Chances at Duke Trinity Early Decision???

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Thanks in advance for any help!</p>

<p>Applying to Trinity ED.</p>

<p>White male (Thats unfortunate) from Charlotte, NC </p>

<p>---Academics---</p>

<p>4.0 Unweighted GPA, Top 5% of Class (550 students, School is a top Public School, named 43rd in the country by Newsweek in 2009)</p>

<p>33 ACT Composite</p>

<p>IB Program Fresh and Sophomore Year</p>

<p>Junior Year: AP Chem (5), AP US History (5), AP Calc AB (4), AP English (4)</p>

<p>Senior Year: AP Stat, AP Econ (Macro and Micro), AP English, AP Spanish V, AP Environmental, AP Computer Science</p>

<p>---Extra Curriculars--- (major stuff only so as not to bore you ;) )</p>

<p>-JV Lacrosse- 9th Grade Leading Scorer, 10th Grade Captain</p>

<p>-Varsity Lacrosse- 11th Grade NC State Champions</p>

<p>-I have done extensive work with electric guitars, including building custom guitars and doing extensive work restoring old ones</p>

<p>-I give and take guitar lessons</p>

<p>-Through work with guitars I invented a new guitar part and applied for a patent at the USPTO. Idea is currently Patent Pending.</p>

<p>-Club Lacrosse Teams, Church Basketball</p>

<ul>
<li>Lots of School Clubs (NHS, HOSA, etc) but wont bore you with them</li>
</ul>

<p>---Community Service----(Around 300 hours in all)</p>

<p>-Founder and President of Tutoring Club at a local Elementary School</p>

<p>-Raised $1600 for Manna International in 10th Grade Summer</p>

<p>-Wont drag on with others</p>

<p>---Job Experience--- (loads of it, near 1400 hours in all)</p>

<p>-Owner and Founder of Tree Banding Company (Job local to Charlotte, PM if you really want to know more about it :) ) in which I manage 5 employees and 40 clients each year.</p>

<p>-Data Research and Entry Specialist for Website Marketing and Management
(Helped create a new user-generated content website that will be launching in a little, I will let you all know what its about when it launches, but Im sworn to secrecy now)</p>

<p>-Installation Specialist for SILVER CROSS (Installed mobility equipment for elderly and disabled)</p>

<p>-Guitar Instructor</p>

<p>-Work on customizing and restringing Guitars (Improve and set up friends guitars, started through my work on my own)</p>

<p>-Babysitter, Petsitter, etc, etc</p>

<p>---Awards---</p>

<p>National Merit Commended (Not yet announced, but based on past years im in that range)</p>

<p>A Honor Roll</p>

<p>Top World History Student</p>

<p>Top Medical Science Student</p>

<p>National Honor Society</p>

<p>Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society</p>

<hr>

<p>Currently working on essays, should be very good. My Trinity Supplement really shows my enthusiasm for Duke.</p>

<p>Recs should be good (Hopefully getting one from a member of Duke's Board of Trustees)</p>

<p>I have a sister currently enrolled at Duke (Currently a junior)</p>

<p>Reason I have so much Job Experience instead of EC's is my father purchased a new business right as the economy collapsed and I have had to help support myself and my family.</p>

<p>I am debating my chances at Duke, but I really want to go there. I feel like I have unique and good ECs (Guitar Work, Patent, own my own business, lots of job experience, etc), but my class rank and ACT could be better.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Any chancing is much appreciated!!</p>

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<p>No one?? Come on, Ill chance you back ;)</p>

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<p>A very, very well-rounded application with a few eyebrow-raising achievements. Though your SAT/ACT score could use some improvement, your class rank is more than fine. You will be a very competitive applicant for Duke, especially since you are EDing.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your reply!</p>

<p>I have a few questions for anyone who has the knowledge and can answer…</p>

<p>Should I include my SAT II’s on my application? Im submitting my ACT, so it is not required, but with my scored would you recommend it? I got a 740 Math 2 and 740 US History. Im thinking I should not submit them, as those are 73rd and 83rd percentiles respectively (not too impressive for Duke). </p>

