Narrowed to 2 schools for ED/EA.. Need some advice!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Bio:
- Asian Male (moved when I was 9).. still a green card
- Attends a top public school in NC.</p>

<p>Grades/Scores:
- 3.5 or so UW GPA, 4.6 W GPA (top 10% of 550+ students)
- 13 APs by end of HS:
AP American Gov't (9) - didn't take AP test, but got an A in the class
AP Stat (10) - 5
AP Calc AB (11) - 5
AP English Language (11) - 3
AP Biology (11) - 4
APES (11) - 5
APUSH (11) - 5
AP Calc BC (12), AP English Lit (12) - probably won't take the AP test...
AP Comp. Gov't (12), AP Physics (12), AP Psychology (12), AP Music Theory (12)
- SAT I: 760M 660W 730W (2150/1420)
- SAT II: 720M IIC, 690 Biology
- ACT? Should I even bother?</p>

<p>Extracurricular/Awards
- 2nd place in violin competition (Peabody Youth Violin Competition) - 10th grade
- Founder of a quartet with friends who play in gigs (mainly for the elderly and other public events) - 9, 10
- American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (in DC) 2nd violin section leader - 9, 10
- Played the violin regularly at a retirement home (about twice a month) - 9, 10
- Maryland All-State Orchestra – 1st violin section leader - 9th
- Chamber group president – 11, 12
- Pit Orchestra 1st chair – 9, 10, 11, 12 (student conductor in 12th grade, hopefully)
- Maxima cum laude (Silver medalist) - National Latin 1 and 2 Exam - 9th/10th
- Key Club officer - 9, 10, 11, 12?
- Environmental club - 10, 11, 12?
- Founder of games club - 11, 12?
- Co-Founder of Ultimate (Frisbee) club - 9, 10
- Science Olympiad - 11, 12 (captain)?
- International Club - 11, 12?
- It's Academic - 10
- Volunteer at a local hospital as well as Duke Medical Center in Durham – I shadowed a surgeon about once or twice a week - Summer of 11th
- National Honor Roll, NSHSS, Who’s Who (awards received randomly in the mail)</p>

<p>Sports
Soccer - 9 (JV), 10 (JV)
JV Baseball - 9, 10
Indoor Track - 9 (JV), 10 (V), 11(V), 12(V, Captain)?
Track and Field - 11 (Varsity Captain), 12 (Varsity, Captain)?</p>

<p>Recs
I have asked 2 of my favorite teachers, and they both said yes. I know they will give me great recs. I have also asked the surgeon I shadowed in his clinic as well as in the OR. The man is a pure genius, and I know he will give me a good recommendation.</p>

<p>Schools
UNC-Chapel Hill (EA)
Davidson College (ED?)
Emory
Washington @ St. Louis
Duke (Dream school)
NC State/UNC-Wilmington</p>

<p>Majors/Minors?
Probably gonna go into a pre-med program, majoring somewhere in Biology. Minor in Music performance.</p>

2

<p>If Duke is your dream school why apply to Davidson ED? The point of ED is to apply to your dream school. And if financial aid is an issue the conventional wisdom is that you should not apply anywhere ED.</p>

3

<p>Duke is so far of a reach, in my opinion, that I shouldn't even bother applying and wasting my parents' money.</p>

<p>Davidson seems to give lots of money for those who need it, so I might as well take my chances there. However, I'm even 100% sure I will get in..</p>

4

<p>UNC-Chapel Hill (EA): In
Davidson College (ED?): Maybe
Emory: Maybe
Washington @ St. Louis: REJECT
Duke (Dream school): REJECT
NC State/UNC-Wilmington: In</p>

<p>Shadowed a surgeon? That means you didn't do anything.</p>

5

<p>apply ED to Duke if that's your dream school</p>

6

<p>i dont think duke is that far of a reach for you..plus your from NC, dont they give a slight preference to NC students because they have to meet a quota? id ED to duke if i was you, its at least worth a shot</p>

