ED chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>I am probably going to apply ED. Obviously Duke is a reach, but as of now it is my favorite school. I read that Duke's admission chances jump from around 19% to 35% for EDer's, so going to do whatever I can to increase my chances. My ultimate goal is of course to get in but I would feel lucky to get waitlisted. Then I would do everything I could to get in.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6/4.42
SAT: M: 670 CR: 630 W: 630
ACT: 28
*Definitely going to retake these
SAT II: MathIIC: 680 (was really sick, hardly slept, regret not cancelling, going to retake)
Rank: Maybe top 10%, at least top 15%</p>

<p>EC's:
Football: Freshman year
Lacrosse: All years
Key Club: Started sophomore year
Eagle Scout
200+ hours of volunteer work
ICC science club
Latin club
Angler club
Church youth group
Math team
Cum laude on National Latin Exam
Duke TIP - weekend
Chemistry internship at UNC Chaple Hill (took field trips, did labs, maybe could get recommendation)</p>

<p>BIG WEAKNESS: I have a few C's: two in math b/c I had a couple of unlucky homework checks which my teachers counted as zero quiz grades (I always do my homework now) Maybe if I made an A in AP calc next year and did well on the mathII subject test I could redeem myself?</p>

<p>Advice? Criticism? Don't hold back!
Thanks</p>

2

<p>Are you a rising senior? I hate to spoil the party for you but it's probably not happening. Your GPA, SAT/ACT, and EC's are all sort of low for Duke's standards. Also, if you were a rising senior, making an A in AP calc wouldn't matter, as you'd be applying ED. </p>

<p>I would retake the SAT/ACT and study really hard this summer if I were you. Duke likes to take high test-scorers, legacies, athletes, and URMS during ED.</p>

3

<p>If you're applying ED, then your GPA is unfortunately pretty set. In that case, I would agree with AdmissConsulting in that you should study extremely hard for the SAT (or try the ACT) to get a higher score. That is the only way I can see you being admitted, really.</p>

<p>Since you said don't hold back, I'll also add that your ECs are a little weak. You are an Eagle Scout, which is clearly the highlight of your application, but the rest of them seem somewhat sporadic and unfocused. Have you held any leadership positions in the clubs or teams you've joined? The Chemistry internship at UNC looks a little fishy to me, personally. What kind of field trips were these and do you mean you worked in a lab or performed labs provided by others. If it's the latter, I would say it was more of a camp than an internship.</p>

<p>Don't mean to be too harsh, just pointing out a few things that the admin committee might see as well.</p>

4

<p>Thanks,
Yes I am a rising senior. I was under the impression that first quarter grades of senior year would be sent. Would I be better off if I did not apply early decision and did my best to make the best possible grades I can first semester of next year to raise my GPA, QPA, and class rank? Or do you think that ED reveals my interest in Duke? Does anyone know how Duke constructs its waitlist? Maybe that would be my best bet because I was told that ED applicants get priority.</p>

5

<p>Right now, I'd say your chances aren't that good, but don't lose hope! If you really want to go to Duke and finances aren't a huge concern, apply ED. Don't apply RD b/c you think your GPA will improve in the semester. The interest you show applying ED will outweigh the small increase in GPA. I've heard the waitlist functions by replacing similar applicants who chose not to enroll with those on the waitlist (e.g. Duke accepts 5 tuba players who are interested in majoring in math and waitlists one....none of the 5 choose to enroll, waitlisted person then gets in). Don't know exactly how they determine "similarity," but it's probably some combination of race/geography/interests/major. I don't think ED applicants gets priority - but showing that much interest doesn't hurt, for sure.</p>

6

<p>i wont be so quick to say that you have no shot, although, its a bit dim. i got in with a not-so-perfect gpa and a 2050 on the SATs (other posters are going !!!??!???!? right now, and yes, i know). The reason I did, however, was because I had some outrageous ECs - one in particular that made me completely unique. i turned that into an essay and that pulled me through. the point is there are exceptions to the rule. unfortunately, you'd have to be an exception. </p>

