Duke ED Deferral

If you applied Early Decision to Duke and learned that your application was deferred, you’re not alone. Many strong applicants receive this outcome each year. A deferral simply means Duke was not ready to make a final decision in the early round and will evaluate your file again during Regular Decision.

Students often want to know what a Duke deferral means, whether there are published deferral acceptance statistics, and what steps they should take next. This guide explains the process and how to move forward thoughtfully.

Possible Outcomes at Duke Early Decision

If you applied ED to Duke, you will receive one of three decisions:

• Accepted under Early Decision
• Deferred to Regular Decision
• Denied

Duke Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Duke's most recent Early Decision Acceptance Rate was 12.8% for the Class of 2029. The Acceptance Rate for the Class of 2030 has not been released.

Duke Overall Acceptance Rate

Duke's overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 5.1%

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What Does a Duke Deferral Mean?

A deferral indicates that your application was competitive, but Duke wants to review it in a broader context. Common reasons for deferral may include:

• The committee wants to see midyear grades
• They need more context within the Regular Decision pool
• Space in the ED round was limited, and they are reassessing class needs

Next Steps After a Duke Early Decision Deferral

1. Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)
   
2. Submit Your Midyear Report
   
3. Consider an Additional Letter of Recommendation (if it adds value)

How to Write a Duke LOCI

1. Reiterate Your Strong Interest in Duke
   If Duke remains your first choice, say so clearly. A thoughtful Duke Letter of Continued Interest shows genuine enthusiasm and commitment.
2. Share Significant Updates
   Include meaningful new information that strengthens your candidacy, such as major awards, new research or publication progress, or leadership roles that have expanded since you applied.

Strategize Remaining Applications

‍Although you cannot change your Duke materials (aside from updates through the portal), you can improve your applications for other schools. A deferral gives you time to refine your overall strategy before January deadlines.

• Refine your Application Narrative. (If you don't feel like you have a strong narrative, check out this blog article!)
• Revisit your Personal Statement
• Strengthen school-specific supplementals
• Update your activities list
• Confirm that your college list is balanced

How We Can Help

• A detailed review of your Early application to identify any red flags or weaknesses that may have contributed to your deferral
• Personalized advice on crafting an effective Letter of Continued Interest
• Actionable steps to improve your chances of turning a deferral into an acceptance this spring
• Guidance on refining your narrative and overall admissions strategy for RD or ED II

If you’d like support with your LOCI or your Regular Decision applications, feel free to reach out.