Chances and Areas in Need of Improvement

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Applying to the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. Also, I attended an information session from a Duke University representative at my school; does this help my chances? Also, the representative said that the chance of acceptance for South Carolina and North Carolina students his higher (maybe 33%)?</p>

<p>RACE: African American / Black</p>

<p>GENDER: Male</p>

<p>LOCATION: South Carolina</p>

<p>MAJOR: Political Science</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 Un-Weighted / 4.7 Weighted</p>

<p>RANK: 3 / 337</p>

<p>SAT:
Critical Reading - 660
Math - 600
Writing - 610 (7 Essay; 63 MC)</p>

<p>SAT II: Taking Literature and US History in November (maybe 650+)</p>

<p>GRADES:
FRESHMAN YEAR
Algebra 1 CP - 97
French 1 CP -99
Algebra 2 Honors - 91
Physical Science Honors - 88
English 1 Honors - 98
World History Honors - 95
Honors Seminar - 99
French 2 CP - 96
Physical Education (CP) - 100
Computer Applications (CP) - 96</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE YEAR:
Geometry Honors - 94
Biology 1 Honors - 90
English 2 Honors - 95
AP European History - 89
French 3 Honors - 97
Visions of the Future Seminar (Honors) - 95
Art 1 (CP) - 96
Health (CP) - 96</p>

<p>JUNIOR YEAR:
Algebra 3 Honors - 97
Chemistry 1 Honors - 93
AP English Language & Composition - 99
AP United States History - 96
AP Art History - 97
Introduction to Philosophy Seminar (Honors) - 97
Global Issues Seminar (Honors) - 96
French 4 Honors - 97</p>

<p>SENIOR YEAR:
Pre-Calculus Honors
Physics Honors
AP English Literature & Composition
AP United States Government & Politics
AP French Language & Composition
Talented & Gifted Art (Honors)
AP Studio Art
AP Human Geography
Twentieth Century Seminar (Honors)
Economics CP (could not fit AP)</p>

<p>EXTRACURRIULAR ACTIVITIES:
Youth Action Council: Co-Chair / President; Finalist in the Project Ignition National Seat Belt Campaign; presented multi-media campaign at the National Youth Leadership Council's (NYLC) National Service-Learning Conference; recipient of the Best Grassroots Impact Award for working with South Carolina legislators to enact stronger seat belt safety laws; recipient of the $25,000 State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant; distributed over $45,000 in mini-grants to district teachers and students since inception year to support service-learning and civic-engagement projects</p>

<p>Student Government
Senate; House of Representatives; Representative-at-Large; National Association of Student Councils (NASC) Council of Excellence Award; Certificate of Excellence and Varsity Letter for 300+ Hours of Service; South Carolina Association of Student Councils (SCASC) Gold Honor Council Award; Junior Class Leadership Council Secretary; Certificate of Excellence for 200+ Hours of Service; Sophomore Class Leadership Council Secretary; Outstanding Freshman Class Service Award for 100+ Hours of Servce; South Carolina Association of Student Councils (SCASC) District Conference; School Improvement Council (SIC)</p>

<p>Scholars Symposium / Honors Forum
Senior Class Advisory Council Representative; Junior Class Advisory Council Representative; Sophomore Class Advisory Council Representative; Freshman Class Advisory Council Representative; Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>National Art Honor Society (NAHS)
Awards and Ceremony Coordinator; Scholastic Art and Writings Award Competition; South Carolina State Fair Student Art Show; Spring Visual Arts Show; Photography Club</p>

<p>National French Honor Society (NFHS)
President / Awards and Ceremony Coordinator; Darfur Advocacy Campaign (Co-Chair); Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>National Honor Society (NHS)
Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>National Senior Beta Club
Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS:
Amnesty International USA
"Malaria No More" Campaign (Duke University Medical Center)
STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition
Genocide Intervention Network
Andy Thomas Radio Network Teen Forum Show
National Service-Learning Partnership
Service-Learning and Civic-Engagement Collaborative Workshop (Instructor)
Good Neighbor Home Works Renovation Project
Winter Holidays Service Project
Board Election (Co-Manager for Gregory Branch)</p>

<p>SUMMER EXPERIENCES:
The Governor's School of South Carolina at the College of Charleston (Collective Memory of World War II; The Holocaust in Film)
South Carolina Business Week at Presbyterian College
Clemson University Program for Academically Talented Students</p>

