Chance me for Duke Trinity ED!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>HI, GUYS! Less than a month and a half until ED decisions come out! I am going out of my mind. A chance thread will really calm my nerves. /sarcasm</p>

<p>I applied ED to the Duke's Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. </p>

<p>Objective Data:
[ul]
SAT Reasoning: 2360 (790W, 800CR, 770M)
[<em>]SAT Subject Tests: Chemistry - 800, Math Level 2 - 800, US History - 800
[</em>]GPA: 4.0 Unweighted
[<em>]Rank: 2/309
[</em>]AP Exams: Government 5, Psychology (self-study) 5, Human Geography (self-study) 5, Language 5, US History 5, Comparative Government (self-study) 5, European History 4... Chemistry 4...
[li]Senior Year Courseload: AP Physics, AP World, AP Lit, AP Spanish, AP Bio, AP Calc[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Subjective Data: (I'll add a brief snippet of my impact/contribution as I was active in everything I did)</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>] Interact Club - President
Organized services events and fundraisers for the entire school. $700 to the Ronald McDonald House. $200 for a breast cancer event. Dozens of other service projects. Coordinated service projects with the president of county Rotary Club.
[</em>]Beta Club - President
Similarly, organized service projects. Raised $2000 for the Red Cross by a candy sale fundraiser I organized.
[<em>]Math Team - Captain and Coordinator
Organized tournaments, practices, and teams. Won a few tournaments and awards.
[</em>]Debate Team - Vice President
Won tournaments and awards. Competed in national qualifier. Taught newer members of debate. Organized fundraisers and currently organizing debate tournament hosted at my school.
[<em>] National Honor Society
Most active member. Over 400 hours. Organized school events with school counselors like freshmen orientation and presented there.
[</em>] Math Honor Society
Coordinated meetings. Was most active tutor, and thus won "Math Honor Society Student of the Year."
[<em>] Science Bowl - Team Captain
Lead my team in practices. Teach science lessons to team.
[</em>]Teenage Democrats - Founder and President
(I'm in Georgia. Cut me some slack) Head writer and editor of monthly political newsletter distributed in school.
[li]Other: Spanish Honor Society - Executive Member (Organize fundraisers and cultural events), Tutor - I work with the graduation counselor at my school and help struggling students, Violin (>4 years), Guitar (>4 years), Tennis.[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Work Experience
[ul]
[<em>] Mathnasium Math Instructor
Work everyday after school. Helped set up and run math tournament for elementary schoolers.
[</em>]Computer Repair - Self-Employed
Made over $3000 in the past 3 years.
[li]Convenience Stores [/li]I worked around a day a week at convenience stories, sometimes as a cashier, other times as someone managing stockrooms, etc.
[/ul]</p>

<p>Summer
[ul]
[<em>]School Volunteer
300 hours over 2 summers. Worked with administration to help them set up for next school year.
[</em>]Trinity Hospital of Augusta
3 summers. 300 hours.
[<em>]G5!@ Goizetta at Emory University
Business program hosted at Emory. 300 students selected from applicants in Georgia.
[</em>]Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Leadership program. Chosen by county Rotary Club. Part of $500 scholarship
[/ul]</p>

<p>Service
[ul]
[<em>]Most of my service is derived from Interact/Beta Club. Hundreds of hours of actual volunteering and also coordinating events.
[</em>]Ronald McDonald House Volunteer
50 hours
[<em>]Relay for Life
Raised $200 dollars. Participated in event for 2 years in past. This year, I'm on the Executive Committee so I'm actually planning the county-wide event and fundraisers.
[</em>]Various Honor Society Activities (NHS, SHS, NTHS, MHS)
Over 500 hours total of tutoring, service, etc.
[/ul]</p>

<p>Awards
[ul]
[<em>]1st Place Essay - United States Achievement Academy Spring Essay Contest
[</em>]Gold Level - President's Volunteer Service Award
[<em>]AP Scholar with Distinction
[</em>]National Merit Commended
[<em>]Winner - Cruming.com Essay Contest
[</em>]5 math competition awards (2nd, 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 2nd)
[<em>]3 debate awards (1st, 1st, national qualifier)
[</em>]Local Honoree - Prudential Spirit of Community Award
[<em>]2nd Place Essay - Regional Comcast Young Writers Essay Contest
[</em>]School awards: MHS Student of the Year, AP Euro Student of the Year, AP Gov Student of the Year
[/ul]</p>

