<p>Hey, im a junior and i wanted to know my chances for duke ED. I posted on the other thread for whats my chances so it may seem repititive.
New Jersey</p>
<p>Average: 4.3 weighted
SAT: 2200
SAT II: Bio 800, US History 770, Spanish 780
AP: AP Euro 4, AP US 5, AP Bio 5, AP English 5</p>
<p>ECs:
Editor of School Newspaper
Model Congress (Exec board senior year)
Leads of school plays (since tenth)
All-State voice
All County
International Thespian Society
Licensed scuba diver (hope to get advanced license this summer)</p>
<p>Summer:
Doing science research over the summer with the New York Academy of Sciences. Submitting Intel/Siemens Westinghouse projects senior year</p>
<p>Awards:
Youth Leadership award</p>
<h1>1 arts review in nation</h1>
<p>Other journalism awards for regional and state competitions
School newspaper is best in region
7th place in National Spanish Exam
Debate awards at Model Congress</p>
<p>My interests are in journalism and biology (pre-med?)</p>
<p>Newspaper and Drama stuff should help... Duke is getting really into all the arts lately... and your SATs are good enough... The GPA sounds good... but without an idea of unweighted or of class rank or something it is hard to tell what "4.3" really means</p>
<p>i was an intel semifinalist and was admitted. but apparently the award doesn't help that much since i was rejected at another school after being deferred early decision. so don't count on it.</p>
<p>I would send in some of you best newspaper articles with your application. Whatever your award winners are, send in one or two of them. I did that with some that I had written, and it only could have helped my case.
Not to say that you want to overload them with supplemental information, but the fuller picture you can provide to the AdComs, the better.</p>
<p>Quite frankly, mine weren't high at all compared to some of the other students who were accepted.
SAT: 2090
ACT: 31
I only had a couple of leadership positions
Heck...I even had those crappy "Who's Who Among American blah blah..." and "National Society of blah blah scholars" on my resume
And nope...didn't even have an interview. And I'm not an underrepresented minority either.</p>
<p>SO...
I think a lot of the focus is on a very well written and very personable essay. I can't stress enough to make it very personal. It doesn't have to be "offbeat" or "quirky"...mine was rather traditional. Just make sure a very outgoing and sociable side of you is apparent. I did the common app and finished my essay exactly on the 500 word limit...and I made sure every sentence had a point. 500 words isn't a lot to work with when writing about yourself. English just happens to be my strong subject. Also, I had some of the most amazing teacher recs written for me...those same recs won me multiple local scholarships (which add up to be quite a nice sum). Find the teachers who have had the most influence on you and who remember you well...luckily, my recs were written by advanced english teachers haha.</p>
<p>I will admit, I was still very shocked I was admitted. It's a feeling I think happens to most everyone</p>
<p>Especially as of late, it seems that Duke's student newspaper is among the best in the nation (as of late= coverage of recent lacrosse 'scandal' got it national air time and its editors are frequently in correspondence with top news organizations)</p>
<p>I saw them on Nightline, which brings it to mind</p>