Chances for UMich, Duke

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm applying EA to the University of Michigan and Duke. My dad is a U of M alumnus, so I'm applying legacy for Michigan. Duke may be a stretch, but it's ideally my first choice because Michigan incredibly far away. </p>

<p>I had a chronic, yet unidentified (until this year) illness, which caused me to miss ~40 days (school year is 180 days) of school in both my sophomore and junior years. I don't think I'll put this on the application EA, though, because I want to get in because I'm a good student, not because I have an excuse. </p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: UW 3.95 (this is where the illness comes in; some of my grades are lower than I would have liked because I didn't have enough time to get in a lot of my make-up work. It only affected about four/five classes severely [by more than 5 points], but still...) W: 4.99
Rank: 9/~450.
ACT: 35
SAT: 2290
SAT II: Planning on taking Bio, World, US, and Physics
APs: AP Human (5), AP Bio (5), AP World (5), AP Stat (4), AP Euro (5), AP Lang (5), AP Psych (5), AP Physics (4)
Senior Load: AP Environmental, BC Calc, AP Gov, AP Macro, AP Micro (self study), AP Spanish, AP Lit, Research HN, Intro to Engineering</p>

<p>Awards: Principal's List, A/B Honor Roll, AP Scholar with Honors, AP Scholar with Distinction, National AP Scholar, National Merit Semifinalist. Nothing special. </p>

<p>ECs: </p>

<p>Founder and editor of a STEM Newspaper at my school, 300+ subscribers. 20 hrs/week
National Ocean Science Bowl: Captain, A-team (11, 12) We got 2nd at the regional competition last year. 7 hrs/week.
Volunteering: At local, non-kill pet shelter 10 hrs/week every week since freshman year. 800+ hours; Distributed meals to homeless every week in 9th grade 5 hrs/week
Founder, President of Astronomy Club. I basically just teach lessons, and then we go out and use telescopes and eat s'mores. 6 hrs/week.
Literary Magazine: we've won a few awards, but I'm just on the design staff
Earth Club: we do recycling and compost
Energy Science Bowl: 11th grade I did everything but the competition b/c it was on the same day as NOSB (may not include this)
Science Team: 11, 12. Our team was really scattered, but we still got 2nd overall.
Piano: 9th-12th; just did it because I enjoyed it, no competitions or awards 8hrs/week. I did take lessons, though, so I feel like I should include it. </p>

<p>I was really into doing things solely because I enjoyed and loved them, not in order to pad an app., so I didn't join Beta or NHS or Jr. Civitans, and now I'm really feeling like an idiot.</p>

<p>Other:
I've audited about 10 courses on edX
Proficient in Spanish, self teaching French, German, and Arabic.
Working with head of marine science dept. at state uni. for my research project on ocean acidification.
Extensively researching foreign politics. Don't know how to incorporate this, but it's relevant because I'm going to double major in environmental sci and poly sci. I'm also just completely enamored with it. </p>

<p>Recs: both will be phenomenal.</p>

<p>Just thinking about applying to college makes me want to vomit a little bit. Please be kind. :D </p>

<p>EDIT: I'm also taking martial arts, but that's mostly for self defense, and I don't spend a lot of time on it. Should I include?
Income level ~50-70,000. Not entirely clear. </p>

2

<p>You look like a strong candidate for both school, but can you afford them?
UMich is going to cost you $55k/year.
What is your intended major?</p>

3

<p>I agree that you look strong. If you do decide to disclose the illness, I like the matter-of-fact way you describe it above. Your strong academics and ECs prove that you have overcome it since.</p>

4

<p>You sound fantastic, I think UMich is a good one for you. In fact, Duke EA sounds okay too!</p>

<p>Perhaps you might still want to put your condition in the Common App, just to get things out of the way if the admission officers ever reconsider the fact you missed out so many classes. You don’t want them to have any sort of doubt. </p>

<p>Good luck. Chance me back :)</p>

5

<p>My mom is in nursing school, and she graduates around the same time I will. Because she is bilingual, her starting salary is pretty significant, so all of that money is going towards my university. I’m thinking of majoring in environmental science and maybe switching into environmental engineering. I’m not set in anything, though. </p>

<p>Thank you so much! </p>

6

<p>@EscheCE‌ : “I’m applying EA to the University of Michigan and Duke.”</p>

<p>You may have a substantial and fundamental problem. As I read your foregoing quotation, you erroneously believe Duke has EA; it does not. Rather, Duke has binding ED, not EA. Therefore, were you to be admitted to Duke based on an ED application submitted by 1 November, you would essentially be committed to matriculate next August. </p>

7

<p>No, I understand that. Because Duke is my top choice, though a bit of a reach, I will apply ED and see whether or not I am admitted. Because U of M is EA, if I get into both schools, I will decline Michigan’s offer and go to Duke. If I get into U of M and not Duke, I will likely attend Michigan. </p>

8

<p>I just said EA for both because it was past midnight, and I merely wanted to specify <em>when</em> I was going to be applying (not regular decision).</p>

9

<p>Before your apply to any school, do check out their NPC. Even the schools may be matches, they can be financial reach too. This is particularly important for applying ED as you have no chance to compare financial aid if accepted.</p>

10

<p>Already done; thank you! </p>

11

<p>Are you applying Trinity or Pratt for ED? What is your intended major?</p>

12

<p>@EscheCE‌: Thanks for your explanation; however, you might use this trivial CC thread as a potential lesson. Your inexact wording created an erroneous impression. Obviously, that doesn’t mean much here, but it might be very important in a document like your applications’ essays. Writing with precision and articulateness is a habit and, I suggest, a critical one to embrace. </p>

13

<p>@TopTier‌ Thank you very much for your advice, though I’m definitely putting more thought and consideration into writing my application than this CC thread! My intention with this thread was merely to gauge whether or not I had a chance at being admitted based on my academic stats.; like I said, I was worried my GPA would hold me back. I very much appreciate your feedback, as you seem other very knowledgable about Duke admissions. </p>

<p>@sgopal2‌ I’m applying to Trinity. I’m planning on doing something in Environmental Sciences. </p>