Hi guys. I was deferred from Duke after applying ED. After some thought, I feel like my supplemental essays and first quarter senior grades were my weakest points. I think I was deferred because Duke wanted to see if my senior grades would improve or not. When I sent in my first quarter grades, they were pretty awful-5 As and 2 Bs. I know these grades may not be awful for some but my grade trend throughout high school has been mostly all As with the occasional B. However, due to a series of unfortunate events (no pun intended) that were mostly family related during the entirety of the semester, my first semester grades have remained the same as they did during the first quarter. I did not list this in the Additional Information section of my Common App as I didn’t want to come across as a whiner but now that I think about it, these events really did play a part in my mediocre first semester results. I heard that communication with one’s regional admissions officer is key when trying to get admitted after being deferred. Should I tell my regional admissions officer about these circumstances or will they just be dismissed as lame excuses?
I really wanted to go to Duke and would choose it over any other school. I am disappointed that I was deferred but am grateful that I still have a small chance.
Thanks
-TheTennisNinja
It would be perceived as whining. If the circumstances truly are bad talk to your GC and have them speak with Duke. And I’ll forget you wrote this:
That’s not far off of this: