Chance Me: Duke Neuroscience applicant from NYC

Demographics
US citizen
NY
Public
White

Neuroscience or Psychology major

GPA 97.5/100 (weighted), school doesn’t rank, 35 [ACT]

Coursework
6 AP Classes by the end of senior year and self studied for AP Bio (only allowed 1 soph year, maximum three for junior/senior year) - all fours and fives
2 dual enrollment classes

Awards
AP scholar with honor
advanced regents diploma
hero of nyc award (community service)

Extracurriculars
founded community service club, music organization for underprivileged communities, VP of ASL club, community advisory board in selective research program, ambassador for dual enrollment program, varsity soccer player (starting player since freshman year)

Essays/LORs/Other
Strong essays

Schools
[Duke] ED
University of Southern Cali
[Dartmouth College]
Univ. Virginia
[Vanderbilt]
[Wake Forest]

Duke is a reach as it is for almost everyone.

Your list of schools is too reach focused; you need to add some match and some safety schools.

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Wake Likely - the others - ehhhhh - could be or maybe not. Those schools are all a lottery. You are great but the problem is there are too many like you. So you’ve done what you need to do and it might work out. But there are no guarantees.

Make sure to have a safety - a SUNY or a Pitt type school, etc. Or a U of SC with Honors (#1 Honors) for example…just as a back up.

I have a feeling you’ll be ok though - but there’s many a kid like you who comes back and says I got in nowhere - and it’s because they didn’t set a safety valve.

Good luck.

The top schools are looking for “interesting” people to create a diverse class. Nothing leaps off the page here…

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I can’t chance you, but hope that you have some matches and at least one affordable safety on your list.

Make sure to get UVA app in by EA Nov 1 deadline, make the Wake Forest merit deadline of Nov 15 (also request an interview by then), and make the Vandy Dec 1 merit deadline.

Is Duke ED affordable per their net price calculator?

OP claims to want to major in neuroscience. How do they know that? There are no awards or ECs that seem to be relevant or demonstrate accomplishment in this area. The credentials listed kind of a look like the garden variety “excellent student” profile. However, nearly everyone applying to these schools looks like this…

So your informed advice to a 17 year old weeks away from application deadlines is become interesting?

OP your academic performance and test scores are very strong and make you a competitive candidate. Use that same determination and diligence in your essays and hopefully your LORs will shed light on your ability to contribute to a collegiate community.

As others have mentioned you need a more “diverse” list of schools with higher acceptance rates but you stand a fighting chance.

FYI I have never met a “cookie cutter” neuro science major. Then again I haven’t met many neuron scientists. Somehow I suspect you have plenty of material to make your uniqueness evident to those reading your application. Good luck in achieving that goal.

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No, not to become “interesting”. That’s a marathon, not a sprint…

But, the question was a “Chance Me”. So, back to the original question as posed by the OP, what are the chances, my answer is not great. Again, based upon the information provided.

Just a suggestion but there is a difference between tactfully expressing concern about a kids app list being reach heavy, constructively making suggestions, or even highlighting what you determine to be a lack of unique ECs and telling someone they aren’t interesting.

One is helpful and kind and the other is neither helpful nor kind. I am sure your intent was to be helpful and kind.

Have a great night and OP please let us know when you land at one of your top choices!!

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I have enough safeties - clemson, boulder, and lehigh as a target, I was just asking about my higher reach schools.

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I also had an internship with the neuroscience department at a local hospital this summer with a stipend awarded for research, and completed neuro research with the research program mentioned.

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Those sound like good experiences, make sure you list those in your Activities section on the common app. You also could consider writing in more detail about those experiences in the Additional Info Section.

I noticed you didn’t answer my question about Duke ED being affordable. Have you run their Net Price Calculator? What is your college budget, or are you not applying for financial aid?

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Add that as an edit up in your post if it will let you. That will get a few folks to back off.

This part shifts your chances and can tie pieces together to you. Even your music org part can tie in with neurosci and psych as you weave this together.

Highlight this with Wake. That is a little less reachy than your other ones. Wake has lots of research opportunities for you and that area of North Carolina has a lot of community needs that you may be interested in getting involved with.

Dartmouth is a strong one to focus on for you and they have opportunities with their hospital that you may like. They absolutely read the essays and the letters of referral to find out more about you. This is where you can shine.

UVA out of state is tough for all.

Duke is elusive for so many. In RD, they know they are considered a safety by some applying to the HYPs, so applying ED helps them know you are serious even if they defer you and then waitlist you. They are similar to other schools about their waitlists. They will send emails requesting confirmation with language about your interest in attending as they protect their admin rates and yield.

Just checking, in the small chance you get into Duke ED have you run the numbers with your family with the NPC? Duke’s merit only goes to a small percent and their need based aid is generous, but only to those who qualify. And they do not stack aid and merit or outside scholarships.

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Before I chance, there is more information needed:

What APs did you take, and what scores for each?
What is your senior course load? Course rigor matters for Duke and these other schools.

Even if your school does not rank officially, many schools provide a profile to colleges that will somewhat stratify GPAs–are you in the top 10%?
Would your teachers likely describe you in your recs as one of the top few kids in the grade? The best this year? One of the best in many years?
Is it a regular public school or a magnet/test-in school? Did you take the SAT but are not submitting it?

APW-4 APAH-4 APCSP-5 AP Bio- 4 (self study)
Currently taking AP Psych, Phsyics C, and calc AB.
Teachers may not describe me as top few kids in the grade, but i had close relationships with each of them and excelled in their classes.
The public school was a screened school when I applied, meaning it was very difficult to get into.
I did not take the SAT at all because i did so well on act

Based upon this additional info, I would still say very low chances… Why not take Calc BC? The AP scores are okay, not super. If your teachers cannot provide glowing praise, then it’s going to be quite tough. Think about whom you are up against. Are you comfortable ending up at your safeties? Again, sorry if this is harsh, but just trying to be realistic…

35 is spectacular - 99th percentile.

That said, given the list of schools - okay is not the word I’d use - but they likely reject more 35s than they accept.

I think Wake is a match - I wouldn’t bet it all on Wake (as a safety) but I feel good there. Still need a Syracuse or Pitt or something underneath.

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Ok great!

Based on the responses, I think your chances are close to the average ED accept rate of around 20%, because my overall assessment is that you are roughly an average ED applicant. That is my best estimate considering the details offered on this thread. Good luck! Make your essays stand out and make sure they really indicate who you are and why you are a good fit.

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