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July 24, 2022

Duke University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]

Duke University’s Medical School is ranked 6th by U.S. News for research and 78th for primary care, and is known for its focus on interdisciplinary learning . It aims to use medical research to solve global problems. Duke emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and attention to community health problems. Consequently it comes as no surprise that Duke’s secondary application questions ask you to consider your role as a physician in global and local communities.

For more information about the program, check out our podcast episode: Deep Dive Into Duke Medical: An Interview With Dr. Linton Yee, Associate Dean of Admissions >>

Duke secondary application tips 2022-2023

Duke secondary application essay #1: advocacy.

Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)

Advocacy is fighting for, recommending, or supporting – a person, cause, system or ideal. What is your style of advocacy? When have you helped someone after they experienced discrimination, hardship, or bias? When did you recommend someone often overlooked due to bias to receive recognition, opportunity or reward? Have you ever amplified a marginalized person’s viewpoint, supported services to improve the life of someone with a disability? What happened? What did you do? What was the outcome of your actions? Looking back, what was the risk of advocating in light of the situation? 

The prompt asks for an individual example, but you can also think about an individual you have worked with who represents a broader group of people. This question is asking you to think about your role as a physician-advocate, someone who will represent their patient in the quest to obtain fair and adequate healthcare. The question also addresses Duke’s emphasis on the physician as a member of the community with a duty to improve care for all.

Duke secondary application essay #2: Coping with Disappointment

Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)

This prompt challenges applicants to be truthful about a disappointing moment, an initiative or effort that didn’t have the desired results. If looking at oneself as “having failed” sounds too self-deprecating, then turn the table here. Tell the story of a setback as a growth moment. Keep in mind, hitting road bumps on the way to achieving life goals is inevitable. Being able to adapt and learn, perhaps, is the moral of this story because physicians adapt to circumstances and compensate for gaps in patient care often.

Duke secondary application essay #3: Value Systems

Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your values to interact with people from different backgrounds. How did those values impact the relationship? ( 400 words )

We are all shaped by our cultures, experiences and values. People respond to challenges often in keeping with ingrained cultural habits. For instance, was it common to have friends join your family at the dinner table? What value is associated with always having room to feed another person at the table? Have you invited international friends or friends whose families live far away to join you and yours when they had nowhere to go to celebrate Thanksgiving? Why did you do this? What belief led you to extend such an invitation? 

Were you ever asked to assist with a ceremony that was not part of your own spiritual practice? Was this challenging? How did this request feel like an honor? 

Did this experience change or build relationships?

One could take this prompt in another direction too, to engage with people of a different background whom you do not know. If you are white, did you ever attend a Black Lives Matters march because it was unequivocally the right thing to do? If you are straight, did you help others achieve LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, hang a “safe zone” sticker on your door and someone seeking a safe place came knocking? If you are a woman, did you ever endorse a white man for a leadership position even though leadership positions are saturated with white men? 

What relationship, if any, came from a “doing the right thing” experience? What did you learn about how to build multicultural, diverse friendships or relationships?

Duke secondary application essay #4: Leadership

Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)

This is a very broad question about critical skills in medicine. Doctors are leaders, but they are also part of a medical team. Communication with patients, peers, and other members of the healthcare professions is mandatory.

When did you take on a leadership role ? How did that go? What guiding principles helped you lead effectively, or what guiding principles came to light while adapting to a leadership role? Discuss which skills and attributes contributed to your effectiveness as a leader and/or a team member . What worked for you when you were in a leadership role? How did this experience change how you “walk the walk” of a leader?

Duke secondary application essay #5: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)

In your research, how do you analyze and evaluate the progress of your work to stay in line with the research goal? How do you provide context for a research outcome so others understand its value or potential impact in medicine? Effective critical thinking demonstrates cognitive ability to assess complexity. Your answer, therefore, should demonstrate how you think through an essential issue inherent in the research project. How does this research progress or propel medicine into the 21st century?

Duke secondary application essay #6: Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes

Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Describe your experience and reflection with race and its relationship to disparities in health, health care and society. Consider the values of justice, diversity, inclusion and equity (400 words)

Minority populations are often at risk for poor health and have limited or complicated access to care. Why is this so? Tell a story about race, your own or someone else’s experience, as it was affected by health care disparities. How was race a critical factor to a poor outcome? Be sure to briefly explain the reality of this truth. From here, what does this disparity mean regarding a doctor’s approach to patient care? How should physicians respond to this situation?

Duke secondary application essay #7: COVID-19 Implications

How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words) 

Almost all medical schools require a response from applicants to the current COVID-19 pandemic . This prompt, like others, asks how you were affected. If possible, you should also answer with how you responded — did you start or participate in an initiative to help shut-ins obtain food, for example? However, the emphasis in this prompt, and the majority of one’s thought in addressing it, should be spent on the answer to the second question. Duke University SOM is asking you what this unexpected shift in preparing to be a doctor has done to you. Moreso, it is asking how this unexpected shift in preparing to be a doctor has revised your vision of “doctoring” in the future. This surely engages some insight and perspective about public health, the common good, the disparity of risk among less advantaged populations, cultures and demographics. It may also be an opportunity for you to reveal adaptability, initiative, grit, and/or resilience.

Duke secondary application essay #8: Tell Us Who You Are

Tell us more about who you are. This is your opportunity to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

As schools are taking more factors into consideration when it comes to diversity, they are also asking applicants to put more thought into the relationship between diversity (of patients and colleagues) and their own identity. This is one such question. You should feel free to talk about aspects of your identity that might not be obvious from your application. I suggest doing so through the use of examples in order to illustrate how those parts of your personality inform your behavior towards others. You should also explain how these qualities or experiences will impact how you treat and interact with others. What story can you tell about yourself that defines you?

Duke secondary application essay #9 [Optional]: Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation

Use the text box below to provide additional information on how these parameters have/will influence you.( Optional , 200 words )

Clearly, any aspect of yourself that identifies and is defined by Race, Ethnicity, Region/Country, SES, Advantage, Disadvantage or Religious affiliation suggests that this aspect of you will continue into the future, and perhaps influence how you regard others, practice inclusivity, and take action to help others. Avoid telling a story that makes one parameter an identity marker that limits your ability. For instance, don’t write about your family’s economic struggle when you were young as a reason you could not participate in exclusive academic programs, even though that may have been true, but rather tell the story in such a way that how you had to claim an education worthy of a noble career like being a physician was only possible by having ingrained resilience at a young age due to an economic struggle or disadvantage. How does this truth influence what you do for others – this should be a “never forget” story or “forever formed by” story that compels you to lift up others.

Applying to Duke? Here are some stats:

Duke average MCAT score: 518

Duke Medical School average GPA: 3.86

Duke Medical School acceptance rate: 2.9%

U.S. News  ranks Duke #6 for research and #78 for primary care.

Check out the Med School Selectivity Index for more stats.

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your Duke secondary application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to your top choice medical school. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you make your dream come true? We have several flexible consulting options— click here to get started today !

Duke University Med School application timeline 2022 – 2023

Source: Duke University School of Medicine website

Related Resources:

• School-Specific Secondary Application Essay Tips
• Deep Dive Into Duke Medical: An Interview With Dr. Linton Yee, Associate Dean of Admissions , a podcast episode
• What NOT to Write in Your Medical School Secondary Application Essays
• 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

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Duke Medical School Secondary Application Prompts & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

Getting accepted to Duke University School of Medicine is hard. Very hard. Submitting an OUTSTANDING Duke Medical School secondary application is vital to receiving an interview invite, which ultimately can lead to an acceptance. Duke secondaries are notorious because the Duke secondary application is one of the longest secondary applications. If you look below at the year-over-year Duke secondary prompts, the Duke secondary application gets longer and longer over time! Because our Cracking Med School Admissions team has no word limits when it comes to our secondary essay editing , it is one of the most common secondary applications that we read each year. The Duke Med School Admissions committee gets an intimate look into each applicant. Duke secondaries are extremely personal and open-ended, allowing applicants to write about their passions and their backgrounds. 

We want to note a few things for applicants who are starting to write the Duke secondary.

• There have been a lot of changes in the Duke secondaries prompts the last few years – each year, there are changes in word limit, optional essay prompts, and essay prompts. This would NOT be a secondary application we would suggest pre-writing before the official prompts are released by the medical school admissions office.
• Duke cares a lot about your personal background and how you relate (work with) diverse individuals. 

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Duke School of Medicine year after year.  Get started and read our  Duke Medical School secondary application tips  below. To learn more about student life, read our  Duke Med School Profile, “How to get into Duke Medical School.”

Contact us below if you have any questions!

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Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023-2024

• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (400 words) – character limit it decreased from past years
• New Question: Working with Others: Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you?  (400 words)
• Advocacy: Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy.  What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)
• Coping with Disappointment: Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)
• New Question: Leadership: What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)
• New Question: Understanding the Need for Healthcare Changes: Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Discuss your experience with disparities in health, health care and society.(400 words max)
• COVID-19 Implications: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words max)
• (Optional) Further Information: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application. (no word limit)

Tips to Answer Duke Secondary Essays

Duke Secondary Application Pre-Writing Guidance: We want to note a few things for applicants who are starting to write the Duke secondary.

• There are a lot of changes in the Duke secondary recently. This would NOT be a secondary application we would suggest pre-writing before the official prompts are released by the medical school admissions office. Additionally, writing 10 long essays is super intimidating. Work on some shorter secondaries first, and then you’ll be able to use those essays to help you finish this one! From our extensive experience, Duke is not a time-sensitive medical school, so you do not need to rush to submit this secondary.
• Additionally, many students feel overwhelmed and burned out if the Duke secondary application is one of the first few secondaries they tackle. Therefore, our Dr. Rishi Mediratta’s and Dr. Rachel Rizal’s advice is to work on your Duke secondaries once you’ve tackled (and finalized) many other medical schools’ secondaries. 
• The Duke University School of Medicine secondary is extremely long. Therefore, read all our secondary application essay tips our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples .

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #1: Answer as many questions as possible on the Duke Med secondary. Our Cracking Med School Admissions team does not view any Duke secondary essay as optional.  Additionally, use the space allotted. Try not to submit 50-100 word essays.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #2: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society.   Your past experiences are often the best source for great answers.  Tell stories to convey your impact and leadership through your Duke secondaries. For example, if you conducted research over a gap year, tell a story about a challenge you faced or a patient you met while conducting a clinical trial. 

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #3: Duke is an innovative school. Reflect how you’ve been innovative in your endeavors, whether it’s through writing composition or your research.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #4: For the teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking essays, you will be judged on how well you communicate. Make sure you explain your the context you are writing about. We also strongly suggest giving specific examples that show your leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. Don’t talk in generalities about your extracurricular activities. Instead, tell a specific story in each of these long word limit essays. Each essay is about the length of a primary application personal statement!

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #5: Be detailed and rigorous with how you describe your research. Your research essay will reflect how you critically think through a problem. Make sure to discuss a specific research problem you tackled; our Cracking Med School Admissions team often finds it less effective when a med school applicant writes about his or her research broadly.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #6: For the health inequities question / healthcare disparities, incorporate your personal experiences as well as healthcare current issues. We have an entire healthcare current events blog post here , where you can read more about disparities in health.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #7:  Write something for the last essay. It can be your “Why Duke Medical School” essay. Yes, we know this is a SUPER long secondary. But, Duke carefully considers its applicants and wants a diverse student body. Therefore, the more perspective you can give them about your background, the better!

• Read this HIGH YIELD blog post:   Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips

You won’t realize this working on your Duke secondaries, but Duke’s interview is Multiple Mini Interview and the Duke University School of Medicine admissions committee often does not accept update letters.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #8: Because you have the space, don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why Duke Medical School” throughout the essays. Read our Cracking Med School Admissions advice and an example for answering   why this medical school ? Talk about projects, programs and research you want to do at Duke. Learn more about Duke Med’s unique curriculum in our Cracking Med School Admissions school profile  Duke School of Medicine.  

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #9: Start early and get our help. The Duke secondary not only has several essay, but the essays also have large word limits. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal can personally help you through our secondary essay packages . 

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #10: For the Duke secondaries prompt, “ Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours “

Duke secondary essay examples for advocacy based on previous EXCELLENT secondary essays edited by Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta :

• Advocated for an individual with disabilities
• Taught / tutored / coached a group of children and advocated for one of the quieter children
• Advocated for a team member in a club or a sports team
• Advocated for an individual from a disadvantaged background. This includes personal experiences in patient care – advocated for a patient in a free clinic who did not have resources fo follow-up care

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #11: For the Duke secondaries prompt, “ How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? “

• Read our helpful blog post: COVID Medical School Secondary Examples and Tips

Many students we’ve mentored also write about their reflections on innovation, research, health public policies, and disparities in health.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #12: There are many similarities between the variety of questions between the Duke Medical School secondary essay prompts and the Duke Multiple Mini Interview. Read our tips for the Duke MMI here !

[ Read more secondary essay tips: University of North Carolina , Stanford , Mount Sinai (Icahn), Cornell  ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

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Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022-2023

• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words max)
• (Optional)  In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future.  (200 words max)
• New Question (worded slightly differently): Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy.  What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words max)
• Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words max)
• New Question: Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your values to interact with people from different backgrounds.  How did those values impact the relationship? (400 words max)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words max)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words max)
• Potential sources of health inequities include race, gender, education, income, disability, geographic location, and sexual orientation. Moments to Movement (M2M) is Duke’s collective stand against systemic racism and injustice. The name signifies going beyond passive moments of reflection and becoming more active as we build to make lasting change for our patients, their loved ones and each other. Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care. (400 words max)
• How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words max)
• Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application.  (no word limit)

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Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

• (Optional)  In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future.  (200 words max)
• Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define advocacy as you view it. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?  (400 words max)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (400 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020-2021

• (Optional) In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (200 words max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words max)
• Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (400 words max)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (400 words max)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience either enhances or perfects critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is research or critical thinking important to your future career? (400 words max)
• Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care? (400 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020

• (Optional) If one of the above identities do not best describe you, then what identity do you feel most comfortable with? I self-identify as… (50 words max)
• (Optional) Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation
• In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (200 words max)
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the community better? (500 characters max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (500 words max)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (500 words max)
• Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (500 words max)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics including creativity, innovation, discernment, emotional intelligence, application and analysis. Describe a situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is critical thinking vital in your future? (500 words max)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (500 words max)
• Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? (500 words max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (500 words max)
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. (500 words max)
• Critical thinking involves many aspects including curiosity, comprehension, application and analysis. Describe a time when you have utilized critical thinking. How do you anticipate critical thinking being used as part of your career? (400 words max)
• Many view medical care as an undeniable right. What responsibility does the medical profession have in taking care of all persons? (400 words max)
• (Optional) Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018

Md essay prompts:.

• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? (600 words max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (600 words max)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (600 words max)
• What qualities will you bring to the practice of medicine? (600 words max)
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. (600 words max)
• What role has research had in your preparation for medicine? (250 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017

• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients?  (600 words max)
• Describe an experience when you were confronted with an individual or group whose values differ from yours? How did you resolve the conflict/ challenge? Describe at least one outcome that the experience created. (600 words max)
• Describe a successful leader. What type of leadership skills do you want to cultivate in your training experience and how do you envision doing that? (250 words max)
• Have you engaged with the community in the past? How do you hope to understand and impact communities in the future? (250 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 - 2016

• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?  (600 words max)
• What will challenge you the most in your life career as a health care provider when you have to deal with people unlike yourself (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, social background, and other difference)? How do you plan to address these? What resources do you plan to use to address these? (600 words max)
• (Optional) Giving Back To Your Community: What is the value of giving back to your community? Is it a more important attribute of a physician than of others performing other roles within a community? 
• (Optional) Toughest Feedback: What is the toughest feedback that you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? 

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6 Duke Supplemental Essays That Worked for 2023

Getting into Duke University is difficult in 2023. But you make sure you have your best chances by writing great supplemental essays.

In this article, I've gathered 6 essays from admitted Duke students so you can get inspired.

What is Duke University's Acceptance Rate?

Duke University has highly competitive admissions, and this past year over 45,000 students applied to Duke. Duke had an overall acceptance rate of 4.8%.

Duke University Acceptance Scattergram

If Duke is your top choice school, then consider applying Early Decision. For the Class of 2026, the acceptance rate for ED admissions was 21.3%!

Regardless of if you apply regular or early, admissions to Duke is competitive. But that only means writing stellar essays matters even more.

What are the Duke University Supplemental Prompts for 2022-23?

This year Duke asks applicants to write one required essay of 200 words and two optional essays of 250 words each.

Here are the 2022-23 Duke writing supplement prompts:

• Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attracts you? (200 word limit)

We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. Feel free to answer them if you feel that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already expressed elsewhere in your application. If you have already addressed either or both of these questions in your application, please don’t worry about leaving them blank. We appreciate how much time it takes to fill out this and your other college applications.

• Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 word limit)

Duke University Nondiscrimination Statement

• Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about your identity in these areas, you can do so here or, if you feel you have adequately represented your gender and sexual orientation in other parts of your application, feel free to not respond to this prompt. (250 words maximum)

If you're serious about getting into Duke, you should definitely answer the second optional prompt.

Because everybody has a unique background, and this prompt is another opportunity to show admissions officers why you deserve admission.

