Applying to Duke: How To Apply: Our Policy on Recommendations

Recommendations give us another avenue to learn who you are. That's why Duke requires two teacher recommendations that come from teachers of academic courses during your 11th and 12th grade years. Also, we ask that you submit a recommendation from your guidance counselor. Click here to download the general application instructions and either of these forms.

We also offer the chance for students to submit a Personal Recommendation. This recommendation is optional, and can come from a coach, a director, a teacher from an elective course, a family member, or anyone else that you feel knows you well and will give us a better idea of who you are. There is no required form for this recommendation. Just ask the person to submit a one-page letter to our office. This optional information will be considered in our understanding of you as a person, but will not be formally evaluated as part of your application. If you do not submit the information, your chance of admission will not be affected.