Am I on track for Duke University?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>First off thank you for taking the time to read this and respond.</p>

<p>I am going to be a sophomore in high school and I want to know if you think I am on track to get in to Duke University, Butler University, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, or Kalamazoo College?</p>

<p>What colleges do you think I could get into if I stay on track like this?</p>

<p>If you don't think I would be able to get in if I stay on this track, what should I do differently?</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Honors Algebra I: 4.0
Honors Biology: 4.0
U.S. History: 4.0
English 9: 4.0
Spanish II: 4.0
Robotics I: 4.0
Theater Production: 4.0</p>

<p>Sophomore Year (I will take):
Honors Chemistry
Honors Algebra II
World History
English 10
Spanish III
Robotics II
Either Civics or Econ</p>

<p>Junior year I am going to Costa Rica to study abroad for a semester and take some of the required classes online. Because of this I be able to take any AP classes my junior year. </p>

<p>When I took the ACT PLAN, a sophomore test that I took as a freshman, I got a 26 composite score (out of 32, 98th percentile)
English 25
Math 31
Reading 22
Science 26
It predicts that I will get a 28-32 on the ACT but I think it may be a little higher because I think I will do better on the PLAN next year (we take it as both freshmen and sophomores at my school)</p>

<p>This year I went on a two-week exchange trip to Germany with my school. I was on the 9th/10th grade math team and I plan on doing it next year as well. I am also on the varsity swim/dive team and plan to be all throughout high school. In addition, I coach the middle school diving team, I am in girl scouts, I have some part time jobs selling icecream, being a personal assistant, and babysitting. Next year I plan on tutoring middle school students for math as well. I am very serious about school and my grades.</p>

<p>I am in a program called the Math and Science Academy at my school that consists of the top students in math and science from each grade and we are all in honors classes for math, science, and technology. This year one MSA student even met the president. Only 28 students get accepted per class and to get in you have to apply and write a few essays, get teacher recommendations, and then you have to keep your grades up and act well to stay in the program. </p>

<p>Also, I don't know if this is relevant, but the high school I go to is ranked in the top 1,000 in the country by Newsweek, and 30th in Michigan by the Washington Post. And my school is on the AP Honor Roll</p>

<p>My senior year I plan on taking AP Spanish, and 3 of either AP Stats, AP Calc, AP Chem, or AP Bio. Also in my junior and senior year I plan on competing in another math thing for upperclassmen, but i forget what its called. I also plan on applying to be in the NHS this year as well and maybe Model UN. I am thinking about taking an ACT and/or SAT prep course too.</p>

2

<p>Duke: Reach
Butler: Aim for 28+/1900+
Kalamazoo: Aim for 25+/1750+
UMI: Aim for 31+/2100+</p>

3

<p>I wouldn’t read too much into your ACT PLAN score-- I took the PSAT and practice ACTs as an underclassman and saw dramatic improvements in my scores when I took the real tests junior year. If you really put some energy into studying, you should be able to get the results you’re looking for.</p>

<p>For Duke, you’re going to want to aim for a 34+ on the ACT. 35 or 36, of course, would be ideal.</p>

<p>Your grades are great, keep it up. As you get a feel for what general field you’re going to want to major in, start some ECs that are related to that subject.</p>

<p>You’re definitely on track for Butler, UMich, and Kalamazoo. Duke is a reach, but then it’s pretty much a reach for everybody-- I’d say you have a really good shot at acceptance if you keep up the hard work.</p>

4

<p>To everyone who says Duke is a reach: what could I do to raise my chances of getting in?</p>

<p>And this may sound dumb but what is ED? like I know its Early Decison but what is the point of it?</p>

<p>thanks</p>

5

<p>oh! another EC i forgot is i volunteer at a local animal shelter</p>

6

<p>If you are accepted, you have to go in most cAses. Early decision is binding. If you get accepted, you have to withdraw all your other applications.</p>

7

<p>At schools that value applicant interest (google for schools’ Common Data Set, check section C7), applying ED can be a way of showing interest, but you should have one by-far first choice, a “dream school” where you also have a reasonable chance of admittance. The main advantage for applicants is that you get done in December, and for the schools that value applicant interest, you likely get a slight bump in chances for admission. If you apply for financial aid, you must withdraw applications to other schools when you accept the financial aid offer from the ED school.</p>

<p>Have a look at [College</a> Search](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/) which will help identify schools you like where you also have a good chance of admittance.</p>