SAT requirement for Duke University

Hey guys, Duke University is high on my list of potential schools. I was just wondering, what are their requirements for SAT scores? Any information would be useful to help me prep and set a target.

Duke University is one of the top-tier colleges in the U.S and as such, it’s highly selective.

First, it's important to note that for the 2024-2025 application cycle, Duke University is keeping its test-optional policy. However, at a school as selective as Duke, it's generally a good idea to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible, so submitting a test score is still a good idea for many applicants. For 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/

If you do submit a score, although Duke doesn’t have a minimum required SAT score, you'll definitely want to aim high, given the competitiveness of their admissions process. According to the most recent data available, the middle 50% SAT scores of students accepted to Duke fall roughly between 1520-1570. This statistic means that 25% of students scored below 1520, 25% scored above 1570, and the remaining 50% fell within this range.

Please note that these are only guidelines and not strict cutoffs. Being within or above this range won't guarantee acceptance at a school as selective as Duke, while even if you're slightly below it, you can potentially compensate for that with notable strengths in other areas, like GPA, course rigor, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at Duke, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including not just test scores, but also GPA, course rigor, and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at Duke and hundreds of other colleges: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator

This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, whether by raising your SAT score slightly or some other step, like earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars.

Or, if you want tips on how to strengthen the more intangible aspects of your application, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle Duke's school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-duke-university-essays/. At schools as selective as Duke, the essays can be a great way of distinguishing yourself from even other highly qualified applicants.

Good luck with your studies and preparation for the SAT!