the A. B. Duke Scholarships. Just like any Duke applicant, you will want to follow your academic and extracurricular passions in high school, and do as well as you can in all areas. I do want to mention that nearly 50% of our students receive need-based financial aid, which may also be of interest to you! Best regards, Sue Coon, Senior Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions

Dear Crystal: We do not have any minimum score for the ACT, though most students find if they take it once in their junior year and once in their senior year, that is a good way to get some of their best scores. When we review an application, we also look at how you have challenged yourself with the rigor of your course selections, your grades, recommendations, and extracurricular activities, as well as your essays. The testing is just one part of your application. Please check out the "Who We Are Looking For" part of our www.admissions.duke.edu website for more information. My best, Sue Coon, Senior Assistant Director, Duke University Undergraduate Admissions

Thank you.

Hey Nylah: We require a transcript (homemade transcripts are perfectly acceptable as long as they list the courses of study a student has followed for the four years of high school or equivalent), recommendations from three instructors (at least two of whom are not related to the applicant—and employers, religious leaders, sports coaches or other adults can write these recommendations if all academic instruction takes place in the home), essays, an extracurricular activities list, and standardized testing. Applicants are not required to present a GED or proof of accreditation. There is no separate application for Duke's merit scholarships; all students are considered for merit scholarships on the basis of their application for admission. More information about applying to Duke as a homeschooled student may be found here: http://admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply_homeschooled.html

Dear John: We are looking for students who will have academic and extracurricular impact at Duke. If there is a reason that you have not participated in any extracurricular activities, such as a need to look after your siblings, a disability of some sort, or a long daily commute to school, we would certainly take that into consideration as we review your application. Sue Coon, Duke Admissions