My dog wants YOU to chance me for Duke.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Please help. My nerves are going to implode. Yes.</p>

<p>Please chance me for Duke 2014!! :)</p>

<p>Academic</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>]Rank: 25/435 (top 6%)
[/ul]
[ul]
[</em>]"Cumulative GPA": 3.833
This is the GPA that LAUSD reports. It's a mix between unweighted and weighted. This includes 9th grade through first quarter of 12th grade. It will go up to about 3.9 when my second quarter is completed.</p>

<p>I have had straight As since the summer after 10th grade, with the exception of one B this quarter in AP Calculus. My 10th grade was a difficult year so I had a couple of Cs and Bs. We didn't have a place to sleep etc (see essay info below).
[/ul]</p>

<p>[ul]
[li]SAT:[/li]Take 1: 740M, 670CR, 670W (10 essay)
Take 2: 730M, 690CR, 680W (9 essay)
Super-score = 2110
[/ul]</p>

<p>[ul]
[li]Subject Tests:[/li]French 800
Math IIC 750
Math IC 750
US History 730
[/ul]</p>

<p>[ul]
[li]AP Tests:[/li]AP Euro: 3
AP US: 4
AP Psych: 5
AP French: 5
[/ul]</p>

<p>[ul]
[li]Senior year course load:[/li]AP Macroeconomics (A)
AP Government (A)
AP English Literature (A)
AP Calculus BC (B)
AP Physics B (A)</p>

<p>I am taking the most rigorous course-load in my class. Total APs taken by graduation: 9
[/ul]</p>

<p>Background info on me</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>]White caucasian male
[/ul]
[ul]
[</em>]Income: $20K/year. No real assets
[<em>]First-generation college graduate hopeful. Single mother household. Mom is widow.
[</em>]European and Middle-Eastern background. Fluent in French and dual citizenship.
[/ul]
[ul]
[<em>]Permanent address is still in UT since my mom still lives there, but I'm currently/temporarily living back in Los Angeles with Grandma. My permanent address on applications is in UT, while my temporary address is the one in CA.
[/ul]
[ul]
Descriptions of my high schools:
[</em>]I spent 9th and 10th grade commuting to a very reputable upscale public high school.
[<em>]I spent 11th grade in Utah.
[</em>]New 12th grade High school is very urban and predominantly hispanic (9% are caucasian). AP classes are offered but most kids end up at CC or no college at all. In the school there is only one classroom of about 30 for Calculus.
[/ul]</p>

<p>EC Activities and Leadership</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>]Cross Country (3 years) "MVP", Varsity
[</em>]Track (4 years) 1600m, 800m, long jump; "Most Improved", Varsity
[<em>]French club (3 years) (President, Treasurer) Organized events; in charge of coordinating dates, finances, trips...
[</em>]Service Club (2 years) We raised over $15,000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Also was the "Respect Campaign Organizer", raised awareness for drunk driving, raised funds for leukemia, held raffles, assemblies, invited guest speakers.
[<em>]Debate Team / JSA (2 years) Oratory speeches; head defense attorney for Mock Trial.
[</em>]FBLA club (1 year) 3rd Place in State competitions
[li]Church youth leader (5 years) Organized camping events, movie nights, service opportunities...[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Awards and Honors</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>]Questbridge Finalist
[</em>]Questbridge CollegePrep Award Recipient
[<em>]Cross Country: "MVP"
[</em>]Track: "Most Improved"
[<em>]3rd place in FBLA State competitions (UT). Team event: "Business Decision Making"
[</em>]High School Academic Letter I; and consistent Honor Roll.
[<em>]AP Scholar with Honor
[</em>]Nominated by high school teacher for "Keys to Success"
[/ul]</p>

<p>Work Experience</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>]Educated an autistic boy for a family (1 year) I educated a 9 year old autistic child, Spencer during all of 10th grade on my own time twice a week. I taught him how to speak correctly, write, think and express himself.
[</em>]Organized neighborhood project. (2 months) During the summer after 11th grade, I scanned over 2000 old 35mm picture slides to CDs for people in my neighborhood.
[li]Designed, created, and maintain the e-commerce website located at earthcrossroads.com.[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Essay and subjective matter</p>

