Chances for RD/ED?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Objective:
ACT: 33
SAT II: Math 2 - 790, Chem - 800 US History - 780
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3
AP (place score in parenthesis):
5s: Chemistry, Calculus, World History, US History, Psychology, Music Theory
Senior Year Course Load:
AP Physics, AP Calculus BC, AP Literature, AP Microeconomics, AP Government, AP Biology, a lack of sleep
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Commended, "Sunshine State Scholar" runner-up</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Odyssey of the Mind creativity competition (since 4th grade, placed 4th at World Finals in 10th)
Marching, Concert, Jazz Band (Saxophone section leader, All County and Solo and Ensemble honors, community quartet)
Mu Alpha Theta (Pres, won County competitions in 9th and 10th before they stopped having funding :/)
Key Club (VP)
National Honor Society</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience:
Worked at Mathansium, a tutoring facility
Volunteer/Community service:
MOSI (museum) Summer Science Camp volunteer for 9th - 12th summer
Hospitals (various)
Summer Activities:
Research at Alzheimer's facility (not sure whether to list as volunteer or research, I didn't publish anything)
Shadowed surgeon at a hospital near sister's residence in California (no idea how to phrase this, haha)</p>

<p>Essays: Getting there
Teacher Recommendation: Good, awesome academically from both teachers, but one may not be so strong
Counselor Rec: Average
Additional Rec: None?</p>

<p>State (if domestic applicant): Florida
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public, Class of 500
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 60k-80k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None</p>

<p>Also considering: Princeton, Berkeley, Vandy, Emory, UF, FSU</p>

<p>Note: I'm not really sure how to "sell" myself; I'd appreciate any advice!</p>

<p>Thanks for the chances!!!</p>

2

<p>I’d say you definitely have a decent shot at Duke for ED/RD. Going ED will definitely be worth it. :)</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the quick reply!
What chance do you think I’d have going strictly RD? Is it worth doing ED?
Is this a “match”, or a “reach” school for me?</p>

4

<p>You should ED to your first choice! Looking at your list I guess it’s not too far fetched for me to guess that Princeton is probably it. I’d say send in the early application there and RD to Duke. That’s what I would do.</p>

5

<p>Even if you apply to Princeton SCEA and Duke RD, I think you have a great chance.</p>

6

<p>I’m worried about applying RD, it seems that standardized test scores and ECs greatly improve for other people in the next few months; mine will probably stay the same.
Does anyone think/know how much I would be affected by ED preference?
Thanks so much!</p>

7

<p>A lot of ED candidates are hooked ( recruited athletes, legacy, etc) so the acceptance rates for “regular people” are pretty similar iwhen comparing ED and RD.</p>

8

<p>Any links of proof? I’m not exactly hooked in any way… Do you think I’ll be a stretch or a match in RD?</p>

9

<p>Well as a recruited athlete for a less popular sport, I have been told my multiple coaches at muliple schools that the admissions office helps athletes a lot of they are ED (lots of schools you still have to get in, and a spot from the coach helps, but in order to take advantage of that you need to ED). And my GC who used to be an adcom at an Ivy said the same thing.</p>

10

<p>I’m starting to get nervous… I’m afraid of the risk of ED, but I’m not sure if I’d have any chance with the RD pool getting bigger and better each year.</p>

11

<p>I honestly think you will be very competitive RD. Like it was mentioned earlier, ED has a lot of hooked applicants, so although the number is higher on paper, when you look into it deeper it’s about the same for non-recruits/legacies (just a bit higher). You definitely look very competitive though, solid ACT and fantastic grades and ECs. Maybe you can retake the ACT one more time between now and RD deadlines or apply to a SCEA school like Princeton if you are worried about ED</p>

12

<p>If you are worried about the risk of ED, which almost all of my friends are btw, I still think you would be a very good applicant in the RD pool.</p>

13

<p>May I ask if (and if so, why) you guys are applying to Duke ED?</p>

14

<p>If you’re 100% sure you want to go to a certain school, you should apply ED. You get to find out earlier, but you’re locked in. If you’re on the fence, you should wait for RD b/c unless you’re an athlete or legacy, it’s not much of a difference. You would be a very good candidate for RD if you are unsure.</p>

15

<p>Any other opinions on RD chances?</p>

16

<p>You’d probably be a very strong RD applicant</p>

17

<p>you can definitely get in RD</p>

18

<p>Thanks guys; I’m afraid of meeting the ED deadline with my sub-par essay, yet am more afraid of the steadily decreasing acceptance rate in RD. Any last opinions?</p>

19

<p>I’d say you would probably get in either way, so apply ED if you know that Duke is your top choice.</p>

20

<p>You can go either way-Ed/RD. not much difference as the aboved comments said.
Going RD will open more doors for you. You look very solid in terms of grade, score, ECs.
You are truly a well-ounded student.</p>