<p>weighted GPA: 4.05 out of 5.0 (our school doesn't rank but 18% have GPA > 4.00, :( )
SAT: 800M/660CR/690WR superscore 2150
SAT II's: 800 Chemistry, 800 Math II
AP's: BC Calculus 5, Statistics 5, Chemistry 5</p>
<p>EC/Awards</p>
<ul>
<li>2 time USAMO(USA Math Olympiad) qualifier</li>
<li>top 50ish on ARML (American Regions Math League) in 2006 with score of 7</li>
<li>3rd place in state math competition</li>
<li>school math team captain</li>
<li>community service/volunteering (50hr +)</li>
</ul>
<p>Everyone can apply, but the odds are against you. However, I think if you demonstrate true passion for Math/sciences, you might have a shot (800 chem and 800 mathII. Thats outstanding!).</p>
<p>I don't understand that statement either nmehta. You have very good stats. I were you I would pull together the $75, write a great essay and secure my place in the class of 2012.</p>
<p>definitely apply. sure, your GPA is crappy, but you show a strong dedication to math. a 7 ARML is incredible! those 800s are really nice too. no doubt, you have a decent shot.</p>
<p>Honestly, We don't even know if your GPA is crappy. This is on a 5.0 scale not a 4.0 scale so most of us probably don't know exactly what conclusions to draw from you GPA. I have spoken with Duke Admissions officers and they told me that GPA is not that import, but instead it your school record ie your grades and your schedule that really matters in the long run. What classes have you taken? Are they AP/Honors? What grades did you get in them. As long as these are good it doesn't matter that your GPA may not seem good. Also I see that only 18% percent of students are above 4.0 GPA's at your school. This means that you are at least in the top 18% of your class. I think that you stand a good chance.</p>
<p>I mean, assuming he's a senior, he's already gotten a 5 on the BC calc exam, meaning he took it as a junior. Is that not impressive? I'd apply to engineering, your stats are almost identical to mine and i got in.</p>
<p>Definitely exaggerated.
If there were stats on the average SAT/GPA of the ED pool versus the RD pool, I would say that the ED people would have higher stats on average.
I would go as far as to say that the top 35% of the ED pool is nearly equal academically to the top 20% of the RD pool.
There are a lot of people who apply to Duke RD simply because its a good school despite the fact they have no chance of getting in.</p>
<p>A reason why ED gives an advantage though is that it lets the school know that the applicant is REALLY INTERESTED in going there for college.
Colleges are competing for high yield rates and low acceptance rates so they are going to try to pick not all the most qualified applicants but also those who are likely to say yes to the school. This is a strategy of colleges using early admissions. This is why not too many schools are going to follow Harvard and Princeton's lead (and in my opinion, it may have been foolish for Princeton to get rid of ED (let's be serious here, how many people would actually choose Princeton over Harvard and Yale?), let's hope that Princeton doesn't care about yield rate as much as the other ED schools do, :p). On the other hand, there aren't too many schools people are going to choose over Princeton, so it may not be that bad..</p>
<p>
[quote]
Definitely exaggerated.
If there were stats on the average SAT/GPA of the ED pool versus the RD pool, I would say that the ED people would have higher stats on average.
I would go as far as to say that the top 35% of the ED pool is nearly equal academically to the top 20% of the RD pool.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Mondo I've looked at both the early and regular applications and that statement is most certainly not true.</p>
<p>I meant nearly equal, I guess the RD accepted group would have slightly higher stats than the ED accepted group but it is pretty close. Closer than one would think, :). There are a lot of people out there who apply to top schools RD who aren't qualified to go there, most (with the exception of athletes and 'development admits') simply add to the school's very high rejection rate.</p>
<p>I think one of the main reason Duke's admit rate for ED is so much higher than RD is that MANY ED applicants are legacies and recruited athletes. Loyalty to the university is very strong in families and legacies enjoy a 50% acceptance rate overall. Recruited athletes, as well, obviously have a higher acceptance rate. So, that would skew the results. Also, I do believe that ED applicants are, on average, slightly more qualified, but it's not a secret that it is advantageous for applicants to apply early.</p>
<p>I looked at the Hernandez Consulting Link you provided, and I have to say....wow,those are crazy prices!! People actually pay that much for college counselor services?! I mean, I understand it's important, and I would pay a fair amount, but those are just absurd prices. On the front page, it says that she only had 29 "students" in 06-07, but I assume that is for their "Private Consultation" which runs $26,000 - $40,000. Are you kidding me?!?! That's a year of tuition at these schools! The live four day "application boot camp" is $8,000, and if you can't attend, you can pay for the materials provided and a non-live video of the event for a mere $3,000 (65% off! <sarcasm>What a deal!</sarcasm>). The five hour SAT tutoring is a mere $1,600 (wow, so cheap, $320/hr) IF you are already her student and the SAT guide is $380. They better be coating those books with gold....</p>