chances at Duke RD

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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<p>I'm looking to apply to Duke regular admission (if my early admission application doesn't go through at my first choice) and I was wondering what my chances are.</p>

<p>I've moved three times since high school started (so I've been to three different high schools, one for 9th grade, one for 10th grade and I started a new one last year in 11th), which has limited me in a lot of ways. My current school is really small and you can only take around 4 APs Senior Year (the selection is small), only one in Junior Year. Because of the moves, I've never been able to have a teacher more than once so finding good teachers to do recs has been difficult.</p>

<p>SAT: Verbal: 800 (both times I've taken it), Math: 670 (I'm taking the test again soon to try and push this up), Writing: 740 (12 on the essay)
SAT II: US History 800, Literature 760, Math 1C 710</p>

<p>APs: European History (5 - Sophomore Year, this was the only AP I could take), US History (5 - Junior Year, only AP juniors could take)</p>

<p>Current Schedule:
AP Government, AP Lit & Comp, AP Calculus AB, AP Macroeconomics, Spanish IV, Religion (required)
And in freshman and sophomore year I took all honors courses, junior year I transferred schools again and was stuck having to make up regents I never got to take</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
Class rank: unknown (I think I am maybe 2nd or 3rd though in my class)</p>

<p>EC In School:
Mock Trial member (11th and 12th - participated in the NY State Mock Trial Competition)
Chess Club member (12th - it just started this year)
FED Challenge (12th)
National Honors Society (11th and 12th - because I transferred schools I wasn't able to join until the end of 11th grade)
Newspaper</p>

<p>EC out of school:
I have had two high level internships with independent record labels in two different cities. The first one was all of 10th grade and my current one started in 11th grade. I also was a radio DJ in 10th grade at Indiana University Bloomington and worked as a member of the program committee there. I am about to start volunteering at a local sculpture park as well.</p>

<p>Between 9th and 10th grade I did a summer program at the Center for the Study of Global Change at Indiana University, Bloomington. </p>

<p>Awards:
Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in the Social Sciences from University of Rochester (11th)
Various subject awards (11th)
Principal's List all of 11th grade (no honor roll etc... at my previous schools)
Certificates in Leadership in Algebra II, American Crime Fiction, Spanish III (10th grade)
Certificates in Academic Excellence in World History Honors and English 9 Honors (9th grade)</p>

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<p>Scores-Great! You can't do much better
Grades-Great! You can't do much better
Recs-Pick teachers that know you well and can write really good recs (English teachers are a good bet)
Essays-Write good ones. Express your desire to go to Duke well; it will go a long way. One of the most important parts of the Duke application, IMO.
ECs-Average, although it does seem like you crammed them in junior and senior years. Understandable, though, considering you've moved schools so often.
Interviews-Not important in the admissions process. Don't worry about it.</p>

<p>Overall, I'd say your chances are good. 40-50%? Good luck! </p>

<p>Hmm...looking over your posts I think you're applying ED to Columbia. It was a slaughter last year, so have backups (not saying you won't get in, though).</p>

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<p>I think you'll get in, but Duke has gotten a lot more competitive.</p>

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<p>ME TOO!. thanks,..
two high schools.
GPA - 3.6
SATS - 2160 - math780 verbal730 writ650
rank - top 13%
APs - AP Lang and Psych - 4s.
Currently taking AP Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Bio (we have block scehduling)
EC - President in Church Youth Group. Vice in Key CLub(volunteer club ish thing). Public Relations Chair in National Spanish Honors Society. Legal Committee on Model United Nations. JV Volleyball Co-Manager.Was in Orches tra 9th to 11th then dropped because no room in schedule for orchestra. Honor Roll starting from 10th. Internship at Washington Mutual my junior year. Science Fair Honorary Mention 9th.
My cousin got into Duke with a full scholarship and hes going to help me with my essays. </p>

<p>so?</p>

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<p>josiekwon,
your chances are ok... nothing that you've said about your ECs jumps out as putting you in front of the many applicants that will have better grades and scores. I mean, you have a chance, especially if your essays are really great. Good luck</p>

