<p>I'm a 10th grader from India, interested in biology. I'm also female, if that helps .</p>
<p>Will be applying for class of 2014.</p>
<p><em>Won't be needing financial aid</em></p>
<p>Let's split this up into sub-fields, so that it's easier to read.</p>
<p>Grades:Awesome. Top few students in the class. No problems here.</p>
<p>Standardized tests: Taking the ACT in October, let's see how it goes, but I'm getting 34's in practise tests from the Rea ACT Book. SAT 2's should be pretty good as well.</p>
<p>EC's (where I think I need to focus):</p>
<p>National level athlete
Zillions of sports at the school level
Heavy involvement in MUN.
School magazine stuff.
Over the next 2 years, I'll probably be highly involved with in-school and some state-level cultural activities.
Gonna start biological research in a few months.
Plan to do quite a bit of volunteer work from next summer on (I'll have a 2 or 3-month break in May)</p>
<p><em>These EC's are the ones I'll be continuing till I'm done with school</em></p>
<p>Recs: Should be pretty good. I'm on amazing terms with all my teachers</p>
<p>Essays: Expect them to be good, I feel I'm quite a good writer</p>
<p>Duke=awesome academics, work hard-play hard atmosphere, laid back feeling, amazing southern weather! What do you say, could I end up on campus in fall '10?</p>
<p>Isn’t it a little early to be doing “chance mes”? I thought that was just bored seniors that did that. But yeh, I’d say you should apply. (I’m not sure I’d describe Duke as “laid back” though, maybe we aren’t as uptight as some but “laid back”? I think I’m laid back but I wouldn’t characterize the school that way)</p>
<p>find something more productive to do w/ your time than stress over college this early… i’m going through the same stress w/ respect to what i’m going to do after graduation.. and its just not worth it that early.</p>
<p>hey, what college wouldn’t like a great student who can pay their own way? But, it’s a bit early to be worrying about that now, keep up the good work and you’ll cross that bridge when you get to it.</p>
<p>Listen mate, blackorder, I’m an Indian sophomore too. But let me tell you, this is NOT the time to stress over chances. This is the time to have fun, do some studying for next year’s public exam and pursue the EC’s you love. In my case, I browse CC for advice and for fun…I’ve even made a few friends on here. If you’d like to browse CC for purposes similar to mine, that’s great. But now is NOT the time to worry about your chances. You’re gonna be just fine when you apply anyway :)</p>
<p>Ditto tetrisfan…Please come back in a year. Without SAT scores and with little to go on in terms of academics and ECs, no one on CC can possibly advise you. </p>
<p>As a foreign student from India, the competition at the top schools will be extreme. </p>
<p>This thread. This thread is two months old. In the future please don’t resurrect it or posts like it just so you can tell the poster to get a life.</p>
But yeh, I’d say you should apply. (I’m not sure I’d describe Duke as “laid back” though, maybe we aren’t as uptight as some but “laid back”? I think I’m laid back but I wouldn’t characterize the school that way)</p>