<p>Yeah, I'm only applying to 5 schools (rpi, wpi, duke, dartmouth, Uconn)</p>
<p>2060 SAT I (700 math, 620 Cr, 740 Writing)
29 ACT (33 math, 26 reading, 30 english, 28 science)--retaking (31-33?)
uw GPA=3.98/4.00
w GPA=6.09/8.00</p>
<p>790 math iic
680 sat2 chem
660 sat2 bio might retake
AP chem-3
Currently taking honors brit lit, honors civics+gov., ap physics B, ap biology, ap calculus AB (hardest classes school offers)</p>
<p>ranked 1/190 competitive public school white male MA
average Old SAT score around 1040</p>
<p>ECs:
boy scout, patrol leader
school band, jazz band, marching band (1st chair alto for all)
NE district festival adjudication (60/80...didn't make the cut-off)
music program @ Umass lowell
Interact Club
Math league (scored ~95 on AMC 12 junior year)
NHS, member
Hospital Volunteer (125 hours)
ACADEC (team medal winner...few honorable mentions)
X-country 3 varsity letters, runner in MA eastern state race
outdoor track varsity letter
Local Journalist for x-country team</p>
<p>RECs:
so/so Guidance Recommendation letter
AMAZING Teacher Letter (went to Duke)
another so-so teacher letter</p>
<p>Essays:
Excellent...I scored a 12 both times I took the new SAT and a 12 on the ACT essay, so maybe that will help a little.</p>
<p>parents went to state schools so alumni won't help...
BE HONEST!</p>
<p>that is correct sir...I am cheerfully optimistic, but unfortunately my SAT score is well below Duke's average so I am a bit skeptical at this point. I can only hope for a 750+ next time I take bio and above a 31 ACT</p>
<p>Your test scores are definitely below Duke's range, but that can be made up for. The weighted GPA seems pretty low. What is the GPA system like? Your chances dont look that great right now unless you are a URM, but if your test scores go up, you will have a decent shot. Good luck!</p>
<p>because our school only has 2 g.c.s and mine is kinda swamped with requestions so she even told me the letter won't be spectacular **sigh</p>
<p>my weighted GPA seems low, but in I do have the top average in my class. Its weird how ppl calculated GPAs: certain classes are required for AP courses so a student must take honors before jumping to APs. We are also required to fill the day with some silly electives because all students must take 4 courses a day with alternating days to get 8 courses in total. Kinda silly if you ask me...</p>
<p>about the Recs, my pre-calc teacher went to Duke and is an amazing writer so that one is good. My physics teacher's rec is okay because he uses a standard format for most recommendations. I've yet to request a copy of my GC's letter, but I prolly should</p>
<p>The rank is an anomoly among your stats. Yours is truly an interesting case and one where you have to believe essays and recs will be everything. That said, I don't see Duke or Dartmouth.</p>
<p>suze, what SAT/ACT score do you think I need to push me over the top in the admissions process (I was scoring around 30-31 on practice ACTs)</p>
<p>I've already signed up for Jan. SAT 2 bio test date...My bio teacher said I should be able to get a 750+ with ease once we cover codons and replication.</p>
<p>the fact that he only got a 1320 math + CR, but is still ranked #1, makes his rank less meaningful. For example at my school #1 has a 1570 and many people not in the top 10, such as me and 3 or 4 other kids, have over a 1450, so this may look as if your school is weak (also your low SAT II scores, besides IIC, and your 3 on AP chem arent good)</p>
<p>I would say your chances are much improved if you get a 31</p>
<p>Being valedictorian does NOT mean you're a good match for Duke. Last year Duke only admitted 41% of the valedictorians that applied. Duke is becoming very selective. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Duke admitted only 41 percent of the nearly 1,500 valedictorians who applied for admission this year. More than 3,100 of this years applicants had SAT scores of 1500 or above; Duke admitted about half of these students.
<p>Yeah I really just haven't found any other places I like that much.</p>
<p>btw ckmets13 my school is still competitive. I simply struggle with CR questions and didn't prepare enough for my SAT IIs. I have only taken the test twice and I scored about comparably both times, the CR section being my lowest score.</p>
<p>--I am entirely confident I can score a 31 or better ACT. I realize Duke is still a reach for me, but then again SAT scores are only one admissions factor. I think my ECs (hospital volunteering?) will carry some weight.</p>
<p>o yeah and I should add I won the RPI science medal so I think I'm about 75% confident at RPI.</p>
<p>If your school's old SAT averages is around a 1040, it's not very competitive. 1040 is around the national average, so Im going to agree with CKmets that you need to push up those standardized test scores to get into duke. The #1 ranking does not compare well with a 1320 and the duke adcom will see your school as being about average.</p>
<p>Again we get the messege going that scores are just one small factor. THEY'RE NOT!! That's why they keep going up at top schools. For that arguement to be believable, we'd see a dip in scores at the ivies every now and then because by this theory, they will sometimes just have more of those amazing yet low scoring applicants!</p>
<p>Those scoring under the 75% are recruited athletes, development (rich and/or famous), candidates, influential legacies (regular legacies are OK above 50%), URMs, prodigies...........but a white male from MA? With a 1320? Even with a bump for val and great essays and recs, I'd say a 1430 is minimum, a 1470 much more comfy.</p>