<p>SAT Scores: 720 math, 670 critical reading, 770 writing (9 on essay)
ACT Scores: 35 math, 32 writing, 28 writing, 27 science, 31 composite
SAT II's: 740 Math IIC, 710 IC, 660 US History, 650 Spanish (retaking and hoping above 700)
IB: Social Anthropology SL: 6</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0 Full IB
Weighted: 4.25
Rank 12/338 (over 90% from this public school go to college)</p>
<p>I've done two study abroads, so my Spanish should be much better.
Summer Internship at financial firm
Two sports
Two community service programs
Sophomore Class prez, student government 11 and 12
Constitution Team, 2nd in state
Some more stuff</p>
<p>SAT II's in general don't help too much, I mean obviously if you do well it helps and if you do poorly it hurts, but it's definitely not a 'make or break' thing as far as your application goes.</p>
<p>So... how do you claim aviation to be your "passion". i dont see any ec's to support this. and thats what admissions officers will probably think if you put that down.</p>
<p>That's the problem with aviation, there aren't really any EC's to back it up. In my essay, I talk about how it takes me places, how I've always just loved it and want to do something in the field. I spend hours browsing aviation forums, and in school I always write and research on the topic when possible. I hope to get my private pilot's license starting in the Spring when the weather is nice again. Do you have any ideas on how to make the passion firmer? I mean my main essay reflects my passion, and my Why Duke? briefly touches upon it.</p>
<p>I would maybe suggest that, instead of SAYING you love planes and flying, etc, SHOW you do as best you can. Sure, it's too late for EC's in the field, but perhaps it's best served to prove to them that you will continue to pursue it in college and beyond. Saying you love something kind of implies that you will try to pursue it; but you need to say it specifically. I mean, I'm no adcom, but if i was sitting there reading an essay of an applicant who claims to love, say, video games, I'd be like, "ok, that's great," whereas if I read an essay from that same applicant saying "I love video games and I hope to go into the business of designing, editing, marketing them," I'd be like... "that's pretty cool." I think you get the drift.</p>
<p>BlueDevil...That's exactly what I do in my essay. I talk about how I want to combine my interest in business (I have had an internship, and lots of leadership), with my interest in Spanish (two study abroads), with my interest in aviation to work for an airline, a multinational corporation. I don't just say I love planes, I describe them and SHOW not tell. I have little facts that show I know what I'm talking about. Now I only have to cut down from 636 words to ...for the common app. Probably just gonna cut to 550. This is crap!</p>
<p>just curious...why would u apply to duke if u wanted somethin in business? Duke doesn't have an undergrad business program, and the closest thing they offer is economics<---(not very useful)</p>
<p>Business would be more for grad school. Economics at Duke is still a solid program and will help with getting into a grad school. I love the school and the campus. Duke always is looking to improve. It's not content with just being good, but it looks for ways to get better (look at the ipod program and strong sports teams (minus football)). They have an amazing public policy program that I forgot to mention that I would definately like to double major in (or minor), along w/ econ. I'd ideally like to do business as an undergrad, but it's not a problem at Duke. Half of the schools I'm applying to only have econ, which isn't that big of a concern. Especially if I double major in public policy or internation relations or something else. Dukes a good school and I like it, that's what matters most.</p>
<p>I wasn't saying you didn't accomplish that task in your essay, I was merely generalizing that there ARE ways to SHOW that you are interesting in something even if you are too late in participating in ECs for that field.</p>
<p>Yeah I think my dad was an accounting major at Duke? He ended up at one of the best business schools in the country for grad school and has been very very successful. But he wishes he'd majored in something more interesting undergrad. I don't think what you major in in undergraduate school will have much of an effect on what field you go into (depending on the field, but for the most part), especially business.</p>
<p>BlueDevil: didn't mean to come off that way. I'm just happy that what you said and what I've already done seem to collaborate! I meant to just state what I had already done, showing that it is close to what you said, so that is a good sign. Thanks for the suggestions!</p>