Getting really nervous- what are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Since I submitted my application, I am so anxious. Can you please predict the result in April?</p>

<p>Myself: Permanent Resident/Black/Male, Public High School.
Prospective Major: Biology
GPA: 3.77/4.0 (9 Bs in junior yr, 4 Bs in senior yr)
*Moved to another school b/c my old school was lousy- bad city school w/o honors or APs, filled my schedule with AP courses though I never experienced taking one, difficult adjustment to everything new, 5 Bs in honor/AP courses in junior 1st semester, 4 Bs in 2nd semester, 4 Bs on mid-year report (all As in classes but didn't feel good when took finals, so I bombed on them, this is very frustrating to know that I'm very close by 1-2 pts to As), by the way, there are no pluses or minuses - so A is 94-100 and B is 86-93 </p>

<p>Rank: Top 30%
* When I transferred, I was automatically put in top 30 because my old school didn't offer any honors/APs courses in my freshman & sophomore year, while my new school gave my classmates an advantage of taking them, increasing their weighed GPA dramatically. So, I'm behind them.</p>

<p>SATI: Math 700 / Writing 720 / Reading 540
* I'm completely deaf (no hearing aids or cochlear implant-I use ASL interpreter in school); thus, I can't receive vocabulary through verbal speech. This is common for other deaf students as well. So, if I'm not deaf, my reading score should be in the range with my other scores. </p>

<p>SATII: MathIIC 750 / US History 610 / Bio M 590</p>

<p>AP: 4s on 2 AP exams</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Research Assistant at University of University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2005</p>

<p>Volunteer Info:
Volunteer at Hospital, 2002-2004
Sharing and caring hands (feeding hot meals for homeless), 2002-2004
Tutoring, 2002-2004, 2005</p>

<p>Extracurricular Info:
Community outreach program, 2002-2004
Basketball, 2002-2004
Martial Arts, 2002-2004
National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, 2004
Health Science Academy, 2004-2005
Science Club, 2004-2005
Mathematics Club, 2004-2006
National Honor Society, 2005-2006</p>

<p>Awards:
Academic Honor Roll
Venture Scholar
President's Student Service Gold Award</p>

<p>Good recommendations (perseverance and always improving in classes are my strongest qualities)</p>

<p>Good essays</p>

<p>Do you think I would get accepted, rejected or waitlisted? Thanks.</p>

2

<p>No comments? I can take harsh opinions. I am starting to realize that Duke is impossible for me to get in. Do you agree? Please be honest.</p>

3

<p>First, let me congratulate on your high school career. Deaf and URM, you accomplished great things. I'm sure you faced a lot of obstacles and tackled them. Good job. But...</p>

<p>I'm sorry but to say Duke is a huge reach for you. 590 on SAT II Biology and you plan to major in it? I don't see how Duke can accept you with your low SAT score, GPA, and rank. It's just my own opinion. Maybe Duke can see something amazing in you and take you in.</p>

4

<p>It has been my experience through having three older brothers and friends that have gone through the college search process before me, that NO ONE can anticipate what college admissions are looking for in an applicant. All you can do is the best you can and market yourself to the college in a way that makes them realize your special talents and what you have to offer the school. I can tell you that they DO NOT only look at test scores, GPA's, class ranks, etc. They look at the WHOLE package and how it was presented. Keep your spirits up and realize that if you are not accepted, then it wasn't meant to be and move on with your next choice. With your work ethic, dedication, and special talents any school would be foolish not to consider you. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.</p>

5

<p>Expecttheimpossible: It's weird that you first congratulated on my work and then criticized it. But thanks for your honest opinion anyway.</p>

<p>Smrtflygirl: Thanks.</p>

6

<p>When I first responded, I thought you were unique because of your deafness and your URM status. But when I checked your stats again, I re-evaluated your GPA, rank, and test scores. I read your statement about your mid-year report, which isn't going to help your chance. I had second thoughts about Duke accepting you. Duke can't just accept you only because you're deaf and URM; you have to have good stats first. Duke is very tough on applicants. If you look at their admitted freshmen's stat, you will see very high average test scores and GPA. Remember, Duke has accepted more than 19,000 applications, and you need to prove that you can succeed in Duke, especially in classrooms.</p>

7

<p>Honestly, I really can't say. If you were white/ not deaf, I'd say it would be a very, very far reach. Your GPA/SAT/ECs all are a few notches below what Duke is expecting. I don't see much leadership, but the research position is pretty nice.</p>

