<p>So here's the story: I'm a senior in high school, hoping to apply early decision to Duke this year. I go to a small school in a rural area with enrollment of about 800 students and not many AP courses. At most there is one student each year that goes to an Ivy League or top-tier school. My graduating class is about 177 people. </p>
<p>My ACT is a 35, with 35's in everything except Reading where I got a 36 (10 on the essay). </p>
<p>My SAT is a 2270, which I'm planning on retaking due to a relatively low reading-math composite (730 reading, 750 math, 790 writing). </p>
<p>The two SAT Subject Tests I plan on sending (and I may take another one to be safe) are 780's in Math II and Literature. </p>
<p>I've taken five AP courses so far and scored 5's in US Gov, Lang, and Calc. </p>
<p>I got a 233 on my PSAT.</p>
<p>My cumulative GPA is a 3.9 (our school doesn't weight GPA's) and my current class rank is 4th because the highest ranked kids in my grade just take the easiest classes. I've essentially taken the hardest course load my school has to offer. </p>
<p>My EC's are not notable for the most part, but here they are: </p>
<p>Gold medal (perfect score) at state forensics two years in a row. </p>
<p>I also spearheaded the first sophomore Model UN trip at our school and was basically the founder of that (just for sophomores) and also went to the Model UN conference as a junior. </p>
<p>I've participated in many clubs for all four years, including Math League, Forensics, Teen Court (an alternative to the traditional court system for first-time offenders who are minors) and Mock Trial. </p>
<p>I've been fairly active in music, participating in all of the bands my school has to offer (concert, jazz, pep, and pit) and also participating in Solo/Ensemble and receiving 1's (perfect score) at state for piano and saxophone my sophomore year and piano my junior year. </p>
<p>I've played soccer for all four years and was JV captain and offensive MVP my junior year. I played tennis freshman and sophomore year and plan to play again this year but that doesn't matter. </p>
<p>In the summer I've volunteered at the Dandelion School English Summer Camp in Beijing for two consecutive years, where I stay for 10 days at a summer camp in relatively poor conditions, teaching English as a volunteer teacher to Chinese migrant middle school children who are generally from rather low-income families in China. This is actually where my interest for Duke came from as Duke sends many students to this camp every year (there's some sort of agreement between the two schools) and I got to know some of them; they all seem to love their school and stuff so yeah.</p>
<p>I know that my EC's are probably weak, from reading many of the threads here, but keep in mind that the EC's offered at my school are not exactly stellar. This is a really small school where 50% of the kids are on free/reduced lunch so hopefully that helps give you a bit of a perspective on where I'm coming from. With all of that in mind, what do you think my chances of getting into Duke EARLY DECISION are?</p>
<p>Thanks a ton! And if there's any other info you want me to provide please ask.</p>
I really appreciate it.</p>