Chance me please! - Duke ED Applicant, Class of 2027

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Demographics Anywhere, preferably east coast. Currently living in Maine and attending a public high school. Muslim hijabi, Black, and female.
Intends on studying anything under the pre-med category, specifically global health or any related health major.

4.0 UW, Unsure of rank due to school not providing it, going test-optional.

Has plenty of AP’S, Honors, and college courses listed on resume. Taken almost every challenged class offered in every subject.

**Awards: ** Principal’s Award, MVP for Lacrosse, Health and Phys Ed award, and more.

**Extracurriculars: ** Yale Young Global Scholar program, Business Professionals of America, team leader for Girls who Code, French Club, Lacrosse, Tutoring, Gifted and Talented programs for writing, social science, and more. Organizes events at the Mosque, as well as helping teach young kids Quran. Gets mentored by Tufts University Medical Students in a club called ‘Inside Medicine’. National Honors Society. Most likely attending Duke University’s Pre-college program in the summer, as well as volunteering at the hospital. Co-founder for science magazine.

Not yet sure about essays, may talk about dealing with being hospitalized in a third world country and how that shapes the view of the world to this day and the connections between intended major.

Any budget.

**Schools: ** Duke University (early decision), Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins, Northeastern, Boston University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Brown University, Tufts University, and any other colleges you recommend.

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do all those schools offer Test Optional? My twins are applying the same season and most schools have not yet committed to a test-optional track for next year. Something to keep an eye out for.

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If the test centers are open, I would highly recommend taking the SATs. If you don’t present tests, the assumption is likely that they were mediocre. After all, we’re all human here. Cynically, I would think that test optional is for those with hooks or some incredible “wow” factor… Just my 2 cents…

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Are you pre-med? It looks a little like that to me. It’s a more competitive group into top colleges. If you are or not pre-med, make sure it’s clear.

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My school doesn’t offer the SAT, but I’m still planning on taking it. I usually do bad with test-taking due to my anxiety, which is why I am most likely applying test-optional if these schools allow it.

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I would apply for a hardcore STEM major that is not CS or Biology. Like Physics, Math, Chemical Engineering. Public Health is not the best strategy.
You have time, focus your ECs.
Are you a US citizen or PR? if not, the road just got harder.
You say any budget. What does that actually mean? Are your parents able to pay $80K per year for undergrad and then another $80K per year for med school? Have you actually run the NPC on each school’s site to see what the EFC will be? Have you spoken to your parents about it?
Finally, if you are stressed about SAT/ACT, why choose medicine? It is brutal and talk about stress!! Just something to think about.

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I feel like I do not have the classes or ec’s to apply for a hardcore STEM major, and I am a US citizen. By budget, I mean that getting scholarships would be nice, and Duke is great with financial aid. And it’s not that I am necessarily stressed about the SAT/ACT, it’s just that my school doesn’t offer test sites which is why I am still planning on driving to a test site near me, but I am not too confident about my score based on my previous PSAT scores. I’m not 100% sure about pursuing medicine as well, which is why I am also thinking about becoming an epidemiologist, hence the global health major.

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The first thing you need to sort out is budget, the second thing you need to sort out is budget and the third thing you need to sort out is whether your parents will be willing to sign loans if required because often times, meeting full need is code for taking out loans, which is also budget. Top schools do not offer too much merit. It is almost all need based. Let’s say your NPC says the need is $30K and your parents will pay $20K then what? You need to know the numbers.

If you want guaranteed money then look beyond the T50 schools. There are many schools that will give very generous merit aid. Especially, to a deserving Muslim woman in STEM. Look at the imbalance of sexes at say Rose Hulman, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and other top STEM schools. They are highly regarded and might be a far better springboard for someone like you. Or, you could consider need-blind schools. There are few but most are need aware.

A lot of the schools you have on your list are either extremely competitive (Duke, Dartmouth, Hopkins, Brown) or prefer students that can pay a lot of money along with stellar grades. UNC is ivy level tough for OOS. Also, you probably know this, Gillings at UNC is the top public health program in the nation. I believe Hopkins has a very reputable program as well.

Your list of schools may need to be revisited based on your circumstances. There are many very helpful parents here that can give you good input. All the best.

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