Chance me for Duke ED! Will chance back within 24 hours!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys please chance me for Duke ED! I will chance you back within 24 hours! Everything is as follows:</p>

<p>White male from Washington State
Currently a Senior.
Intended major: Biology (I want to do cancer research)</p>

<p>I attend a public high school that is ranked in the top ten in the nation by US News.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.95 UW (School does not do weighted)
Class Rank: NA (School does not rank)
AP classes: World History (4), French (3), Bio (4), Lit (4), APUSH (4)
Taking AP Calc AB, AP Physics B, AP Lang, and AP Gov. And French 6 which is beyond AP level. Then I have a couple other classes that are required. This is the most rigorous schedule possible. </p>

<p>ACT w/ Writing: 33 (34 superscore with 9 on the essay) (35E, 32M, 32R, 36S)
SAT: Not submitting
SAT Subject Tests: Bio M 790, Math II 750, US History 670</p>

<p>Activities (only the ones on my application):</p>

<p>Cross Country (9-12) Captain
-I do a lot to organize things outside of races and practice. I also did a lot this summer to lead workouts.</p>

<p>Relay For Life Club (12) Co-Founder and Exec VP
-This is a club to raise money and awareness for cancer throughout the year, rather than just during the Relay for Life event. This s very important to me.</p>

<p>Relay for Life (9-12) Team Captain
-I captained a Relay for Life team that generated almost $10,000 in donations to the American Cancer society. I worked to organize fundraisers and everything to prepare for the event.</p>

<p>Notre Dame Summer Scholars Student (12)
-I completed the Global Health Track at Notre Dame. I presented a project comparing prevention, presence, and treatment of cancer in the world.</p>

<p>Science Club (11-12) President
-In Science Club we carry out various science experiments and participate in Science Bowl. We were quarterfinalist in the Pacific Northwest last year.</p>

<p>French Exchange (11)
-I hosted a French student for three weeks. In return I lived with him in Nantes, France for two weeks, and then traveled Paris for a week.</p>

<p>Track and Badminton Coach (10-12)
-I coached middle school students strategies in badminton and javelin throwing. Since I began coaching, all teams have been undefeated.</p>

<p>Ski Instructor (10-12)
-I taught 4 and 5 year olds basic skiing skills; standing up, turning, stopping, and using the chairlift. I incorporated games to make it more fun.</p>

<p>Track and Field (10-12)
-I am ranked in the top 5 on the team for Javelin. I run the 1600 meter and 800 meter races.</p>

<p>Mission Trip (9)
-I traveled with my church to a migrant worker camp. We made and distributed lunches, reorganized the food bank, handed out food, and entertained kids.</p>

<p>Additional information:
I am currently working on a senior project on stem cells. I am interning at a top cancer research center to learn about stem cells. My responsibilities include: taking mature red blood cells and centrifuging them into separate parts; then using this, creating induced pluripotent stem cells from the red blood cells by reprogramming them; next generating, maintaining, and cyropreserving the new stem cells; and finally, differentiating them stem cells into two different lineages, first into cardiac muscle, then into red blood cells again. In the end I will teach a class to high school students about centrifuging blood cells and then explain how this was essential to my project and research in general. This is entirely my project, and not some program that I am jumping into. </p>

<p>I have also been in orchestra for 8 years, and can play the Bass and Cello. I am the Principal Bassist of my Orchestra.</p>

<p>I am member of JSA and have received a varsity letter for being in the top 10% of participants of the club.</p>

<p>Essays:
Common app essay is very strong. It is about skiing with my dad and how I enjoy challenging myself. I have spent much time on it and it really reveals a lot about who I am.</p>

<p>Duke supplements should be pretty strong as well. I really like what I have so far, but I am still working on them.</p>

<p>Letters of Rec:
Letter from AP bio teacher. I had her for 2 years, she is the advisor for Science Club. She is also my staff contact for my senior project. It should be amazing.</p>

<p>Letter from APUSH teacher. It should be pretty good, but nothing incredible.</p>

