Chances at Duke Early Decision?

<p>I wanted to know what you thought my chances would be at Duke University if I apply Early Decision, and Chicago EA. The SAT scores listed are based on actual SAT practice test, so i should score about there next year, or a bit better. I am currently a sophmore at a large, non-magnet public highschool.</p>

<p>GPA- 4.00 unweighted, 5.38 weighted
SAT Reading Comprehension- 760
SAT Math- 770
SAT Writing- 780
Rank- 15/518, but will go up next year due to course selection</p>

<p>3 APs next year, English Language, U.S. History, Calc AB
5 APs senior year, English Literature, Economics, Calc BC, Chemistry, Physics
Spanish course at community college next year, 4th year of Spanish</p>

<p>Extracurricular:</p>

<p>Cross Country- senior year captain
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track
Concert Band
Marching Band- section leader next year
Maryland Math League- Class of 2007 winner 9th, 10th grade, hopefully will continue
Academic Team
National Honor Society (next year)
Volunteering for over 100 hours at a local hospital this summer
I have won numerous miniture painting awards at the county and regional levels</p>

<p>Any ideas about what i could do to improve my chances? Do you think ill get in? any comments would be appreciated.</p>

<p>chances = pretty good, try to do something special for the summer, or have your cross-country coach write you a rec. since you are captain...best wishes.</p>

<p>How do you have a 5.38?</p>

<p>I will be captain senior year, as the most committed senior9boy and girl) are captain, and I am by far the most commited. I also have a running club wuith my team over the summer, and i have band camp for a good part of the summer ( as nerdish as that is). I have a 5.38 GPA if you weight my grades based on classes, but I have a 4.00 if you go by letter grades alone, ie straight A's. the volunteering at the hosdpital in during the summer.</p>

<p>The way weight works at my school is you get .08 added per honors class total and .16 for AP classes. Im on block scheduling though, so if you have all honors classes, you get .20 per 9 weeks, and AP's only count as AP credit for 1/2 of the year, the other half they count as honors. My GPA is a 5.84...but where I am, thats pretty much the highest you can get before youre a senior.</p>

<p>are you a sophomore?
if so, take it easy. you have plenty of time. also, while taking a real practice test might be good help and all, the circumstances may be (and likely are) much more friendly then the actual tests. Not to mention, you probably graded it and its human nature to be a more forgiving grader than a normal essay reader may be. If I were you, I'd wait for the real results, then post everything again in, say, a year or two.<br>
in the meantime, i'd take it easy if i were you. contrary to popular belief (or so it seems), the 4 years of high school do count as a part of you life. it doesn't begin in college, so take it easy and enjoy life. don't stress yourself out about colleges and everything if you don't have to.<br>
enjoi and good luck (eventually, but not yet)</p>

<p>Wow, generous weigting going on. At my school it's + .047 per honors, +.094 per AP.</p>

<p>I know. Its nice. It makes it almost possible to break a 7.0 before you graduate.</p>

<p>haha our school is +1.0 for honors, +2.0 for AP, I've even heard of +2.0 for honors, +3.0 for AP .......grade inflation ahhhh....:)</p>

<p>Your SAT scores would be really really good if u can get that on the real thing- be sure to take the SAT IIs also since that's required. I'm not sure how many APs ur school offers but 3 in junior yr is kinda low at least at my high school, but Im not sure about ur own circumstances - just be sure to take the hardest courseload possible b/c thats very important to Duke. Your ECs are good also, but nothing spectacular. You should spend as much time as possible on the subjective parts of the application, as that will help to distinguish you from the other high scorers who apply there. Other than that, I think u have a pretty good chance, good luck!</p>

<p>Arg, see that 3 APs being low thing is crazy. I think I got screwed by being on block scheduling. Im taking 4 AP classes next year and people think Im crazy because we can only take 4 classes at once. Maybe he only can take three.. ahhh... i dont know..</p>

<p>Moni, I took 4 this year (at once, we don't do block), and only 3 get counted towards my GPA, the last is only an honor when weighted...now THAT's retarded.</p>

<p>Yeah, that is retarded.
And block is all at once. You just have 4 classes all year. When theyre AP classes, they never change. Same 4 periods a day, all year.</p>

<p>Well, I figure i am taking the hardest possible courseload, and i have straight A's, so I am happy ;). As for three APs being low, this is my schedule next year:</p>

<p>G+T physics
AP Calc I+II
AP Calc I+II
G+T Engineering (Damn technology credit....)
AP U.S. History
G+T Symphonic Winds (band with extra work for GT credit)
AP English </p>

<p>So as you can see, with a 7 period day, 4 of which are APs, my schedule is pretty full. I have to have a tech credit, and band is always good to continue with, and I need Physics before i can take AP Physics or Chem. The only AP classes I won't have taken upon graduation are Stat, Bio, Foriegn Language, and Computer Science. I am taking Spanish IV at a community college, so thats another college credit.</p>

<p>I don't think all those AP's are gonna do you much good in your senior year, especially if you're applying ED.</p>

<p>Miniature painting competitions? Or do you mean minor painting competitions? Because the former would be totally cool! I had never heard of such contests, but I've seen videos and works by miniature painters and they totally rock! If you're good, then send in slides of your work (almost every school don't take actual works, but if they're miniature, heck, just stick one sample in- they won't crucify you for it); it will most definitely help! Best of luck,</p>

<p>TTG</p>

<p>ur easily in</p>

<p>Yeah, i mean miniture painting contests. Its nice to find someone who appreciates it outside of my fellow hobbists. I might send in a few slide of my best work. Thanks for the support. As for the APs doing me no good senior year. I cannot take any more my junior year, and you are not allowed to take any before then at my school. Thanks to all.</p>

<p>I don't think you can apply to both Duke ED AND UChicago EA...if you apply ED, you can't apply anywhere else until you hear from them (which should be after the EA deadline for UChicago). Correct me if I'm wrong.</p>

<p>I am just finishing up my junior year in High School. I got a 2110 (750-math 650-verbal 710-writing) on the SAT I. On my SAT II's I received: Math 2C- 710, U.S. History- 740, Chemistry- 750. I scored a 5 on all AP tests I have taken (World History, American History, Chemistry) I am the captain of the Varsity soccer team, where I received honors as an All-Conference player. I am secretary of Model UN, and an active member of the Math Team and Science Research Club. My GPA is a 99 and I am ranked 10 in a class of 330 kids. I plan on applying to Duke Early Decision, however, I am also considering applying early decision to the University of Virginia. Will I have a competitive application at Duke, or should I consider applying early decision to UVA to better my chances. ALL ADVICE IS WELCOME!</p>

<p>u do know that u cant apply to other schools if u are accepted under early decision right?</p>