Chances at Duke, Regular Decision

<p>White Male
Public School in NJ</p>

<p>SAT I: 1400 (750 math, 650 verbal) (Re-taking December, hoping for 1450-1500)
SAT II: Math2c 780, Writing 760, Spanish 710
Rank: 4 of 225
GPA: Weighted- 4.57, Unweighted- 3.80
Most rigorous courseload possible
AP's Junior Year: U.S. History, English Language, Computer Science (4's on all of them)
AP's Senior Year: Calc BC, Biology, Statistics, English Literature, Spanish</p>

<p>Student Government – 4 years (Business Manager(11), Treasurer (12))
Spanish Club – 4 years (President (11,12))
National Honor Society (Treasurer)
- Tutor for Math and Computer Science
Spanish National Honor Society (Vice President)
- Tutor for Spanish at all levels
Habitat for Humanity (11,12)
JV and Varsity Tennis Teams – 4 years
Writer for school newspaper and school’s spanish newsletter
High School Writing Center (11,12)
- Peer Tutor for writing assignments</p>

<p>Volunteer w/ Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity, New Mexico (Summer 2004)
225+ hours of community service… 6 weeks... end of June to beginning of August</p>

<p>New Jersey Scholars Program
- Semi-Finalist (Summer 2004)</p>

<p>National Merit Commended Scholar</p>

<p>Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition
for Community Service, August 2004</p>

<p>Are you applying to trinity or pratt? either way, your scores are decent but not outstanding (they are below average, even more so for pratt) and your ECs are just OK (did you do anything before junior year?). Your rank is good though. It will be tough, you're on the edge. I hope you have some matches and safeties, but you can possibly get in with some really great essays.</p>

<p>i've done ECs throughout high school.. those are just leadership positions.. in most clubs, u can't be an officer until you're at least a junior... thus the abundance of "11th grade" and "12th grade" in my previous post.... i'm applying to arts and sciences - what scores are just decent? SATs or SAT IIs.. i'm assuming u meant SAT.... well i'm re-taking in December and expecting 1450-1500 so shouldn't be too much of a problem... (knock on wood)</p>

<p>.......bump</p>

<p>.......bump</p>

<p>I think you have a decent chance. I know people with equal or lesser stats that have gotten in.</p>

<p>bump.... more opinions?!
And a question - I am from Northern NJ and have been told that virtually no1 from my area gets into Duke. Why do you think this is? Should I really consider this when applying? I'm trying not to let it discourage me, but its hard.... plus its strange to think that i wont' have very great chances at Duke, when my chances are pretty good at some Ivies .. i seem to think I have an equal chance at Duke, as compared to Ivies such as Penn and Cornell... any thoughts, comments, suggestions? Thanks again every1.</p>

<p>Well, if you're really keen on Duke, why not give it a shot? There isn't a perfect formula for getting into a school, be they HYPs or LACs. Your scores are pretty good, and fall into the median range for the schools of your choice. Don't let location or whatever discourage you. I don't think colleges make decisions based on location; in fact I think that would be rather stupid (pardon me) on their part. I would think they look at grades and other factors instead. Bottom line is, just apply for the colleges you're most interested in, and wait for the decisions to arrive! All the best.</p>

<p>Okay, I'm from NC and 1. We call Duke the college of Southern New Jersey. 2. I think your scores are really good, particularly if you up your verbal to 700+. Your ECs are about average, so I doubt they'll help you or hurt you. (Don't feel bad - schools apparently want you to have saved a burning orphanage in your free time.) Mainly, write good, personal essays and you'll get in. Again, I had a friend with a SAT only a little higher than you, somewhat above average EC's, and was about 4th in the class get a full merit ride (NC scholarship). Another guy got in with a high SAT and class rank, but he was a big slacker. Another guy didn't have a high SAT (low verbal) or class rank, but he's now at Duke Engineering. If these people can get in, you can at least come close.</p>

<p>Did you get in???</p>

<p>lol. That was in 2004. But in any case if you have similar stats and are wondering, he/she was wait listed at Duke (don’t think he/she got in), wait listed and went to WSTLU and choose that over Emory. Hope that helps you</p>