<p>I'm also getting a letter from someone I am working in the lab with on my senior project. She really wanted to write me a letter and it should be great.</p>

<p>My sister is also writing me a letter of rec. (She's in college. I asked the admissions officers and they said it would be fine.) I bet it will be pretty good as well.</p>

<p>Please chance me for Duke Early Decision! I will chance you back ASAP. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this! I will gladly take any feedback!</p>

2

<p>Dude
Duke-YES!!!</p>

3

<p>I’ll go line by line. Sorry if it sounds a little blunt, but just going to be honest. Seems really impressive overall though. I have two friends who got into Duke last year. I tried to make this as detailed as possible.

  1. You attend a public high school that is ranked well- so this should mean that it is competitive, which is good.
  2. You’re currently taking Ap Calc? My school isn’t that great of a school but we have sophomores taking AP calc. This way the AP score will be in before college app. However, if this is the most rigorous schedule possible it won’t hurt you. Are you planning to retake French Ap test? You got a 3 on it, and since you are in French 6, you might be able to take it again and get a 4 or 5. (this is just for the credit probably won’t help you in the application process)
  3. Your ACT is really near the top, it might help you slightly but not too much considering it’s Duke.
  4. Bio SAT is really impressive. And everything seems “aligned” because you want to major in biology.
  5. Do you have any records for cross country- adding them would help. The Relay for Life things I really amazing. The French exchange thing is really good for an essay topic btw.- sounds interesting.
  6. was ski instructor a job or volunteering?
  7. College admissions officers don’t like “padding” on an application. How long did the mission trip last? (you want to put mostly the things you did for a long period of time). And since you did the mission trip as a freshman….
  8. Senior project sounds very good. But you have to try to make this sound as original as possible. Cancer is very…popular.
  9. How many Bassists are there at your Orchestra? (just curious) my school orchestra only has like 3 in the highest level.
  10. Some of the stuff is repetitive, there are some guides (books) out there that can help you a little. Basically in the eye of an admissions officer. … you already said you were in cross country for four years and you’re captain and track for three years, of course you earned your varsity letter! (sometimes less is more). But if this was really important to you keep it in there.
  11. Wait so you have four letters of recommendation? And it’s kind of weird they are letting you use family as one of the letters.
    The application pool is different each year. You’re in that grey area where depending on how competitive the other applicants are would decide whether you got in or not.
    What I want to know the most about is the stem cell research you’re doing….this could honestly make or break your application. This is something that’s sort of special and unique (I mean think about how many kids do sports, how many kids like science, how many kids volunteer), so how good your senior project is might be a big factor.
    Also the essay about skiing with your dad. Make that as original as possible. IT should have nothing to do with (family is important, skiing reveals how I see myself, etc) so basically stay away from clich</p>
4

<p>Thanks for such a thoughtful response!
My school has people ahead in math as well, I’m just not. And I do not plan to retake the French AP test.
The French exchange was great, but I’m not going to write an essay about it because no prompts work well for it.
Yeah I may change up the mission trip one. There are some clubs I have been consistently a part of that I may put there instead and I just won’t mention the mission trip. But it was a week long.
Yeah my project is original. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but it is a solid project.
There are only a couple Bassists in my orchestra.
Yes Duke requires 2 teacher recs and 2 optional letter of rec. The application speficially states that you can use family for a letter of rec.</p>

<p>Can you specify the redundancies? </p>

<p>Yeah I’m aware that my Senior Project may be a big factor. If you want updates on it feel free to PM me.
It is a very original essay. The entire essay is a narrative of one run. It is not like one of those cliches at all. If you want I could PM it to you and you could read it.</p>

<p>Thanks! I hope I can get in! Duke is definitely my top choice! That’s why I’m applying ED.</p>

5

<p>There was only one redundancy with the varsity letter thing.</p>

<p>Hope you get into Duke:) </p>

<p>You seem really into this Senior Project which is good.</p>

<p>Plus ED is really good for Ivy League schools, there was some book on it but I can’t remember the name. Plus most of the really really hard competition will ED Harvard or Princeton, so that gives you a really great chance of getting into Duke. </p>

