Can I get into Duke with a 28 ACT score?

Getting into Duke with a 28 ACT is a long shot, as their admitted students typically score in the 34-35 range, but it's technically possible if you have truly extraordinary qualifications in other areas (like world-class talent, exceptional essays, or unique extracurriculars) and Duke is test-optional, though a 28 is well below the typical admitted student's score and makes your application much harder to stand out.

What is the lowest ACT score to get into Duke?

Even though Duke likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 34 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 34 and above that a 34 will look academically weak.

Is 28 a competitive ACT score?

Generally, an ACT score that's competitive across a range of leading institutions, will be between 28 and 36 — a score in the 90th percentile nationally.

Does Duke look at ACT scores?

Your ACT score gets your application past an initial screening, but your essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest in Duke are what ultimately determine whether you earn one of the approximately 3,000 admission offers Duke extends each year.

Can you get into Harvard with a 28 ACT score?

Average ACT: 35

The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 36. In other words, a 34 places you below average, while a 36 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 34 to have a chance at being considered.

What ACT score do you need for Duke?

Is a 28 ACT good enough for the Ivy League?

ACT Scores for Ivy League Schools

A competitive score for any of the Ivy League schools is an ACT score of about 34 (out of 36). In the table below, we showcase the ACT score ranges of the middle 50% of students who gained acceptance into Ivy League Schools.

What ACT score is top 1%?

The top ACT score is a perfect 36, which places a student in the 99th-100th percentile, meaning they scored better than 99% or 100% of other test-takers, and signifies mastery for first-year college courses. Achieving a 36 is very rare, with only a small fraction of test-takers earning it annually, often requiring near-perfect scores on the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections, though recent changes average English, Reading, and Math for the composite score. 

Which is harder to get into, Vanderbilt or Duke?

While both are extremely selective, Duke is generally considered slightly harder to get into than Vanderbilt, primarily due to its lower acceptance rates, with Duke often hovering around 6% compared to Vanderbilt's 9-10%, though both have become significantly more competitive recently, with Vandy's rates also dropping into the low single digits. The choice often comes down to specific strengths: Duke emphasizes leadership and research in the Research Triangle, while Vanderbilt offers strong programs, especially in Nashville, with varied academic focuses, making the "harder" factor dependent on your profile. 

Is it harder to get into Duke or MIT?

It's generally harder to get into MIT than Duke, as MIT has a lower acceptance rate (around 4-5%) compared to Duke (around 6-8%), though both are exceptionally selective, requiring near-perfect academics, significant extracurriculars, and strong STEM focus for MIT. While MIT is statistically tougher due to its STEM focus and extreme competitiveness, Duke is also extremely difficult and emphasizes leadership, making admission tough at both, just with slightly different profiles. 

Is a 27 on the ACT good?

Yes, a 27 is a very good ACT score, placing you in the top 12-13% of test-takers (around the 87th-88th percentile) and making you competitive for many selective colleges, though it might be below the average for the most elite universities like Ivy League schools, where scores often exceed 30. It's well above the national average and qualifies you for many scholarships and a wide range of strong public and private universities.
 

Should I retake the ACT if I got a 28?

The return on investment diminishes once you're in the high 20s, especially if your college list includes schools where a 28 is comfortably within range. Bottom line on retesting. If you have a targeted reason and a credible plan to improve, a retake can make sense.

What was Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift's SAT score is not publicly known because she left high school early to pursue her music career and never officially took the SATs for college admission, though she was academically successful in high school, graduating early with a 4.0 GPA before focusing on music. She famously called out a practice test for misquoting her lyrics, highlighting her strong grasp of grammar despite not needing the test.
 

What is the IQ of a 28 ACT score?

They don't really translate, but: An ACT score of 28 would put you ~88th percentile. An IQ of ~118 would also be ~88th percentile.

Is a 28 on the ACT good?

Is a 28 ACT Score (88th Percentile) Good? A score of 28 places you in approximately the 88th percentile of all high school students. With a 28, you're an extremely competitive candidate at a majority of schools, as well as able to consider applying to more selective institutions as well.

What kind of student is Duke looking for?

Duke wants students who demonstrate intellectual strengths, a love of learning, a sense of imagination and open-mindedness, and a commitment to their communities. We seek students who make things better and treat others well.

Does Duke interview all applicants?

Interviews are optional but we recommend it

If a student does not hear from an interviewer by November 20 (Early Decision) or the second week of February (Regular Decision), they may submit an additional recommendation in place of the interview.

Is UPenn or Duke harder to get into?

You will face tough odds at both schools, but Duke is a little harder to get into with a 5.1% acceptance rate compared to UPenn's 5.4%. You will pay approximately $1,395 less per year at Duke than at UPenn, which amounts to $5,580 over four years.

What are the top 3 hardest colleges to get into?

What is the #1 hardest school to get into? Harvard University, with a ~3% acceptance rate, remains the hardest college in 2025. Stanford and MIT follow closely, with Yale and Princeton rounding out the top five.

Who is MIT's biggest rival?

MIT and Caltech are both highly competitive science institutions, and applicants must meet minimum GPA requirements. While grades and accolades are important at both of these top universities, both consider applicants holistically, beyond academics.

Is Duke as prestigious as Ivy?

Yes, Duke University is considered on par with top Ivy League schools by many experts, often grouped with the "Ivy Plus" or "Hidden Ivies," offering comparable academics, prestige, and opportunities, though some Ivies like Harvard/Yale/Princeton are seen as slightly more prestigious due to longer history, while Duke excels in areas like research and has a strong national reputation, especially in the South.
 

What is the #1 most prestigious University in the world?

There's no single #1, as it depends on the ranking system, but Harvard University, MIT, Stanford, and Oxford/Cambridge consistently dominate, with Harvard often leading in reputation/general rankings (like U.S. News/CWUR) and MIT often topping QS, while Oxford leads THE rankings. These prestigious institutions are recognized globally for academic excellence, research, and influence.
 

Which is the easiest Ivy League to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

What did Elon Musk score on his SAT?

Elon Musk scored a 1400 on the SAT in the late 1980s, according to biographer Walter Isaacson, a score that would correlate to an IQ in the mid-130s, suggesting above-average intelligence but not necessarily genius-level, though his massive accomplishments spur ongoing debate about his true cognitive abilities. He took the test twice, getting 670 verbal and 730 math on his second attempt, with scores calibrated for that era. 

What ACT score gets a full ride?

Full-ride ACT scores vary significantly but generally fall in the 30+ range for strong merit scholarships, with top programs often seeking 33+, while some specific scholarships may accept scores as low as 26-28, but full rides usually require a high GPA (3.8+) and strong extracurriculars alongside top scores, with some elite programs requiring a perfect 36 for full tuition. 

How rare is a 29 ACT score?

29 ACT Score Standings

Out of the 1.91 million test-takers, 134036 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 1346 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 164 schools with this score.