Chances at Duke/Vandy ED?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Still trying to decide whether to apply Duke or Vandy ED..</p>

<p>Rank: 6th (?) in class (Top 5% at the top public school in the state).</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted) 4.4 weighted</p>

<p>ACT: 35 composite (35 in all subjects, 34 in writing)</p>

<p>AP exams: 5 on Human Geography and English, 4 on US History (going to take at least 3 more AP tests in Economics, English, and Calculus). Took an extremely high percentage of "bonus point" courses (Honors, Advanced Honors, AP etc)</p>

<p>ECs, Clubs, Honors, etc:
4 Varsity letters in two sports (tennis and soccer)</p>

<p>Competitive soccer player for over 13 years</p>

<p>Avid chess player with a few tournament wins in Crossville, Atlanta, etc. and member of USCF</p>

<p>Model UN member for 2 years, won best delegate first year (may be 2)</p>

<p>DECA state and champion in respective champion for 2 years (probably going to be 3)</p>

<p>Participated in 2 Duke TIP summer study programs, one independent and one online for a couple months.</p>

<p>Participated in the National Young Scholars' Medicine Program in Washington D.C. for one summer.</p>

<p>Spent a whole summer working alongside my parents to learn the family business</p>

<p>Scored Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude on the Latin I and III exams respectively</p>

<p>Nominated "Best Dressed" by my senior peers</p>

<p>Attended Greek school for 9+ years to learn the language</p>

<p>Member of GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth Association).</p>

<p>School DECA President</p>

<p>On the school Scholars Bowl Team</p>

<p>In the Young Republicans club</p>

<p>50+ community service hours for junior & senior years</p>

<p>Worked in Bill Haslem's election campaign throughout Knoxville
answering phones, delivering yard signs, etc.</p>

<p>Senior year looks like:
AP Calc BC, Physics 2 AH, AP Econ, AP Eng 4, Contemporary Issues (Honors). </p>

<p>I already know my essays are top notch. LORs are always unpredictable but I think I chose some good ones. Thanks for looking</p>

2

<p>Was going to say you had no chance until my mind was changed by your “best dressed” award…</p>

<p>Just kidding haha. Excellent grades and test scores, and very solid extracurriculars. You would be a highly competitive applicant at Vandy and if you applied ED you’d have a pretty darn good chance of being accepted… but I don’t want to say shoo-in because Vandy’s been seriously on the rise lately (it’s acceptance rate has gone from about 40% to 13% in just 10 years). Duke, you’re also a competitive applicant but they’re slightly more selective… but that’s to be expected, after all it’s the number 7 college in the nation. I’d say Vandy’s a mid-high match and Duke’s like a low reach?</p>

<p>Just pick whichever you like more - you have a pretty good chance at either. By your EC’s, it seems like you’d be more of a social fit at Vandy - they’re young, sharp, preppy, and conservative. Haven’t gotten to visit Duke, but from what I hear it’s more moderate than Vandy but still more conservative and southern than other top colleges.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much for the response and feedback! That’s an awesome point about the feel of Vandy vs. Duke, too. I would have to agree with the analysis. I’ve visited Duke, and I would say it’s definitely moderate-conservative kind of school. You have more kids from the west coast @ Duke, so the southern/preppy feel isn’t as strong as Vandy.</p>