I NEVER thought I would be doing this...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>My dad (who's in love with Duke) is forcing me (who doesn't like Duke too much as other schools) to apply there...</p>

<p>I apparently have no choice, since he threatened to not pay for college if I don't apply to at least 1 school he liked. Out of Columbia, Cornell and Duke, Duke is the only one I visited, and since I hate the other 2 anyway, I suppose I might as well apply here. </p>

<p>Before you ask why I don't like Duke too much: I didn't like the atmosphere, I thought the buildings were way too gaudy for my taste, the general atmosphere sucked (except for the forest part), and I knew I wouldn't be too happy here after the tour. </p>

<p>But whatever...I'll probably be rejected anyway, but since my dad wants to know SO MUCH, could someone evaluate my chances here?</p>

<p>Race: South Korean</p>

<p>GPA: 4.29 W, 3.66 UW (bit weak here)
Rank: 23/285 (Top 8%)</p>

<p>SAT I: 2200 -- Best Score out of 3 tests (700verbal, 770 math, 730 writing) </p>

<p>SAT II: 770 BiologyE, 780 Math IIC, 790 Korean w/listening, 800 Chemistry</p>

<p>AP Exams: 5 Chemistry</p>

<p>School doesn't offer chances to take Ap's too much...wide variety, but schedule doesn't fit: 2 AP's max in Junior Year, can't take AP's before Junior Year. And to take the 2 max AP's...needed to either: drop language, drop elective, or take summer course.</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars from most important to least:</p>

<p>All-Eastern Band (12th, Currently Listed as Alternate)
New Jersey All-State Band (10,11,12)
New Jersey All-State Orchestra (10,11,12 Only accepts 1 player from entire state)
New Jersey Region Band: (9,10,11,12)
Bergen County Band: (9,10,11,12)
Volunteer Nursing Home (90~100 Hours)
All-School Musical Pit-Orchestra (10, 11, 12 Director's Invitation Only)
Chemistry AP League (11)
Volunteer: Town Community Band (10,11,12 Section Leader in both, about 90 hours)
Marching Band: (10,11,12, Clarinet Section Leader 11th, Alto Saxophone/Horn Section Leader 12th)
Conductor's Symposium (A music conducting seminar that requires professional players to sight-read while teaching conducting) : (11th, Director's Invitation Only)
National Honor Society: (11,12th)
Math League (11,12th, invitation only)
Tri-M Music Honor Society (10,11,12th)
All-American Youth in Concert in Ireland (11th)
Jazz Band: (11,12th)
Instrumental Music Chamber Guard: (9,11th)
Bowling: (10th)
Intramural Badminton: (11,12)
Volunteer Music Orientation for children at a Temple: (11th)</p>

<ul>
<li>Some more school related ones that aren't as important (I.e. chess club, Spanish club)</li>
</ul>

<p>So my EC's are mainly focused on music with some dabbles in other areas. I play 5 instruments with relative ease (learned 3 new ones in HS)</p>

<p>I'm section leader in a good majority of those music extra-curriculars (does this count as leadership?) </p>

<p>Awards:
Recognition Award from Board of Education for All-State Band/Orchestra, Region Band, County Band for all 4 years</p>

<p>Work Experience:
CVS Pharmacy (20~25 hours per week in Summer), Worked as Cashier, general store maintenance) Total about 150 hours</p>

<p>Essays: I think my essays are like 10x better than the papers I wrote at school</p>

<p>Recommendations: 1 From AP Chem, 1 from Spanish 4H teacher...They personally came to me to say Thank you for asking them to write recs...is this a good sign?</p>

<p>I don't know about my guidance one.</p>

<p>So if I have "some" sort of hook/advantage, it would be music...since I play a relatively obscure instrument (Bass Clarinet)... I am strongly considering sending music supplements. </p>

<p>PLEASE BE AS BLUNT AS POSSIBLE -- I know my chances of getting in are like 5~10%, I just want my dad to see that as well...(unless I am completely wrong here)</p>

2

<p>are u an underrepresented minority, seeing by your profile name i thought u may, but that makes a huge difference... other than that if u were to get your rank um a bit... your chances would be much greater</p>

3

<p>LOL I totally forgot to mention that...I'm korean -- so I guess that puts me at an even greater disadvantage. The username comes from my 7th grade nickname. </p>

<p>And you never finished your sentence...um a bit? But I guess you mean higher anyway.</p>

4

<p>I didn't really look at your stats, but I think Duke can realize when an applicant isn't very enthusiastic about attending it. What's so bad about it though, specifically? The more ****ed off you want to be about it, the less you're going to end up liking it. </p>