<p>ACADEMIC HONORS:
Principal's Scholar Honor
National Ventures Scholar Program
National French Contest Level 4 Honorable Mention Award
Junior Marshal at Senior Graduation
Coker College Scholar Award
Lander University Junior Fellow Award
Newberry College Scholar Award
University of South Carolina Aiken Scholar Award
University of South Carolina Upstate Scholar Award
AP English Language & Composition Award of Excellence
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Junior English Award
South Carolina Governor's Scholar Award
Golden Palmetto Leadership & Service Merit Award
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sophomore History Award
National History Day Certificate of Achievement
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Freshman Social Studies Award
Academic Honor Roll
Duke Univeristy Talent Identification Program Scholar
Scholars Academy / Honors School</p>

2

<p>Alright, so I'm not an admissions officer so I can't really tell you whether you will get in or not but I can give you some feedback.</p>

<p>One is, as far as I know your intended major isn't part of your application. (I don't remember it being part of it when I applied)</p>

<p>Two, I don't think that the fact that you attended an information center has any impact on your application other than maybe letting Duke know early that you are interested but I don't see this affecting your final application at all.</p>

<p>Three, I was under the impression that while more students get accepted from North Carolina that was mostly because more applied. In fact I've heard its actually harder to get in because all the top students from the area wind up applying to Duke. So I think its actually a disadvantage living closer to the school, if it affects your chances at all. (not fact, just what I have heard from my friends from North Carolina) </p>

<p>Four, do you do any extra curriculars just for fun? Because if you do I'd be sure to include them in addition to your "government and academic honors" extra curriculars because colleges like to see students are well rounded. (again, not a college admissions person just a student who went through it)</p>

<p>Five, remember the college admissions when it comes down to it can really be a crapshoot. It all depends on what the University is looking for and how many other similar applicants they get. A lot of strong applicants get rejected each year simply because the university already had enough mountain climbing science fair winners and neaded more underwater basket weaving political activists. This is why it is vital to apply to a lot of colleges.</p>

<p>So overall I'd say you are on the right track but you need to remember to apply to other schools as well.</p>

3

<p>Awesome class rank...being a URM from North Carolina definitely will boost your chances...Duke has a rule regarding how many NC students it must admit.</p>

<p>The only weakness I see is the SAT scores - try to get them up to 1300 M/V and I think your great ECs will give you a great shot.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the replies and feedback! Unfortunately, those are the only extracurricular activities I do; they are all pretty time-consuming. By the way, I'm from South Carolina :) I'm really going to try to get my SAT up to a 1300 this October. My recommendations and essays should be excellent I hope. Any more comments are welcome.</p>

5

<p>Well what I mean by other extra curriculars isn't neccessarily an organized thing. It could be that you enjoy drawing in your spare time or are enthusiastic about baseball. At least when I applied I was told it was a good idea to include that kind of thing along with your more structured extra curriculars. (so I guess they are better described as interests or something, I don't know)</p>

<p>Also, are you sure about that rule thethoughtprincess? Becuase I was under the impression that there was no such rule. I know some colleges like University of Texas have this kind of rule for in state students but Duke isn't a public school so maybe they like to admit a certain amount from NC but I really don't think its a rule. (regardless our man here is from SC so it really doesn't affect him anyhow)</p>

<p>Anyway, good luck with your application Blazer08!</p>

6

<p>I dunno, when I attented the information session at my school last year the Duke University representative gave us a statistics / information chart and told us that (for what reasons I have no clue lol :) ) Duke University favors students from both Carolinas and the acceptance rate was about 33%. I don't think I still have the packet because I wasn't expecting to have sort of chance of getting accepted. My brother might though. I dunno, I hope it's true though lol.</p>

7

<p>SirGecko, I think Benjamin or James Duke made it an unofficial rule to have a significant North Carolina presence in entering student bodies - hence a much higher acceptance rate for NC students than NY or NJ students for example.</p>

8

<p>Oh ok that makes sense. Though it isn't like NC students have it easy getting into Duke though because so many top quality students from NC apply. (like I think the fact that I am from NM, as state with far fewer applicants to Duke than NC probably helped my application)</p>

9

<p>Ha - its not definitely not significantly easier. In fact, being in many states other than NC probably makes it easier - like in your case, from NM.</p>

<p>Most of the strongest kids in the state apply to Duke - Kind of like how Penn has an abundance of top Philly applicants.</p>

10

<p>Yea, you might want to improve your SATs</p>

11

<p>i kno a urm going to the gov skool that got in w/ a 1300 as well, so that should definetly help</p>