6 Duke University EssaysThatWorked

Here are 6 of the best Duke essays that worked that respond to the writing supplement.

I've also included an example of a Common App personal statement essay from an admitted Duke student.

Let's get started and inspired writing great admissions essays like these.

• Duke University Essay Example #1
• Duke University Essay Example #2
• Duke University Essay Example #3
• Duke University Essay Example #4
• Duke University Essay Example #5
• Duke University Essay Example #6

#1. Duke "Diversity" Essay Example

Prompt: Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words max)

The pitter patter of droplets, the sweet smell that permeates throughout the air, the dark grey clouds that fill the sky, shielding me from the otherwise intense gaze of the sun, create a landscape unparalleled by any natural beauty. I have gazed upon the towering cliffs of Yosemite, stood next to Niagara falls as the water roars, succumbing to the power of gravity, and seen the beaches of Mexico basked in moonlight, yet none of these wonders compares to the simple beauty of an Arizona rainstorm. To me, our rain represents more than humidity and darkness; its rarity gives it beauty. The uncertainty of when the next day of rain will come compels me to slow down, and enjoy the moment.

Out of the three realms of time; past, present, and future, the present is the only one we can experience, and I take advantage of every moment I have. When I pause my running to enjoy a sunset that dazzles the sky with brilliant colors of purple and orange, when I touch my brush to a canvas and focus on my movements in the present, when I drive home after a long day of improving our robot, and decide to drive around my neighborhood to finish “Garota de Ipanema”, which just popped up from my playlist of 700 songs, I am taking advantage of the moment.

So next time it rains, step outside. Close your eyes. Hear the symphony of millions of water droplets. And enjoy the moment.

#2. Duke "Diversity" Essay Example

Prompt: We seek a diverse student body that embodies the wide range of human experience. In that context, we are interested in what you’d like to share about your lived experiences and how they’ve influenced how you think of yourself. (250 words max)

Ever since I can remember, the comforting lullabies my mother sang to me planted a deep seed in my mind. In my dreams, I began a journey for my identity to discover the hidden stories within those songs. Perhaps that's what led me to explore Hindustani music. "Sa-re-ga" encodes my ancestors' songs just like "do-re-mi." With this solfege, I began exploring a vocal part of my culture, collecting the keys to my identity.

Each song I learned further educated me about myths and legends that helped form who I am today.

When I face adversity in male-dominated activities, I remember Sita, who fought heroically in revolutionary conflicts hundreds of years ago. This has empowered me to believe in my talents and goals, whether I am doing research or organizing a STEM fair in my community. The character Arjuna, who became one of the best archers, taught me perseverance and a desire to learn from others. When chosen to fly to Denmark to play badminton with local clubs, I embraced this experience to play among outstanding competitors and to enhance my competitive abilities. As an Asian American, I am reminded by the Indian National Anthem that I am an American and an Indian.

I plan to bring my music and stories with me to college. The keyboard in my Duke dorm will ring with strong Hindustani notes. I hope to share with my dorm mates and friends the history of those heroes and the strength I gleam from them every day.

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#3. Duke "Why Engineering" Essay Example

Prompt: If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as a first-year applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (150 words max)

At Duke I was equally entranced by the articulate movements of 3D printers in the Co-Lab and the stunning Gothic architecture. Instead of forming a dichotomy, these aspects of Duke blended to symbolize its emphasis on interdisciplinary education, which will offer me a nuanced perspective of the world integral to becoming a leader in engineering.

I will join the Academy for Model Aeronautics and share my passion for designing drones, while taking fascinating courses such as “Taboo Markets” and “Banality of Evil”, while simultaneously working on an engineering project that improves real people’s lives in “Engineering Design”. By joining the Duke Robotics Club, I can expand upon my love for robotics, and I hope to write for the Duke Engineering magazine, as well as join the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. By drawing from this diverse range of educational experiences, I can become a leader in creating a better future.

#4. Duke Personal Statement Example: "Forest of Lights"

Common App Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (250-650 words)

The diamond leaves of gnarled oak trees throw spectrums of color onto mounds of frosty snow that gleam melancholily under the moonlight. The leaves chime as wind violently rustles them in a haunting melody. I splinter a leaf off its branch and inspect the shard of my illusion, eyes dancing with amusement.

As I dwell in my worries, a cold hand reaches from behind me and taps my shoulder.

I jerk away, fear bubbling in my amygdala as I look into the nonexistent eyes of my intruding visitor.

The moon illuminates a blob of pink squish as it draws back slowly, points its spindly hands towards my drink and asks: “Could I have some of that?”

The blob wipes its invisible mouth with its nonexistent sleeve. I ask: “What are you?”

The blob tells me to stop looking at it so suspiciously. “I can prove it,” It says. I tell it, please, go ahead.

Suddenly we are back in the glowing forest. “Diamonds? Pah!” The blob dismisses them. Instantly, the leaves turn solid gold, the snow melts, and the wintry world is thrown into a blistering summer.

The blob laughs heartlessly. “Your cortex is under my control,” it says smugly.

“I heard you had a question for me?” It taps its invisible ears knowingly.

The blob wriggles its invisible brows as it waits.

It smiles that wicked smile. It laughs that sinful laugh. Then that insufferable blob wakes me up.

As I sit up in the dark and rub my bleary eyes, I am vaguely aware of the deep­set unfulfillment settling itself inside me. I yawn and plop back into bed, the soft red glow of my alarm clock indicating that it is still before midnight.

Why This Essay Works:

One thing is for sure about this essay: it has a unique idea that has surely not been written before. Regardless of your topic, you want your essay to be unique in some way, even if it isn't as fantastical as this essay. You can use a unique structure, such as having central symbolism, metaphor, or being structured as a recipe, for example. But this can easily become "gimmicky" if it doesn't have a clear purpose. In general, the most effective way to have a unique essay is to focus on having deep and unique ideas and reflections. By focusing on interesting takeaways and connections that are ultra-specific to you and your experiences, your essay will standout regardless of the structure.

What They Might Improve:

This essay uses a lot of fiction-like writing that is fantastical and "flowery." Although moments of this kind of writing can make your essay more vivid, it is quite easy to end up with dense storytelling and descriptions that ultimately don't share anything interesting about you. The purpose of your essay is ultimately to learn about you: your values, your ideas, your identity, etc. By using dense story-like writing, it can be easy to lose focus of what admissions officers are looking for. In general, avoid writing "fancy" stories like this essay, unless you have a clear and distinct purpose for doing so. Everything in your essay should have a purpose in "going somewhere" (i.e. reaching interesting ideas and takeaways).

This essay is definitely creative, but lacks meaningful takeaways and ideas. By the end of the essay, we don't know much about the author besides the fact that they have an affinity for creative writing and are "on a search." Although the content is unique, the end result comes off as quite generic and surface-level because no interesting thoughts are explored deeply. The most interesting part of this essay is "I open my mouth and ask it my most crucial question," but this is super unsatisfying because the question is never divulged. Instead, the reader is teased by this fantasy story and the essay goes nowhere meaningful, which comes off as gimmicky and "creative for creative's sake," rather than deeply personal and interesting.

This essay ends on the idea of "continuing my search," but for what exactly? It is never explained, elaborated, or even implied (besides one reference to painting earlier). That makes this conclusion comes off as somewhat surface-level and uninteresting. Admissions officers won't care about "your search" unless they have a reason to care. That is, unless it tells something specific about you. On it's own, this idea of "exploring" and "searching" is meaningless because it is too broad and unelaborated.

#5. Duke Personal Statement Example: "Shadow-Box Stick Art"

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (250-650 words)

This essay shows a strong thinking ability because the author shows how they view the world differently than others. Specifically, the author is able to see something as mundane as fallen branches as an opportunity to create artwork. Showing how you view things differently is a great way to demonstrate your unique perspective. Another strategy is to think deeply about things that are often easily overlooked or things that are mundane on the surface. Everything can be reflected upon deeply, and doing so shows a strong thinking ability and level of thoughtfulness. Ask yourself: what do you see differently than others around you? What do you find fun that others find "hard"? What do you find fascinating that others find "boring"? What is something mundane in your life that you do, and what's the greater meaning behind it?

This essay uses a lot of narrative writing—that is, recounting of a specific story and moment. While most essays use storytelling, what most applicants get wrong is they describe unimportant details to the story. Don't write like a fiction book and describe everything in the scene, like what others were wearing, what people looked like, what the environment was, each small action that took place. This is a common mistake that students make in trying to write compelling stories, but it ends up with a lot of unnecessary details. This author shows how a story can still take up a lot of the essay, while also including interesting reflections throughout the story and making it purposeful by only including details that move the story forward.

This essay has a somewhat unexpected conclusion where the author connects to their significant accomplishment of starting and running a charity. Even though this is such a large and meaningful activity, the author chose to only write about it when it came in naturally and not make it the whole focus of the essay. Counterintuitively, by de-emphasizing your biggest accomplishments, they will seem more impactful and you will seem more ambitious. This is because students often try to showcase their achievements and make them the focal point, but instead if you have the attitude of, "Yeah, this is what I did, but really it is nothing in comparison to what I'm going to do" it makes your accomplishments even more impactful. You don't want to be nonchalant, but you do want to make your accomplishments small in comparison to your future goals and achievements, which will show both humility and ambition.

This essay is almost 100 words less than what is given. In general, you should try and make your essays as close to the word limit as possible. Why? Because you should have a lot to say and it should be a challenge to fit it all into your essay, not the other way around. Especially for personal statement essays, its almost always better to use most of the words. Being within 10-20 words of the limit is usually the target. In this essay, they could include further meaningful details that make their essay more vivid. They could describe what their "stick art" actually looks like, because it is hard for the reader to imagine since it is an obscure type of artwork. They could reflect on the impact of their charity: how many people did it help so far? What are their goals for the future of it? What have been challenges with it? Don't add words just to add words, however. As with everything, each sentence should be meaningful and have a clear purpose, but this essay could definitely use more words.

#6. Duke Personal Statement Example: "Kiki's Delivery Service"

Common App Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (250-650 words)

I spent much of my childhood watching movies. I became absolutely engrossed in many different films, TV shows, and animations. From the movie theatres to the TV, I spent my hours enjoying the beauty of visual media. One place that was special to me was the car. My parents purchased a special screen that could be mounted on the back of the headrest, so that I could watch movies on trips. This benefited both parties, as I was occupied, and they had peace. Looking back, I realize this screen played a crucial role in my childhood. It was an integral part of many journeys. I remember taking a drive to Washington D.C, with my visiting relatives from Poland, and spending my time with my eyes on the screen. I remember packing up my possessions and moving to my current home from Queens, watching my cartoons the whole time. I can comfortably say that watching movies in the car has been an familiar anchor during times of change in my life.

I used to watch many different cartoons, nature documentaries, and other products in the car, yet there has been one movie that I have rewatched constantly. It is called “Kiki’s Delivery Service” by Hayao Miyazaki. My parents picked it up at a garage sale one day, and I fell in love. The style of the animations were beautiful, and the captivating story of a thirteen year old witch leaving home really appealed to me. To be honest, the initial times I watched it, I didn’t fully understand the story but the magic and beauty just made me happy. Then, the more I watched it, I began to see that it was more about independence, including the need to get away from home and establish yourself as your own person. This mirrors how I felt during that period of my life,with mehaving a little rebellious streak; I didn’t agree with my parents on certain topics. That is not the end of the story though. As the years passed, and I watched it a couple more times, although with less frequency than before, my view of this movie evolved yet again.

Instead of solely thinking about the need for independence, I began to think the movie was more about the balance of independence and reliance. In the movie, the girl finds herself struggling until she begins to accept help from others. Looking back, this also follows my own philosophy during this time. As I began to mature, I began to realize the value of family, and accept all the help I can get from them. I appreciate all the hard work they had done for me, and I recognize their experience in life and take advantage of it. I passed through my rebellious phase, and this reflected in my analysis of the movie. I believe that this is common, and if I look through the rest of my life I am sure I would find other similar examples of my thoughts evolving based on the stage in my life. This movie is one of the most important to me throughout my life.

What Can You Learn From These Duke Essays?

If you're trying to get into Duke, writing great essays is one of your best ways at standing out. These 6 Duke essays that worked are successful examples of essays admitted into Duke so that you can get inspired and improve your own essays.

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People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

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Duke medical school secondary essays.

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 4/25/24

Wondering how to write the Duke Medical School secondaries? Follow along for all the Duke med school essay tips and samples you need to get started. 

Secondary essays can seem like a major undertaking, which is why most students find getting started is the hardest part. If this sounds familiar to you, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we discuss everything you need to know about writing memorable supplemental essays for Duke Medical School . 

Even if Duke isn’t one of your target medical schools, our expert tips can still help you to write stellar essays for any med school you apply to. Stick around to find out how to write the Duke Med School supplemental essays including tips, samples, and more.

Let’s get started!

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Duke Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts & Tips

The Duke supplemental application is notorious for being extraordinarily long. There are nine essay prompts in total to get through, although not all of them are mandatory for submission. Nevertheless, you should get started on your supplemental essays as soon as you can to ensure you have enough time to write thoughtfully and review thoroughly. 

The Duke Medical School secondary essay prompts are the following:

Essay Prompt 1: Advocacy ‍

Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)

Essay Prompt 2: Coping with Disappointment ‍

Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)

Essay Prompt 3: Value Systems

Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your values to interact with people from different backgrounds. How did those values impact the relationship? (400 words)

Essay Prompt 4: Leadership

Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)

Essay Prompt 5 : Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)

Essay Prompt 6 : Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes

Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Describe your experience and reflection with race and its relationship to disparities in health, health care and society. Consider the values of justice, diversity, inclusion and equity (400 words)

Essay Prompt 7: COVID-19 Implications

How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)

Essay Prompt 8: Tell Us Who You Are

Tell us more about who you are. This is your opportunity to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

Essay Prompt 9 (Optional): Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation

Use the text box below to provide additional information on how these parameters have/will influence you. (Optional, 200 words)

Essay 10 (Optional): Additional Information

Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application.

As you can see, the final prompt is optional. For more information on the Duke medical school application process, take a look at our complete guide on how to get into Duke medical school . There we discuss how to apply, application material requirements, and much more.

Duke Medical School Secondary Essay Tips 

Now that we’ve gone over the supplemental essay prompts, let’s go over some tips on how to answer each one. 

Tip #1: Choose an Appropriate Story

The Duke supplemental essays provide an opportunity for you to highlight what makes you a uniquely qualified med school candidate and, one day, an excellent doctor. However, demonstrating your soft skills can be challenging without sounding like you're bragging. That’s why it’s important to use anecdotal evidence to back up your claim.

For example, the “Leadership” essay asks you about your values as a leader and a team player. In this essay and others that ask you about a specific personality trait (coping skills, advocacy, critical thinking and value systems) you should select a compelling story from your past in which you demonstrated that skill. 

You can also select a story about how you developed that skill. Nobody gets everything right on their first try! Talking about a time you failed and learned from it is an excellent way to show humility, self awareness, and tie in the key trait in the essay prompt. Specifically, this is an excellent format for the “Coping with Disappointment” essay.

Tip #2: Stay Up to Date on Current Events 

Keeping up with current events in the medical field is an important part of the application process, especially when it comes to the “Covid-19” essay and the “Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes” essay . Both of these essays ask you to provide your views on healthcare and society. When formulating your answers, make sure to support your ideas!

You should always be “in the know” so that you can formulate an opinion based on medical reasoning, and you won’t be caught off guard. This is especially important in your interviews, and may come up later on throughout your career. A good doctor is able to remove themselves from the equation and consider the bigger picture. 

That said, both the “Covid-19” prompt and the “Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes” prompt ask you to outline your personal experiences in relation to the future of healthcare. So, you should be able to support your opinion with a personal experience as well. 

The strongest essay in this case is one that is able to tie in both personal and professional reasoning to ultimately present a solid case to back the main message of your writing. For example , “in my personal life I noticed Covid was having a negative impact on X. I did research and noticed more issues with X, so, as a future healthcare provider I want to improve X.”

Tip #3: Consider the Structure of Your Essay

When writing your essay, something you may find helpful is to go back to the basics. In a traditional essay, the intro sets up the rest of the story by piquing our interest and setting the scene. The body paragraph(s) explain important details about the story, and present the ‘problem’ of your essay. 

Next, the climax shocks you with the most interesting, key turn of events in the story. Finally, the conclusion sums up what you took away from the experience and conveys a message. Following this structure, no matter which prompt you’re writing, will help you to craft an interesting story that keeps the reader engaged the entire time.

Tip #4: Research Your School

One of the best things you can do to strengthen your essays is to do a ton of school research, especially when writing the “Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes” essay, and the “Value Systems” essay. Take a look at everything Duke has to offer. What attracts you to the school? What specific pieces of Duke’s history and values do you find inspiring?

Remember, you’ll be competing with some top-tier talent. Knowing exactly what you can get out of Duke will help admissions committees to see that you’ll not only be a great student, but you’re a perfect fit for this school specifically. This is also why, although not always necessary, you should edit your essays and adjust them for each school you apply to. 

Tip #5: Be Authentic and Don’t Repeat Yourself

When it comes to writing supplemental essays, one of the most crucial things you need to remember is that Duke wants to get to know you. Avoid trying hard to tell a university what you think they want to hear, as it can come off as ingenuine and is often more obvious than you may think. Write with your own voice, not someone else's! 

