Is Duke realistic?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi! So I'm in my junior year of high school and my current weighted GPA is a 4.1, but I'm projected to get a 4.75 this year and therefore my cumulative GPA should be around a 4.3 which isn't outstanding in juxtaposition to the 4.5 candidates but it was solely a product of a weak GPA freshman year (3.8). I really have no legitimizing excuse for that GPA; it was solely a disregard for grades. My dad and uncle both went to Duke as undergraduates so maybe legacy could be a variable? Here's some additional information</p>

<p>Gender: Female
Race: Caucasian
GPA: 4.1 (junior year), 4.33 (projected)
Class rank: top 15% at 4th best public school in New Jersey
Course strength: 4 APs junior year (all that are available junior year), no CP classes junior year, all honors available freshman and sophomore year except for math (honors math junior year however), projected to take 5 more APs senior year (Microecon, Lang, French, Calculus, Physics II)
Current Courses: AP Chem, APUSH, AP Physics, Honors Precalc, English Honors, AP Computer Science, Honors French
PSAT score (sophomore year): 1910
SAT score: (N/A) <(haven't taken it yet! Sorry!!! If it's any help, I scored a 2100 on my most recent practice test)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Key Club vice president for 2 years, (9-11)
Chem Club president 2 years (established as legitimate club during my office) (9-11)
French Club (9-11)
Literary Magazine Editor/Contributer (10-11)
Feminist Club (10-11)
French Honors Society (10-11)
National Honors Society (11)
Heroes and Cool Kids (10)
Peer mentor/tutor (nominated by teachers) (11)
Marching band (9-11)
Fluent in Russian (does that count for anything?)
Research Assistant in a Stony Brook University pathology lab - every summer since freshman year - cited on a grant
Research Assistant in a Montclair State University biology lab - since sophomore year throughout the school year - cited in published research
Summer@Brown alumni - took classes in Microeconomics sophomore year
SPARK @ Brown alumni - (7th grade) took classes in Aerospace engineering
SARAS (Science and Research Awareness Series) at Stony Brook alumni </p>

<p>I believe I have strong recommendations lined up from my Chemistry teacher as well as from my lab directors with whom I worked for the past several years.</p>

<p>I understand that my GPA and PSAT scores are slightly lacking, but I was wondering whether it'd be realistic to apply for early decision next year. Thank you to any responders! Thank you for your time and thoughts!</p>

2

<p>Your GPA is fine, good rigor, research assistant and published looks good.
Fluent in Russian really popped you off the page combined with legacy. You have a better chance than most provided SAT scores are within Duke range.</p>

3

<p>Duke is definitely a reach but not out of reach. I would say the thing that would hurt you the most would be your gpa (and maybe grades, based on the gpa, idk) and your rank (Duke probably only likes top 10% if not top 5%). Other than that, your strongest EC to me seems to be the research. The other stuff that you did for a year or two unfortunately won’t count for much since it wasn’t consistent, except for marching band (I do that also :D). Overall I think you do have a chance, esp with all of your APs. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>thank you for responding! I’m currently a junior and I’ll be doing all my clubs next year so hopefully that’ll show a little more consistency?? I did it on a basis of the past 3 years </p>

5

<p>thank you for responding!!! </p>

6

<p>NJ with weak SATs would be tough. A lot will ride on the SATs. The Russian and legacy help enormously, I agree. Picking a major in that area with some plans of study in it would strengthen your app.</p>