<p>Thanks for taking questions! I have a few questions because I am trying to figure out if I wanna do Duke ED. How true is this whole “effortless perfection” phenomenon at Duke? It seems a lot like Stanford’s duck syndrome + needing to look perfect. I keep hearing that the greek scene is socially competitive? What is meant by that - is there pressure to go out and party or is there cliquey-ness? I don’t really understand what “socially competitive” entails. I have always wanted to go greek but articles like the Rolling Stone’s “Duke 500” and some on Duke’s “effortless perfection” phenomenon scare me a little. Can you elaborate on all that?</p>
<p>The articles in magazines are meant to sell the magazines…giving an accurate portrayal is certainly not priority #1. Sensationalized journalism sells…even the AUTHOR of the Rolling Stone article says she put in caveats the framed it more reasonably (i.e. a very very small subset and slightly exaggerated), but the editor took it out. Duke’s social scene is very inviting and diverse - it’s one of the key strengths of the undergraduate experience at Duke. </p>
<p>If you want to be part of the social scene that is “competitive,” I’m sure one exists somewhere, but it’s easily avoidable as well. Even the Greek system is quite diverse and inclusive - compared to southern universities nearby (e.g. UNC), it’s a piece of cake.</p>
<p>Does duke look into the sub scores for the ACT? Because I have a 29 composite but I have a 29.25 which was really close to a 30 composite, but science section bought my composite down.</p>
<p>Duke is my dream school and has been since 7th grade, but my GPA is not where it should be… 3.60. My HPA is a 4.62, 2050 SAT, will be taking the ACT next weekend. I am so in love with Duke, but lately I’ve been ignoring that love because most likely, I won’t get in. But anyway, do you think I should apply ED regardless of my stats? Or get my GPA up to ~3.65 and apply RD? SO CONFUSED.</p>
<p>I’m gonna hit all the academic questions first and then go back to any others</p>
<p>@Crazycon</p>
<p>Like I said, I’m somewhat averse to ‘chancing’ people for two reasons: 1) nothing I say bodes any indication to your admission decision, and 2) I think it is a waste of time that serves only to temporarily calm one’s obsession with college and to develop a sense false positivity or negativity. With that said, I think your scores and GPA are rather low and hope you can a write stellar essay/resume- take from that what you will.</p>
<p>@BigThink </p>
<p>I would not use a Math 1 score in your application. You can apply with math 1, but unless you have a great score (which to be blunt, you don’t) and have a reason you were unable to taking Math 2, I would not. While the admission rate to Pratt may make it seem easier to apply to and be admitted, the average scores and GPAs of it’s students are higher than those of Trinity’s. Personally if you have the intention of going to a top tier school, I would still apply ED but plan on retaking both of those tests, especially if you want to enter an engineering school. Good luck!</p>
<p>@TLing99</p>
<p>Duke, like all other competitive schools, will look at anything and everything you send them. The more information that helps to characterize a piece of paper or PDF rather, the better as far as differentiating between applicants goes. They also understand that an innately flawed aptitude test does not fully encompass the abilities of a student, and therefore take a holistic approach to evaluating your application.</p>
<p>@Bluedevil18</p>
<p>If I were you, I’d apply ED because I think the application boost you’ll gain from committing to your dream school far out ways the benefits from the slim chance that you’ll significantly increase your GPA and test scores. But I don’t know you and perhaps if your going to do extra test prep and take extra classes, you’ll raise your stats to the point at which you have a much better chance of admission. Personally, I’d say it’s your senior year and hopefully you’ve done the best you could have done- enjoy it.</p>
<p>Best of luck to all of you guys!!!</p>
<p>@Catamount17 </p>
<p>I am retaking the ACT this Saturday and if my composite goes down, but my science goes up, will Duke take into consideration that I did better for science, but disregard the lower composite score?</p>
<p>Also, will an art supplement help my chances? Will an interview help too?</p>
<p>@TLing</p>
<p>Like I said before, they will take into account absolutely everything that they receive from an applicant. They understand that people can not always repeat their performance, and sometimes scores are flukes. Whether or not a higher science and lower comp improves your application, I don’t know. Do your best and that’s all you can do.</p>