<p>Oh and did you ever take AP Chem?, because that sort of relates with biology.</p>

6

<p>Duke ED: match</p>

<p>Seriously. Match. I’m confident that you’ll get in. Duke ED has a 30% acceptance rate and your ACT score and GPA (especially considering rigor) are both above average. ECs are good with some leadership roles.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1560801-final-chance-thread-chancing-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1560801-final-chance-thread-chancing-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>“I’m confident that you’ll get in.” Please don’t heed such a ridiculous assertion. Nonetheless you’re still a great candidate and have solid chances. The biggest thing going for you sounds to be your school–do you have a history of Duke acceptances?</p>

8

<p>

</p>

<p>Yeah, ridiculous… Duke fills 44% of their freshman class with ED at a 30% acceptance rate. Much easier than RD. OP is above average anyways for Duke. It’s in no way a safety but OP is very competitive for Duke ED. Stats wise it’s a match. Personally, I think he will get in.</p>

9

<p>You’re very well rounded, if you are applying ED I would say you’re in, a match. Being in a varsity sport looks really good along with your killer grades. As long as your essays are as good as the rest of your application, I’d say you’re in.</p>

<p>Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1555615-vanderbilt-ed-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1555615-vanderbilt-ed-chances.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>You’re a unique applicant with a great fit for your intended major. That being said, I’d say you’re a high match for Duke ED! I would say match, but Duke is Duke. Make sure to highlight the stem cell research and good luck!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1561336-chance-me-cornell-ed-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1561336-chance-me-cornell-ed-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>I think you have a very, very good chance for Duke. Much higher than most people. I would say: Match- High Match. I also want to go into cancer research, but I am going the Biomedical Engineering route as opposed to pure biology. Anyway, good luck! </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1559607-chances-getting-into-bu.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1559607-chances-getting-into-bu.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>I have not taken AP Chem. I wanted to take it but I needed a physics credit for many of the schools I’m applying to so I’m taking AP physics instead. </p>

<p>My school usually gets about 2 kids into Duke each year. And about 7 or so apply. However I am the only one doing ED to Duke from my school this year. </p>

<p>Thanks guys! I really love my research. And it would be nice if it helps me for my applications too. </p>

<p>Also I’ll chance you all back in a little bit once I get access to a computer. It is hard to do on my phone. But I’ll do it as soon as I can! </p>

<p>Also do you guys all really think I have that good of a shot? I really hope I get in but I am not expecting it. </p>

<p>Thanks for all of the thoughtful responses! I greatly appreciate it! Anyone else have any input?</p>

13

<p>Bump anyone? I’ll give you virtual hug!</p>

14

<p>Bump please someone</p>

15

<p>You are in my brother! And that is for sure! :)</p>

<p>Chance me back if you have the time. :stuck_out_tongue:
Chance me for Caltech, MIT, and all the Ivy Leagues!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=16423156[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=16423156&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>Duke- high match
Your scores are pretty good but it’s your ECs that are VERY impressive. They show a lot of dedication and leadership but also dimension in your interests (running–skiing—stem cell research- wow!) It is also great to note that (as previous commenters have said) everything you do and have done seems to align with what you plan to do. Best of luck! :)</p>

17

<p>You are a solid applicant as everyone has already told you. Your senior project sounds really good. Overall well-rounded and of course applying ED is great. I don’t know what else to say that hasn’t already been covered here.
Good Luck on getting into Duke!</p>

<p>Chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562128-ivy-chances-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562128-ivy-chances-2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

18

<p>I would say high match. Scores and ECs are really good, as well as the research you’ve done. Good luck!</p>

19

<p>Definitely a match!You’re very well rounded with your extra curricular’s and GPA! Good Luck!</p>

20

<p>With your research and stats, I think you’re going to get in (especially if you do early!) Chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562631-any-chance-yale-3.html#post16461687[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562631-any-chance-yale-3.html#post16461687&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;