<p>yeah, I'm not a valedictorian either.</p>
<p>Is there something against Valedictorians? I'm not one either.</p>
<p>Who's attending the Duke welcome weekend? And...how strict are they about sticking to the agenda?</p>
<p>Apparently they're very strict. I really wanted to go, but since I couldn't fly in until late due to an unavoidable conflict--even though I was going to provide my own transportation--I was informed that I couldn't go. The logistics of it mandate exact attendance everywhere, I guess...</p>
<p>Eek! They DID say that I could stay with a friend (which would make for very convenient...er...social opportunities), but alas, I don't know anyone that goes there well enough.</p>
<p>But if they're willing to throw out such an option...</p>
<p>Aww....I got a likely letter from Duke two years ago...I'm a sophomore here now. I believe I got the letter in February...just one page telling me that I was an outstanding applicant and that they would pay for me to visit for UpClose. I recieved other letters that mentioned that I could possibly be considered for a scholarship, but never was invited to a weekend. </p>
<p>And since I know people will ask...
1440 SAT, 750 Verbal
800, 750, 700 SAT IIs
Val
Lots of ECs including starting a club and state title in track</p>
<p>Accepted at Duke<em>^, GTown, Virginia</em>, Harvard, Yale<em>, Stanford^, WashU^, Pitt!, Notre Dame</em>, Texas*, Howard!.</p>
<p>*-Likely Letter
^-Recruiting, i.e. the university paid for me to visit
! - Full Ride (except Gtown...got the John Carroll and Texas, Half tuition)</p>
<p>Good luck to you all...hope that you'll visit Duke soon and congrats!</p>
<p>You know what, I think that my last post was misleading...I thought the welcome weekend WAS Duke Up-Close. I wasn't paying attention, my apologies!</p>
<p>Hey Tweety: Why did you select Duke over Stanford? I was accepted EA at Stanford and now will visit Duke on April 2nd. Just seeking some insights. Thanks.</p>
<p>Florida2010, awesome question. In the Ivy-crazed world of college admissions, think it's important to get a little reality check about what it is that actually MAKES the Ivies--and their public counterparts--good schools in the first place.</p>
<p>HopesSilverLight, I'm confused. Neither Stanford nor Duke is an Ivy. I just wanted to know what would make tweety114 select Duke over Stanford because of my situation. I'm thinking Duke threw money tweety's way since Stanford gives no merit awards. But I would like his or her take on it.</p>
<p>Are they both ranked fifth right now? I think so.</p>
<p>I'm not sure which ranking source you are citing. The list of the top 500 universities in the world ranks Stanford third and Duke is 32nd (Harvard is first and Cambridge is 2nd). This is an across the board ranking. Let me know which list you are referring to. Although I put no stock in rankings because the basis is always questionable. But I do like the fact that student surveys placed Stanford at number one for the happiest students.</p>
<p>Hopes, it sounds to me like you are confusing "Ivy" with "high-ranked".</p>
<p>The Ivy League is a specific group of eight schools that have an affiliation: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Penn, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Brown. Not all of them are in US News's top 10, and not all of US News's top 10 are in the Ivy League.</p>
<p>Florida:
(1) In the absence of a scholarship weekend, it sounds like Tweety did not receive a merit scholarship from Duke - but I'm interested to hear her answers as well, and not just for Stanford.</p>
<p>I think we're in the best place in the world - but I was never actually faced with the same choices Tweety had to make.</p>
<p>(2) Is this the same ranking system that changed our ranking drastically over the course of one year, from 52nd to 11th?</p>
<p>bluedevilmike, thanks ^<em>^--actually I knew about the ivy league, but due to extreme sleep deprivation and just plain ridiculousness, somehow confused standford with an Ivy in the original post...as for the ranking, that was a completely haphazard comment ^</em>^
Thank you though--I promise I'll think before I fire off posts next time :)</p>
<p>Read through Tweety's posts. There are only 32, and she's probably answered the Duke/Stanford question before. <too lazy="" to="" confirm=""></too></p>
<p>do Duke likelies usually get into other colleges of the same high caliber? (like Harvard, Columbia, MIT, Yale etc. etc.?)</p>
<p>hm,
me, and the other two likelies from around here got into MIT.
idk, supposedly a likely=good</p>
<p>Bluedevilmike: Exactly what I mean about rankings. And no, the one I cited was different, it is from the Institute of Higher Learning in China. But they are all based on different criteria so it is not a valuable tool. Also, so no scholarship weekend, no scholarship money of any kind? I was hoping there might still be some money and that the weekend was just for the full ride. I am looking forward to my Duke visit (paid for) and my Stanford visit (not) and hope I will gain insights for my decisions.</p>
<p>My understanding is that all the merit scholarships we have are awarded via weekend visits - don't forget, there's still a financial aid process. As with the most elite few schools, we commit to meeting 100% of need. I am not completely sure that there is no merit money coming your way, but I'm reasonably sure.</p>
<p>Let me know when you are coming to Duke and if you have any questions I can answer in the meanwhile.</p>
<p>
[quote]
do Duke likelies usually get into other colleges of the same high caliber? (like Harvard, Columbia, MIT, Yale etc. etc.?)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The likelies I know did not get into HYPSM. I don't think there are any actual stats on it, but it would be a safer bet to say the people in the running for the AB Duke scholarship have a good shot of getting into HYPSM.</p>