@ApplestoApples89 tbh that really isn’t true. idk where you’ve heard that from but 32 on your act being disadvantaged doesn’t look better than a normal person getting a 36, dont give false hope
@madp01 https://admissions.duke.edu/application/overview for duke they always usually say gpa and academic grades are very important. academic rigor and academic grades are the first 2 bullets. that is not true at all either that duke cares more about essays/ec’s. I wish that were true, but you need to have great grades, a strong curriculum, and a good ACT to be considered.
@sanjanagupta1 I have to disagree. his/her GPA and class rank are good and extracurriculars aren’t bad either. The main negative part of their application is test scores but there are people who have gotten in with similar/worse ones. While I agree that we shouldn’t give false hope, I also think that without knowing much about his/her essays, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc, you just don’t have enough knowledge to tell someone they have “no real shot”
@stephbin I tend to agree with @sanjanagupta1. @Vaquita has requested a “chance me” and specifically wanted feedback that was 100% honest. Based on information provided, that is what has been given. @Vaquita ‘s ECs don’t seem over the top phenomenal. The ACT of 32 is an improvement on the 30, which helps greatly. However, everything now is out of his hands. What @Vaquita should be encouraged to do is focus on alternative, quality schools where he is a better fit. Duke is a “reach” for all, and we should now be developing enthusiasm for other options if this doesn’t pan out.
- she says " I am also a member of National Honors Society, Tri-M Music Honors Society, and I am an AP Scholar."“I plan to become a forensic psychologist.” her extracurriculars are all over the place and I can’t tell what her intended major would be. Duke likes that students usually have an interest which corresponds with her major, I dont see anything like that. Her EC’s are just average.
- She never mentioned what ethnicity she was.
- Dont overestimate the impact of being financially disadvantaged, yeah it can help but it doesn’t just negate test scores & extracurriculars.
- She said be “100% honest with me. If I have no shot, tell me.” I think that is the best thing to do, especially since she wants to be honest. I’m not being rude, Duke might just not be the place for her Obviously I’m not an admissions counselor, but I have seen literally so so so so many more applicants who are much more qualified get rejected. Just because Duke isn’t the place for her, doesn’t mean she wont go to a great college.
Listing being an AP Scholar should be backed up by really good scores on AP exams. I counted one (1) score of 4 and several scores of 3. Those aren’t the best scores. The SAT Subject Test scores don’t look super great.
Sorry if I made it seem like I was accusing either of you of being rude, that’s not what I was trying to say. I understand that you genuinely are helping her but I’m just saying that multiple people have told her that she has no chance so I’m sure she understands her chances are very slim. I basically just wanted to highlight some good parts of her app and mention that only the AOs truly know what her chances are
@stephbin no worries!! :)) yes she does have strong parts of her app.
Per the above, the following were “Very Important” for 1st year, freshman admissions decisions:
GPA
Essay
LoR
Rigor of Course work
Standardized test scores
Character/Personal qualities
Extra Curricular
Talent/Abilities
Nothing was marked “Important”
They had a listing of “Considered” items, including various perceived “hooks.”