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<p>Chances???</p>

<p>GPA: 4.6 W, 4.0 UW
Rank: 4/465</p>

<p>Out of State (CA)
Chinese/Japanese (4th or 5th generation American)</p>

<p>SAT: 720 Math, 770 Verbal, 770 Writing (took it again this weekend, but am not sure if I did any better)</p>

<p>SAT II: 710 Math, 790 Lit, 800 US His</p>

<p>Current Classes:
AP Spanish 4
Adv. Dance
Global Studies IB
AP/IB English 4
Calculus 2 at a community college
I'm not taking AP/IB Biology.</p>

<p>Previous AP's:
Chemistry (the class wasn't AP, but I took the test): 4
Physics B (I didn't take the AP class as it required summer school, but I took an honors class): 5
Calculus AB: 5
US History: 5
Lang and Comp: 5</p>

<p>EC's:
Theatre, etc.
Dance classes at school (2 yrs - performing class)
Flute (Church youth orchestra)
(I'm not great at any of the performing arts, but I love them)
Tutoring at city library (Captain 2 yrs)
Active at Church (inc. 6 week missions trip to Thailand this summer)
Christian Club (president this year)
NHS (3 yrs)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
I'm an usher at a local theatre, but I only work 10-20 hrs a month on average.</p>

<p>More Info:
My essays aren't usually that wonderful or creative, though ocassionally I write a good one. I'm planning on majoring in math, though maybe engineering. I'm probably the best math student in my grade (I've gotten a "Student of the Year" award for each class), but my SAT math scores aren't that high because they cover parts of math that I've forgotten or because I make silly mistakes. </p>

<p>That's all I can think of. Thanks!!!</p>

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<p>bookaddict:
your chances appear very strong. looks like the performing arts are really your passion, make sure they stand out in your application. seems like you'll probably get good recommendations, etc. too. I would say if you write strong essays you've got a great chance. Good luck</p>

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<p>thanks. Hopefully my essays turn out welll. As I said before, they're usually not all that wonderful, though they're not horrible either.</p>

<p>And the performing arts are definitely one of my passions, but does it matter if I'm not really good at performing? I mean, I'm the type of person who makes it into the ensemble, but rarely, if ever, gets a lead part. But maybe because my school has an Academy of the Arts program that I'm in, that'll make a difference? Being a part of the Academy isn't actually isn't that big of a deal, but we do attract many students from outside the district because of it.</p>

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<p>BookAddict, I find it interesting that you're planning on majoring in math. Not that it's any of my business, but you seem stronger in history and literature according to you stats. Anyways, follow your passion!</p>

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<p>Well, I like history, but I hate writing, especially creatively. Math comes much easier to me, and I like trying to figure problems out. The thing is, I don't know exactly what career to aim for with a math major that wouldn't be too boring. I mean, I like math, but just doing math all the time doesn't really excite me. I would want to do something that uses a lot of math, but that isn't just solving problems. Maybe a teacher???</p>

<p>As for the SAT's and such, I don't do as well on the math portion because I either make silly mistakes or I forget things (I'm in calculus 2 now, so some of the trig stuff on the SAT II I hadn't used in like a year. I could probably have figured it out if I had had more time, but I didn't remember the equation offhand.) And the tests don't measure writing ability (a 25 min. essay doesn't count).</p>

<p>I'm still not exactly sure what I want to major in, though, so suggestions would be appreciated.</p>

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<p>I'm planning on being a math major...and let me tell you what a professor once told me. He said companies love math majors because it's such a hard major to work through and teaches you such a different way of thinking. Because of that companies know they can pretty much teach you anything and you'll get it. I mean, it would probably be desirable to have a math/econ double if you wanted to go into business or anything like that. Of course, you might end up doing a lot of number crunching with that track, and it doesn't sound like you want that at all. lol.</p>

<p>I, personally, am really seriously thinking pre-med right now, now that I'm in a science class after a 2 year break, and loving it. Since it doesn't really matter what you major for pre-med, I still want to do math because I just love, I don't know...I like the way of thinking it teaches you. I think it's great.</p>

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<p>Is it just me or is everyone hijacking this thread and turning it into an all purpose "chances at duke" thread?</p>

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<p>I think its just you. :)</p>

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<p>sorry... :)</p>