Duke Legacy with Bad Stats

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi all,
I already know there isn't much chance but I would still like to see what people comment.
Please don't be annoying and write "no chance," or "give up" it's not very helpful</p>

<p>I'm a junior, not sure yet but there is a possibility I could apply ED
I plan on visiting in the spring</p>

<p>Both parent went and and aunt if that matters, not sure but my parents may have given some money over the years - but nothing very significant</p>

<p>GPA:
W: 90
UW: probably about 90, not sure</p>

<p>SAT
hopefully a 2080</p>

<p>Rank:
not given, maybe 15% to 25%</p>

<p>My school is very competative and sends at least a few to the ivies etc each year</p>

<p>I've taken a decent course load but not nearly the hardest that I could have</p>

<p>My EC are fine but nothing exceptional</p>

<p>I think I have some good ideas for essays, my best subject is english so i suspect those will go very well</p>

<p>I play on one varsity sport since freshmen year, i got on varsity sophmore year though - won't be recruited i dont think</p>

<p>I haven't won any national award type things, a few local things....</p>

<p>maybe phsycology or architecture major</p>

<p>ask me if you have more questions</p>

<p>chance me for others!! (I understand that some will be big reaches, just curious!)
- Tufts (possible ED)
- WashU (other possible Ed, those three are my favorites and apparently at WashU it makes a big difference)
- Johns Hopkins
- Vanderbilt (cousin goes there?)
- Carnegie Mellon
- Georgetown
- Brandies
- Syracuse
- Elon
- BU
- Union
- American</p>

<p>I'll chance back, but obviosly, I don't know sooo much yet.....</p>

2

<p>a few more thins that could be useful:

  • I tutor
  • I may be starting a club in the coming months - leadership??
  • I have a pretty decent upward trend in my gpa, going from about a 86 to a 89.9 to <em>hopefully</em> 94 and senior year should continue!</p>
3

<p>too early for a bump??? don’t know how fast this works…</p>

4

<p>Relax, okay? You’re a junior, so you have time! My advice would be to really challenge yourself with difficult courses in senior year, do well in those for your midterm report ( and because you should!), also, maybe take a few SAT subject tests. Do you have AP exams? Those always look good. Make sure you start that club as well, and try to keep taking the SAT (well, I guess you should only do it three times), until you get a score that you’re happy with. I would start working on my essays as soon as possible too (including Duke’s supplemental essay). I also think that an important part of your application will be that you let your uniqueness shine through all aspects of it, so that the committee gets a complete picture of you as a student and person. Other than that, all I can tell you is just to research for yourself and relax!</p>

5

<p>Oh, and start searching for essay contests and scholarships now, so you can say you won something :slight_smile: *****.com is a good place to look.</p>

6

<p>thanks so much! this was helpful
I don’t understand about the website part - the scholarships that certain websites give out also count in the awards section of the common app?
i havent seen duke’s supplement but if it has a “why duke” part, I bet I could talk a lot about the family connection as well as everything which might help</p>

7

<p>bump anyone? this is helpful for me as i just start my college list (please could someone mention a few of the other schools?)</p>

8

<p>the website I meant is called *****, maybe they don’t let us post that in here. Idk about a lot of the other schools, but you would prob be good to get into Syracuse, bu, and american. American gives out good scholarhips too.</p>

9

<p>Okay, maybe ill just spell it out.
Z. I. n. c. H.</p>

10

<p>Duke: Reach (ED and legacy makes it reachable)
Tufts: Reach
WUSTL: Reach
JHU: Reach
Vanderbilt: Reach
CMU: Reach
Georgetown: Reach
Brandeis: Match
Syracuse: Low match
BU: Low match
American: Low match
Elon: Low match (either straight-up or out of the waitlist)
Union: Match</p>