I am wondering what my chances are of being accepted to Duke University if I apply Early Decision. I am a caucasian male from Minnesota and my uncle is a Duke graduate. I go to a private high school of around 300 students. I have a 3.99 GPA (unweighted) and have taken my high school’s hardest classes. I have a 31 on my ACT which I am aware is slightly below average. However, I have earned 10 varsity athletic letters. I am the captain of the soccer, basketball, and baseball team. I have received All-Conference honors in both basketball and baseball. I also have been an editor of our yearbook for two years (Junior and Senior). My biggest extracurricular activity has to be student council. I have served all 4 years I have been in high school. My first 2 years I was class president/representative, my last two years will be served as Student Body President. As Student Body President I have planned retreats, homecoming, and have started a spring event.
I think you have strong chances. As you know your ACT is a bit low but you have an excellent GPA. It helps if your father has been generous over the years or has otherwise stayed in contact with Duke. Two more points on your ACT would help you a lot as would very strong essays. Spend time this summer with either an ACT practice book or working on essays or both
Here are a few, BRIEF points:
a. Congratulations, you’re certainly competitive, however;
b. You MUST improve your ACT results (by several points);
c. Your uncle’s status does not provide any legacy advantage (only parents/step parents/grandparents/step grandparents);
d. ED will marginally enhance your admissions opportunity;
e. Your essays and recommendations must be stellar . . . hopefully, they will catapult your file from the approximately 70 percent “distinguished pack” – all of whom have stellar records, merit matriculation, and would do VERY well at Duke – to the “we really need this youngster” category;
f. Your competitive athletics will not be a “hook” (although they – and the remainder of your ECs – are quite excellent), UNLESS one of Duke’s varsity coaches is actively attempting to recruit you.
Good luck, I wish you the best.
Try for at least a 33. Otherwise, I’m afraid not. They “weed out” in their first read of apps to make it less work. I’m afriad with a 31 you might get weeded out.
I heard that some 40% of admits have a (old) SAT of over 1500…
The average ACT score from those accepted in my high school over a span of five years is 32 (about 100 kids applied in those five years, with about 24 accepted). I do agree with @Wje9164be, however - if you can spend some time this summer and take the ACT one more time in the fall to maybe increase your score, that may help you. But you really should focus more on your essays than anything else. Good luck!
I’d like to add one pertinent fact to @dukeblue2019’s post. During those same five years, Duke’s annual aggregate admissions percentage has steadily declined . . . simply stated, every year it is somewhat more difficult to be accepted. Therefore, a standardized test result that might have been marginally satisfactory for '15 or '16, could very well be unsuccessful for '20.
However, @colpro3, Duke really looks at each application individually, appraising every element of documentation and trying to assess each candidate holistically. This is NOT “admissions speak,” it is “fact.” It means that there is no established minimum ACT score for Duke acceptance. Your application appears to be unusually strong in other key areas, which certainly will improve your chances.
Accordingly, you should work very hard on your essays – make them compelling to the Readers and Admissions Officers – be sure your recommendations reflect your outstanding high school performance A ND your potential, and diligently prepare for your ACT retest. However, don’t feel that “all is lost” if your result is (for example) a 32; obviously, better scores would be beneficial, but you have a decent shot under any circumstances.