7

<p>if it's convenient, why not take the ACT? don't cancel a camping trip or whatever over it, but I think it's a pretty different test, and you might do really well. if you don't, or you have a bad day, you know you have fine SAT scores in your back pocket.</p>

<p>out of curiosity, did you stop playing those sports, and also frisbee, and also the violin after 10th grade? in my mind it is totally made up for by the fact you did track, which is of course more superior than any other EC possible, mostly cuz it's my favorite. but colleges see things differently i get the feeling.</p>

8

<p>I would also encourage you to apply ED to Duke.</p>

9

<p>Well, I moved from MD to NC after 10th grade, so there is a break for lots of things - like frisbee, AYP, my lovely quartet, etc. However, whichever club there was here in my new school as same as my old school, I joined.
As for baseball/track.. I didn't make the varsity baseball team in the NC school, so I just went for track. I'm a pure sprinter, and the sprinting team isn't too great, so I got to captain :)</p>

<p>Thanks for the encouragement to ED at Duke.. but as Gaffe stated, I will be "REJECTED." :(
I'm still really undecided on the ED thing, because I might not even to it at all! And even though Duke is my dream school, I love the small school style of Davidson.</p>

10

<p>I agree with ChesterBoy - AFAIK you've got decent chances at Duke. Plus, there is a boost that comes from applying ED. If Duke is your dream school, go for it.</p>

<p>Make sure it's clear in your application that you moved halfway through high school, so that colleges will be forgiving of continuity issues.</p>

11

<p>thats one persons opinion. no offense, but who cares what gaffe says. it shouldnt be about what other people think, its what you think. apply ed to duke.</p>

12

<p>Now if I apply ED to duke (or anywhere, as a matter of fact), and if accepted and not given enough financial aid, then money is 100% the issue.</p>

13

<p>Who cares what you think, bosox97?</p>

<p>I guess the OP shouldn't have made this post if he wasn't asking for advice?</p>

14

<p>i wasnt trying to be a jerk, im not saying youre wrong or anything. im just saying he shouldnt base his decision off of one persons opinion. sorry if i came off sonding mean.</p>

15

<p>Duke meets 100% of your financial need. And if they don't then you can break the ED agreement and apply to other schools. So I really would encourage you to apply to Duke ED if it's your "dream school" (like everyone else said!)</p>

16

<p>UNC-Chapel Hill (EA): In
Davidson College (ED?): Probable
Emory: Probable
Washington @ St. Louis: Unlikely
Duke (Dream school): Doubtful
NC State/UNC-Wilmington: In</p>

<p>In my opinion, forget about applying to Duke ED. Duke is as difficult to get into now as Columbia. I think you should use ED on a school where you have a decent chance RD and applying ED would put you over the top. If you;re interested, WashU might be a good place to apply ED because that would show interest (they love that) and I have a feeling that WashU gives its ED applicants a huge boost as in double the admit rate. If not, if you really like Davidson, go for that. I think you're in RD. Just remember that applying ED means that you will not be able to compare financial packages. Good luck.</p>

17

<p>Thanks burnedout for your honest advice.</p>

<p>Although I want to apply ED to Duke or Davidson, I just don't think my financial situation will be suitable, and because I wish to compare financial packages from multiple Universities.</p>

<p>Any other suggestions/advice?</p>

18

<p>Since financial aid is an issue, I agree that you shouldn't apply ED anywhere where you won't get a 100% free ride.</p>

<p>However, Duke is the one place where you would get a free ride guaranteed. Thus, if you are planning to apply to Duke at all, then you should apply ED there (plus, it is your "dream" school).</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

19

<p>Duke is a fantastic school, but also incredibly competitive. If it truly is your dream school (like everyone else said, 100% financial aid met if admitted) then go ahead and apply ED. I must say though, the low GPA (albeit very rigorous courseload) may bite you, and I believe your SAT is almost 100 points under their 50% of previous classes. buuuuuuut! good news is Duke must accept nearly 15% of their class from NC and SC so take advantage!</p>

20

<p>Dream? Go for it. ED to Duke. Otherwise, you'll wonder 'What if?' for the rest of your life.</p>