Chance an international applicant?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hey guys, </p>

<p>I am a rising senior who attends a Canadian public school. </p>

<p>I plan on majoring in Political Science. </p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (92% high school average so far)</p>

<p>Academic Rigor: I take 4 of 6 AP courses offered at my school - Math (Adv. Functions & I plan on taking Calculus & Vectors next year), English (Literature & Composition), Biology, Economics ** All of these courses I plan on taking next year</p>

<p>SAT scores:</p>

<p>Critical Reading - 770
Math - 730
Writing - 800</p>

<p>SAT II scores:</p>

<p>Biology - 780
Math II - 800
Literature - 750</p>

<p>•Political staff writer for high school newspaper
•Mentor/Prefect – peer advising; peer leader; freshman orientation program
•Founder/president of community service club/student organization – human rights awareness for youth
•Class president on student government
•Co-President & founder of school’s Model United Nations team
•Editor-in-chief of yearbook committee
•Co-President of DECA
•School advisory council – Student Representative
•Chair/councilor of city youth council
•Special Needs children’s ministry – church community service & volunteer work
•Captain/Coordinator of provincial Model Parliament school team
•Worked as a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons to children; taught first aid & CPR (summer jobs)
•City council work; re-election campaign worker for political race
•Executive on region's Presidents’ Council
•Member of debate union
•Founder & Co-President of Politics Club </p>

<p>I'm working on my essays right now, and I have a unique passion that I believe will stand out and truly show who I am as a person. I plan on getting a recommendation letter from my history teacher who knows me personally beyond my work as a student. My other letter will probably come from my AP English teacher, as I got the highest mark in her class. In addition, I believe the LOR from my guidance counselor and principal will be nothing short of stellar.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I do not have any significant honors/awards. I have A LOT of school awards, but no academic awards beyond school. I know this isn't an excuse, but there are very few academic extracurricular opportunities in Canada in comparison to the States.</p>

<p>As an international applicant, the competition will be more rigorous, but I would like to know how you guys think I will fare.</p>

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

2

<p>Please help me out!</p>

3

<p>Will you be applying for financial aid? Because that makes a big difference as an international applicant.</p>

4

<p>Nope, no financial aid</p>

5

<p>Not applying for financial aid certainly gives you a better chance. Your GPA and test scores are certainly more than good enough for Duke. I don’t know how rigorous your courseload is with regard to what is offered at your school. But I like that your ECs are focused yet still show some diversity and that many of them involve leadership positions. The question is whether you can tie that into a bigger picture of you as an applicant in terms of your vision for your time in college as well as long term goals through your essays and recs. From the looks of it you seem like a driven goal-oriented person who is very clear about what your goals are so if you can show that in a mature way then you would be a strong applicant. </p>

<p>But of course, no guarantees as college application is apparently now little more than a crapshoot.</p>

6

<p>I go to one of the most competitive public schools in my province. The education/curriculum in my province (ontario) is considered to be the most rigorous in the country. American universities highly regard the curriculum here in Ontario, and in general, Canada. With that said, my course load is definitely considered the most rigorous in the school. Canadian schools don’t rank, but if they did, I would certainly be in the top 10% of my class, as most kids in my school don’t get in the 90s or take AP courses.</p>

7

<p>SBR, I appreciate your thorough input very much!</p>