<p>I talk a little bit about my first "business" selling wasted chestnuts in France when I was a small kid and relate that to helping the autistic child that I taught to reach his potential.</p>

<p>I mention my experiences tutoring that autistic child during 10th grade. I juxtapose this with how my father helped an autistic child when he was a teenager, but how I didn't know about this until afterwards. I compare the autistic child's obsession with a train set to my obsessions of helping him.</p>

<p>During 10th grade I slept in family friends' houses, and in our car with the family for a couple of times. 11th grade was stable. Then during the beginning of my senior year, we spent 3 weeks with no running water. We sustained ourselves by filling containers with the neighbors' hose water, and used that to shower etc.</p>

<p>I briefly mention that my dad took his life in college before my mom knew she was pregnant with me... and it connects to the other stuff and how I am taking my life forward etc etc... (My essay is extremely optimistic and I don't dwell on negative things at all. It's not a sob story.)</p>

<p>My counselor and my two teachers wrote very good recommendation letters.</p>

<p>----> I can chance you back if you put a link. Thanks! <----</p>

2

<p>Duke > your numbers</p>

<p>Your softs (soft factors: background, essay, etc.) > Duke</p>

<p>Duke = you.</p>

<p>I say match, so you’ve got as good of a shot as anyone.</p>

3

<p>Thank you kind sir. Very interesting way to chance.</p>

<p>Btw, apparently I’m ENTP too and we’re better than everyone else :stuck_out_tongue: (jk?)</p>

4

<p>Are you guys talking about the Myers-Briggs Test? :)</p>

5

<p>I think…! That’s what I took from his/her username haha.</p>

6

<p>Yes, we are (better than everyone else), and yes, we are (talking about the MB test)! haha</p>

<p>Apparently, we’re pretty dang rare, too.</p>

7

<p>Your standardized tests are lower then usual, but that story is amazing. The struggle you seemed to have to overcome is something that I would be shocked to see an admissions committee overlook. I would definitely apply to HYPS along with Duke.</p>

<p>And the fact that you are a runner is awesome. Just remember Pre’s quote “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Good luck!</p>

8

<p>hey thanks for the reply. about what you said on HYPS… I don’t really like yale and princeton… and I’m applying to stanford because that’s where my dad was going when he passed, and it’s been my dream school for many years. and harvard… well, I love boston and I like the school, but I don’t think a white guy with a 2100 will be making harvard anytime soon. so i don’t think i’m applying to harvard. maybe for graduate school haha. thanks again.</p>

9

<p>well, you should apply to harvard. That’s all I have to say. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

10

<p>bump bump chance me</p>

<p>thanks :)</p>

11

<p>My dog says you’re getting in</p>

12

<p>woof woof . . . you’re in! Best wishes!</p>

13

<p>My dog thinks your dog should spend its time on more productive things. Like retrieving a bone.</p>

14

<p>OH. MY. GOD. Your story almost brought me to tears. You will get into every single school you apply to. Academically capable, had to overcome GREAT hardships, but STILL found time to get involved in ECs. Props to you, man. Enjoy a free, excellent college education.</p>

15

<p>Yeah you have a good chance</p>

16

<p>nice man, nice.</p>

17

<p>Your test scores are pretty low but the story and personality seems incredible, so I like your chances.</p>

18

<p>i think that your story is incredible and the fact that you’ve been so committed to schoolwork, ecs, etc while dealing with all of that is amazing. best of luck for duke, i’m looking there too (:
-ESFJ</p>

19

<p>hi flyingllama! I’m not gonna go into details, but your crazyfamilystory/stats/everything sound VERY similar to mine. all around. je parle francais, aussi!
point is, i got in early decision, and I can’t in my wildest dreams find anything that I have that you don’t. good luck. =)</p>