<p>I really don't know how Duke will evaluate your deafness. Most of your resume seems to be excuses, I think they would prefer to see you achieving well DESPITE your deafness. If you had say, average SAT scores (for Duke) and grades, a little leadership and you could do all this DESPITE your deafness, well, it would show a great deal of character and potential. But I think your grades/test scores may bring into question whether you have the ability to succeed at Duke.</p>

<p>Yes, smrtflygirl, colleges do look at the whole package, but academic performance/test scores do mean a lot, and without much in the field of extracurriculars to compensate for lackluster grades/test scores, it's pretty easy to guess that an applicant will be denied.</p>

8

<p>I understand.</p>

<p>I know this is a stupid question, but can you please just vote "accepted", "waitlisted", and "rejected"?</p>

9

<p>Uhhhhh, okay. Um, it's hard to say because I honestly don't know. Actually, I don't know if you have the ability to succeed in Duke. So, if I have to vote, sorry to break it to you but I'd say waitlist. But I know you'll end up at a great school. Good luck. Again, sorry.</p>

<p>EDIT: Changed my vote.</p>

10

<p>I say rejected.</p>

11

<p>expect<em>the</em>impossible, why are you being harsh on the OP? It's not necessary.</p>

12

<p>nikeswooshguy has the best answer, I think. We don't know if deafness will help or hurt you, or even to what degree it would do so. Your profile is below the average, so ordinarily your chances would not be very good. I hate to say this because I remember oh so well how anxiously I waited, but your best option is to wait and try to get your mind off admissions. April 1 isn't so far off. Good luck!</p>

13

<p>I think you'll get in. I know some people who got into elite colleges including Duke with less than 2000 on SAT. It's not impossible. You seem hard working with perseverance (sp?) and determination. I think colleges will admire that; if they don't, it's their loss.</p>

14

<p>If I had to pick one, I would say rejected.</p>

<p>Of course, I'm going by 30 some lines of stats. A lot of things could happen. Maybe Duke really likes that you've done so well despite being deaf. Maybe the quotas for AAs work in your favor. Maybe the essays you call "good" are really considered truly remarkable by the adcom.</p>

<p>But if I had to bet money on what the adcom would do, I'd have to say rejected.</p>

15

<p>Thanks for being honest. Yeah, I feel a little disappointed, but I'm not surprised. I know that Duke is a huge reach for me. All I have to do is now wait and have my fingers crossed.</p>

16

<p>Don't lose your hope, dazedandconfused. But, don't be surprised when you get <em>close eyes</em> rejection. Duke is very difficult to get in, and I don't know how much they will take your deafness into consideration.</p>

17

<p>I'm a freshman at Duke - I'd vote accepted. Admissions should understand that the reading is affected by the fact that you are deaf, and a 1420 on the old SAT is above average for Duke URM's. And from what I've seen from my class Duke really strives to create a diverse campus, so I'd imagine your deafness would help in that area as well.</p>

<p>And regarding your ability to succeed at Duke, I didn't take tons of AP's or get perfect SAT scores but I managed to get straight A's with a pretty tough schedule last semester. You'll discover the studying you do and the work you put in determines your college grades a whole lot more than any test score.</p>

18

<p>Thanks, majinkoola, but my SAT isn't 1420--it's 1240. Have you known anybody who got into or even go to Duke with below than 1300 on SAT?</p>

19

<p>I'm sure Duke will understand your verbal score. Your math and writing score are competitive; in fact, they are in the median range (50%) of average freshman in Duke. This is very good. </p>

<p>However, your grades may hurt your chance. Your transcript may show a lot of Bs--9 Bs--Duke really emphasize good grades. However, you transferred to a good school and took the most demanding schedule. I think this will help. </p>

<p>While I'm impressed with your research and volunteer experiences, your ECs may be weak. I think they are not unique or even "wow."</p>

<p>However, like majinkoola said, Duke really wants to create a diverse class. Your deafness and URM status will help you. </p>

<p>I think you'll get either accepted or waitlisted.</p>

20

<p>The SATII Biology score may hurt you, but who knows? Sometimes things are not always what they appear. The application committee may see something in your essays and other papers that I can't. I will agree, it is a long stretch, but like I said, the applications guys have your essays, which reveal quite a bit about a person.</p>

<p>It pays to be optimistic.</p>

<p>THE VOTE:</p>

<p>I would say waitlisted.</p>