Getting into Duke University

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello,

I was wondering what my chances are of getting into Duke University. I have a low gpa due to 2 concussions: 3.12. And my ACT scores are:
English: 33
Math: 34
Reading: 33
Science: 34

2

I forgot to mention a few things, my dad is an alum at duke and has donated around 3k. He is also on the board of visitors for the graduate school, and I also have a recommendation from a duke professor.

3

It’s going to be very hard to get into Duke considering your GPA. However, since your dad is an alum and is on the board of advisors, that will give you a little bit of a bump. Still, I think it’s a reach.

4

would you go for sports?

5

If you want into Duke, apply early action, and with the donations, rec, and legacy I believe you have over 50% chance of getting in due to the like 40% acceptance rate for early action.

6

Your GPA is on the low side. Is your class rank high? What is your class rank exactly. What is your ACT composite score? Trinity or Pratt?

What ECs do you have?

Being a legacy does not mean you are automatically in. I’ve interviewed many legacy kids over the years who were never accepted. You will get a third read.

However your biggest hurdle is the GPA. You need to show that you are capable of doing the work. Show other academic achievements to offset (college grades, AP scores, SAT 2 scores, SAT 1 scores)

7

My ACT composite score is 33.
I am not sure what my class rank is. But, my school is known for being very difficult and not many people have a high GPA.
I would be applying to Trinity.
My ECs are:

-I played high school and club soccer for three in high school. (Team captain of my club team)

  • I volunteered at an orphanage for disabled children in China
  • I have tutored children, teaching them in English, reading, and math (at two different organizations.)
  • I helped coach a young boys soccer team.
  • I volunteered at multiple soup kitchens at the tenderloin
  • I have done track and field (1 year)
  • Cross country (1 year)
  • Model U.N
  • investment club
  • volunteered at an orphanage in India
  • Have had 3 different internships involving coding(taught myself coding), advertising, and data research
8

If your dad has donated a total of $3000 to Duke or even $3000/year that is a pittance. Did your parents pay for the trip to India? That is considered poverty tourism and will not impress them. If you were funded by some international agency then it will be a plus.

9

I did not go to India for tourism, I had to pay the orphanage in order to stay at the orphanage and help out.

10

The pattern of grades is critical here. Stating that you have a 3.2 tells the reader very little. What courses did you do well in and which did you tank in? Did you have mostly B+'s or As and Cs? Did you do very well in high level STEM classes but poorly in gym and art? What rigor level were the classes?

I would not suggest that your lower grades are related to concussions unless you were getting A’s, got a 33 on the ACTs and then got the concussions–after which you got poor grades. But, that scenario begs the question as to whether you could now handle the rigor of the school. If I were in your shoes I’d think honestly about why the grades are low. If it is as you portray, then you need to show schools that you are now capable of better academics. If it is not, then I’d think about more realistic schools. Why would you place yourself in a environment where everyone around you is a stronger student?If you had simply slacked off and now regret that, I’d avoid the concussion excuse.

Your ECs are fine but they don’t stand out. As has been suggested, volunteerism does not impress adcons;Especially if they are done for the sake of looking good for colleges-since that means you used the most vulnerable people to make yourself look good. But, if there is some evidence of genuine contributions that transcend what would have been done for college applications, that is a different story. Schools are not that interested in a list of ECs. They are interested in achievements. Likewise for internships since schools know that, especially for a student whose father went to Duke and who began internships very early, it is likely that the experience was arranged for the student by a parent or connection. Given that, you have not included enough information about your ECs-how did you rank in sports? How about in Model UN?

Getting in on the merits of your dad is unlikely. You will have a small advantage but far more legacies apply than are accepted. (also see:http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2015/09/legacy-admissions-something-given-for-little-returned and http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2012/10/justify-legacy-admits).

11

So your parents paid for the trip to India. that is called poverty tourism. As an EC it will not be impressive.

12

I went to a lecture earlier this summer by Dean Guttentag. Your chances as a legacy applying ED is about 35%. This is higher than the general ED admit rate of 23%. See here for more details:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19757721/#Comment_19757721

This means that more than 2/3 of legacy kids who apply ED get rejected. You will get the benefit of the doubt as a legacy but you still have to explain to the readers the grades. Their main concern will be whether or not you can handle the workload at Duke. Try to address this in a meaningful way without resorting to excuses. If you have an upward trend, this shows that you are bouncing back.

Have you considered taking an academic gap year or post-grad year at a boarding school?

I also strongly agree with @TomSrOfBoston. There has been a recent trend among wealthy families to pay for their kids to go to third world countries, combine it with a vacation, and then to claim volunteer hours for it. I strongly suggest you stay away from presenting this on your app. It will probably hurt you more than it helps. You’ll also need to boost up your ECs.

13

Low chance, but it is possible. I would find some safety schools, however.