Navigating Drake University Admissions: Understanding the Acceptance Rate and Requirements

Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, is known for combining specialized academic programs with a small school feel. If you're considering applying to Drake, understanding the university's acceptance rate and admission requirements is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive overview of what it takes to gain admission to Drake University.

Understanding the Acceptance Rate

Drake University's acceptance rate is a key indicator of how selective the admissions process is. With an acceptance rate of approximately 63.9%, Drake is considered moderately selective. This means that while the university doesn't accept every applicant, it's also not among the most competitive schools in the country.

What Does This Mean for Applicants?

A 63.9% acceptance rate suggests that Drake University expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in.

Academic Requirements: GPA

GPA is a very important academic factor. Drake University requires you to be above average in your high school class. To be a competitive applicant, you'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's.

GPA Range of Admitted Students

Here's a breakdown of the GPA ranges for most admitted students:

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3.75+: 60%
3.50-3.74: 17%
3.25-3.49: 11%
3.00-3.24: 6%
2.50-2.99: 6%
2.00-2.49: 1%
Below 2.00: Not available

Strategies for Addressing GPA Concerns

If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.69, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications.

Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT

Drake University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores, it's likely test flexible. Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Drake University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students.

SAT Scores

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1120, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1320. This means that if you score between 1120 and 1320, you're within the average range of admitted students.

ACT Scores

The average ACT score at Drake University is 27. The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 29. Aiming for a score of 27 or higher will significantly improve your chances of admission.

Superscoring Policy

Drake University uses a superscoring policy for the SAT. This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Drake University will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Drake University forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore.

Read also: Opportunities at Drake University

Strategies for Improving Your Scores

If your SAT superscore is currently below 1230, consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

To apply to Drake University, you'll need to submit an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews.

Regular Application Deadline: March 1
Early Action Deadline: December 1

Holistic Review

Drake University conducts a holistic review of applications. Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances.

Factors Considered

In addition to academic performance, Drake University considers the following factors:

High School GPA (Required)
High School Rank (Neither required nor recommended)
College Prep Courses (Considered)
SAT/ACT Scores (Considered if submitted)
Recommendations (Considered)

Campus Life and Opportunities

Drake University offers a diverse and exciting range of social scenes that are easily accessible and easy to get involved in. On campus, “Drake’s Student Activities Board, as well as several other on-campus organizations, offers many programs and things to do throughout the week and during the weekend as well. Different speakers, bands, comedians, and other forms of entertainment visit campus. As with any college, there are parties to attend on the weekends, but it’s not limited to that-basketball games are a really big campus event and the Drake Relays are always fun too!”

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