Some admissions officers are straightforward, while others aren’t as honest. Based on our experience, most tend to be less candid. That’s why on Essay Embassy‘s college admissions blog, we focus on those who are transparent about the admissions process, even if it doesn’t favour their university. Lower-ranking admissions officers usually can’t be as honest because sticking to the official stance is part of their job.
At times, leaders in charge of accepting students at well-known colleges openly acknowledge that their school doesn’t always consider financial need as they claim. Some admissions leaders at top colleges are known for being truthful about this. Charles Deacon from Georgetown University and Christoph Gutentag from Duke University are two good examples. We’ve appreciated their honesty in our blog about college admissions.
The Truthfulness of Duke’s Admissions Website
Is the Duke admissions director honest? For a while, Christoph Guttentag from Duke was known for being truthful. In the past, Duke’s admissions website used to share myths about the admission process along with the actual facts.
For instance, back in 2018, the Duke admissions office said, “Myth: Applying early makes it harder to get in than applying later. Fact: We appreciate being your first choice. There’s an advantage to applying early at Duke; last year, we accepted 23.5% of Early Decision applicants and only 8.7% of Regular Decision applicants. Early Decision can really help some students.”
Most admissions officers don’t agree that applying early makes it tougher to get in. They often suggest that it’s not easier to get in early compared to later. But that’s not true. It’s usually easier to apply early.
That’s one big reason why making an early decision matters. At Duke, 4.8% of Regular Decision students got into the Class of 2027, compared to 16.5% of Early Decision applicants. Despite what Frank Bruni from The New York Times says, there’s a real advantage to applying early!
And what does Duke think about the idea that students who need financial help should wait until Regular Decision to compare aid packages? We’ve always said on Essay Embassy’s blog that this idea is silly!
According to Duke’s website, “Myth: I’ll have to commit to Duke without knowing if my family can afford it.” Fact: Duke promises to meet every admitted student’s financial need, whether they apply Early Decision or Regular Decision.
The Net Price Calculator on our financial aid page can help you understand our financial aid process and estimate your award. If you’re admitted and submit the required forms on time, you’ll get your financial aid package when you get your admissions decision.
Essay Embassy Salutes Duke’s Admissions Leader for His Candour
Nicely put, Duke University! The admissions office is following the lead of its long-serving leader, Dean Guttentag, and we appreciate the school for being open about its practices. Previously, Duke used to ask students on their extra application questions if they had used private college advisors.
When asked why this question was taken out, Dean Guttentag said that students probably wouldn’t give a truthful answer anyway, so there wasn’t much point in asking. If the answer won’t be honest, then what’s the use of asking?