At the same time, you should also avoid repetition. It can be tempting to talk about the amazing awards you’ve won, but if they’re already on your application - don’t worry. They saw it! Your essays are the place to provide insight on who you are as a person. In short, be genuine, write in your own voice, and don’t repeat your resume. 

Tip #6: Only Write the Optional Essays if They Apply to You

The first Duke Medical School optional secondary is quite specific. It asks you to provide information on how your race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, or other unique advantages/disadvantages have influenced you and will continue to in the future. If this prompt does not apply to you, it’s better to not write it. 

Remember, the admissions committee wants you to be authentic. Do not go out of your way to search for a disadvantage to write about! If this prompt does apply to you, use this time to not only explain how your unique experience has been challenging for you, but talk about how you intend to pave the way for others like you in the future through the medical field. 

The same logic applied to the second optional essay. You should only write it if there’s a gap on your resume or something specific you want to explain.

Tip #7: Revise, Revise, Revise!

As always, revise your essays! Have a teacher, mentor, coach, friend, or guardian look over them before you send them in. There’s a lot of written work to submit, which means there’s a lot of room for error. Don’t let a simple grammar mistake put a stain on your hard work!

Now that we’ve gone over the Duke essay prompts and our expert tips, let’s dive into some examples! Here are some Duke med school essay examples that worked. 

Sample Essay #1: Coping with Disappointment (400 words)

“As a student with dyslexia, I have faced my fair share of academic setbacks and disappointments. Dyslexia has presented me with unique challenges in my academic journey, from struggling to read quickly to misinterpreting written instructions. However, I have learned that it is not my dyslexia that defines me, but rather how I choose to cope with it.

One of the ways I have coped with disappointment is by developing a growth mindset. I have learned to approach setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement, rather than as evidence of my limitations. For example, when I struggled to keep up with my reading assignments, I worked with my academic advisor to identify strategies for improving my reading speed and comprehension. By doing so, I was able to improve my grades and eventually develop a greater sense of confidence in my abilities.

Another way I have learned to work through my dyslexia is by seeking support from my community. I’m excited to take advantage of the wealth of resources at Duke University, such as the Disability Management System to the Office of Access and Outreach. Additionally, I have connected with other students with dyslexia through organizations like the Learning Disability Association, which has provided me with a sense of community and shared experience.

Finally, I have coped with disappointment by maintaining a sense of perspective. While my dyslexia may present me with unique challenges, it is important to remember that it does not define me as a person or as a potential medical student. By focusing on my strengths and working to develop strategies to overcome my weaknesses, I have been able to maintain a sense of optimism and resilience even in the face of setbacks. 

Overall, coping with disappointment as a student with dyslexia is an essential skill for any aspiring medical student. By developing a growth mindset, seeking support from the community, and maintaining a sense of perspective, I am confident that I can overcome any academic challenge and achieve my goal of attending Duke Medical School. While dyslexia may present me with unique challenges, I have learned that it is not a barrier to success, but rather an opportunity to develop resilience and perseverance.”

Why this essay works:

This essay is successful because the writer comes from a perspective of growth when talking about their dyslexia. The main point to focus on when writing this essay is how you work through issues, not the issue itself. The writer also shows that they’ve done research on Duke Medical School by incorporating programs they found and resources they intend to use.

Sample Essay #2: Value Systems

“As an international student studying in the US, I have had several opportunities to interact with people from different backgrounds. One particular situation that stands out to me happened during a group project in my communications class. Our team consisted of students from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and we were tasked with creating a presentation on a topic related to cultural diversity.

Throughout the project, I found myself struggling to connect with some of my teammates. We had different perspectives on the topic and often disagreed on how to approach the project. However, I was determined to maintain a positive and respectful relationship with all of my teammates, despite our differences.

To achieve this, I relied on my core values of empathy, open-mindedness, and respect for diversity. I made a conscious effort to listen carefully to my teammates' perspectives, even when I disagreed with them. I tried to put myself in their shoes and understand how their cultural backgrounds may have influenced their opinions.

Additionally, I remained open-minded to new ideas and approaches. Rather than dismissing my teammates' ideas outright, I asked questions and tried to understand their reasoning. I was also willing to compromise and adapt my own ideas to fit the needs and perspectives of the group.

Finally, I maintained a strong commitment to respecting diversity in all its forms. I recognized that our team's diversity was one of our greatest strengths, and I encouraged my teammates to share their unique perspectives and experiences. I also made a conscious effort to avoid making assumptions or judgments based on cultural stereotypes.

Overall, my values of empathy, open-mindedness, and respect for diversity helped me to build positive and productive relationships with my teammates, despite our differences. By actively listening, remaining open-minded, and respecting diversity, I was able to contribute to a successful group project and develop meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds.”

This essay is short and sweet and focuses on how the student was able to overcome their differences with teammates to complete a group project. They highlight soft skills like empathy, open-mindedness, and respect for diverse perspectives. When it comes to writing this essay, its best to keep it light and not delve too heavily into the issue at hand. 

Sample Essay #3: COVID-19 Implications

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the world, and my journey to medical school has not been immune to its effects. As I reflect on the past year and a half, I can see how these events have changed my outlook on medicine's role in society and reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in healthcare.

Firstly, the pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of healthcare workers and the need for a strong and resilient healthcare system. As I watched frontline workers selflessly put their own health at risk to care for others, I was struck by the incredible dedication and compassion that defines the medical profession. The pandemic has shown me that medicine is not just a job or a career path, but a calling to serve others and make a positive impact on the world.

Additionally, the pandemic has emphasized the need for innovation and adaptation in the healthcare field. The development of vaccines and new treatments in record time was a testament to the power of human ingenuity and collaboration. As a prospective medical student, I am excited to be entering a field that is constantly evolving and adapting to meet new challenges.

On a more personal level, the pandemic has also impacted my journey to medical school in practical ways. Virtual learning and remote coursework have presented unique challenges and forced me to adapt to new modes of learning. However, I have also found opportunities for growth and development in these new learning environments, such as developing stronger self-motivation and time-management skills.

The pandemic has also impacted my ability to participate in clinical experiences and volunteer opportunities. However, I have remained committed to finding ways to contribute to my community, such as volunteering at vaccine clinics and tutoring students remotely.

Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced my belief in the importance of medicine and the critical role of healthcare workers in society. It has also presented challenges and opportunities for growth in my journey to medical school. I am more determined than ever to pursue a career in healthcare and to make a positive impact on the world through medicine.”

The writer highlights several issues with the healthcare system they realized throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. They also highlight the importance of the healthcare system and reinstate their passion for medicine toward the end. The best way to end this type of essay is by explaining how the pandemic has affected your desire to pursue medicine.

FAQs: Duke Med School Secondary Essays

Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Duke Medical School secondary essays

1. How Many Secondary Essays Do You Need for Duke Medical School?

The Duke Medical School secondary application is notoriously long, and has sometimes up to 10 secondary essay prompts with two being optional. The exact number of secondary essay prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle has not yet been released. 

2. Does Duke Screen Before Secondaries?

According to the AAMC , Duke does not screen before sending secondary applications. Many students choose not to complete the Duke med school secondary application due to its length. However, the school is still highly competitive. 

3. How Do You Answer Duke Medical School Secondaries?

When it comes to writing memorable Duke med essays, there is no one size fits all approach. However, you’re sure to make a good impression if you keep these tips in mind:

• Choose appropriate stories that highlight your unique qualities
• Stay up to date on current events 
• Structure of your essay properly to keep your reader interested
• Research your school
• Be authentic and don’t repeat yourself
• Only write the optional essays if they apply to you
• Revise, and then revise again!

If you’re concerned about the strength of your application, consider hiring an experienced medical school admissions coach to help you craft a successful application from start to finish.

Final Thoughts

Writing the Duke Medical School secondaries is a lot of work, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to stand out from the crowd! In fact, because the secondary application to Duke is longer than average, many students don’t end up moving forward with their application. So, technically, even by finishing it you already have a leg up!

Of course, this is no excuse to slack off. Duke Medical School is highly competitive and well known across the country. Your essays should reflect what makes you uniquely qualified to study at Duke, highlight your soft skills, and contain compelling, memorable stories. By following our expert tips, you’re sure to have a much better chance of gaining acceptance to Duke Medical School. 

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• 2024 Medical School Secondary Essays Examples

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Our team of physician and medical student editors had the pleasure of helping students craft the following medical school secondary essays. 

“Why This School” Essay

Adversity essay, diversity essay, “how will you contribute to our school” essay, “future goals” essay, “academic lapses or breaks” essay, “why d.o.” essay, why are secondaries important, tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the wake forest school of medicine..

The ending of the motto of the Moravian church, which has a strong historical connection with Winston-Salem, is “…in all things, love.” This concluding statement is an apt description of how I attempt to live my life. Wake Forest upholds such values of inclusion and love through the Lovefest tradition and programs such as the student-run DEAC Clinic. After working at free clinics in rural areas, I am committed to becoming a physician that will promote systems of care in the community. With my exposure to rural primary care, I want to use the Rural/Underserved Health experience offered to Wake Forest students through the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians to further my understanding and training in this career path. Furthermore, as an extension of working in primary care, I am interested in being a geriatrician. Wake Forest, as one of the best geriatric hospitals in the country, has a curriculum that aligns with my interests. I am confident that through research, service, and patient care, Wake Forest will shape me into a leader of rural health care for the geriatric community.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Wake Forest School of Medicine | Class of 2024

More Examples and Writing Tips for a Convincing  Medical School “Why Us” Essay | Click Here

Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience.

One personal adversity I have overcome is my lack of self-confidence. I was always a quiet child who grew up with two older sisters doing most of the talking. As I aged, I came out my shell to an extent and became more outgoing. I have always struggled in one particular area: public speaking. My passion for medicine grew early as I observed my eldest sister work alongside physicians during her nursing training. However, my shy nature led me to select pre-nursing as my major, since nursing does not require the ability to speak publicly like being a physician often does. I did not truly consider a career as a doctor until my anatomy and physiology professor suggested I do so after recognizing my drive, aptitude, and passion. Even so, it took introspection and time to recognize that I held the potential to become a successful physician.

Over my undergraduate career, I have participated in many group presentations during classes without the benefit of being taught how to successfully prepare. On every occasion, I would become so nervous that I was unable to sleep the entire night prior. By the time I presented, I would be so distracted that I could not think straight, let alone get my point across clearly. This went on until I had the opportunity to participate in a class called Peer Instruction in Laboratory Occupational Training (PILOT), which was an extension of a class that I had succeeded in, Quantitative Biological Methods.

PILOT was designed to expose students to research articles and assist with laboratory techniques and homework. A large part of the grade for the class consisted of teaching a laboratory section of around 40 students for 15 minutes. I almost opted out of the class because of this requirement, but ultimately decided it was a great opportunity to work through my personal fear of public speaking and build my self-confidence.

I set a schedule six weeks ahead of the presentation to begin preparing. A few helpful peers offered advice, telling me that knowing what I wanted to say verbatim was a good way to improve confidence. Thus, I practiced daily until three weeks before the class. I found another tip online: practicing in the actual location of the presentation can help reduce nerves. Subsequently, I approached one of my laboratory teaching assistants and asked if he would let me practice in the laboratory. He was an excellent teaching assistant and took the time to watch me practice and provide feedback.

Ultimately, I felt that I was able to present eloquently and received an excellent grade. Life is full of challenges, and I learned that preparation is key to success. I planned and prepared early, pulled from available resources, and implemented advice from faculty and peers. This experience taught me that I do have the aptitude, strength, and drive to succeed in medical school and overcome any obstacle that I might face. I am eager to embrace more personal growth and realize my full potential as I continue on to medical school.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024

More Examples and The 6 Steps for Writing the Medical School Adversity Essay | Click Here

“Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine?” If yes, briefly explain why.

I am a Muslim, Saudi woman, but I am not the preconceived notions of being close minded, uncultured, or oppressed. I’m a passionate helper, an open-minded extrovert, and a curious explorer of the world. 

Though I grew up attending a school that taught me to be a leader and encouraged competition, and though travelling the world allowed me to explore new cultures, homogeneity was the ‘norm’ everywhere I went until I attended school in the US. George C. Marshall High School showed me how enriching diversity is. There, in a mixture of backgrounds and ethnicities, I was an ‘other’ among many ‘others’. The following year in Nebraska was different, and I experienced the damage of prejudice when I was the only ‘other’. My experiences drove me to work to bring different people together to give back. Years later, at NYU, this personal passion pushed me to create a volunteer tutoring nonprofit organization. 

I believe the ‘other’ in me, with the uncommon background, the unique experiences, and the interesting perspectives, will contribute to the diversity of the student body at Tufts.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Class of 2024

Click here for More Examples and Steps on How to Write an Effective Medical School Diversity Essay

Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your worldview and relate how you would enrich the VTC community.

From my academic and work experiences, I have frequently worked with people who are different from myself. Working with students and professors from different backgrounds through college helped me appreciate different viewpoints, especially during my bioethics training.  Listening to my classmate, who was a Catholic hospice nurse, explain her differing stance on end-of-life care showed me to appreciate the legitimacy of different opinions. Likewise, I learned from sociology graduate students about the issue of the medicalization of mental illness, which I had not had to consider prior to speaking and working with them. These experiences will help me contribute to the community by enabling me to approach problems from multiple lenses and to listen to and value the input of experts in different fields.

My experiences engaging with different individuals will help me to enrich the community at Virginia Tech. As a tutor, I have been able to work with students of different ages and backgrounds with unique learning goals. For example, my student, Danny, was an adult student taking classes at a community college and had failed his statistics course three times before meeting with me. Even though I had excelled in math classes during school, I was able to listen to his frustrations and identify different ways to help him learn the content and be able to apply it for quizzes and exams. I helped him navigate through the material, and he ended up passing the course comfortably. By working with a wide variety of students like Danny, I have been able to understand the importance of listening actively to individuals’ struggles and unique experiences to learn about how to best help them and I am excited to apply this skill to help future individuals.

In addition to my experiences tutoring, I have been able to interact with individuals different from myself through volunteering. For example, at Judson Park, I volunteered by helping one resident, Ron, participate in art therapy. Ron had suffered two prior strokes and was wheelchair-bound and hemiplegic. I was able to help bring him down to the art room and organize supplies for him. Ron was unique in his needs, which was why he required individualized care to be able to participate in the art therapy. He also struggled with communicating verbally due to deficits from his prior strokes. I adapted by patiently waiting for him to respond at his own pace and looking for body language cues for what he needed at the moment. He was able to make incredible art creations, showing me the resilience of differently abled individuals.

These experiences have shown me the importance of valuing everyone’s unique perspectives and utilizing that consideration and compassion to help others. I can enrich the VTC community by providing this diverse perspective to help my peers and ultimately serve the greater community as a physician.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: University of Virginia School of Medicine | Class of 2024

Need help writing your secondary essays?

After residency, describe the community in which you see yourself practicing medicine.

Currently, I can see myself practicing medicine in a variety of clinical settings: a private specialty care system, a nonprofit medical facility, individual practice, or a different setting. I am open to all of the new experiences that medical school will bring, including exposure to a variety of clinical settings.

I have worked as a medical scribe at the largest non-profit health care provider in Seattle and have also volunteered for a private specialty hospital. Both of these experiences have exposed me to a different type of medical practice, and I have enjoyed both although in different ways. I loved the diversity of patients I encountered at the nonprofit and enjoyed experiencing different clinic visits whether for constipation or throat pain. At the specialty hospital, I was able to encounter unique and rare medical cases that I’ve only read about in books such as spina bifida or hydrocephalus. I was also able to witness the very specialized and personalized care. I am excited to explore the various clinical setting options in medical school and residency, and figure out which environment best suits my strengths and interests!

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Stanford School of Medicine | Class of 2024

Use this space if you’d like to address any identified deficiencies in your application.

When I suddenly lost my father to pancreatic cancer shortly before starting college, I was confused and frustrated about my loss. Although I had dreamt of becoming a doctor since I was a little girl, I was newly unsure of whether medicine was right for me. Because I lacked a tangible goal and motivation, my studies and grades suffered during my first years of college. However, once I began volunteering at the Children’s Hospital during my sophomore year, I developed a renewed sense of appreciation and passion for medicine. I started to care a lot more about school and enjoyed learning again. I began working extremely hard in my classes, and slowly but surely, my GPA rose.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine   | Class of 2024

How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine?

My professional ambitions have always aligned with a medical career, ever since I observed my childhood hero and oldest sister, Brittany, work alongside physicians as a registered nurse. At the time, I was only eight years old and not yet privy to the nuances of allopathic versus osteopathic medicine.

Throughout my experiences with the medical profession as a patient and mother, I have found myself disappointed with some of the allopathic medical treatments. I have myself been treated pharmaceutically with medications and became non-compliant with my treatment due to side effects. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with herpetic neuralgia. My neurologist prescription Neurontin, which helped with the symptoms but left me in a fog. I found myself questioning whether there could be a better method.

