Chances at Duke ED

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Can anyone help me out, I haven't been recieving much feedback, but my number 1 choice since I was little has been Duke and I want a lot of feedback of my chance.</p>

<p>Location: Large High School in South Carolina of around 2300 students</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Indian (I love my origins, but not when it comes to applying….)</p>

<p>Performance:
GPA: UW: 4.0 W: 5.2
Rank 3 or 4 out of 660 (I hope I can improve, but I predict the large class will slowly dwindle)
AP Classes: Human Geography, World History, Statistics, Calculus AB, English Language, US History, Government, Computer Science, Biology, Physics, English Literature, Economics, Phsycology, Spanish</p>

<p>Standardized Testing:
Now here is my weakness, I have taken the Sat and Psat when they have not really counted, but it seems that I always do poorly in them. No matter how hard I try I can't seem to do well.
I took the SAT II World History and got a 610
As far as Sat's and Act's I am taking a Kaplan course this summer but I am still very worried that my SAT's can really hurt me.
I know it's hard for you to evaluate my chances w/o my Sat's but can u tell me what a good minimum score I need to aim for to have a really good chance of getting in?</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
Speech and Debate: Event Chair last year, Co- Captain this year, National Forensic Leage National Qualifier, Outstanding Distinction Degree 1000 pts, All-American.
<strong><em>I really want to emphasize leadership in everything I do, especially with Speech and Debate. My event is Student Congressional Debate and it teaches you so much leadership and speaking abilities, I have noticed so much improvement. Furthermore the National Forensic League emphasizes the leadership that comes with student congress</em></strong></p>

<p>Youth in Government: Youth Attorney General of SC and Youth Governor of SC this year. Helped change YIG program.</p>

<p>Boy Scouts of America: Several Leadership positions b/c it is mandatory. Eagle Scout</p>

<p>Academic Team: National Qualified Team Freshman Year, Captain</p>

<p>National Honor Society and Beta Club: Running for Leadership positions next year for both.</p>

<p>Youth Leadership Program of Greenville Chamber of Commerce: This is the first year they have started this program so I don't know much about it, but it is very selective and I have been admitted.</p>

<p>Summer Job for 3 years</p>

<p>Started my own business: Built websites for a few companies and fixed and built computers with friends</p>

<p>ALL IN ALL I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE LEADERSHIP, CHANGE, AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. I ALSO WANT TO STRESS I HAVE THE DRIVE TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL. I don't want to go to these schools just so I can come out and have a good job, I want to bring about change.</p>

<p>Can anyone please help me out... Especially regarding Sat's I dont want people to tell me to study and do good, I have heard it on and on. I want someone to tell me the scores that I need that will give me a good chance. I have time to improve but frankly I am really worried about the SAT. Thanx</p>

2

<p>How poorly did you do on your SAT? Everything else looks great but if your SAT is really low then that might kill it.</p>

3

<p>see i have taken sat's that dont really count like the Duke tip program in 7th grade and psats and stuff like that. and i am in the low 1200 range. but i mean i have 2 more years and w/ kaplan and everything i know itll help. but im still worried that even if i make it in the 1300's it wont be good enough for duke. even low 1400's and i just have bad luck on standardized tests so it kinda sux...</p>

4

<p>The admissions committee isn't as ruthless as you may think. They're not going to look at an application, decide that the student is a perfect fit, and then realize that he has a 1900 on his SATs (I'll say 1300 on the old SATs, because I haven't seen the statistics for the class of 2010, when the new SAT was used) and end up rejecting him. I mean, SAT scores do have an impact, sure, but it's very possible to polish the rest of your application so well that it makes up for a not-so-hot SAT score. This is also the reason why getting a 2400 on the SAT isn't a free ticket to any college... you need substance to back it up.</p>

<p>Having said that, I think that your emphasis on leadership would work nicely. I can't say that you're a shoe-in, because I haven't read your essays or teacher recommendations, nor have I seen your test scores. Just from "eyeballing" it, though, I'd say you're on the right track.</p>

5

<p>Umm don't worry about the SATs you took in 7th grade. You were in the low 1200s in 7th grade right?</p>

