Am I on track for Duke University?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Am I on track for acceptance to Duke University looking at my first two years of high school? Here is a list of things I have done in my freshman and sophomore years of high school:</p>

<p>Freshman Year</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<ul>
<li>Two Honors Courses (Chemistry Honors and Geometry Honors) </li>
<li>Two Electives (Multimedia Design and Concert Band) </li>
<li>Maximum Number of Credits </li>
<li>Community Service Honors (50+ Community Service Hours) </li>
<li>GPA - 2.957</li>
<li>Chemistry Honors (usually taken by strong juniors at my school): C+</li>
<li>Geometry Honors: C-</li>
<li>World Civilizations: A-</li>
<li>English I: B</li>
<li>Spanish I: B-</li>
<li>Multimedia Design: A</li>
<li>Concert Band: A+ (counted as half of a course)</li>
</ul>

<p>Extracurricular</p>

<ul>
<li>Elected Ninth Grade Class Council Officer</li>
<li>Volunteer at the Children's Section of a local library </li>
<li>Judge in the Elementary School Science Fair</li>
<li>Performed in the School Spring Drama Production</li>
<li>Member of a Church Youth Group </li>
<li>Host at a School Open House</li>
<li>Wrote and Acted for two different short plays in the Instant Drama Festival (less than 24 hours to write lines and less than 12 hours to learn lines)</li>
<li>Member of the Chess Team</li>
<li>Summer Volunteer at a hospital</li>
</ul>

<p>Sophomore Year (so far)</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<ul>
<li>Two Honors Courses (Biology Honors and Algebra II Honors) </li>
<li>One AP Course (World History AP) </li>
<li>Two Electives (Computer Science and Concert Band) </li>
<li>Maximum Number of Credits </li>
<li>Community Service Honors (50+ Community Service Hours) </li>
<li>GPA - ? </li>
<li>Biology Honors: B+/B</li>
<li>Algebra II Honors: B/B-</li>
<li>World History AP: B/B-</li>
<li>English II: B+</li>
<li>Spanish II: B-</li>
<li>Computer Science: A/B+</li>
<li>Concert Band: A+ (counted as half of a course)</li>
<li>PSAT - 184 (without prior preparation)</li>
<li>PLAN - 22 (without prior preparation)</li>
</ul>

<p>Extracurricular</p>

<ul>
<li>Elected Executive Council Secretary (Highest Student Council Position Available to a Sophomore; Planning to run for Executive Council Vice President next year)</li>
<li>Elected Tenth Grade Class Council Officer (served until elected Executive Council Secretary)</li>
<li>Member of the Cross Country team</li>
<li>Member of the Swim team</li>
<li>Member of the Tennis team</li>
<li>Weekly Volunteer at the Children's Section of a local library</li>
<li>Performed in the Fall and Spring Drama Productions</li>
<li>Member of the Set Construction/Technical Crews for the Fall and Spring Drama Productions </li>
<li>Member of a Church Youth Group </li>
<li>Founding Member of a Junior State of America chapter (Appointed to the position of Chapter Secretary & Director of Debate for next year)</li>
<li>Appointed to lead the chapter at the JSA Spring State Conference</li>
<li>Model United Nations delegate</li>
<li>Wrote and Acted for two different short plays in the Instant Drama Festival (less than 24 hours to write lines and less than 12 hours to learn lines)</li>
<li>Staff Writer for the School Newspaper</li>
<li>Staff Writer for the School Literary Magazine</li>
<li>Member of the Community Service Board </li>
<li>Member of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter </li>
<li>Founding Officer of the 30 Hour Famine Chapter </li>
<li>Member of the Chess Club </li>
<li>Host at School Open Houses and School Orientation</li>
<li>Vice President of the Sports Writing Club</li>
</ul>

<p>Summer Plans </p>

<ul>
<li>Teen Leadership Summer Volunteer at a hospital</li>
<li>Mission Trip in Nicaragua for one week during the summer</li>
<li>(Hopefully) Attending the Junior State of America Northeast Institute on Leadership and National Security at Princeton University in the summer</li>
<li>(Hopefully) Attending the National Student Leadership Conference in Law & Advocacy or Intelligence & National Security</li>
<li>Attending the U.S. Naval Academy Swim Camp</li>
</ul>

<p>My overall goal is to enter the U.S. Navy as an Officer after graduation, serve for a few years, then transition to the U.S. Navy Reserve and attend a top law school.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time.</p>

2

<p>Which one is your first choice, Stanford or Duke?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/1300682-am-i-track-stanford-university.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/1300682-am-i-track-stanford-university.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>I see a lot of Bs and Cs, and not many As. I admit I’m know director of admissions, but that is a huge turn off. But never say never!!</p>

4

<p>I am no (know??) Admission Director either, but I think in this case… it is OK to say never!</p>

5

<p>a 2 point anything gpa is, to be frank, going to make it impossible to get into Duke or Stanford.</p>

6

<p>My bad on the spelling. I usually don’t have time to proof my posts, no matter how short.</p>

7

<p>I think that you should concentrate on centering yourself in your academics, discover what subjects really speak to you, and commit yourself to being the best student you can be. You have a million activities. Do you love them all? They look impressive to me. But I wonder if you are over involved because there are so many. Really think about which ones speak to you. Which ones feel worthy of your time? Which ones uplift you? Delve into those. Only stay involved in the ones that enrich your life. </p>

<p>Duke wants to see that you throw your heart into whichever activities resonate with you. It’s far better to be impactfully involved in a few activities than superficially involved in many. However, maybe you love all your activities. What motivates you to do all that you do? Ask yourself this. </p>

<p>All schools like to see upward trends in grades. You must continue to significantly improve your GPA each semester. If your goal is to go to a very selective college, you must do this. Your grades, even if you show marked and significant improvement, are very very low for Duke and Stanford. It’s not to say that you won’t get in, but you will have to commit to turning those grades into all A’s. </p>

<p>I think that you sound like an amazing kid. As the mom of three amazing kids, only one of whom is a Duke student, let me say that there are lots of ways to do it right in this world. Duke and Stanford are two great ways to “do it right.” However, there are many schools that would value the performance that you’ve done so far–if you continue to do all these things. (no more C’s though…OK?) Spend some time talking to your parents or older siblings and figure out what you want your path to be. If you want to get into the most selective college possible for you…concentrate on the upward trend in grades and the focusing in of just 2 or 3 of your ECs. But if you love your life and you think the balance you have found between academics and ECs is perfect for you, just broaden your school choices! There are WONDERFUL schools out there who are a lot less selective than Duke and Stanford. Why do you even like Duke and Stanford? Have you visited? There’s a whole world out there, my young friend. Don’t only dream of schools with the most popular names.
Being the kind of student who gets into Duke is one great way to be. I applaud it! However, there are other ways to live a great life. You have to figure out who you are and then BE that person. Words from an old lady who thinks you sound like a very cool kid.</p>

8

<p>The people who apply to Duke and Stanford have perfect “A” transcripts and a lot of them still do not get in. If you want to have a chance at a highly selective school, you will have to focus much more on academics. Schools do not want to see a vast list of activities if the student could be improving grades.
Good luck and no matter what you will find somewhere good to go</p>