As an undergraduate student, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to a presentation by a doctor of osteopathy from Lake Eerie College of Medicine in Bradenton, FL. The speaker discussed osteopathic medicine, its principles, and manipulative medicine (OMM). He talked about a time when he bumped into an old friend who had been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. His friend’s condition was so severe that he needed a cane to ambulate independently. The D.O. performed OMM for his friend and provided him with a set of exercises to perform daily at home. Ultimately, the friend did not require the surgery his allopathic physician had recommended.

After listening to his presentation, I felt as though I had a breakthrough. I realized that I wholeheartedly supported these principles as the better solution that I had been looking for. With osteopathic medicine, I could practice medicine in a traditional manner while wielding a valuable skill set that could spare patients from invasive surgeries and pharmaceutical therapeutics causing undesired side effects.

Furthermore, while studying for the MCAT a year ago, I developed a constant waxing and waning neck pain that would radiate to my right shoulder and down my arm. This worsened over a period of four weeks, and I took increasing amounts of ibuprofen to calm the symptoms. A good friend of mine is a physical therapist who manipulated my spine and sent me home with instructions for an exercise plan. She also taught me how to self-evaluate my posture, which has been valuable in preventing additional episodes. I was incredibly impressed with the outcome of the treatment that used my own body and its muscles to treat the pain without using pharmaceuticals or leaving me with residual deficits. As such, my personal trust in natural treatments has emphasized to me that osteopathic medicine is the path I am meant to follow. 

The more I learn about osteopathic medicine, the more excited I am to incorporate its principles into my future practice. I am thrilled to learn and practice medicine with a holistic approach to evaluate and treat patients. As a healthcare partner to my future patients, I feel inspired to encourage the implementation of prevention, maintenance, and natural remedies into their treatment plans.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine   | Class of 2024

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Duke School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for Duke University School of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page .

About duke university school of medicine

Secondary Deadline : November 15, 2023 Secondary Fee : $100 FAP Waiver : Full Fee Waived CASPer Required : No Screens Applications:  No Accepts Application Updates:  Yes

Advocacy Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)

Coping with Disappointment Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)

Value Systems Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your values to interact with people from different backgrounds. How did those values impact the relationship? (400 words)

Leadership Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)

Critical Thinking Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)

Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Describe your experience and reflection with race and its relationship to disparities in health, health care and society. Consider the values of justice, diversity, inclusion and equity (400 words)

COVID-19 Implications How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)

Tell Us Who You Are Tell us more about who you are. This is your opportunity to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation Use the text box below to provide additional information on how these parameters have/will influence you.(Optional, 200 words)

For PCLT (Primary Care Leadership Track) applicants:

Community Engagement PCLT values community engagement. What is your understanding of community engagement and its value? How does community-engagement impact either research or working in a community to improve health outcomes? (250 words)

Why PCLT What distinguishes you from other applicants to the PCLT program? (250 words)

1.Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

2.Optional stuff on gender, sexuality, race, etc.

If one of the above identities do not best describe you, then what identity do you feel most comfortable with?(optional) I self-identify as… (50 words)

3.In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (optional) (200 words)

4.Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)

5.Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (400 words)

6.What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (400 words)

7.Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (400 words)

8.Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience either enhances or perfects critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is research or critical thinking important to your future career? (400 words)

9.Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care? (400 words)

10.How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)

1. Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. 500 words

Choose 1-3 components of this prompt (self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics) which are particularly unique for you and help define you as a person. Brainstorm how these unique traits affect your personal values and influence your desire to be a physician. One component of this question which is crucial to answer is how will these traits help you interface with similar and dissimilar people. Answer this specifically. It may be helpful to use examples of each during which you have been successful in the past, or times that you have been unsuccessful and learned a lesson.

2. (Optional) In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. 200 words

This question is difficult to answer without overlap with question #1 above. One way to do this would be to answer in #1 how these traits inform your ability to interact with diverse people such as patients and colleagues. On the flip side, you can answer in #2 how your personal values or defining characteristics influence your overall desire to become a physician and your goals within the medical world.

3. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 500 words

To answer this question, first describe your background and living environment. Paint a picture of the people and circumstances surrounding you in your youth, perhaps with an anecdote. Then choose 1-2 key values which were influential to you and help inform your desire to be a doctor. Consider the following core values: togetherness and family connection, compassion for those in need, interpersonal connection, hard work, discipline, altruism, curiosity and passion for learning. The last component which may be the hardest to answer is what to improve about the environment. Try to think of a shortcoming of your environment which did not allow you or those around you to grow and flourish as you might in another scenario. How might one correct this If you are able to identify a possible improvement, you can transform this answer into a positive one.

4. Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 500 words

Duke demonstrates with this question that they really value diversity and being a champion for diverse and underrepresented populations. Think back to an experience which may fit this scenario. Perhaps you worked with homeless or underpriveleged communities and have a clear answer. If not, you may have to be more creative. Was there a time during which you had to stand up for someone whom you might not otherwise interact with? Use this anecdote to discuss the physician role as educator and advocate for the patient. This is a large responsibility for a doctor, to use their knowledge and resources to empower their patients and help them better themselves.

5. What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 500 words

Brainstorm experiences or accomplishments which were particularly formative. Think of a scenario in which you overcame particular adversity. Tie the experience to what lesson it taught you and how it made you encounter your own limitations, and was thereby humbling. Then focus on what skill or trait you gained that made you a stronger person. Be humble; do not emphasize our tout your personal excellence but rather show your introspection and personal growth.

6. Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 500 words

Choose an experience during which you worked hard and strived for greatness but did not achieve the outcome you desired. Focus on an experience that can demonstrate a learning experience or growth as a person. Make sure this does not overlap with #5 above.

7. Critical thinking involves many aspects including curiosity, comprehension, application and analysis. Describe a time when you have utilized critical thinking. How do you anticipate critical thinking being used as part of your career? 400 words

Strong answers to this question may include experiences in the following categories:

• Working with a team on a project which required collaboration, and finding a way to bridge the gap between different opinions on how to solve a problem
• A unique idea or method to study and answer a research question in your lab or clinical research
• Crafting a solution to a problem or improving on existing system that are in place in a previous job, student organization, etc. This would be analogous to the concept of quality improvement which is very important in medicine

Connect an experience in this category to a skill it helped you develop which will allow critical thinking as a physician, which is important for team collaboration, research, quality improvement (all fields similar to the experiences listed above).

8. Many view medical care as an undeniable right. What responsibility does the medical profession have in taking care of all persons? 400 words

Medicine is a unique field in that we strive to care for any and all persons in need, regardless of any ethnic, educational, or socioeconomic factor. This is something all physicians should likely at least believe in principle, so try to coincide with this opinion in your answer. Relevant economic and philosophy concepts to look into to craft your answer might include social justice and resource allocation. Focus on benefiting patients and providing to those in need.

9. (Optional) Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Answer this question as appropriate with a unique paragraph that does not repeat any of your prior answers.

1. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 600 words

2. Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 600 words

3. What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 600 words

4. What qualities will you bring to the practice of medicine? 600 words

5. Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 600 words

6. What role has research had in your preparation for medicine? 250 words

1. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? (600 words)

2. Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (600 words)

3. What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (600 words)

4. Describe an experience when you were confronted with an individual or group whose values differ from yours? How did you resolve the conflict/ challenge? Describe at least one outcome that the experience created.

5. Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. (600 words)

Additional prompts for those pursuing the Primary Care Leadership Track: 6. Describe a successful leader. What type of leadership skills do you want to cultivate in your training experience and how do you envision doing that? 250 words

7. Have you engaged with community in the past? How do you hope to understand and impact communities in the future? 250 words

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.

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How to Write the Duke University Essays 2023-2024

Duke is consistently ranked within the top 10 colleges in the country, making it an incredibly selective school. With tens of thousands of applicants vying for a spot to be a Blue Devil, each and every aspect of your application will have to be unique and impressive—especially your essays.

For the 2023-2024 application cycle, Duke is requiring all students to answer one prompt and then they have the choice to answer up to two additional prompts. For students planning on studying abroad at Duke Kunshan or taking a gap year, there are additional prompts as well. In this post, we will go over all of the Duke prompts and breakdown how to write the essays so you can maximize your chances of admission to Duke.

Read these Duke essay examples to inspire your writing.

Duke University Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1 (required): What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 words)

Prompt 2 (optional): We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. Feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application. Five optional questions are available – a maximum of 2 can be selected. (250 words for all)

• Option 1: We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.
• Option 2: Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating.
• Option 3: We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?
• Option 4: We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.
• Option 5: Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.

Duke Kunshan Applicants

Why do you think duke kunshan university is a good match for you and what special qualities do you feel you could bring to duke kunshan university (200 words), gap year prompt, please describe your gap year plans as you currently are considering them. you are not making a commitment to these plans. (250 words), all applicants—prompt 1, what is your sense of duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you if there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 words)..

Every student applying to Duke will be submitting this “ Why This College? ” essay, so you really need to make yours stand out. Before we talk about what you should do, let’s cover common mistakes to avoid so your essay isn’t generic.

Don’t talk about factors outside of the school’s control like the location, weather, or surrounding city. You might be attracted to Duke because you want to go to a school in the South, but there are hundreds of other schools nearby. This doesn’t tell us anything about Duke in particular.

Don’t make emotional appeals like “ It feels like home ” or “ The campus is so beautiful ”. Contrary to popular belief, statements like these don’t flatter admissions officers because they read them so frequently. Saying something like this is too vague and your limited space would be better served describing resources that make you feel connected to the school.

Don’t regurgitate fun facts and statistics from a campus tour, brochure, or website. Duke doesn’t need to be told how many Nobel prize winners or cabinet secretaries attended, nor do they need to be told about the infamous Duke vs UNC game. Admissions officers especially don’t care about the student-to-faculty ratio or class sizes. Listing these as reasons for attending signals to the admissions committee you didn’t research specific offerings at the school and you might not be as dedicated.

Don’t talk badly about the school. This one should be pretty self-explanatory, but when they ask about your sense of Duke, don’t call it stuffy and pretentious! You are trying to prove your love and devotion to the school, so if you have a negative impression, maybe reconsider why you are applying.

Don’t list out a dozen reasons why you want to go to Duke. We recommend including specific offerings and resources at Duke that excite you, but it’s all about quality over quantity. Spend time explaining why each reason resonates with you or what you hope to get out of the resource or experience. If that means you only have space to include three or four, then that’s okay!

Now that you know what not to do, we’ll share some tips on what you should do in your essay to make it stand out.

Make it personal . Like any other college essay, you need to share information about yourself and your interests to demonstrate to the admissions committee why you belong at Duke. Include anecdotes or details about your experiences to highlight your personal connection to the offerings at Duke.

Include specific resources and opportunities you want to take advantage of. The prompt makes it seem like it is more optional to include offerings that speak to you, but we strongly urge you to include them! Not only does including specific offerings demonstrate the research you’ve done, it also allows you to talk more about your interests and goals through the resources you are attracted to.

Balance academic and extracurricular reasons for wanting to attend. In order to show the admissions committee you are well-rounded, you’ll need to discuss both academic and extracurricular offerings that excite you. Your extracurriculars could be related to the academic topic you’re studying, but make sure to include clubs or communities you want to join so Duke knows you will be active both in class and out.

Draw parallels between yourself and Duke to emphasize why it’s a good fit for you. This might be a little harder to conceptualize and implement in your essay, but you could go about this by finding a club on campus that aligns with one of your extracurriculars, a professor who conducts research on a topic you want to learn more about, or values the school exemplifies that you prioritize.

Have a strong narrative that still reads like a story. Just because this essay might not be as creative or story-based as other college essays doesn’t mean it can’t have a narrative style. Make sure you have an exciting hook at the beginning and a conclusion that ties everything together.

Have some fun! Your essay should still have a voice that is uniquely yours, so if that means you like to use humor, go for it. Also, you can mention fun aspects of the college experience at Duke—basketball is a huge part of the Duke experience. Just be sure that you frame it as an additional bonus of attending Duke and not the primary reason for choosing the school.

Putting all of that together, take a look at what a sample student might write:

“You’d be surprised by the power 1080px by 1920px can wield. Within those 3×6 inches, violence has been incited, hate crimes have been encouraged, and a democracy was nearly toppled. Behold, the 21st century’s mega-weapon: Instagram stories.

Media and politics are intrinsically linked, especially in the USA. My generation is faced with the burden of freeing democracy from the tight grip of the Instagram story, Twitter thread, and Facebook group. Luckily, with Duke’s commitment to forging positive change, I won’t have to go at it alone. At the Sanford School of Public Policy, I’ll join a community of people dedicated to saving our democracy. 

Through the Dewitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy, I’ll delve into the complicated relationship between media and politics to better equip myself to one day shape federal policy surrounding media practices. Courses like Can Journalism Save Democracy? and Intro to Digital Culture: Media Theory, Politics, and Aesthetics signal that I’ll find a community of students and faculty equally passionate about this field. By my junior year, I’ll take the knowledge I’ve gathered in class and apply it on the Hill with Duke in DC.

Duke is a place where I’ll learn how to fight most effectively for media that promotes healthy political discourse. In between my Instagram stories of the blue devils crushing UNC and the picturesque Chapel, expect many posts on the latest article from the Sanford Journal of Public Policy, announcements for upcoming guest speakers, and information on how to protect American democracy.”

All Applicants—Prompt 2 (Optional)

We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application. five optional questions are available – a maximum of 2 can be selected..

Before getting started with the optional prompts, be sure to carefully read the instructions. You can respond to none of these, one prompt, or a maximum of two prompts.

While it may be tempting to only complete the one required essay, we always recommend completing all the prompts available to you, as it only gives you another chance to make a lasting impression on your application. It also shows admissions counselors that you are truly invested in Duke, and may even be the deciding factor of your application.

Since these prompts are optional though, you want to take special care to not repeat anything in your application, especially since Duke said so themselves. For example, if you already talked about Model UN in your Common App essay, there’s no need to write another essay about it. If only one of the optional prompts speaks to you, that’s fine as well. 

All Applicants—Prompt 2, Option 1

We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community. (250 words).

This is one instance of the very common diversity prompt . When colleges have a diversity prompt, they want to know about your own personal background and how it has influenced your worldview and perspectives.

A quick note if you intend to write about your racial background: In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court  struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background has impacted you significantly, this is the place to discuss that.

In general, such a common prompt can be approached with a traditional answer. You might consider answering this prompt with what you think is the most important part of your identity, then a small discussion about how that aspect of diversity is relevant to you and your general life experiences.

Such a response might be written about one of the following scenarios:

• Using your fluency in another language to help members of a specific community.
• Interpreting a text in class differently from your classmates because of your ethnic culture.
• Having a friend of a different background who has changed your perspective on something important.
• Having an illness or disability that helps you view accessibility through a different lens than your peers.
• Being part of a niche interest group/fandom and trying to represent the group faithfully when talking to people who aren’t members of it.

Simply listing things that generate diversity should be avoided. Sure, diversity includes different ethnicities/races, gender identities, sexual orientations, countries of origin, and languages, but writing that laundry list out doesn’t contribute much to your application.

Also, bear in mind that the traditional markers of diversity aren’t the only ones you can discuss. There are other aspects of identity that contribute to a diverse campus, including socioeconomic classes, hometowns, illnesses/disabilities, and even interests or hobbies.

Diversity encompasses all the aforementioned attributes, but you should strive for individuality and specificity in your response. This prompt, like all the others, is an opportunity to showcase your unique life perspective. You don’t want to waste this opportunity by writing down some bland dictionary definitions. Think of what diversity means to you and what you consider to be a particularly significant aspect of diversity. From there, think of personal anecdotes or stories about how that aspect of diversity has contributed to your growth or development as a person.

All Applicants—Prompt 2, Option 2

Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating. (250 words).

For this prompt, Duke is looking to hear about your intellectual interests and your approach to learning. You could choose anything; for example, a particular class you took that sparked your interest in a topic, an individual research project you conducted, a book you read that made a strong impression, or an experiment you performed in a science class.

The key for this essay is to really highlight your passion for learning, and the way to accomplish that is to tell the reader everything about the experience so they feel like they are living it besides you. The phrase “ show, don’t tell ” is thrown around a lot when it comes to college essays—this essay will be no exception.

But what does it mean to successfully show your intellectual experience? Let’s dissect an example.

“Debates were my favorite part of my AP US History class. At the end of every unit, each person in the class would be assigned a historical figure and we would debate a prevalent issue for the period. The best one, hands down, was the debate about the ratification of the Constitution. Representing James Madison, I advocated for a separation of powers. I also pushed for the inclusion of unalienable rights. The fast-paced environment of kids in my class engaging in productive debate was so exciting to see.”

While the excerpt above does technically check the box of describing an intellectual experience this student enjoyed, this is far from what you should submit if you want to be a competitive applicant. How can we make this better? Starting with the hook, never restate the prompt. The first line of your essay shouldn’t be used to tell us what the experience was, rather it should set the scene so the reader is prepared to immerse themselves in the experience, for example:

“Accusations flew across the circle of desks haphazardly gathered in the center of the room; she was an elitist forgetting about the yeomen while he was as backwards as King George.”

This hook immediately brings action and excitement, causing the reader to ask questions which makes them more interested to keep reading. Not only that, by including details relevant to the academic topic (yeomen farmers and King George) it further demonstrates the student’s knowledge and interest of this subject. 

