Chances? What can I do?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Im only a sophmore in High School right now.
Asian - Male (Would this help my chances or make them worse? lol)</p>

<p>My GPA has fallen a bit this year due to school change. I had a 4.0 Unweighted GPA(final grades) in freshman year, but this year though I still ahve a whole semester to amke up, I am trailing far behind. Though my grades are not bad, most of the grades are 86% and up meaning I would still have a chance to take it up to an A (>90%) for this years final grades.
My SATs are fair, the last time I took them was in 7th grade and I scored a 1310. I took PSATs this year and confident about the scores.
EC: Tennis - Hopefully to get on the varsity tennis team this year. Was on last year. Participated and placed top 10 in tournaments.
Beta Club
Key Club
Mu Alpha Theta
Planning to help out with local Emegerncy Medical Response team (Better Med School chances)
Violin/Piano (Does it matter how good I play? No awards)
Misc. Clubs
- I run over 5 websites which receive over 25K traffic per month each.I developed and maintain the website's financials, technicals and business.
- Debate
<strong>What can I add to my EC list to ensure my chances with Duke? Anybody accepted in ahve any ideas? I do still ahve a chance to improve them right?</strong></p>

<p>Im in the I.B. Program and plan to continue this program with the most challenging courses and take A.P. tests ontop of the I.B. tests as well.</p>

<p>Right now I am most worried about my current G.P.A. I am really beating myself up for screwing myself over with those poor grades I have gotten this year. Will this hinder my chances of getting into Duke? Say I pull my unweighted GPA up to a 3.7-3.8 (Unweighted just for this year) would that have messed me up?
I am also worried that my E.C. is not nearly as strong as other people applying... what can you guys recommend I do that is actually useful for college and colleges actually like (Especially Duke).
For SATs, I am thinking the worst I can do next year would be a 1500, but with my other creds, how low on my SATs do you think I can go?</p>

<p>I want to go to Duke so I am able to get into its Medical School. I would rather forget about all this and go to UF to save money... but UF would hinder my chances of getting into a good Med School except for UF and thus keep me from getting into a good residency.</p>

<p>Thanks for any help.
Kevin</p>

2

<p>What other schools can I get into based on what you guys think?</p>

3

<p>The biggest thing that I think would help you is good test grades, good essays, and something unique in your ec's. You need to show some leadership somewhere rather than just being a member of a club. Create some new program through one of your organizations. I did and got in ED this year, if that is any sort of indication.</p>

4

<p>I'm a Duke freshman,but have pretty much steered away from pre-med and everything entirely. </p>

<p>I think you need to calm down a bit. Getting a couple of B+ as quarter/semester grades as a sophomore (or simply not maintaining a 4.0 as a sophomore) won't be damaging. I think you're somewhat lucky in the sense that you more or less have what you want in life mapped out, and you can realize "Wow- I didn't do too wonderfully this quarter, let me improve next time so it averages out well." BUT! on the flip side, it's going to lead to some [relatively] unnecessary freaking out. Your grades by no means indicate that you are trailing far behind. Duke likes to see upward trends in grades -- I mean, perfection from the getgo is nice, I'd imagine, but I certainly didn't have it, and I managed to get into Duke -- meaning, what you do your junior, and even your senior years, are more important than what you just did. Take challenging classes, and do well in them. </p>

<p>A 1310 SAT score as a 7th grader is not "fair" by any stretch of the imagination, it's quite impressive. Most importantly, it shows that you're going to do amazingly when you take it for real. Good luck. Though getting a perfect 1600 or a 1590 doesn't mean you'll automatically get in (top schools love to boast about how many 1600s and validictorians they reject), it certainly makes things easier. I really wouldn't know what a good low point is for an SAT score, because they're really subjective... I mean, aim for above a 1450. </p>

<p>Also, a little caveat about ECs, don't do what you think a college wants you to do, because these adcoms are freaky and can pretty much determine what's genuine and what's forced. You want to do things that you love, and things that will make you become a leader and shine. Keep this in mind: on the application, it asks you how many hours per week you spend on each activity, you wouldn't want to be spending a bunch of hours on something that you don't enjoy. Your websites sound successful and really entertaining/personal, and that could totally come across in application essays and impress the adcoms. Also, becoming an EMT is awesome; I have friends who did it in high school because, like you, they were interested in med school. It's a very time consuming field, but so rewarding because it teaches you soooo much about medicine and really prepares you well, or so they say. Additionally, not too many applicants will have such a background, which is good for you. I really don't think it matters how well you play an instrument unless you want to play at Duke and happen to send an audio recording in of you playing (in which case, it's ranked by music faculty, and if you receive a low ranking, it can work against you). My biggest recommendation for you is to take on leadership roles in your clubs, which at least in my high school, was more of a possibility as a junior or a senior. If you have an interest that you feel other students share, start a club or something. Do some community service on your own (volunteer in a hospital, maybe?). You certainly have opportunities to add more things and whatnot. Good luck!!! </p>

<p>If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or email me (I can give you my email address) because like half of my friends at Duke are premed.</p>