<p>I love Duke so much and I would do anything to go there. It is my dream school and I am so passionate about wanting to go there. I know my GPA is the lowest part of my application and is the part that will hurt me the most, but what I can do to improve my chances the most? I plan on minoring in Music and I probably want to major in either neuroscience or physics. I have some connections with Duke as my dad went there for undergrad and Law school. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Stats:
[] SAT:1860 (Not sending)
[] ACT: 32 (Retaking in September)
[] GPA: 3.6 Weighted, I'm taking the most rigorous curriculum possible
SIGNIFICANT upward trend -sophomore year 3.35 junior year- 3.8
Taking classes for senior year like multivariable calculus and many AP's.
[] Rank: School doesn't rank
[] Other stats: Junior Class President, SGA President (Senior Year), Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Newspaper, Yearbook Editor, Captain of Cross Country Team, Tour Guide, Ambassador of Prestigious Summer Travel Program, Student Conductor/Director of show band which was nominated for national award, been playing piano for 8 years, participated in many state competitions. 200+ Hours of community service in Spain, Morocco, Peru and Chicago. I did a summer internship in Boston for all of July</p>
<p>Subjective:
[] Essays: will do something very creative, already have an idea.
[] Teacher Recs: Very close with teachers, great recs
[] Counselor Rec: great
[] Hook (if any): legacy</p>
<p>Location/Person:
[] State or Country: Maryland
[] School Type: Private, VERY competitive
[] Ethnicity: White (Middle Eastern)
[] Gender: Male</p>
<p>Very Weak academics; even with legacy and good ECs, it’s not certain.</p>
<p>even with rigor and upward trend in gpa?</p>
<p>Even though your classes are tough I guess the GPA will hinder you. I know you have an upward trend, but does your school have a Naviance type of thing to see others who have gotten into Duke. Maybe your school is known for being extremely tough?</p>
<p>Yes according to my school’s naviance the average accepted GPA from my school to Duke is a 3.92 weighted, which I think is definitely lower than most other schools. I know I am definitely lacking in terms of GPA but will my test scores, ec’s, etc. make up for it?</p>
<p>Also if I work my a** off beginning of senior year, could that help?</p>
<p>Well, considering that your test scores aren’t spectacular, they’re not going to make up for the GPA (unless you bring it up a couple points the next time). You obviously need to work hard to bring up your GPA senior year for two reasons: 1. Duke may defer you as opposed to flat out reject since you’re legacy, so you’ll send in a mid-year report 2. If you get deferred/rejected, you’ll have to apply elsewhere and send in mid-year reports.</p>
<p>As for other advice, make sure you do as many optional components to the app as possible (mainly the things on the Duke supplement and interview).</p>
<p>i have a friend who got waitlisted by duke with a 34 act, perfect grades and good ec’s. he ended up getting off the waitlist and is attending next year, and he didn’t have legacy, but it’s just so hard now. good luck!</p>
<p>I know how difficult its getting, but apparently legacy helps a lot more with ED for duke than RD so hopefully that will increase my chances. Any other opinions?</p>
<p>Anyone else?? I would appreciate so much and would gladly chance back!</p>
<p>Relatively weak grades/scores, EC’s seem good though. Overall you have a low chance so work hard senior year.</p>
<p>aren’t I right in the middle range for ACT scores? or not. and if my GPA is .3 lower than the average accepted GPA to duke from my school is that a significant difference? thanks so much for everyone’s input and remember i’ll chance back right away!</p>
<p>It would only help.</p>
<p>i mean regardless i’m going to work really hard when senior year starts. i’m just wondering since i have a 3.6 and the average accepted from my school is a 3.9, and if i get my ACT to a 33+, with my legacy, ec’s, etc., what percent chance would you guys say i have?</p>
<p>anyone got anything for me???</p>
<p>Work the connections Retake SAT. 3.6 weighted is very low for Duke, but I know somebody in our school who got in with 2200, 3.6 UW, average ECs whose parents went to Duke. It’s not a lost cause, but a high reach. Apply early and have strong safeties in case.</p>
<p>Number of AP classes? Also what is your unweighted GPA as colleges care more about unweighted GPA than weighted GPA (since weighting GPA is not a standardized thing)</p>
<p>again just so people don’t forget the average gpa accepted to duke from my school is a 3.9 weighted, so my school is definitely known as being tougher. my UW gpa is a 3.4 cumulative but that is only for 10th-11th grade because I went to a much less challenging public school in 9th grade and i got a 4.15 weighted gpa and a 3.75 uw gpa that year. If I average 9th-11th grade my weighted gpa would be a 3.77 and uw would be a 3.5. i usually just disregard 9th grade though because it was much easier to make A’s. I will have taken 6 AP/college level courses by the time I graduate.</p>
<p>any advice/opinions would be great.</p>