The next two sentences can be improved by making them more concise to cut down on the amount of background needed. You want to keep the essay focused in the moment as much as possible, so rather than zooming out to provide the reader with context, stay in the present:

“With the strike of my US History teacher’s gavel, our debate on the ratification of the Constitution had begun.”

The student then goes on to talk about their contribution to the debate, which is important to include, but we can make it stronger. Again, the key is to stay in the story and tell it in present tense with an active voice. Focus on how you viewed and approached the situation rather than what actions you took. Not only will this make the writing more engaging, it will also make it naturally easier to express your fascination with the experience—which is the whole purpose of this essay at the end of the day.

“Donning the tricorn hat of James Madison, I turned to Federalist friends on my right—including Hamilton and Adams—and sized up my foes: the Democratic-Republicans. Coming out of the gate strong, Jefferson insisted a document that enumerates rights, limits rights. How wrong he was! Before another member of my group could speak, I was on my feet conjuring a picture of the society we just escaped that lacked documentation of unalienable rights. Quoting Locke and Voltaire from memory, I watched as my opponents scrambled for a rebuttal.”

Notice the difference between the imagery and flow of these sentences compared to the original example? Each line moves the story along, while continuing to provide details for imagery and to highlight the student’s passion for the topic. There’s no need for them to tell the reader they found the experience enjoyable or exciting, because details like the student embodying the historical figure (ie “Federalist friends…and foes”), their inner monologue (“How wrong he was!”), their excitement (“I was on my feet”), and their dedication (“Quoting Locke and Voltaire from memory”) show the reader why they loved this intellectual experience.

As you go about writing, follow these tips to beef up your writing and take it from basic and boring to engaging and informative.

All Applicants—Prompt 2, Option 3

We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with what are you agreeing or disagreeing about (250 words).

This prompt is all about internal beliefs and values. Whether you choose to write about an agreement or disagreement, at the heart of your essay, you need to share one of your important values with the admissions committee. Naturally then, an integral piece in choosing this essay is having a core belief or value that is central to your personality. If nothing jumps out at you, then maybe this isn’t the prompt for you.

If religion is important to you, this prompt would be a good opportunity to delve into your religious beliefs. Similarly, you could choose to go into philosophical or ethical debates that you have with people. As you pick a belief or value, keep your audience in mind. You never know who will read your essay, and the last thing you want to do is offend them. It’s generally a good idea to stay away from any beliefs that might be highly controversial or politicized.

Not only do you need a belief or value, you also need to pick a discussion partner that either shares your ideals or challenges them. Luckily for you, because the prompt already asks for you to pick a person, it opens the door for the natural inclusion of dialogue—a great way to spice up your essay and show, not tell!

Maybe you and your best friend get into arguments about whether life exists on other planets when you are going on night-time drives around town. Take the reader into your car—what music is playing in the background, are you cruising down the highway or leisurely rolling through residential neighborhoods? Do you and your friend raise your voices as the argument goes on? Showing what it is like to be there with you during these conversations will make your essay infinitely more engaging to read.

This essay also provides you with a chance to delve deeper into your personality. You can demonstrate character traits you possess in the way you describe your conversation. If you are a detail-oriented person, include the statistics you use to convince someone of your belief. Perhaps you are extremely energetic, in that case, describe how you jump with excitement and your voice gets higher when you agree with someone on an obscure belief. 

A common misconception is that admissions officers want to see astute, academic conversations, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You could write about how you and your sibling get into disagreements about the most powerful superhero or you and your grandma agree your uncle’s cooking is better than your dad’s. Don’t be scared by the prompt asking about the “big important things,” because as long as you provide reasoning as to why your discussion is important to you and your discussion partner, it can make for a good essay.

All Applicants—Prompt 2, Option 4

We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you. (250 words).

Similar to the first option for Prompt 2, this option is purposefully open-ended to give students the freedom to identify any difference and discuss it. Again, in light of the Supreme Court striking down the use of affirmative action in college admissions, students of color might want to use this prompt to discuss their racial background in their application.

However, since this prompt is very similar to the first, we’d recommend choosing one or the other. There’s no right one to pick—go with whichever you want—but don’t spend both essays (if you choose to submit the maximum of two optional essays for Prompt 2) discussing an aspect of your identity that makes you different or unique. We’d recommend pairing either Option 1 or 4 with either Option 2 or 3.

While this prompt provides students with the opportunity to discuss racial differences they aren’t able to disclose elsewhere, it isn’t limited to discussions of race. Differences can be measured in a variety of dimensions, including:

• Race or ethnicity
• Socioeconomic status
• Family structure
• Gender or sexuality (look at Option 5 if you want to write about this)
• Physical abilities

Regardless of what you choose, your essay must express how you are different, the emotional, mental, and physical effect that has had on you, and the way your difference will make you a valuable member of the Duke community.

An essay where a student describes her family’s low income and the lack of luxuries she’s able to afford as a result doesn’t tell us much about the student. The essay would have more depth if it discussed the embarrassment and isolation she felt when she couldn’t afford the latest trends and wasn’t welcomed by her peers. But the essay shouldn’t stop there. Now that we know about her mental response to her difference, we want to hear about how she views her difference as a source of strength and personal value. So, maybe her classmates’ focus on fashion inspired her to start a thrifting collective at her school where students can donate old clothes and find new ones without spending a lot of money. This experience taught her the value in creating community and compassion.

All Applicants—Prompt 2, Option 5

Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community. (250 words).

If you want to write about an aspect of your identity or a way you are different and it relates to your gender, sexuality, or sexual orientation, you should choose Option 5 over Options 1 and 4.

In the same vein as the other two options dealing with an aspect of your personality that you want to share with the admissions committee, you want to make sure that you go deeper than simply explaining your gender or sexual identity. The essay needs to go into the personal significance and the way it has shaped you as a person who will join the Duke community.

A good story always needs some conflict, whether it be internal or external, so you might want to start brainstorming by thinking about a moment of conflict that arose related to your gender or sexual identity. Maybe you choose the moment you came out to your family, or you could write about the internal battle to try and fit into societal gender expectations, or possibly you experienced discrimination or harassment as a result of your sexual orientation which emotionally affected you. There are many different ways to approach this prompt, so pick whatever stands out to you as the most consequential for you personally.

For an essay like this, it’s important to share a lot of detail with the admissions committee to ensure your unique perspective and life experiences are fully communicated, but when discussing highly personal and possibly uncomfortable topics, this might be a little difficult. There’s a delicate balance between including enough information to write a strong essay and protecting personal details. To try and address this, focus on actions you took and the emotions that motivated them, without getting too deep into the intricacies of your thoughts.

However, at the end of the day, your college essay has to reveal to the admissions officers what makes you special. If you feel that this aspect of your identity is critical to understanding you, this is the prompt for you. But if you are hesitant to share information on a delicate subject, there is no problem in choosing a different prompt option that would allow you to write more freely.

This prompt is required for students who are applying to Duke Kunshan University through the Duke University application. Duke Kunshan is a partnership between Duke and Wuhan University in China that allows students to receive an education that marries two exceptional universities.

You are asked to submit a pretty straightforward “ Why This College? ” essay for Duke Kunshan, and we would refer you to Prompt 1 in this post to learn more about the tips and common pitfalls to avoid when writing this type of essay.

A key factor to keep in mind when submitting this essay is although Duke will be reading it, it will also be sent to Duke Kunshan who will review it. For that reason, you want to make sure the college you are discussing is specifically Duke Kunshan and not regular Duke. Along those lines, you need to speak highly of Kunshan as its own entity—don’t say you want to attend because you think it will be an easier way to achieve a Duke degree.

While we normally advise against listing a school’s location as a reason for wanting to attend, in the case of an international university, it is okay to discuss your interest in Duke Kunshan because it’s in another country. However, frame it within the context of an interest in experiencing new cultures or an appreciation for Chinese history, culture, or society. Make sure your motivation for attending an international institution is clear in your essay.

The second part of the prompt asks you to consider what you can bring to the school. Just as you would for any other “Why This College?” essay, highlight ways your interests and experiences align with resources and offerings at the university. Your contribution to the campus community can also lie outside of academics. Perhaps you will bring your favorite comfort food recipe with you to support your fellow homesick American students or maybe you will share your adventurous spirit with your more reserved classmates to encourage them to explore a new environment with you.

If you indicate on the Common App that you are considering taking a gap year before enrolling at Duke, you will be required to answer this question. It’s important to note that this isn’t an official declaration of your plans; Duke is using this question to gauge what type of individual you are and how you will use your time productively.

But at the same time, don’t make up fanciful gap year plans like traveling to all seven continents if realistically you know you will spend the majority of your time working at home. You aren’t being judged on how exciting your gap year plans may sound, so be genuine about the plans you are considering.

There are many reasons you might be considering a gap year—from wanting to gain more real-world experience, to financial reasons, to unique opportunities you don’t want to miss, to family commitments—and there are an infinite number of ways to spend your year, whether it’s traveling, getting an internship, working on a campaign, supporting your family, etc.

When it comes to this essay though, there are two primary things you want to convey:

• What you consider to be valuable.
• How you will grow and be enriched from the gap year.

Starting with the first point, the way you choose to spend your gap year is a reflection of the values you find important. Students who want to travel value broadening their perspectives and embracing new experiences, while students who are staying home to help out their parents value family, loyalty, and devotion. Unless you are spending your time in the basement playing video games all day long, you will be doing something that, in your mind, is considered a productive use of time.

When you are discussing your plans, your values should come through. For example, if you are planning to spend the first semester backpacking South America, you wouldn’t just say, “ I will spend the first four months backpacking in China. ” You would instead show the admissions committee why you are driven to take that action: “ During my four months exploring the mountains, valleys, cities, and ancient civilizations of China, I will immerse myself in the culture I’ve felt so distant from as a Chinese adoptee. ”

The second thing your essay needs to discuss is how this experience will enrich you. Or, from Duke’s perspective, how will taking a gap year make you a more valuable member of the campus community? To answer this question, you’ll need to place yourself in a year-from-now you’s shoes and ask how you’ve changed and grown.

Are you more independent? Are you confident? Did you learn a new skill? Have you become a stronger leader? Do you have a new appreciation for learning? 

However you think you will grow from this experience, make sure to convey that in your essay. You might also want to explicitly mention what you will bring back to the Duke community, just to reiterate your commitment to attending Duke after your gap year.

Some Final Thoughts

If you choose to respond to the optional Duke supplements, you’ll need to keep a few key strategies in mind. As you draft and revise your responses, remember the following tips, which will help you to optimize your application efforts to Duke as well as any other schools to which you might apply. 

Give yourself time. Writing a short essay can often seem like a straightforward and deceptively quick process. Remember, however, that even though the Duke only wants 250 words, you’ll need to achieve the same level of impact in this response as you would with a 650 word essay. Clumsily jumbling together broad and lofty ideas won’t get you far with a 250 word prompt, so leave yourself enough time to plan, draft and redraft your response until it’s ready for submission.

Be specific. Specificity is the not-so-secret ingredient when it comes to writing a successful response. Include anecdotes and examples that tie directly to what you know and value about the Duke campus community. Don’t simply say that you love research or that you want to change the world. Think about the specific experiences you have which exemplify your interests and your academic and professional aspirations. 

Be true to yourself. It’s counterproductive to spend hours and hours writing about things that don’t truly matter to you. Be honest! Highlight the things that you care about most and reflect on why they matter to you. 

Ultimately, the purpose of any supplemental essay is to give you the opportunity to present yourself, your experiences and achievements from your own perspective using your own words. So have fun with this process. After all, no one could ever be better equipped to showcase you than you.

Where to Get Your Duke Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Duke essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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College Essays

Do you want to be a Blue Devil? If so, you'll need to submit strong Duke essays as part of your application.

Duke requires its applicants to answer two essays, one as part of the Common or Coalition app, and one "Why Duke" essay. Students will also have the option to answer up to two more personal essay prompts, but they aren't required.

We're going to break down all the prompts for you and walk you though how to write amazing Duke supplement essays. So let's get started!

What Is the Duke Supplement Essay?

Duke requires that you submit two to four essays as part of your application. You're required to answer one "Why Duke?" essay prompt, as well as a Common Application essay or a Coalition Application essay (depending on which one you use to apply). Additionally, you have the option of answering up to two more essay questions.

Duke requires the Duke supplement as part of its application process for a couple of reasons. First of all, written essays are a great way to assess your preparedness for college. Duke wants to see that you can write clearly and concisely and can follow all of the necessary grammar conventions.

Duke also wants to get to know you more as a student and possible member of its campus. Essays are a great way to learn more about who you really are beyond your test scores and other credentials.

Finally, your Duke essays are where you can demonstrate your affinity for Duke itself. Why do you want to go there? Your essays can highlight your passion for the university.

It's extremely important to put time and effort into each one of the Duke supplement essay prompts so that you're able to meet all of these needs.

Duke Supplement Essay Prompts

You'll have to answer at least two and as many as four Duke supplement essay prompts for your Duke application. All students are required to write one longer essay. The essay you write will be determined by whether you're submitting the Common Application or the Coalition Application (Duke accepts both).

You're also required to answer the "Why Duke" essay prompt. There are four more personal essay questions that are optional for all applicants. You can answer up to two of them.

2022-2023 Duke Long Essay

The long essay prompt is actually the essay you'll write as part of your Common App or Coalition App. There's not a separate "long essay" prompt for Duke, so don't worry when you don't see the prompt pop up when you click over to the writing supplement tab.

On the other hand, that means that the long essay prompt you submit will depend on whether you're using the Common App, QuestBridge App, or Coalition App. These apps have slightly different essay prompts associated with them!

If you apply to Duke via the Coalition Application, you'll select one essay prompt to answer. For more information on how to ace your Coalition Application essay and an analysis of each prompt, check out our in-depth guide .

If you apply to Duke via the Common Application, you'll also need to select an essay prompt to answer. For more information on how to craft an amazing Common Application essay and in-depth look at each prompt, check out our blog post dedicated to that very topic .

2022-2023 "Why Duke?" Essay

All Duke students are required to answer the "Why Duke?" essay . Here's the essay prompt for 2022-2023:

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there's something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit)

For more information about how to answer this question, you can check out our in-depth post to the "Why Duke?" app. 

2022-2023 Optional Duke Essays

You also have the option of responding to optional Duke essays. There are four prompts, and you can answer up to two of them. However, you don't need to answer any if you don't feel the need to. Duke makes it clear that these Duke admissions essay prompts are completely optional. Their exact phrasing is, " Feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application." For each prompt you choose to answer, you can write up to 250 words.

Here are the four prompts:

We seek a diverse student body that embodies the wide range of human experience. In that context, we are interested in what you’d like to share about your lived experiences and how they’ve influenced how you think of yourself. 

We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?

 What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Duke's commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you’d like to share with us more about your identity in this context, feel free to do so here.

Required Duke Essay, Analyzed

Guess what: 250 words isn't a lot of words to describe your love for Duke! You'll need to be clear, succinct, and honest in order for your Duke admissions essay to stand out.

Because the word limit is so constrained, it's better to focus on one or two specific ideas, rather than trying to cram as many thoughts as possible into your short essay. For instance, while you may be enamored of Duke's entire faculty, choose one specific professor whose work you admire and expand on that. Any depth you can achieve in this small space will go a long way.

The key here is to be specific about why Duke is the best school for you. We just mentioned discussing faculty, but you can also talk about specific classes you want to take, academic organizations you want to be involved in, or even research opportunities you want to pursue. That means you'll need to do your research, but trust us: it will make a huge difference.

If you're still confused about this prompt and want a little extra help, don't miss our entire article about how to write an amazing "Why Duke" essay!

Optional Duke Admission Essay Prompts, Analyzed

Treat this question as an opportunity to share more about yourself. If you have something real and important to write about, do so. But don't try to invent an experience that doesn't actually belong to you—it'll come across as fake and insincere. Unless you really have nothing to say, I'd suggest including something.

If you choose to answer this question, lean into authenticity. Don't be scared to be vulnerable or honest. While the question talks about Duke's commitment to diversity, don't feel like you have to invent diverse experiences just to fit in.

Share about your unique perspective. Be sure to indicate why this point-of-view belongs to you, and you alone. Your perspective is made up by your experiences and interactions, so you can highlight how these have affected you.

For this prompt, Duke is giving you the chance to share your values and how you communicate and respond to opinions different than your own. College is a place where you'll encounter people with many different beliefs, and Duke wants to make sure its students are able to respectfully talk about big topics, even if the people you're speaking with don't have the same beliefs or values as you do.

If you decide to respond to this prompt, think about a person or people you particularly love debating or having discussions with. Be sure to explain who you agree/disagree with, what topics you discuss, if you generally agree or disagree, and specifically how you make sure the conversation is respectful and thoughtful. 

Show Duke that you're able to contribute positively to any discussion, even if you disagree with what's being said .

What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Here Duke wants to know what motivates and excites you academically. Did you love partaking in a class debate? Maybe your best experience was bonding with a study group and helping each other learn the course material, or maybe it was doing a deep research dive to become an expert on a particular topic.

The specific experience you choose matters much less than your explanation of why it was so positive. Be sure to discuss exactly what you found about the experience you found enjoyable and  what you took away from it. If you can, try to tie it in to how you'll be a strong student at Duke and continue to find positive academic experiences.

