Can I use the same recommendation letters for Duke and Rice?

Yes. You can use the same teacher recommendation letters for Duke and Rice, and in most cases your teachers should write one strong, broadly applicable letter rather than separate versions for each school. Both institutions value recommendations that show how you learn, contribute in class, handle challenge, and relate to others, so a detailed letter from a teacher who knows you well will serve both applications.

Your teachers do not need to tailor the letters heavily to Duke or Rice. A generic but specific-to-you letter is preferable to one that tries to force school-specific praise. Ask teachers to focus on concrete observations: a memorable class discussion, the way you approached a difficult project, intellectual curiosity beyond assignments, or how you supported classmates.

Submit the letters through the application platform you use, where the same recommender can typically assign their letter to multiple colleges.

An optional recommendation from a mentor, supervisor, research adviser, or arts instructor may be tailored separately if that person has a genuine reason to connect your work to a particular academic program, community, or opportunity at Duke or Rice.