<p>If art is an integral part of who you are and/or you think you want to continue your art at Duke, sure I’d send it in. I’m no artist so in my case, I would not want Duke to see any of my art i.e. stick figures. </p>
<p>As far as interviews go, my personal experience was that I think it greatly improved my application because my interviewer and I had a lot in common. She was very young and was interested in more than academics and boring interview style questions; we talked about shooters, frats etc. The way I see it is that if you are offered an interviewer, you have to take the opportunity without it boding bad for your application.</p>
<p>I’m sorry all these people are basically bombarding you with chance questions…</p>
<p>How are you liking Duke so far? And are you a fan of basketball at all?</p>
<p>To provide another perspective, I was not offered an interview and was admitted as well, so if you are not offered one in your region, it’s not the end of the world.</p>
<p>The one thing I will also say is that neithere catamount17 nor I are admissions officers. Our understanding of what scores to send in or whether to apply or not truly mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Any time I give application advice, I get all of that information from the website. Please, please, please don’t be afraid of picking up the phone and asking admissions hypothetically if it’s legimately a good question-- all of the AOs I know are really, really nice-- a couple are recent Duke grads themselves!</p>
<p>^^^ </p>
<p>My point exactly. I’m happy to give my personal advice based on my experience as I’m sure purpleacorn is as well, and while it may be slightly more valuable then your average person’s solely because we both were admitted to the University, nothing we say is endorsed by the people who actually make your admission decision!</p>
<p>With that said, I’m still more than willing to answer questions of any variety!</p>
<p>It’s cliche to hear people extol their love of their University- I do love Duke and know one hundred percent I made the right decision. From the weather to the campus to the people, it is a close to perfect as I could imagine a University, granted I’m slightly biased.</p>
<p>I’m a huge fan of Duke basketball- though that too is probably somewhat cliche!</p>
<p>^^ I don’t know. It’s been uncharacteristically cold the last couple of mornings, and I don’t know how much more I can take. (For those who may be freaking out, I’m from Texas, so anything that means no flip-flops makes me sad.)</p>
<p>@jilber
I’ll also plug for the social life at Duke-- and all the things it can be. I accepted without loving the school-- and now I realize that this has been an amazing experience. There is space on this campus for everyone-- we expand to fit our student body. If you are gregarious and love basketball and a good time, you’ll fit in. But if you’re like me and have never sat through a game in your LIFE and don’t party, you’ll still fit in.</p>
<p>I’m loving Duke. It was difficult at times, but I’m throwing myself into a couple of projects and have met some really awesome people through a couple of student groups, and Duke is just an amazing experience.</p>
<p>I want to know what your opinion is either to do RD or ED if the first quarters grades are bad (2 C’s) ?</p>
<p>If the first quarter grades of senior year are bad in comparison to other grades, I would apply RD and get yourself a second quarter of better grades. I don’t personally think it’s helpful to exhibit a kind of senioritis in the application.</p>
<p>I applied ED and in one of my classes, our entire grade is based on two projects in the second quarter of the semester (my school does not count quarter grades). This, unfortunately, means that I have n E in the class. Will there be a place to explain this to Duke on the score report?</p>
<p>Have your guidance counselor do it in the school report.</p>
<p>I agree with purpleacorn on both of these.</p>
<p>@Tling I think your more recent grades have a disproportionate weight on your application. The last thing you want to do is look like you’ve fallen apart this late in the game as this is the person the universities will be taking, not you from two years ago </p>
<p>@swim… either do that or use the additional information on the common app to explain any anomalies if your counselor isn’t willing.</p>
<p>Even if you are struggling, I would still apply ED. It is SO much easier to get in ED, with about twice an admit rate. Apply ED, and if you’re still competitive but they want to see you have higher grades in the second quarter they will defer you, but it is so much easier to get admitted early than regular.</p>