Duke's commitment to diversity and inclusion includes gender identity and sexual orientation. If you would like to share with us more about either, and have not done so elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here.

Don't answer this optional essay unless you have something real to say. Don't feel intimidated or scared that ignoring this question will reflect badly on you. It won't. You should really only address this prompt if you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

What will reflect badly on you is making something up that comes across as insincere, or worse, ignorant. Speak truthfully and from the heart.

Similarly, if you do have reflections on gender identity and sexual orientation, don't feel like you have to share them. Remember, this essay is optional. It's completely fine if you're not quite comfortable enough or ready to talk publicly about these topics.

If you choose to answer this question, only speak about real experiences that happened to you. It's better to keep them personal. This essay isn't the place to reflect on the overall political climate surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, especially if those issues don't relate to you. It is, however, the space to talk about your specific identity and journey.

How to Write Great Duke Essays

If you want your Duke essays to stand out and help you get admitted, follow these tips!

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Duke wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Cliched or Overused Phrases

When writing your Duke essays, try to avoid using clichés or overused quotes or phrases. These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Strive for originality.

Similarly, avoid using clichés, which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work. Don't speak in platitudes about how the struggle for gay and lesbian rights has affected you… unless it actually has!

#3: Check Your Work

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Duke essays are the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Duke application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your Duke essays, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

That being said, make sure you don't rely on them for ideas or rewrites. Your essays need to be your work.

#4: Only Answer What You're Comfortable With

Remember, Duke's optional essays are just that—optional. It can be tempting to respond to everything on the application and if you have an important story to tell, you definitely should.

However, if you have nothing to say, don't feel like you need to make something up. You're better off answering less, honestly, then you are answering more, dishonestly.

What's Next?

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet? Not sure which one you'll do best on? Read our guide to choose the test that's right for you .

If you've taken the SAT and want to improve your score, check out our guides to improving your Reading , Writing , and Math scores.

Not sure what you want to major in? Don't worry! With our advice, you'll figure out what you should study as an undergrad.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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How To Write The Duke Supplemental Essays

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 11/16/23

Follow along to learn everything you need about the Duke University essays, including prompts, tips, and examples. 

If you are on this page, you are probably doing some college research and may have Duke University on your list. With an acceptance rate of 5.1%, Duke University is one of the most competitive schools in the U.S.

Writing compelling essays is one of the most crucial parts of your Duke application. You may feel pressured to be as perfect as possible, but the good news is we’re here to help. If you’re struggling with your Duke application, look at our definitive guide on how to get into Duke and read on for info on the all-important secondary essays.

Here, we break down each supplemental essay question, give you tips on how to write them, and share examples of excellent essays. By the end of this article, you'll know how to write the Duke supplemental essays.

Let's get started!

Duke University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

In addition to the long personal essay on the Common Application or the Coalition Application, Duke has six supplemental essay prompts, and five are optional questions in which a maximum of two can be selected. The following prompts can be found on the Duke admissions page .

“What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.” 

“We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community. (Optional)”

“Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating. (Optional)”

“We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about? (Optional)”

“We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you. (Optional)”

“Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community. (Optional)”

All of these supplemental essay prompts have a 250-word limit. Make sure you choose the essay prompts you know you can answer well! 

How to Write Each Essay Prompt For Duke University

Here, we’ll cover how to write each essay prompt for Duke University. 

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Duke University prompt #1 :

“What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit.)” 

Analysis of prompt #1 : This essay prompt is your classic “Why do you want to go here?” question. Admissions want to see if you’re truly interested in what Duke offers. This includes specific programs, research opportunities, or extracurriculars. 

Duke is a very popular university with thousands of applicants each year. What can this school offer you, and how can it help you reach your goals? 

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Tip #1: Make it Personal :  You should make your essay as personal as possible. Share your interests and academic and career goals. Make sure to tie those into Duke’s mission and how you’d be a great addition to the school’s community. Be sure to add anecdotes as well. 
• Tip #2: Avoid Mentioning Elements Beyond the School's Control : such as the school's location, climate, or city. This information does not provide specific insights into what makes Duke unique. Remember, the prompt asks you about Duke specifically and why you’d like to attend the school. 
• Tip #3: Be Specific : Mention some specific things that Duke offers, such as a particular program or research opportunity. It’s always best to focus on a couple of things the school offers rather than adding a long list. 

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompts #2, 5, and 6 : Essay prompts two, five, and six are all considered diversity essays and are open-ended questions. These essay prompts help Duke learn more about you and your lived experiences. Duke University values diversity and believes it makes its community better. 

These prompts are an opportunity to share anything that makes you different, such as:

• Socioeconomic class
• Disabilities
• Gender Identity
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Gender expression
• Interests/hobbies
• And anything else that makes you different!

Share what being a part of these communities means to you, how it has affected you, or what it can bring to the Duke University community. 

Here are some tips to help you out:

• Tip #1: Reflect on Your Background : Discuss aspects of your background, such as cultural heritage, family dynamics, or personal challenges, that have shaped your identity. Don’t list a bunch of things that make you different. Stick to one and focus on it. 
• Tip #2: Share Personal Stories : Provide specific examples or anecdotes illustrating your differences. Personal stories can make your response more engaging and help the admissions committee understand your experiences more deeply.
• Tip #3: Show Resilience : If you've faced challenges related to your unique life experiences, discuss how you've navigated them with resilience. This could include overcoming adversity, advocating for change, or finding support networks.

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #3 + Analysis and Tips

Duke University prompt #3 : ‍

“Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating. (250 word limit.)” 

Analysis of prompt #3 : Duke is interested in learning about your intellectual pursuits and your approach to the learning process. You have the flexibility to explore various aspects, such as a specific class that ignited your curiosity, an independent research project you started, or an experiment you conducted in a science course, among other possibilities.

• Tip #1: Choose One Genuine Experience : Select an intellectual experience that fascinates you. This could be an academic project, a research opportunity, a challenging course, or any other intellectual endeavor that left a lasting impression. 
• Tip #2: Express Your Passion : Convey your passion for the subject matter. Describe why this particular experience captured your interest and why it was so compelling. Use descriptive language to express the depth of your fascination.
• Tip #3: Share Any Challenges and Growth : Share any challenges or obstacles you may have faced during this intellectual journey. Emphasize how you overcame difficulties and highlight the personal and intellectual growth that resulted from the experience.

How to Write Duke University Supplemental Essay #4 + Analysis and Tips

Duke University prompt #4 :

“We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about? (250 word limit.)” 

Analysis of prompt #4 : This prompt focuses on your internal beliefs and values. The core of your essay should involve revealing one of your significant values to the admissions committee. Be careful not to get too political. Instead, talk about a role model or someone who inspires you and why.

• Tip #1: Choose a Role Model :  Choose a role model or someone who inspires you. You can talk about a time your role model let you down, or you had a differing opinion, but be sure to focus on what you learned from that experience.
• Tip #2: Pick Thoughtful Examples : Choose examples that reflect substantial beliefs or values in your life. These could be related to ethics, morality, societal issues, or personal principles. Select instances that are meaningful and can provide insight into your character.
• Tip #3: Highlight Learning Moments : Emphasize what you have learned from agreements and disagreements. Discuss how they have contributed to your personal growth, expanded your understanding, or solidified your convictions.

Examples of Duke University Supplemental Essays That Worked

Below, you’ll find some Duke University supplemental essays written by successful applicants who were admitted to the school! Let’s look at each one and discuss what worked about it.

Sample Essay #1

Prompt : “What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.” 

“At Duke I was equally entranced by the articulate movements of 3D printers in the Co-Lab and the stunning Gothic architecture. Instead of forming a dichotomy, these aspects of Duke blended to symbolize its emphasis on interdisciplinary education, which will offer me a nuanced perspective of the world integral to becoming a leader in engineering…”

Why Essay #1 Worked

In this excerpt from a “why Duke” essay example, the student answers the prompt with specific aspects of Duke University. They relate the Co-Lab and Duke’s Gothic architecture with their interests in engineering, and they explain why these things are a good match for them. 

Sample Essay #2

Prompt : “We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.”

“The pitter patter of droplets, the sweet smell that permeates throughout the air, the dark gray clouds that fill the sky, shielding me from the otherwise intense gaze of the sun, create a landscape unparalleled by any natural beauty. I have gazed upon the towering cliffs of Yosemite, stood next to Niagara falls as the water roars, succumbing to the power of gravity, and seen the beaches of Mexico basked in moonlight, yet none of these wonders compares to the simple beauty of an Arizona rainstorm. To me, our rain represents more than humidity and darkness; its rarity gives it beauty. The uncertainty of when the next day of rain will come compels me to slow down, and enjoy the moment.

Out of the three realms of time; past, present, and future, the present is the only one we can experience, and I take advantage of every moment I have. When I pause my running to enjoy a sunset that dazzles the sky with brilliant colors of purple and orange, when I touch my brush to a canvas and focus on my movements in the present, when I drive home after a long day of improving our robot, and decide to drive around my neighborhood to finish “Garota de Ipanema”, which just popped up from my playlist of 700 songs, I am taking advantage of the moment.

So next time it rains, step outside. Close your eyes. Hear the symphony of millions of water droplets. And enjoy the moment.”

Why Essay #2 Worked

This essay tells a great story about the student’s unique perspective observing a seemingly mundane event in their community. They use specific and compelling language to capture the reader’s attention. They show us a few of their interests rather than simply telling us they like to paint, build robots, and listen to music. 

Sample Essay #3

Prompt : “Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating.”

“Embarrassment’s red glow covering my face matched the red ink circling the “44” grade atop my AP Biology exam on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration. I was devastated that day in Room 46.

Until then, Room 46 had been my magic school bus where we spent our time wandering wide-eyed through the world of science: dissecting pigs, testing our own DNA for the Alu insertion, and sharing community-creating laughs along the way. But receiving that “44” jarred me into feeling I didn’t belong there anymore. 

However, after meeting with my guidance counselor, contemplating dropping the class, and countless extra help sessions with my biology teacher, I realized my magic school bus journey wasn’t over yet, as I gradually concluded that my commitment to Room 46 was stronger than one bad test grade, that I was stronger than one bad test grade.

The journey was tricky and undoubtedly riddled with discouraging moments, but by applying myself and being resourceful, I made my “44” an isolated outlier before it was dropped from the gradebook entirely by semester’s end as my lowest grade. While my success can be quantified, it’s nonetheless my memory of Room 46 that’s continuously inspired me to transcend my limits and take on challenges even in areas of weakness (i.e. AP Bio). I consider this my best academic experience because it showed me what happens when you push past failure - success! - as I ended up getting an A in the class and a 5 on the AP test!”

Why Essay #3 Worked

This essay perfectly illustrates an intellectual journey the applicant had gone through that they persevered through. Initially, the applicant felt discouraged by their academic performance; however, they overcame it and learned through the experience and improved their grade tremendously. 

Get More Sample Essays Here!

Looking at examples of successful supplemental essays is a great way to discover strategies that work well. Use our extensive college essay database below to find many more samples!

Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions concerning Duke essays.

1. How to Write Duke Supplemental Essays?

When writing the Duke secondaries, choose prompts that lend themselves to your story as an applicant. Your chosen prompts should allow you to talk about important lessons you’ve learned and how you’ve grown. 

The only required essay is the “why Duke” essay, which you should do plenty of research for before you start writing. Understanding and conveying why Duke would be an excellent fit for you is crucial based on your unique interests, passions, and values. 

2. What Makes a Good “Why Duke” Essay?

The trick to writing an excellent “why Duke” essay is doing plenty of research. You should learn everything the school offers, including clubs, programs, extracurriculars, awards, and history. Your essay should demonstrate how Duke is a uniquely perfect school for you and highlight what parts of Duke excite you. 

3. How Should I Start Writing My Supplemental Essays?

One of the best ways to start writing is to brainstorm and reflect. Have all your ideas written down on a page so you can pick the ones you think are the best. Do your research on Duke. By the time you start drafting, you should know what direction you want to take your essay and how to end it .

4. What If I Cannot Think of Anything to Write About In My Essays?

If you cannot think of anything to write about in an optional essay, it might be a good sign that you should leave it blank. If you have ideas but are stuck, try taking a break from brainstorming. 

Ask thoughtful questions and answer truthfully to get inspired. Try not to worry too much. Writing a 250-word essay is probably not the most challenging task you have ever done. 

5. How Long Is the Why Duke Essay?

Duke University’s supplemental essays are 250 words or less long, including the “why Duke” essay. 

6. Are Duke Optional Essays Optional?

Yes, the Duke optional essays are optional. Duke University has one required essay prompt that asks you to explain why you want to attend Duke. The other five essays are all optional. You can write a maximum of two essays in response to two or none of the four prompts. 

Final Thoughts

The Duke essays ask you to hone in on your academic interests, tell a story about your diverse experiences, and reflect on your sexual and gender identities. You should start researching and planning your essay as soon as possible, giving yourself enough time to develop your ideas. 

Use your authentic voice when you write these essays. The admissions committee has read enough about what other people have to say about you, and they want to know the person behind the printed name, transcripts, and score reports. 

Do not be afraid to be vulnerable in your essays. Be mindful of your spelling and grammar, and write about things that are important to you. Make your passion clear to your readers, and you will leave a lasting impression on them. 

Access 190+ sample college essays here

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Personal Essay

The Personal Statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to admission committees. It can explain your motivation and why you have made the decision to apply. It can bring out your personal attributes and competencies and weave together all of your experiences. A sincere, thoughtful, and introspective personal statement may make the difference to committee members as they decide whether to interview or admit an academically qualified applicant.

Composition

Your 5300-character essay (the character limit for AMCAS) requires focus. Your essay should be an invitation to know you, tell the story of who you are, and present an argument of why you will make an excellent physician.

• You may want to start with a "hook" - an anecdote or statement that engages the reader and draws them into your essay. This should be short, snappy, clear and grab the attention of the reader. And it will introduce your overall theme or focus.
• Your essay should be a story. For example, you might explain (a) a particular interest that spans both your academic achievements and your extracurricular experiences, (b) a unique background, or challenges that have shaped who you are, (c) particular health care issues that have been of interest to you and why or (d) how you have developed your interest in medicine over time. You could end your essay with your long-term professional goals, what you will be doing in the coming year, or tie your ending to your beginning.
• Write with depth and evaluation, feeling and reflection, not broadly and vaguely.
• Your essay should show your value, your qualities, experiences and competencies that will make you an excellent physician.
• Write with personal details.
• You can include short examples and anecdotes (but no more than 2 or 3 of these).
• Remember that the meaning you found in an experience is as important as that experience.
• Writer's block and don't know where to start? Start somewhere, start in the middle and not the beginning, write on paper, close the computer screen and type, verbally compose your story and record it, and/or consult with the Writing Studio for help.
• Don’t write an English essay, academic paper, or summary of your resume.
• Don't be wildly creative, gratuitous, cute, theatrical or dramatic.
• Don’t use cliches and vague phrases.
• Don’t list items and don't quote others.
• Don’t list an experience without context or reflection.
• Don’t over inflate your accomplishments/activities or include inaccuracies.
• Don't begin your essay with how you wanted to be a doctor at age 4 when you received your first Fisher Price doctor kit, the moment when you decided to be a doctor, or how heroes wear white coats.
• Don't spend all of your space talking about someone else (this essay is about you).
• Don't repeat what you've said in your 15 experiences, although you may choose to elaborate more fully on one experience, begin with a meaningful experience, or discuss how your experiences interact in a manner that the 15-experience format doesn’t allow for.
• Use simple and clear English.
• Use action verbs and active voice rather than passive. Not “I was given the opportunity to volunteer in”, but rather "I volunteered in ... " 
• Write as though you were talking with someone in person.
• Include personal details on people, places, what you saw and did... so the reader can form a picture and distinguish you from other applicants.
• For every anecdote or experience, explain why it was meaningful and relevant to you. Don't make a reader guess at your intent.
• Consider that if someone else could have written your essay, it's not personal enough. 
• Expect to do multiple rewrites.
• Expect it will take longer than you think.
• For first draft(s), disregard character limits; it’s more important to get your thoughts down. Later you can trim words and phrases to meet the limit.
• It often helps to step away from your essay for a few days, then go back to it.
• Ask others to read your essay for content, especially those individuals who know you well to ensure that your authentic voice is coming through.
• If you aren’t totally pleased, write 2 or 3 different statements from different angles and then wait a few days and evaluate them.
• Circle all the times you use the word "I" and if there are too many, rewrite some sentences.
• Check for typos and remember that spell checkers don’t catch all errors (“there” vs. “their”).
• Save all drafts in case you want to go back to them.  Some of your reflections might be useful for secondary applications or for reviewing before interviews.

NOTES: See the current   AMCAS guide .

There are a wide variety of sample essays online (google: sample essay questions medical school). These might provide ideas, but remember that this is your personal statement and it needs to be written from the heart and be about you.

If you are applying to an MD-PhD program, you will write and include two other essays, one on why you are applying to these programs and one on your research experience. 

You can utilize the Personal Statement Resources that the  TWP Writing Studio  offers.