<p>Other than that, you have strong extracurriculars and other stuff I don't see why you think you have such a small chance of getting in.</p>

5

<p>i agree w/ metalasian, if u dont like a look i wouldnt apply, b/c clearly u wanna be somewhere u wanna be, not your parents, and if u get in and dont go its a simple waste to apply... but all in all u have a decent chance if u want it</p>

6

<p>Duke probably doesn't involve too many extra essays, and the parents are paying the application fee. Give this one to your parents. You can always fight them later, when you actually have to choose a school.</p>

7

<p>I did read last year that Duke was trying to bring in more musicians :) What did you not like about the atmosphere other than the architecture? What schools do you like?</p>

8

<p>I do want to be somewhere else, and it's the one school my parents and I actualy agree on (Johns Hopkins) and I did do ED here...If I just get my results all of this suffering would be over :(. </p>

<p>I just wanted a more "home" feeling to my campus, and I felt so isolated on the Duke Campus...I looked over the essays, and I can write one easily and I suppose I have to try since my dad probably wants to look at it...and he'll kill me if it looks like s***</p>

<p>Ty for your evaluation</p>

9

<p>You have a really nice chance at Johns Hopkins, so if that's where you really want to go, good luck!</p>

<p>Duke is still somewhat a reach... but your music EC's could get you in. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Out of Columbia, Cornell and Duke, Duke is the only one I visited, and since I hate the other 2 anyway, I suppose I might as well apply here.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What is it that you don't like about Columbia and Cornell, even though you didn't visit the places?</p>

<p>Did ur dad go to Duke? Maybe you can ask your dad about his experiences at the college and either get a more positive feeling about Duke or have both of you realize why you wouldn't be happy there.</p>

10

<p>My Guidance Counselor actually told me to not apply to Cornell, since so many students were doing it from my school anyway and she said she definitely knew I wouldn't be happy in a school like Cornell.</p>

<p>Columbia -- their engineering program is not what I'm looking for. From what I've gathered, they stress building leadership skills more than the engineering itself, and many of the students go to business grad schools instead. </p>

<p>My dad just visited Duke with me, and I'm 1st gen. He didn't even tell me why he liked Duke so much -- he's just forcing me to apply, because he wants a "high reach" on my college list. </p>

<p>Here's my college list so far:
1) Johns Hopkins
2) University of Notre Dame
3) Amherst College
4) Northwestern University
5) Carnegie Mellon University
6) Boston College
7) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
8) University of Rochester
9) Rice University
10) College of New Jersey
11) And now I guess...Duke.</p>

<p>Pft...and he thinks I don't have "high reaches" just because I refuse to apply to any ivy school.</p>

11

<p>Is Duke to Southern for you or something? It doesn't seem like you have a single school there below Maryland, haha. (except Rice)</p>

12

<p>Not at all -- I heard that there is a big difference between North Carolina and South Caolina though. Location really isn't that much of a problem -- but my parents don't want me to stray too far. </p>

<p>I am also considering UNC -Chapel Hill (Is that a sin on this board?)</p>

13

<p>Many colleges on your list are more "high reach" than Cornell, and Amherst is on the same level as Duke. I'm not as familiar with admissions to the other schools, but your list looks fine to me. Don't waste money applying to Duke if you do not want to go. Your list is fine and large enough.</p>

14

<p>Really...? More high reach than Cornell...? But I'm applying to the engineering school. Isn't Cornell Engineering the hardest to get into?</p>

15

<p>Yes, I would say that Cornell Engineering is harder to get into than most of the schools on your list except for Amherst and Duke.</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
I am also considering UNC -Chapel Hill (Is that a sin on this board?)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Of course it is, :p</p>

17

<p>Definitly send in an audition tape. State band honors are huge and you are not playing an instrument that everyone else plays.I think you might have a shot at Princeton if you send in the music....it's small and homey and they love state level musicians. (Just what you didn't want to hear, I know)</p>

18

<p>LOL maybe I should apply to Princeton just for the fun of it...Thank you to everyone -- you made me feel a lot better about the application process (just the opposite of what CC usually does xD)</p>

<p>5 more days until Early for me!</p>

19

<p>Would your dad force you to go if you got in? I know a kid in this situation at Penn but he just wrote them a secret letter that explained the circumstances. I am sure that is good enough for certain rejection.</p>

20

<p>Not too sure at this point -- he threatened to not pay for tuition if I didn't apply to Duke though. He just tole me to hand in an application and see what happens.</p>