<p>Trying to decide between Duke and Williams ED. Very different obv, but I really like both. Here are my stats</p>
<p>4.0 unweighted
34 ACT (6 on writing eh)
Ranked 3rd/598
Will have 13 AP classes by end of senior year, mostly 4's couple 5's one 3 (took 2 over the summer, kinda unique?)
National AP Scholar
National Merit Semifinalist</p>
<p>4 years very competitive HS baseball, 3 years varsity
4 summers of summer baseball
Coached several summers of little kids baseball camp
Collected used baseball equipment for Roberto's kids to be shipped to impoverished kids in Latin American countries.</p>
<p>Over 100 hours on 2012 Obama campaign, "fellow" with OFA (Obama for America)
Intern at local financial services corporation (planning on Econ major)
Think pink Kids member
NHS
CHS
Mu Alpha Theta</p>
<p>Recommendations should be strong, counselor one ok, she likes me but doesn't know me too well.<br>
Common app essay is strong.
Haven't written Why Duke, have some decent ideas. </p>
<p>I'd like to think I have a pretty good shot but it's so hard to tell after looking through this forum!</p>
<p>Hey im a freshman at duke and I think you have a pretty good chance eding to duke. Your stats look good and the Obama thing looks cool. kinda lacking a common theme though and could use a little more leadership</p>
<p>You seem in pretty good standing. Definitely really show your spirit through the supplement because you have stats like other high-scoring/well-rounded applications. The internship looks good. You’re in their range - you just have to show you love the school!</p>
<p>I do think I’m lacking some leadership, I’m hoping they will see baseball as a common theme through volunteer coaching and collecting the used equipment?</p>
<p>I’m actually getting a chance to see a basketball game when I go to visit in a couple weeks, so I’m planning on writing my essay on the all the excitement surrounding Cameron Indoor and Duke Basketball. Hopefully that’s not too cheesy. </p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, I’ll reply to yours right now.</p>
<p>specularplane, I thought you must be kidding. But in case you are not. Hope you are not going to consider writing about Cameron and Basketball. Get a copy of the Harry Bauld book 25th anniversary of On Writing the College Essay…and get serious about writing an essay that shares more about You for the adcoms. Duke is a highly academic institution and they will be building a class to fulfill all of the potential of every aspect of campus…academic and extra-curricular. The student body is intensely diverse. Cameron is a great uniter for school spirit for people who go about their days doing very unique things from each other. Don’t worry about leadership anymore. Work on your essays, get feedback and sweat it out doing varied drafts and do-overs. Essays and references are the things you still have control over. best of luck</p>
<p>You seem like you are a strong applicant. The internship in relation to what you want to major in should be very helpful. I think both schools are low reaches ED, and you have a decent shot at getting into either. I hope it works out for you! Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with Faline2 (how many hoops/Cameron essays do you suspect Duke receives in every admissions cycle?). I suggest you use that essay to explain with enthusiasm precisely what you might bring to the Class of '18 that isn’t common – and loving Duke Basketball won’t meet that criteria.</p>