<p>Is it worth taking the ACT again to improve my score? I think I could manage a 34 with diligent studying (I did tutoring and such for it last time, but its not like I devoted my life to it), but im not sure its worth that little gain. Trinity’s middle 50 last year was 31-34, so im in the upper half, but being a white male Im thinking my score might need to be a little bit more spectacular. Opinions? Worth the time, effort, and money?</p>

<p>Lastly, How seriously does Duke consider legacys in the application process? I know they receive “an extra look”, but what does that really mean? Does it help me more that I am applying early decision?</p>

<p>Thanks so much guys!</p>

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<p>How did you do IB your fresh/soph years?</p>

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<p>Pre-IB Program that my school offers. Called IBMYP (IB Middle Years Program) that my school offers for Fresh and Sophomores. Sorry if I confused anyone with that!</p>

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<p>I would definitely retake the ACT. Why not? You can only make yourself a more impressive candidate by doing so.</p>

<p>As far as I know, 4.0 is the best unweighted GPA you can have, so that looks impressive to me? </p>

<p>Applying ED will probably help you, so will legacy - neither will hurt you, let’s put it that way.</p>

<p>I think your ECs are really great - particularly things that you have started and your work experience. Congratulations on all that. </p>

<p>I would say you have as good of a chance as anyone :slight_smile: Good luck!</p>

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<p>Yep, at my school 4.0 is the best you can have unweighted. </p>

<p>On the EC front, thanks! I tried to stray from the typical high school resume (president of four school clubs, etc etc) and pursue what I enjoy and be unique. I plan to pursue a career in Business, and am hoping to use my job experience/ “entrepreneurial spirit” (as my parents put it) as a selling point. All I can do is hope!</p>

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<p>Bump! Anyone know waht I should do with those SAT II’s? Im still thinking I should not send them.</p>

<p>Chances, anyone? :)</p>

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<p>Yes, there is no reason not to send them aside from saving money. Even though they are not required when you take ACTs, they can do nothing but bolster your chances.</p>

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<p>You think they will bolster my chances, even if they are not spectacular? </p>

<p>In case someone cant find them, Math 2- 740 (73rd percentile), US hist- 740 (83rd percentile). </p>

<p>Why would it help to send bad (for Duke) scores? My common sense tells me that it would be stupid to send them, as I cant think of a way that bad scores could make a positive impression. Why do you say it would help?</p>

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<p>Your ACT is not bad. You should have a great shot getting in. A 33 is not amazing, but it is still a very solid score for Duke.</p>

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<p>Thats what I was thinking, I was just worried that it might need to be higher being a white male. We will see!</p>

<p>Anyone else care to chance? ;)</p>

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<p>Bump! Opinions anyone? I will chance back!</p>

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<p>solid scores, i think you have an above average chance at Duke. I would also recommend you look at Wharton, i know they would love ur entrepreneurship experience. Altho they wouldnt rly like that Math 2 score.</p>

<p>good luck</p>

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<p>Yeah, thats why I still am leaning towards not submitting them. Unless someone can show me why it would be helpful to submit, I still think submitting bad scored can only leave bad impressions.</p>

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<p>Bumppppp…</p>

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<p>We’ll give this one last shot…Anyone?</p>

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<p>Bump! Heres a few updates to my stats…</p>

<p>Finished first Quarter this year with a 4.0 UW (6 AP’s)</p>

<p>Official reported class rank is 33/572 (top 6%). If anything, this is what will hurt me I think. Its top 10%, but its low because of my electives choices. Took classes like Medical Science and Sports Medicine because I was actually interested in them, instead of taking IB Info Tech and such to boost my GPA. Hope it doesnt bite me in the butt. Anyone know how seriously Duke takes Class Rank, especially when Ive clearly taken hard core classes and pursued my interests with my electives? </p>

<p>My patent is now officially Patent Pending, submitted the application and all that a month or so ago. </p>

<p>Now Vice President of my schools Ski and Snowboard Club. Probably doesnt make any difference at all, that very minor, but thought I’d add it.</p>

<p>I did submit my SAT II’s, along with my ACT.</p>

<p>Any thoughts? Thanks for the chance everyone!</p>

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<p>Last bump then Ill let this thread die…</p>

<p>Do you guys think my class rank will hurt me that much? Thats probably the one thing Im most worried about.</p>