<p>Growing up, Duke was my dream school. I always thought I would apply and go there until I learned of Duke's cost. Attending Duke next year is now a pipedream. However, I was wondering, if I would have applied, would I have gotten in? </p>
<p>Caucasian, Male
Residence: PA
Would have applied to Arts and Sciences
Major: Chemistry
Weighted GPA: 4.0
Top 3% of Class
Have Taken hardest classes offered
SAT: 1450 (Math: 770 Reading: 680)
SAT II: Math II: 700, Chemistry 670
Won Outstanding Chem student award
Volunteered at local Science Center
In many ECs, 4 officer positions this year</p>
<p>Would have applied??? There is still time... I wouldn't discount Duke because of the price... isnt the average amount in grants like 25k??? I would say that you chances are not bad... they are definitely high enough to merit sending in an app... I would hurry and send in an app to them otherwise you will wonder the rest of your life...</p>
<p>I have no chance for a grant. My parents' combined income is over 100,000 and all I will get is useless loans. The most I can afford is a 25,000 a year school. I'm realistic and know that there is no chance I can afford it without going into debt, which I do not want to do until graduate or medical school</p>
<p>As nice as those sentiments are, mafool and Amnesia, sometimes a certain college choice is truly unrealistic for a student and his family. I can understand why brilliant511 didn't bother to apply.</p>
<p>Financial aid doesn't work magic. Sometimes it is just too tough to pay for colleges like Duke. It is a reality of the current system that college tuition is very tough on the families just above the middle class (ie, the families who make 80+K per year) because they don't qualify for enough FA but don't have money lying around to devote to college expenses. In such situations, it's understandable why students choose not to apply to their expensive dream schools. Why pay the application fee and write essays, just to disappoint and depress yourself when you get the pointless acceptance letter? Sometimes it's not worth it to seek validation in an acceptance offer you'd be unable to take.</p>
<p>There are always other scholarship opportunities though. I wouldn't be at Duke if it weren't for the fact that NROTC is picking up the tab. (of course there is always a trade off and mine is that I must be in the Navy for at least four years but a guaranteed job after I graduate doesn't seem like a bad thing to me, it just depends on what you feel about military service)</p>
<p>dukie, I understand your point. My point is that the OP cannot know for certain what, if any, FA may be available unless he/she applies. The combined income figure is just one of many variables. Now, perhaps the OP's knowledge goes well beyond that, in which case, the decision may be a well informed one.</p>
<p>We really did not think that we would be able to swing Duke, either. We were pleasantly surprised by the FA offer our son received, one that was far more generous than those offered by other schools in the same price range.</p>
<p>apply now! do it! and this is coming from someone who is essentially competing against you for a spot in next year's class! There is no reason to not apply to any college becuase of cost, unless your parents have completely squandered thier income. debt? so what? you'll pay it off later!</p>
<p>Just Apply!!!! If You Get In Woohoo, You Can Deal With The Financial Issues When The Time Comes. But If You Let The Deadline Slip By You Wont Have The Extra Option And You Wont Know What You Could Have Gotten. Just Apply For Goodness Sake. And If You Get In, Only Then Consider The Financial Aspect Of It.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement from all of you. Despite your support, I will not apply to Duke and am content with attending a cheaper and comparable school to Duke such as UVA or UNC. I did not start this thread for your sympathy, I'm just wondering what my chances are of being accepted to Duke. Any opinions?</p>