2

<p>Well, I’d be REALLY surprised if you didn’t get in… my only question is - why are you not ranked #1? :wink: But seriously, I’m not sure that I would be stressing out for the next month… my sons SAT are same as yours, similar Senior AP’s, similar SAT subject, National Merit Semi-Finalist, same AP scholar award… but less EC’s and other awards. Also, we are from NJ - high competition. But he isn’t stressing right now. The whole app is in - nothing to be changed now, so it is what it is (or isn’t). I would try to relax and enjoy senior year! :)</p>

3

<p>Thanks, my3gr8boyz. Hopefully, your son and I will meet each other next fall. :D</p>

<p>DECISIONS COME OUT IN ONE MONTH.</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

4

<p>if u don’t get in… idk who would! u seem like an extremely qualified student for any university, really! why did you ultimately choose duke?</p>

5

<p>This is going to be a slam dunk for you!</p>

6

<p>Why did you even post this? You know for a fact your going to get accepted no doubts. Early congrats.</p>

7

<p>Uhhhg, no. I am no scared. You have no idea. </p>

<p>What if my Common App essay was mediocre? What if I was to creative in my Common App essay? I think I was. I think was too abstract and metaphorical. What if they miss the message? </p>

<p>I used “towards” instead of the more formal “toward” in one essay. I found this mistake literally minutes after submitting my app… </p>

<p>My Common App EC Short Answer was horrific. </p>

<p>I can’t stop thinking about the things that were bad about my application. </p>

<p>What if my teachers wrote bad recs?</p>

<p>What if the interview that I thought went really well actually was really bad?</p>

<p>I am terrified. :(</p>

8

<p>No one is overqualified for Duke, its natural to be nervous as the decision date approaches.</p>

9

<p>I know, goldenboy. </p>

<p>And you can tell from the amount of typos in my post how nervous I am. :smiley: </p>

<p>I applied EA to Chicago, UGA (lol), and GA Tech, and ED to Duke. </p>

<p>I probably spent as much time on my Duke app as I spent on the other three combined. I just want Duke. T_T</p>

<p>Judgement Day is soon. Hopefully it’ll be a happy day… so I can blow off my exams, hehe.</p>

10

<p>@RahulKShah I know how you feel my Common APP EC essay was also horrific. However, I have heard that they just want to get a general understanding of what you do in the extra curricular so the essay can be somewhat straightforward. Also, don’t worry they probably won’t even notice the informal “towards” and even if they do I can assure you that you will not get rejected or deferred for it. About the interview, I can honestly say I feel the same way. Immediately after my interview I thought it went well. Now as I think about the small errors and the few stupid responses I made I feel like it could have gone bad. We are probably just over-thinking it. Best of luck to you bud.</p>

11

<p>Rahul, do you live in GA? I’m applying to Emory, UGA, and Duke… got accepted to UGA already (no surprise)</p>

12

<p>Sanguinee, I do live in Georgia. </p>

<p>I’ve been accepted to UGA also, lol. I WILL be accepted to Tech. (I applied EA.) And I plan on applying to Emory if deferred from Duke. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen…</p>

13

<p>Thanks, Urstruly! You too!</p>

<p>Did you ED to Duke?</p>

14

<p>Emory’s my back up for Duke… pretty sure I’ll get into that</p>

15

<p>I hope Emory doesn’t waitlist me. >_< </p>

<p>I had that happen to a friend who seemed to be overqualified and who got into Penn, Duke, and Dartmouth.</p>

16

<p>I’ve thought about the overqualified thing… First heard of it referred to as “Tuft’s Syndrome”. I would think that the binding ED would encourage the Duke Adcoms to admit students ED who are very, very strong (like yourself, Rahul) and who would have a good chance at Ivies in Spring. If they were to defer these students, then Duke could lose out to other schools. With ED,they know they have us. ;)</p>

17

<p>Huh. I never thought of myself as one to use “crude” languages in posts. I guess CC and I differ on what is crude, but now I know what NOT to say in the future! And I will start reporting inappropriate posts. I have seen so many nasty posts, and it is annoying that it has been deemed that MY sense of humor and use of one euphemism need to be edited…</p>

18

<p>Haha, ANYWAY… What is your (and your son’s) ethnicity?</p>

19

<p>Best of luck to everyone applying. PM (or ask here) me if you have any questions.</p>

20

<p>Hey Rahul,</p>

<p>Apparently I cant respond to your PM because CC requires that you have 15 posts total. Bummer. </p>

<p>But Ill answer it here:</p>

<p>I think you’re fine as far as scores are concerned. Duke has implemented a filtration system that allows them to filter out applicants who clearly won’t make the cut. It’s their way to saving both time and resources. I think your grades and test scores will push you past the first round but admission ultimately boils down to whether they like you. This is where you would obviously want to shine through your essays and short answer questions.</p>

<p>I applied RD, btw.</p>