<p>I am a junior, and although I have other colleges on my list, DUKE is my first choice! I am feeling insecure with my stats, and can you tell me how to improve? I don't want you to tell me my chances, but give me advices. Thanks!
Race: African-American
Gender: Female
GPA: UW 3.96 (3 B's this semester in math, english and history)
W 4.13 (not including this year)
Ranl: School rank only seniors
I am taking AP USH and AP Psychology as well as Hon Pre-Calc, Hon Chemistry, Hon English, Leadership (extra class before school), Study Resources (independent study) and Photography to give me a mental break :)
Senior schedule: AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Government, AP Chemistry, AP English, Honors Physics, Leadership II before school and Study Resources
PSAT Score: Won't receive until after the break- I will inform you of my score when I get it
I have to be honest- my standard tests (SAT I and II) scores will not be stellar, but maybe average or hopefully higher
Attending a very competitive school (it is college-level) and many students go to top universities (Last year-accepted in Stanford, Yale, Duke and Harvard (that's all I know), and this year-accepted in M.I.T ED, Harvard ED and Princeton ED but one student got deferred in Princeton)
EC:
OLD SCHOOL (yea I moved)
-National Karate (9, 10)
-Honors Reading Program (9, 10)
-Tutoring a deaf kid and an elementary kid (9, 10)
-Club Y.E.S- Volunteering organization (9,10)
-Volunteered at Veterans hospital (10)
NEW SCHOOL
-Chess Club (11)
-Psychology Association (11)
-Science Club (11)
I am still looking for a hospital to volunteer
AWARDS
National Karate Summer Program Award
Honors Reading Program Gold Award
A venture scholar
President's Gold Student Service Award-volunteering over 100 hours (I volunteered 200+ hours)
Misc: National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (11), taking a foreign class at UVA next summer and Junior Volunteer Program at UVA hospital (if I get in) as well as researching on nanobiology with a professor who went to Harvard, M.I.T and Princeton (it's allready arranged)
Additional Info: I'm deaf.
Major: Pre-med/Biology</p>
<p>havent i seen u post else ure stats elsewhere where?? There pretty good, being black and deaf are a big helP!! pretty nice EC's, I'd say witj decent SAT scores u have a very good chance of getting in, but that is only my opinion and im no admissions officer</p>
<p>Hm. You're stats look good, but the best advice that I can give you is to working exceedingly hard on your application. The time you put into it (including your essay) will pay off. Consequently, I think that the African American/Deaf aspects of that last comment were a bit ridiculous.</p>
<p>Oh, yeah. I forgot to say that I go to Duke (I'm a freshman). Good luck!</p>
<p>I am concerned about my GPA (3.96 including this year). Does it kill my chance? What is the average GPA of DUKE's applicants? Also, will my race and disability help or kill my chance?</p>
<p>3.96 is a good GPA, i think at least, and i think rgR URE RACE AND DISABILITY WILL HELP U , CONTRARY TO WHAT roWErsETH THINKS. eVER HEAR OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ITS VERY HELPFUL O BLACK PPL. sorry about the caps lock</p>
<p>All I'm saying is that you could be a blind, deaf, paraplegic, half-crocodile, who has an enlarged heart, an IQ of 240, and who happens to be the only person born on Antarctic soil, but if you have nothing to offer, you won't get in.</p>
<p>Ultimately, race and dissability would never kill your chance, but they have less to do with the admissions process than most people think. But, KountingSheep987, I'm not arguing with you--it can be helpful.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses. Just forget my disability or race, but I want you to evaluate my stats and give me your honest opinion. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think the best thing you can do is relax; I've seen you posting all over the boards, and you sound really stressed out. I know it sounds hard, but try to balance school and fun. It will help you enjoy your senior year. Life is more than school. That said, I think your weakest point may be your lack of leadership positions. Duke likes to see that an applicant took charge of a program and made a difference. You have to remember that almost every applicant to Duke is more than qualified, you have to find something that makes you different. It's better to concentrate on a few things and do a ton with them rather than do a hundred volunteer programs and only do a little work in each. I wouldn't worry about your GPA, a 3.96 is fine, I know my good friend got in with less than that. Other than the leadership positions, your stats are almost identical to mine, and i just got in ED. Good luck.</p>
<p>3.96 is actually really, really good, even for those types of schools. i wouldn't be surprised if their averages are below that</p>
<p>Out of curosity, do you think I volunteer too much?</p>
<p>Duke's average GPA for the class of 2008 was 3.93.</p>
<p>^^^unweighted?</p>