Got a call 10 am CT then an acceptance email with a merit based Scholarship of $12,000

Email to check portal.

Average message: "Your application and supporting documents have been carefully reviewed by the Art: Art History and Visual Studies department and by The Graduate School. As is often the case, the number of well-qualified applicants for admission to the Duke University Graduate School far exceeds the number of available places. Consequently, we are unable to admit all applicants judged capable of successful graduate work, and I regret that we cannot offer you admission to the Art: Art History and Visual Studies - Ph.D. program.rnThank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your application. I wish you the very best in your future career."

Average message: "Your application and supporting documents have been carefully reviewed by the Art: Art History and Visual Studies department and by The Graduate School. As is often the case, the number of well-qualified applicants for admission to the Duke University Graduate School far exceeds the number of available places. Consequently, we are unable to admit all applicants judged capable of successful graduate work, and I regret that we cannot offer you admission to the Art: Art History and Visual Studies - Ph.D. program. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your application. I wish you the very best in your future career."

Email to check website

"Your application and supporting documents have been carefully reviewed by the Art: Art History and Visual Studies department and by The Graduate School. As is often the case, the number of well-qualified applicants for admission to the Duke University Graduate School far exceeds the number of available places. Consequently, we are unable to admit all applicants judged capable of successful graduate work, and I regret that we cannot offer you admission to the Art: Art History and Visual Studies - Ph.D. program. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your application. I wish you the very best in your future career."

Phone call for unofficial acceptance, then email with official acceptance a few days later. Full funding plus TA option. Probably because I am focusing on national security policy, and Sanford is more known for its social & environmental policy, but I'll take it!

Applicant from India with an engineering background and 5+ years of work experience in the field of health and education research. Decent GRE scores q163 and v153.