@evanescent0129 I worry that I’m just too average (boring) in general. I remind myself that I have some unique things but then I doubt how unique they really are. The cycle continues.
like what? (if you don’t mind me asking)
@evanescent0129 i completely agree with feeling like a stereotypical asian, and i have been so worried that that will be a huge disadvantage. less than two weeks left though, good luck!!
@evanescent0129 I taught myself ASL to near-complete fluency and now volunteer as an interpreter. But idk how much they would even care about that, and my other stuff seems pretty typical (at least for cc).
@evanescent0129 @lillian98 if it makes you feel better the two people I know at Duke are both “stereotypical Asians” (tennis, music, math/science), although I’m sure I can’t fully alleviate your nerves 
yeah, I’m a nationally licensed EMT, so I’ve actually administered care in the ER and on the ambulance, and I’m on the editorial board for a research publication, but I’m honestly not sure if that’s enough either
@evanescent0129 It’s good since you have some kind of certificate. I feel like most of the things I do, producing music for example, do not provide me with such certification.
Male
Indian (US Citizen)
2330 old SAT single sitting (800 math, 760 CR, 770 Writing)
790 Math II
800 Chem
Pending Literature
Rank: Top decile
IB Full Diploma: Predicted 43
HL Math: 6
HL Econ: 7
HL Chem: 6
SL Theatre: 7
SL Literature: 7
SL Spanish: 7
TOK/EE: 3 Points
GPA: 3.85 Unweighted, 4.2 weighted
From North Carolina, Living Abroad in New Delhi, India
Economics and Public Policy Double Major
I want to go to Duke because I lived in North Carolina for a long time and it feels like my home. I’m also an international student so I appreciate the small class sizes. Also obviously great Economics and PP program
I applied Early Decision
Thoughts?
@AES12345 Man, you’re definitely getting in.
Guys, what is the very first thing you would do if you get in?
Just lie down and sigh with relief that the whole painful process is over
Call my mom
Them EMT thing is cool and I agree about the certificate! I wish I had taken an official ASL fluency test but I figured the fact I translate would prove it
10 days to go, good luck everyone !
How much do you think essays implicitly count for? I know explicitly Duke says that it values essays equally with all other components of the application, but I feel like there’s more to it. How do you argue for a kid based solely on numbers without a cohesive personality in their writing pieces? How do you argue about what they’ll contribute on campus? I know roughly 75% of applicants end up at committee where officers have to argue for the kids they want to admit, but I can’t imagine you can argue for a kid without feeling like you know them through their writing.
I think that the interview and the essays really help in that aspect. I have a friend who works in the admissions office of Duke and they say that everyone who applies is upwards of 2100 SAT/32 ACT and 3.5 GPA, so to really distinguish yourself you need to write about something special in your essays which helps the reader figure out who you are aside from what your grades and SAT say about you as a student. The interview is really good because it allows the school to see if you are actually a genuine person who can socialize and will contribute to the campus atmosphere and activities rather than just staying in your dorm or something.
do you guys think the later decision release date could mean that Duke has received more ED applications?
Probably an indicator that they have a lot this year but who knows
Penn and Northwestern which are similar, comparable schools to Duke both had record numbers of early applicants
The last time Dec. 15 was a Thursday was 2011. And in 2011 decisions were released on the 14th (based on previous ED threads), so it’s probably just a pattern.