<p>you do have one saving grace - your essay. it might be outstanding, but when posters point out that your ECs are weak, (often where the essays come from) they are making a good point. it takes something special about a person to write a special essay. if its not in you, it wont be in the essay. look deep inside and try to find that common thread in your life, the one that has made your journey unique and special - the one that duke admissions officiers would want to read about. </p>

<p>meanwhile, i would suggest a few others: if its warm and/or southern you like, consider Vanderbilt, Wake Forest. There are also Rice and Emory, both of which run a little more liberal than the former two, but both, obvious, are kick-ass schools. The great thing about the former and to a lesser extent the latter is that they have the "work hard party hard" mentality (although i gotta say vandy just seems all play hard sometimes) that may have attracted you to duke.</p>

<p>other possible reaches include hopkins (if you're a d-bag and its lax your interested in...k sorry i was joking, i hate hopkins) northwestern, both of which are work hard party hard. (and by the way there is more to it that work hard party hard im just simplifying for ease of writing). don't forget mid-level schools and safeties though, have a lot of them. </p>

<p>and def apply ED -ALTHOUGH, if you realize theres a good likelyhood you wont get in, conider cutting your losses and applying ED to a school just behind Duke, like those ive listed. they are school you prob also might not get into RD, but ED may give you the boost to get in. if you wasted your ED on Duke, a clear and absolutely reach, you may end up at a safety.</p>

7

<p>How would you recommend that I boost or focus my EC's? Perhaps I could start a club, or a volunteer organization? Is it too late anyway? Also; if I get deferred will I then need to submit my first semester senior year grades?</p>

<p>Good point jct30; there's always wake or vandy or rice. But they all have their setbacks compared to Duke. I could always transfer if I get really depressed at one of those schools. W/e</p>

<p>Thanks for the input</p>

8

<p>I wouldn't suggest trying to do anything drastic with your ECs like starting a new club right before your senior year because they'd be quite transparent. On the other hand, try to attain some leadership positions in the activities that you've participated in throughout HS like lacrosse, key club, or latin club. </p>

<p>I agree with the people above in that since your GPA will only be marginally affected by an extra semester (even if you get all As), I would suggest you apply ED as that gives you a much higher chance, even with lower grades. If you get deferred, be sure to send in your first semester senior grades because if they have improved, they'll give you a better shot.</p>

9

<p>Oh I forgot to add something. I was captain of the JV lacrosse team this year while being on the varsity team. Also, the internship was more of a camp and I was like a counselor. I am also trying to finish up the Congressional Award, I might get silver medal. Does any of this make a difference?</p>

10

<p>I'm sorry, man.
You are probably not getting into Duke (even ED..)- unless you are good enough to get on their lacrosse team.
The 1300 isn't looking good at all- it is way below Duke's 25th SAT Percentile AND 3.6 is certainly below Duke's 25th GPA percentile.
You can always transfer to Duke if you do well at another school.</p>

11

<p>put aside whether you could get in or not. (or at least, lets just say its clear it won't be easy). </p>

<p>don't consider other schools as options for you to transfer to duke from. duke kicks ass, but other schools kick ass too. (in fact, all these schools kick ass.) don't become single minded on a school - no matter how much you think it was meant for you, it can't possibly be that much different from other great schools that you wouldn't love them too. </p>

<p>what state are you from?</p>

12

<p>Hey guys, I think there by have been a small indiscrepancy. In my GPA, I did not mean 3.6 out of 4.42. I meant 3.6 UW (out of 4) and 4.42 W(out of who knows what). I'm sure it is still probably low for Duke, but just in case.</p>

13

<p>Laxman91-
GPA's one of those tricky admissions factors because the grading system varies for each high school (i.e. there are high schools where a 5.0 is mediocre, while there are some where a 3.5 is stellar). </p>

<p>The more important thing is class ranking, and if you're in the top decile of your class, then GPA is really not a huge concern.</p>

<p>Your ECs look pretty good...do you have any that you'd say would separate you from the other applicants? You do need to get those scores up. I recommend studying for the SAT b/c you can learn test-taking tricks/strategies to raise those scores during the summer.. With the ACT, it's more of "you know it or you don't"...no real tricks other than practicing timing.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>