• Secondary Essay Prompts

Secondary Essay Prompts – Duke University School of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts for the Duke University School of Medicine

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC.

2019 – 2020

• Word limit 500
• If one of the above identities do not best describe you, then what identity do you feel most comfortable with?(optional)
• Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation(optional)
• Word limit 200
• Words left: 500
• Word limit: 500
• Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application.

2018 – 2019

• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. 500 words
• (Optional) In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. 200 words
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 500 words
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 500 words
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 500 words
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 500 words
• Critical thinking involves many aspects including curiosity, comprehension, application and analysis. Describe a time when you have utilized critical thinking. How do you anticipate critical thinking being used as part of your career? 400 words
• Many view medical care as an undeniable right. What responsibility does the medical profession have in taking care of all persons? 400 words
• (Optional) Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the Duke University School of Medicine.

2017 – 2018.

• The Duke University School of Medicine strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. Please describe how your personal characteristics or life experiences will contribute to the Duke University School of Medicine community and bring educational benefits to our student body. (1000 characters)
• Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application? (1000 characters)
• Why have you chosen to apply to the Duke University School of Medicine and how do you think your education at Duke University School of Medicine will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (1 page, formatted at your discretion, upload as PDF)
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 600 words
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 600 words
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 600 words
• What qualities will you bring to the practice of medicine? 600 words
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 600 words
• What role has research had in your preparation for medicine? 250 words

Secondary essay webcast with Dr. Jessica Freedman, founder and president of MedEdits Medical Admissions.   Read more about Dr. Freedman.

Duke University School of Medicine Secondary Application

Topics covered in this presentation:.

• When should I submit my secondary essays?
• Pay attention to the word/character limits.
• Can I recycle secondary essay prompts for multiple schools?
• Identify topics that you left out of your primary application.
• And, much more.

Duke University School of Medicine Admissions Requirements

Learn more about this school:

(919) 684-2985

Secondary Essay Prompts for Other Schools

Do you want to see secondary essay prompts for other medical schools?

Select a school below:

Secondary Essay Prompts By School

*Data collected from MSAR 2022-2023, 2022 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, and institution website.

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on each medical school’s website. MedEdits does not guarantee it’s accuracy or authenticity.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

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Secondary Essay Prompts – University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Secondary Essay Prompts – Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN

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Duke Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

August 14, 2023

With a 5.9% acceptance rate, getting into Duke in 2023-24 is now as daunting a challenge as gaining acceptance into just about any Ivy League school. While Duke University may immediately conjure up images of the “Cameron Crazies” decked out in devil masks and blue face paint, make no mistake—those rowdy-looking students are really as studious as they come. In fact, just about every single one of the individuals you see in those stands on television scored a 1500+ on the SAT or a 35+ on the ACT and earned a parade of A’s throughout a high school schedule overflowing with AP/IB/dual enrollment courses. This brings us to the topic of this blog – how to write the Duke supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Duke University? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Duke   for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Given that almost 19 of every 20 applicants to Duke University are ultimately unsuccessful, you need to do everything you can to stand out amidst a sea of uber-qualified teens from around the globe. Through its one mandatory essay prompt and two optional offerings, the Duke University supplemental section still affords applicants an opportunity to highlight what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below are Duke’s supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

Required Duke Supplemental Essays – #1

1) what is your sense of duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you if there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit).

This is your quintessential “Why Us?” essay which comes with the typical pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. We don’t want to label these as “mistakes” (there is nothing inherently wrong with them). They just don’t add any needle-moving value, which is, of course, the only goal when you are applying to a school as selective as Duke.

Common components of a generic “Why Duke?” essay

• Fawning over the beautiful campus (it is quite beautiful, but they already know that).
• Duke’s rank, prestige, and reputation. Again, they know!
• Too many generic expressions of feeling (e.g., Since I was five, I’ve dreamed of attending Duke… ).
• Recycled statements from your other “Why Us?” essays that come across as stale, impersonal, or worst of all–irrelevant/inaccurate.
• Talking about the Blue Devils basketball team.

How to write a winning “Why Duke?” essay

• Make sure to address why Duke is the perfect fit for you  and  why you are the perfect fit for Duke. To do so, cite specific  academic programs , professors ,  research opportunities , experiential education programs ,  study abroad programs ,  student-run organizations , Duke’s mission , etc. Be sure to discuss how you plan to take advantage of your chosen resources.
• Show evidence of how your past/current endeavors will carry over onto Duke’s campus.
• Discuss any special talents and passions that you will bring to Duke.

Big-picture thoughts on the “Why Duke?” essay

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school, but you don’t want it to read like a rote list of items that you Googled five minutes before writing the essay (even if the timing of the Google search is roughly accurate).

In addition to the pure research element, a lot of the time and skill required to create a stellar Duke essay will involve connecting your selected opportunities of to your distinct values, talents, aims, proficiencies, and future goals.

Optional Essays – Select 0-2 from the following list (250 word limit for each)

While these essays are technically “optional,” we advise every single applicant to Duke to opt in on at least one essay. (Note that Prompt #1 is often an ideal and natural choice). Remember, Duke is one of those rare schools that rejects students with near-perfect (or even perfect) academic credentials. It is essential that you showcase the characteristics and skills that make you one-of-a-kind.

1) We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.

Take note of the wide-open nature of this prompt. You are essentially invited to talk about any of the following topics:

• A perspective you hold
• An experience you had
• A community you belong to
• Your cultural background
• Your family background

Although this prompt’s open floor plan may feel daunting, a good tactic is to first consider what has already been communicated within your Common App personal statement, activities list, and “Why Duke” essay. What important aspects of yourself have not been shared (or sufficiently discussed)? The admissions officer reading your essay is hoping to connect with you through your written words, so—within your essay’s reflection—be open, humble, thoughtful, inquisitive, emotionally honest, mature, and/or insightful about what you learned and how you grew. No matter what type of story you tell, the goal is to have the reader come away saying, “I can definitely see this applicant as a contributing member of our talented and engaged student community.”

Duke Supplemental Essays (Continued)

2) Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating .

Firstly, note that Duke provides a time range. Accordingly, you’ll need to choose an intellectual experience from either your sophomore or junior year (formal or informal). Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or your aerospace engineering internship or your discovery of 19th-century French novels, use this opportunity to dig into why your chosen experience resonates with, fascinates, and/or inspires you. Moreover, share the manner in which you pursued knowledge. Whether you fell down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time or consumed thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you are an obsessive learner with a thirst for information. The admissions reader should emerge from reading this essay with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong intellectual drive.

3) We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?

The U.S. presently finds itself in an extreme state of polarization. There seems to be little agreement even as to what constitutes “truth” or “facts” Within this divided world, it can be hard for individuals with competing viewpoints to engage in civil and productive dialogue. Here, Duke is giving you the chance to show that you are an open-minded, intellectually curious, truth-seeking young person. Illustrate how you are willing to engage in conversations/debates with people who hold opposing positions on topics of great importance to you. One key thing to remember when addressing this prompt is that you don’t have to be the hero of the anecdote. In fact, you may be one who learned to expand their thinking.

Of course, you are also invited to share about a person you agree with. However, without any friction, this may be the less interesting of the two choices.

4)  We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.

Do you feel that your lived experience is different from others in your peer group, family, or community, perhaps in regard to relationships, household income level, mental or physical challenges, neurodiversity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or cultural background, to name a few? If so, answering this prompt could be a good option. While crafting your response, the important thing to keep in mind is that the difference/challenge itself is  less important  than what it reveals about your character and perspective. What steps have you taken to cope with your chosen difference? How has it positively impacted you? How has it influenced your perspective and the way you engage with the world? Is there anything about your difference that you feel especially appreciative of?  Make sure you share what you were feeling and experiencing; this piece should demonstrate openness and vulnerability.

5) Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.

If you feel that an element of your sexual orientation or gender identity/expression is an important component of who you are, this is an ideal place to discuss that part of yourself. Moreover, Duke’s instructions are broad, allowing to you discuss personal and/or social impact. No matter the direction you choose, be sure to fully address why this part of your identity holds such significant meaning for you.

How important are the Duke supplemental essays?

There are eight factors that Duke University considers “very important” in evaluating a candidate and the essays are among them. In addition to the essays, Duke gives the greatest consideration to the rigor of an applicant’s secondary school record, GPA, standardized test scores, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, and character/personal qualities.

Duke Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Duke supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

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Duke University is an Ivy League college in Durham, North Carolina, that consistently ranks in the top 10 national universities. It has an undergraduate population of 6,500 students, and in the 2020-2021 admissions, there was only a 5.8% acceptance rate. 

As a highly-selective university, Duke’s supplemental essays help personalize the admissions process, so that the admissions committee can admit a diverse incoming class. This is true of many institutions; look at Emory supplemental essays for further inspiration.

Duke supplemental essays for 2022-23: requirements and guidelines

College Essays: Supplemental Essays

Supplemental essays are an imperative part of the college application process. Click here to read more

Duke University essays are a crucial part of your college application. Use each Duke University application essay to show that you are invested in your education and are passionate about attending Duke. The admissions committee wants to admit a diverse, passionate group of students. 

Each Duke admissions essay gives you the chance to convey more about your personality, goals, and passions. Take advantage of each of these essay questions to personalize your college application and give yourself a competitive edge. 

Test scores and high school GPAs are important but supplemental essays are key in the Duke application process.

Why Duke essay: 5 tips that can help you earn admission to Duke University

As with many highly-selective institutions, Duke University requires at least one supplemental essay, often referred to as the “why Duke essay.” This essay prompt is as follows: Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attract you? (200 words maximum)  

Admissions officers want to admit students who are passionate about attending Duke and plan to fully take advantage of its unique educational opportunities. Use this Duke writing supplement to show that you have researched Duke University thoroughly and are passionate about their unique opportunities, especially as they relate to your academic and professional goals. 

In this article, we will focus on tips and strategies for how to write Duke supplemental essays, as well as look at several accepted Duke essay examples. 

Use detailed language

The more specific you can be, the better! Reference specific courses, programs, and professors by name. Duke wants to admit Duke students who will take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. 

Naming specific aspects of Duke’s unique curriculum shows that you are passionate about the school and are able to take initiative. Mention any specific internships, majors, minors, certificates, classes, research opportunities, and clubs/sports teams that interest you.

State your goals clearly

Use this Duke supplement to state your personal, educational, and professional goals clearly. Of course, not all incoming freshmen will know what they want to study — and this is okay! — but do your best to write clearly and with intention. Write about your interests, passions, and ideas for the future.

Use the tone of your essay to reflect your personality

Duke writing supplements are meant to personalize the admissions process. Give the admissions committee a reason to choose you by showing them a bit more of your overall personality. 

Use words and phrases that reflect the way you speak, think or interact with the world. Be creative. Funny. Thoughtful. Use this personal statement to demonstrate who you are and what you’re passionate about. How can you contribute to the Duke community?

How can Duke help you reach your goals?

While it’s important to include lots of personal details about your goals and passions, it is just as important, if not even more important, to connect every personal detail back to Duke University. 

How can Duke University, specifically, help you reach your personal, educational, and professional goals? While preparing your response to this Duke essay prompt, read each of your sentences carefully and ask yourself if each and every detail can be connected back to Duke University.

Duke University supplemental essay prompts

In addition to the “why Duke essay” prompt, there are two Duke optional essays. Duke essay prompts are designed so that the admissions committee can gain a more holistic understanding of each applicant. 

Use your Duke supplement essays to show the true depth of your character, goals, and passions to strengthen your overall application and personalize the admissions process.

Prompt 1: perspective and experience

The first of the two optional essays focuses on your perspectives and experiences. The prompt is as follows:

Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)

Strategies to consider for this prompt.

The most important thing to do for this 250-word essay is to be sincere. While some students may already have lots of interesting and inspiring life experiences, this is certainly not always the case. 

Do not exaggerate or make anything up in this essay! Be genuine and sincere. The Duke admissions committee wants to get to know you, so make sure you give them that chance.

Again, this is the most important strategy for addressing this Duke essay prompt. Be.     genuine and speak earnestly.

Write concisely

      To do this well, focus on including lots of detailed language. You only have 250         words to convey something deeply personal, so make each word, phrase, and            sentence count!

   A helpful strategy for writing succinctly and powerfully is to not worry about the       word limit initially. Free write. Get all your ideas on paper. Sometimes you need to start writing to gain momentum and realize your most important details.   

Think outside the box!

What is the most engaging way to tell your story? Even if you don’t have a particularly unique story, you can still be creative! Consider the overall structure of your essay thoroughly before you begin. 

If you are interested in theater, perhaps you could write your essay with stage directions. If you’re interested in science, perhaps you could structure your essay in the style of a lab report. The possibilities are endless!

Prompt 2: sexual orientation and gender identity

The second of the two Duke optional essays focuses on sexual orientation and gender identity. The essay prompt is as follows:

Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about your identity, you can do so here, or use any previous essay prompt you feel is appropriate. (250 words maximum)

Remember, this essay is optional. Only include this essay if your gender or sexual identity has played a significant role in your life experiences. Generally speaking, only include this essay if you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As with the other Duke writing supplementals, use detailed language. Be specific and precise. Share lots of personal details. This does not mean you have to be overly personal and share experiences you would rather keep to yourself. Always respect your boundaries! Rather, focus on details that will contribute to the overall tone and imagery of your essay. Try to personalize your statement so that it is memorable.

It’s about your sexual identity — not about sex

Use discretion when writing about this prompt. Remember, you are writing about your identity, not about your sexual experiences.

Don’t worry about defining terms

Don’t feel pressured to use defining terms. It’s okay to not know how to label your experiences, just as it’s okay (and good!) to change your mind. Focus on writing honestly and authentically, without necessarily worrying about terms. 

The Duke essays that worked: winning Duke supplement essay examples

One of the best ways to prepare for your Duke application is to read several accepted Duke essays. There are lots of Duke supplement essay samples online for you to peruse. 

Gain insight into what the admissions committee is looking for by examining at least one Duke optional essay example before beginning your writing process.

Essay example #1

I love many things, but learning and sports top the list. the moment i stepped onto duke’s campus, i leaned over to my mother, gasping, and said, “whoa,” even before beginning my tour. i was stunned to immediately see signs of my loves everywhere. my dreams of tenting in k-ville for the annual duke-unc game almost made my mouth water. as for learning, the cross-disciplinary study options that duke offers ignite my passions. i have always loved business, and as i have aged, i discovered a deep interest in education. at duke, i saw the opportunity to combine these two interests in many ways. i would love to initiate lunches with professor elizabeth garcia, whose work focuses on educational motivation, and mark t. brown, director of the management communications center. exploring commonalities in business and educational spheres would be uplifting, and will engage all of my most profound interests., why did this essay work.

This essay is detailed, well-paced, and clearly shows the student’s personal and academic passions. The tone is upbeat and excitable. As a reader, you get a glimpse into who this student is as a person — what motivates them and brings them joy. 

The student clearly states why they are passionate about attending Duke, and the fact that they mention specific professors and programs by name shows that they can take initiative and are passionate about their course of study.

Essay example #2

I look around my room, dimly lit by an orange light. on my desk, a framed picture of an asian family beaming their smiles, buried among us history textbooks and the great gatsby. a korean ballad streams from two tiny computer speakers. pamphlets of american colleges scattered on the floor. a cold december wind wafts a strange infusion of ramen and leftover pizza. on the wall in the far back, a korean flag hangs beside a led zeppelin poster. , do i consider myself korean or american, a few years back, i would have replied: “neither.” the frustrating moments of miscommunication, the stifling homesickness, and the impossible dilemma of deciding between the korean or american table in the dining hall, all fueled my identity crisis., standing in the “foreign passports” section at jfk, i have always felt out of place. sure, i held a korean passport in my hands, and i loved kimchi and yuna kim and knew the korean anthem by heart. but i also loved macaroni and cheese and lebron. deep inside, i feared i’d be labeled by my airport customs category: a foreigner everywhere., this ambiguity, however, has granted me the opportunity to absorb the best of both worlds. look at my dorm room. this mélange of cultures in my east-meets-west room embodies the diversity that characterizes my international student life., i’ve learned to accept my “ambiguity” as “diversity,” as a third-culture student embracing both identities., now, i can proudly answer: “both.”.

The use of imagery in this essay is particularly impressive and effectively acts as an anchor and overall structure for the essay. By seeing the inside of this student’s dorm room you are able to gain insight into their inner world. You get a clear understanding of their likes, interests, and priorities. You are also privy to their inner trepidations, cultural insecurities, and personal growth. 

By including so many personal details and examples, the student can demonstrate what both their Korean and American cultural identities mean to them. This essay’s sincerity and candor are what help this student stand apart from other applicants.

Essay example #3

I belong to a community of storytellers. throughout my childhood, my mother and i spent countless hours immersed in the magical land of bedtime stories. we took daring adventures and explored faraway lands. imagination ran wild, characters came to life, and i became acquainted with heroes and lessons that continue to inspire me today. it was a ritual that i will never forget., in school, i met many other storytellers—teachers, coaches, and fellow students whose stories taught me valuable lessons and enabled me to share stories of my own. my stories took shape through my involvement with theatre. i have learned that telling stories can be just as powerful as hearing them. when i tell a story, i can shape the world i live in and share my deepest emotions with the audience. this is exactly why i love theatre so much. the audience can relate to the story in many of the same powerful ways that i do., i love to perform with my theatre class to entertain and educate young audiences throughout my community. to tell our stories, we travel to elementary and middle schools performing plays that help educate younger students of the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and bullying. as storytellers, we aim to touch lives and better the world around us through our stories..

