<p>I love Duke so much and I would do anything to go there. I know my GPA is the lowest part and is the part that will hurt me the most, but what I can do to improve my chances the most? I plan on minoring in Music and I'm undecided in terms of a major at this point. I have some connections with Duke as my dad went there for undergrad and Law school, and I know applying ED with Legacy gives a significant boost. What do you guys think?
Stats:
[] SAT:1860 (Not sending)
[] ACT: 32
[] GPA: 3.6 Weighted, I'm taking the most rigorous curriculum possible
SIGNIFICANT upward trend -sophomore year 3.35 junior year- 3.8
[] Rank: School doesn't rank
[] Other stats: Junior Class President, SGA President (Senior Year), Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Newspaper, Yearbook Editor, Captain of Cross Country Team, Tour Guide, Ambassador of Prestigious Summer Travel Program, Student Conductor/Director of show band which was nominated for national award, been playing piano for 8 years, participated in many state competitions. 100+ Hours of community service in Spain, Morocco, Peru. Summer internship in Boston for all of July</p>
<p>Subjective:
[] Essays: will do something very creative, already have an idea.
[] Teacher Recs: Very close with teachers, great recs
[] Counselor Rec: great
[] Hook (if any): legacy</p>
<p>Location/Person:
[] State or Country: Maryland
[] School Type: Private, VERY competitive
[] Ethnicity: White (50% Lebanese.. so maybe Arab American )
[] Gender: Male</p>
<p>You should know that Duke considers a double legacy someone that has 2 parents or grandparents that got their undergrad degrees at Duke, not a parent with 2 degrees.</p>
<p>That being said, legacy advantage is much stronger when applying ED, so if Duke is clearly your first choice, you should strongly consider applying ED. This is particularly true since your GPA will probably be in the bottom quartile of accepted applicants, and ACT is in the middle 50%.</p>
<p>The most important part of ANY college application is: what did you take in high school and how did you do in those classes?</p>
<p>All else is way secondary, including extracurriculars and performance on the SAT/ACT. Heck, some schools (Wake Forest, for example) don’t even REQUIRE the SAT/ACT for admittance anymore! I think those standardized tests are on the way out, frankly, and they should go. </p>
<p>Any school is going to look at your academic record first and foremost, period. </p>
<p>My rec here is for you to take as many AP classes as you can take as a senior to show you are serious about school, and make as many As as possible, then apply ED. I don’t believe, however, that the double legacy thing is going to make you better IF you keep on your current track. Remember, Duke can FILL UP their entire freshman class with high school vales and you are competing against them.</p>
<p>Dukedad- Oh ok, then I was mistaken. I don’t have double legacy. But my Dad did attend Duke undergrad and Law school, so hopefully that will help more than just undergrad, but who knows. </p>
<p>Kitesurfer- I understand that grades are the most important part, and that’s what worries me. I do take an extremely challenging course load (multivariable calculus (which is more advanced than AP Calc BC) and all others are AP’s). In my school, a 3.66 is an A-, so I currently have a little below an A- average, but that is weighted. Unweighted it is about a 3.4. I just wanted to know what I could do to maximize my chances because I do think my extracurriculars are very strong and I am retaking the ACT in September and I hope to get a 33+ then. </p>
<p>If anyone has any suggestions PLEASE respond and I will chance back or answer any of your questions! Thanks!</p>
<p>Absolutely. In fact, it can actually be seen as a negative if you are a legacy and do not apply ED. As with many colleges that consider legacy status, Duke admissions see a legacy that applies RD as possibly sending a signal that Duke is not their first choice. I have heard this directly from admissions reps. Thus, legacy status helps much more when applying ED vs RD</p>
<p>I think you’ll probably get in. You’ve got GREAT ec’s which is always a huge plus for privates. However, that GPA could be your tragic flaw Don’t expect to get in, but don’t lose hope. Best of luck!</p>
<p>You have an amazing chance of getting in. Please do NOT listen to whoever said grades were most important and that all of Duke are valedictorians… SO NOT TRUE. I am currently a Freshman at Duke and I know that this is not the case. Improvement in your academics (like you said you are doing) is great. But what is more important is finding your passion and running with it. Duke is over the Harvard Valedictorians…Duke wants the MOVERS and SHAKERS of the world. They are looking for people who can do amazing things OUTSIDE of the classroom! So find a passion other than school and do great things with it. Ask me any other questions! :)</p>
<p>I have been closely affiliated with Duke for over four decades, as a student, a volunteer leader (including admissions), an alumni member of several senior Councils, Boards and Executive Committees, and a financial contributions solicitor/planner. You really need to be aware of two central “legacy” issues:
All legacies for undergraduate admission enjoy a slight statistical benefit.
However and critically, those legacies whose parents and/or grandparents have been actively and perpetually involved with Duke – financial donations (of course), but more significantly LEADERSHIP and the investment of both extensive time and substantial talent to enhance University governance – will have a decided advantage.</p>
<p>In essence, the graduate who has been fundamentally detached from Duke will improve the legacy’s opportunity only marginally, whereas the child of an alumnus who has made a major, lifelong and deeply personal commitment to Duke will receive true admissions enhancement.</p>
Don’t expect to get in, but don’t lose hope. Best of luck!</p>