<p>I took the SAT in 7th grade as well and scored a 1200 or something like that too. Junior year I scored a 1580 (2380 with writing). Basically there's a big difference between what you do in 7th grade and what you do in 11th or 12th. Why are you stressing so much? It looks great to me. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>naa i wasnt in the 1200's in 7th grade, i was no where near it, im talking more on the lines of psat... i really suck at the sat lol</p>

7

<p>here's the thing, from what i know: you're evaluated on a point system... and your sat scores are only a part of the pie. you're going about improving them in the right way-- take a course, take a LOT of practice tests. i had test anxiety, so i practiced and practiced (and took both SAT and ACT) and wound up with a good score. there's no one magic score to get into duke, but i'd say on the old system, if you were getting in the high 1300s/low1400s (if it's the best you can do, and trust me, i have friends at duke with those scores) with everything else looking as great as it does, i'd think that was pretty solid. and don't stress yourself about improving your class rank: 3 or 4 out of 660 is AMAZING. i'm at duke and i wasn't 3 or 4 out of 160!</p>

8

<p>yeah i was 9/672. So I wouldn't worry about rank.</p>

<p>lots of practice tests. that's the key.</p>

9

<p>Granted I'm a few years older, but I was barely in the top half of my class.</p>

10

<p>anyone else plz...</p>

11

<p>You need your SAT scores. Why are you afraid of giving them out? There's a difference between a 1500/2400 and a 2300/2400. I got 1410/1600 and that's still precarious for Duke. Even 1600/1600 is. Test scores arent everything.</p>

12

<p>im not afraid to give them out, i haven't really taken any sat's that have really counted, I have taken the psats a few times and didnt do too great around 1200 i think... but im a really bad standardized test taker so it kinda sux..</p>

13

<p>Just in reply to an above mssg that mentioned something about admissions at Duke using some kind of "point system.": I work in admissions, and that is completely false. They do not use any kind of point system at all. They take a holistic, subjective approach to admissions. On the relevance of SAT's: They matter, but only to a certain extent. Almost every kid that is accepted to Duke will have an extremely strong SAT, so it's not the thing that decides your admission. </p>

<p>From what officers tell me, they are used as sort of a bar that will get you further examination. I mean, if you have a weak SAT (such as less than 1000-1100 on Math/Verbal combined), you have a much lower chance of getting in. However, if you are borderline or above, they will take a look at the rest of your app and evaluate it from there. The most important parts of your application (in descending order) are usually your High School Class Rigor/Grades, your EC's, Recommendations, and your Essay</p>

14

<p>Bob: A former Duke admissions officer, Rachel Toor, published the book "Admissions Confidential" about five years ago. In that book, she stated that Trinity applicants were evaluated on a 50 point scale, and Pratt applicants were evaluated on a different 80 point scale that emphasized math and science more than the Trinity application. If these sorts of rubrics aren't used anymore in admissions, it's a relatively new development.</p>

15

<p>i also thought it was on a point scale. they rank you 1-5 on different categories such as sat/gpa/ec's and then put on a 50 pt scale.</p>

16

<p>Admissions Confidential was really helpful. I enjoyed that book alot and it was fun to see what these admission officers actually think of it. :) My question is what does Duke think about the ACT. I'm from the midwest and I feel like I can do alot better on that than the SAT. Will that hurt my chances any?</p>

17

<p>Nope. The ACT and the SAT are looked upon as equal, imho. I sent only my ACT, as well as a friend of mine, and we were both accepted. Go for it.</p>

18

<p>Fantastic. That's really relieving. And another question loveduke. I'm a horrible standardized test taker, and I think my projected ACT score is going to be 30-31. Everything else is extremely solid. Do I still have a shot?</p>

19

<p>Well, I'm not really sure about stats for the Class of 2010 are, but for the class of 2009 the average ACT for Trinity was 29-34 and 31-34 for Pratt. I myself am in Trinity and got a 32, and the only other person I know got a 34. </p>

<p>30-31 is definitely in the range, but lower in it. But if, like you said, everything else is good, I think you certainly have a shot. Now, like I said, it's getting more and more competitive, and as it becomes more and more competitive it becomes more and more of a crapshoot. If your grade are fantastic, and your EC's are awesome, that will definitely increase your chances.</p>

20

<p>thanks again. I come here and everyone's talking about how good their standardized testing is, which makes me extremely worried! Atleast I have SOME hope that I'm not a total goner. You give great advice.</p>