This essay is well organized and follows a clear narrative arc. The student uses this essay to display their strong storytelling skills and abilities. Not only does this essay demonstrate the student’s passion for theater and its communicative potential, but it also shows their level of engagement with their craft and community. 

This essay covers a lot of material in a small space. The student starts their essay with their childhood and their overall source of inspiration, addresses their background in theater thoroughly yet succinctly, and ends with their plans and excitement for the future.

Key takeaways on Duke University supplemental essays

For your Duke writing supplements, focus on writing detailed, concise statements. Make each word, phrase, and sentence count. Be sincere and authentic. For the Duke optional essays, ask yourself if responding to each of these prompts will enhance your overall application. Use your best judgment. 

Take time to honestly reflect on your answers and decide if each of these prompts will give your application a competitive edge. Sometimes less is more, so don’t feel pressured to respond to the optional prompts if they don’t resonate with you. 

FAQs related to Duke supplemental essays

Read on for some frequently asked questions and their answers as you organize yourself and prepare for college applications.

How many supplemental essays does Duke have?

Duke University has three supplemental essays. One of these supplemental essays is required; the two others are optional. The required Duke essay is often referred to as the “why Duke essay.” The two optional prompts differ year to year but generally focus on life experiences and cultural diversity.

Should I answer the Duke optional essays?

Use these essays to further personalize your application. Duke is highly-selective, so take advantage of every opportunity to make your application memorable. If you are struggling to come up with meaningful responses, however, the optional essays may not enhance your application. Always be genuine and sincere. Do not exaggerate personal details to seem like a more desirable applicant. 

When do the Duke supplemental essays come out?

Duke supplemental essay prompts are typically released by mid-August. Check their website to stay the most up-to-date. The prompts will be released by the time the common application is open. 

How do you stand out to Duke?

Use each Duke application essay to show off your passions and personality. Do your best to write creative, genuine, well-structured essays. To stand out, you need detailed, memorable essays. As you respond to each Duke essay prompt, ask yourself if your answers are interesting, engaging, unique, or creative in some way. Even if you don’t necessarily have a unique answer, you can find a unique way to share your experiences. Think outside the box!

• August 9, 2022
• 11th Grade , 12th Grade , College Admissions

How to write Duke supplemental essays (2022-23 essay prompts guide)

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12 Duke Essay Examples That Worked

Updated for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.

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Duke University is a great fit for students looking for a blend of lively student culture and academic rigor. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country. Students are empowered to explore innovative fields of research in subjects as disparate as political science and astrophysics. Its vibrant student body cannot be overlooked, either. It’s often said that Duke students bleed blue (their school color), and basketball culture runs deep at Duke! Overall, Duke University produces graduates that are highly sought after by businesses all around the world, thanks to its large student population, distinguished professors, and varied array of resources.

Unique traditions at Duke

1. The Devil's Stomp: This occurs at the end of each academic year and is a campus-wide dance-off held in the Duke Chapel. 2. The Iron Dukes: This tradition dates back to the 1950s and is still practiced today. It is a group of students showing their loyalty to Duke athletics with creative cheers and music. 3. Vespers: Every Sunday, students and faculty meet at Duke Chapel to sing psalms and hear catholic Mass. 4. Duke Farms: This is a tradition that began in the 1930s and is still ongoing to this day. It is a program that lets Duke students connect with nature and become more sustainable. 5. Ring Dance: This is an end-of-year tradition at Duke where seniors wear their ring and celebrate the accomplishments with a formal dance.

Programs at Duke

1. DukeEngage: DukeEngage provides students with the opportunity to participate in community service projects around the world. Through this program, students gain both valuable experiences and a greater understanding of social justice issues. 2. Flipside Improv Troupe: Flipside is an entirely student-run improv comedy troupe at Duke University. Through their performances, they offer students an opportunity to explore their creativity and take a break from the stresses of school life. 3. Student Rescue Team: This volunteer organization focuses on urban preparedness through education and training. Student volunteers participate in teaching, training, and responding to emergencies. 4. Duke Debate: Duke Debate is the official debate team at Duke University and is the oldest organization on the campus. They have won numerous awards across the country and have been a driving force in cultivating public debate on issues facing society. 5. Devil’s Tale Literary Magazine: The Devil’s Tale is a literary magazine dedicated to showcasing student written works creations. The magazine accepts submissions in all genres, from stories, poems, and plays to non-fiction and visual art.

At a glance…

Acceptance Rate

Average Cost

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Real Essays from Duke Admits

Prompt: why duke.

I’ve always been a storyteller, whether I’m telling my own stories with creative writing, another creative’s story with theater, or a business’s story with marketing. Duke is an ideal match for me because its interdisciplinary focus would allow me to pursue a variety of avenues within storytelling.

As part of Duke’s English Department, I would explore a range of courses: seminars on Jane Austen and Grimm’s fairy tales, workshops in writing fiction and screenplays, and instruction on navigating the publishing industry. The Duke in New York program would also contribute to my learning with hands-on experience in media and entertainment. Outside of my major, the “Markets and Management” certificate would further my marketing skill set.

As part of Duke’s diverse student body, I would be an active member of Hoof’ N’ Horn, eagerly running shows as stage manager or director and collaborating on the Production Council. Editing for The Archive would build my skills in literary analysis and editing. By fully embracing the academic and extracurricular opportunities, I know I would thrive as a student and storyteller at Duke.

Essay by Abby

English major interested in creative writing, theater, & film

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Someone with the same interests, stats, and background as you

The Admissions Strategist

How to write the duke supplemental essays 2020-2021 (examples included).

Duke University has an acceptance rate of 9% and is a prestigious school that is appealing to thousands of applicants, thanks to its excellent programs and warm southern climate.

Duke also ranks in 9 th place on the list of Top National Universities by US News.

So, can you stand out from such a competitive applicant pool ?

One way to do so is through your supplemental essays! This guide will help you write the best Duke supplemental essays.

Click above for a video on how to write the Duke supplemental essays.

What are the Duke Supplemental Essay Requirements?

Duke requires you to submit a supplemental essay for the program that you are applying to, and gives you the option to respond to up to two other essay prompts if you feel that there are aspects of your background that were not covered in other parts of the application.

The supplemental essay prompts can be found on Duke’s admissions website and are also reproduced later in this guide.

Tips from Duke University

Before we get into the specific questions associated with each program, Duke has some general tips for their applicants when writing the supplemental essays.

• It is not easier or harder to be admitted to one program or another.
• Pick the school and academic fields that best match your interests.
• One of the short essay questions is required, and the other is optional.

Concerning the third bullet, Transizion recommends that you respond to optional essays that pertain to you.

That is, if the essay has something to do with your life, you should answer it. Writing essays can be tiring and stressful, but this advice is for your own good.

The main point of the first two tips is to remind you that it will be easier to write your essays on the field you’re interested in than on the field you think has the higher acceptance rate.

When answering a question about why you want to attend Duke and study at a program, never write about the following:

• Location (perhaps your fascination with the Research Triangle)
• Social life

One thing that you may notice about Duke’s supplemental essay questions is that they are generally more straightforward than some of the other more creative questions you may have received from other schools.

Thanks to this straightforward nature, just write:

• Don’t craft a gimmicky introduction.
• Stick to a simple structure.
• Make sure to brainstorm different ideas, themes, values, hobbies, and interests . You don’t want to write your essay, only to realize that you now have a better idea and should have started writing with it.

If you have a firm idea of what you would want to study at Duke, use this supplemental essay to show the admissions committee!

• Talk about the classes and resources that you would take advantage of as a student at Duke.
• For example, discuss an upper-level mechanical engineering course on mechatronics that you want to take.

Admissions committees don’t necessarily expect students to know exactly what they want to study before they step on campus, but they do want to make sure that their school, or in this case, engineering, is really what you want to do.

Think about why you want to study engineering and what about studying the subject at Duke interests you.

For example, you might be interested in tissue engineering and drug development but aren’t sure whether you’d like to major in biomedical engineering or chemical engineering.

• Is there a professor whose research fascinates you? Why?
• What classes would you take as a student at Duke?
• Is there an extracurricular that you’re excited to join?
• Is there an aspect of your current education that sparks inspiration within you?
• What about engineering do you love? Design? Solving problems? Inventing? Math?
• Do you have inventions that you’d like to share with the world?

Get personalized advice!

Thus, ask yourself:

• How will Duke’s engineering program help me accomplish my goals?

“Why Duke?” Supplemental Essay

Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you.  Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attract you?  (200 words maximum)

This supplemental question is straightforward and can be broken down into two parts:

• Why do you consider Duke a good match for you, and
• Is there something in particular about Duke that attracts you?

When approaching the first question, you should focus on your own experiences and why you think that you would be a good fit for Duke.

You might focus on the following:

• Your academic interests
• Your community interests, and how your experience would add to the existing communities at Duke.
• Alternatively, there may be a community that you see Duke does not have, so you could argue that bringing your community to campus is what makes Duke a good match for you.
• For example, you might be interested in the political issues of an obscure social group that Duke is not aware of. Write about that.

This is the time to talk about the resources that Duke would offer you as a student.

• This might be a certain major, a particular professor, or a student organization.
• You should talk about how you might use those resources as well.
• For example, there might be a music group on campus that you’d be interested in joining because you’ve been in choir for the past few years.

Still having trouble? Here are more straightforward questions:

• What student organizations do you want to join?
• What do you plan to study? Why?
• What professors do you want the opportunity to talk to?

Tie the answers to these two questions into your essay, and you’re done!

“Why Duke” Supplemental Essay Examples!

Here’s an essay from a student who applied and was accepted to Duke:

The forty-two volunteer opportunities at the Duke University Medical Center was one of the first facets of Duke that drew me in. The DUMC student volunteer program offers diverse and enriching experiences for undergraduate students, especially those interested in pursuing medicine like myself. Digging deeper into what Duke has to offer its pre-medicine students, I am drawn to the rigorous courses as I thrive in academically challenging environments. Furthermore, the university’s connections enable pre-medicine students to have meaningful experiences in professional workplaces, such as opportunities for shadowing. Shadowing is a key element that attracts me to Duke since it is an essential component in preparing for a health career. This opportunity is something that I value because it provides a realistic insight into the skills and proficiency needed in the professions, as well as an understanding of the numerous paths in health care. Outside of experiences directed at pre-medicine students, Duke also offers a wide variety of activities and clubs to create a well-rounded atmosphere for their students. It is important to me to follow the hobbies and passions that lay outside of my educational focus, so I am excited to explore the variety of clubs and organizations. I have actively participated in traditional Indian dance and volunteered within my community for as long as I can remember, so it was exciting to find student groups within Duke committed to the passions I already have, such as Duke Dhamaka, Blue Devils United, and Environmental Alliance. I’m looking forward to finding communities at Duke, both inside the classroom and out, to which I belong.

Here’s another “Why Duke” Essay Example:

I am particularly interested in Duke’s strong emphasis on interdisciplinary education. This unique learning environment will allow me to explore my varied interests, which include studying neuroscience and economics. I am interested in understanding the intersection between these fields, where I can gain insight into our human decision-making system. Engaging in Duke’s renowned Center for Interdisciplinary Decision Science will allow me to collaborate and take part in neuroeconomics research under the guidance of the field’s leaders and pioneers. I am specifically interested in the research of Dr. Huettel, who correlates quantitative behavioral data with neurobiology to reveal interesting analyses about human behavior. In the future, I hope to use my background in the social sciences and the interdisciplinary education from Duke to arm myself with a diverse set of skills to provide the highest quality of care in my career as a physician.

A third “Why Duke” Supplemental Example:

Duke students and professors exhibit curiosity, a love of learning and a contagious school spirit. I want to be a part of it. I was first drawn to this passion for learning and infectious school spirit when I attended the Duke Ac tion Science Camp in fourth grade. During the camp, I was awed as I watched a professor’s excitement as he made a reaction with calcium carbonate hot enough to cook on. I waded into a creek to observe all sorts of critters, got to extract DNA from a strawberry and even went to visit the lemurs. I was hooked! The action-packed camp ignited my love of learning for science and the arts. My decision to make Duke my home was made final by my visit last summer. My family spent the whole day exploring and talking to students on Duke’s campus. While each student had a different story, they all shared the same passion. Every student emphasized the diversity of the student body, the collaborative nature of the community, and each student we spoke to shared the same excitement that I remembered that science professor having all those years ago. Duke provides the academic challenges, collaborative environment, and impassioned, curious community that I am looking for.  Having been a Stanton Blue Devil for the last four years, I am ecstatic about the possibility of becoming a blue devil for another four years!

Duke Diversity Essays

If you read through these essay questions and find that there is something you want to say that hasn’t already been mentioned elsewhere in your application, go for it. Your perspective and experience are important.

Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had to help us understand you better—perhaps related to a community you belong to or your family or cultural background—we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)

These are fairly personal questions, so if there are any experiences that you feel have shaped your upbringing and/or led to your decision to apply to Duke, let them know here.

For example:

• Did a grandparent raise you?
• Did you have to work to support your family?
• Have you been diagnosed with a chronic condition?
• Did you immigrate to the United States from another country?
• Are you an active member of an organization that promotes the welfare of a particular social group?

Whatever it is, Duke’s admissions committee wants to hear it and is giving you the space to tell them here.

You don’t need to feel constrained when writing this essay. Think about your strengths, weaknesses, struggles, challenges, accomplishments, family life, genetic conditions, and other elements that have influenced your life.

“Diversity” doesn’t mean ethnic or racial diversity; think about what you bring to the table. These questions will help you brainstorm:

• If you entered a room full of people, what would you tell a stranger about your life story?
• What have been your greatest struggles and challenges?
• Name an accomplishment, no matter how small or large, that you worked hard to attain.
• What are three traits that are essential to understanding you?
• What do your family and friends love about you?
• Is there a story from your life that is a crucible? Name the dramatic changes you went through after this crucible.

Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes gender identity and sexual orientation. If you would like to share with us more about either, and have not done so elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here.  

This is also a personal question, but if you do have experiences relating to your gender identity or sexual orientation that you would like to share with the admissions committee, do so here.

• For example, you may have realized you were bisexual in high school, or maybe you don’t identify as male or female.
• Has your gender identity changed over time?
• Did you discover that your sexual orientation was not what you originally thought it was?

Again, you do not have to write a response to this essay if you would prefer not to.

Duke Diversity Supplemental Essay Examples

I was just trying to buy a Sprite and pay my hundred rupees. The cashier was starting to look as hassled as I felt, speaking urgently in a language I couldn’t understand. We were both frustrated and the cashier stormed off to another counter and grabbed a plate from under it. At this point, I’m thinking “Why would I need a plate for my Sprite?” Normally at shops, the employees know enough English, and I can understand the gist of the Tamil words with my own Telugu background. This time, we were both extremely confused. Eventually, after non-verbal communication and pointing, I realized she was supposed to offer me a free plate with my Sprite because of a deal.  Most people are surprised to learn that moving to India was a huge adjustment for me even though I’m Indian. Yet, considering I was moving to a country I never lived in, a state whose language I don’t speak, and a culture I’m not fully part of, it has been a definite challenge. From the language barrier to the culture change, and even the conservative manners and customs, I have had to adapt to a new way of living. All of that and living in a country that is different culturally and socially from the United States gave me a new perspective of viewing my place in the world. I am confident that these experiences will help me make the community at Duke even more inclusive and understanding of differences.

Growing up in a Sindhi Indian family, I was brought up following unique cultural traditions of music, art, and dance. However, one of my favorite parts of my upbringing revolves around baking Sindhi desserts like khorak, majoon, and khus-khus seero. I have vivid memories of beautiful Saturday afternoons that my mom and I spent baking these sweets, filling the room with a brilliant aroma. I remember slowly gaining an appreciation for the patience, care, and subtle attention needed to cook these deserts. These dry fruit desserts, traditionally baked in India, are used to celebrate important and beautiful occasions, such as weddings and holidays. My family and Sindhi community, however, also use them to remember and enjoy the often overlooked moments in life, aiming to spread joy and happiness to those who eat them. Through eating these desserts alone, I often see smiles from my family members, as they reminisce about their earlier joyful memories of relishing these sweets with their loved ones, celebrating life’s beautiful moments. At Duke, not only do I hope to bake these deserts for others, but I also look forward to embracing new traditions from other students excited to share aspects of their cultural identity. Overall, I hope to use these sweets to share at least a snippet of my culture with the Duke community. With every small progress that I may make with my peers at Duke, I hope to share this beautiful emphasis on celebration that I have gained from my Sindhi cultural upbringing.

Conclusion: Writing the Duke Supplemental Essays

Now that you’ve finished this article, you should feel prepared to start writing your supplemental essays for Duke University.

Additionally, don’t forget to proofread . These essays are short, but you don’t want to apply with a false sense of confidence. Go through every line looking for the passive voice, typos, and punctuation errors.

If you get stuck, feel free to revisit this article for some brainstorming tips. Good luck!

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