Hello! I’m going to be a sophomore at a top 10 LAC whose name I’m keeping private and am considering transferring to Duke as a junior majoring in political science or public policy. Currently, I loathe my school’s location, extremely small student body which I do not get along with, relative lack of diversity, lack of academic challenge, and lack of career prospects. My parents also believe the listed schools are a better financial investment, which I completely agree with.
HS GPA UW/W: 3.89/4.51
HS Rank: top 5%
College GPA: 3.85 (two B+, rest A)
SAT: 2260 (M: 740, CR: 740, W: 780)
SAT II: 710 (US History), 700 (Literature)
AP: five 5s, three 4s
HS Courses: 8 AP year-long courses, 5 semesters of community college courses, rest honors, Korean, or PE
College Courses: 2 major-related, 4 GE courses, 2 intermediate (I’ll be taking almost exclusively intermediate-level courses my sophomore year)
Honors:
-National AP Scholar
-NMSQT Commended Student
-Dean’s List at college and at community college dual enrolled in during HS
-Recipient of a few local scholarships, one minor national scholarship
-Turned down 10 college-specific merit scholarships ranging from $5,000-$30,000 annually to attend my current college which does not offer merit awards
-Selected for global leadership program in East Asia
HS Extracurriculars:
-Interned for a university-affiliated NGO conducting research on global educational policy and transitional justice
-Interned for state senator conducting legislative research and working on constituency outreach programs
-Class senator
-Assistant Editor-in-Chief for school’s education journal
-Member of award-winning orchestra that toured internationally
-Volunteer at medical clinic
-Volunteer tutor assisting in SAT prep, English, Korean, and college applications
College Extracurriculars:
-President and founder of nonprofit specializing in diversity and policies relating to it, which has received awards for our advocacy and activities, has chapters in a few high schools nationwide, and works with a few universities
-Interned in Korea for an education nonprofit
-Employed as an overseas editor by a Korean university journal
-Employed by my college’s history department in their office
-Founder and main choreographer for my college’s intramural, multicultural dance team
Miscellaneous:
-Multiracial (Asian/White)
-LGBTQ-identified
-Upper-middle class
-Top public HS
Any help or suggestions regarding my chances, what I should/shouldn’t include, would be most beneficial!