<p>sigh
i really want to go to duke
but i'm afraid it'll take a miracle T.T</p>
<ol>
<li>highest culmulative sat 2190 (cr-m-w = 660-740-790)</li>
<li>weighted gpa = 3.9-4.0 (under top 10%)
but this year i have a 4.4 gpa cause i'm taking ap calc, physics, and chem (i'm strongest at these) - apush murdered me last year (7 aps completed by end of year)</li>
<li>im afraid my essay is not outstanding</li>
<li>i have a legitimate research abstract</li>
<li>i show highest interest in attending (lived there in childhood, want to be part of pep/march band)</li>
<li>late father's would-be legacy</li>
<li>sat math=770; bio=700; apush=630</li>
<li>over 12 hours / week in extracurricular activities (mostly music)</li>
<li>my application doesn't show any real passion in a subject (except for teacher recommendations)</li>
<li>no leadership positions. aaaaaaahh!</li>
</ol>
<p>dec 1. recommended deadline for arts supplement screwed my application essay over.</p>
<p>please make me feel better. t.t</p>
<p>all i can do is pray for my life</p>
<p><em>bawls</em></p>
<p>You have just as good a chance as anyone else out there. Everyone keeps worrying about scores and stats and having the “right” activities, but Duke knows that they want a diverse class and it would be ridiculous to have everyone be the same. It’s not like you’re a horrible student, you’re just not perfect. But no one is. Duke will see your passion for the school, your upward trend in grades, the fact that you’re a legacy, your research abstract, and your extracurricular activities, all of which are a plus. Don’t beat yourself up because you don’t have the “right” profile because no one else does either. That’s why college admissions are such a mystery. No one can say what will happen on decision day, but I think you have just as good a chance as anyone else out there. Cheer up and get excited :D</p>
<p>my son really wanted to go to a different good school and was waitlisted. to his astonishment he was admitted to Duke. This was the best scenario possible…to not hyperfocus on Duke and to be surprised/stunned. He expected a Duke waitlist. He actually knew he could be waitlisted at Crush College (OK, he had crazy hopes and got to have the “growth experience” of a dream unrealized). He busied himself in attaching to his match colleges so much that he felt sad to let them go when he went to Duke. He appreciated the fact that the match colleges were wonderful places despite Crush College and Reach Duke. He was the average admit at Duke, not the stand out. Yeah the waitlist at College X, was a disappointment but “you don’t always get what you want” as the RS say. A smart person like yourself though…will always get what you need…you are very college ready and you have to know that the professors and students at many many colleges that will admit you are also superior people in unique and great institutions. America’s colleges are still just spectacular experiences. Keep your heart and mind open.</p>
<p>because your late father is legacy…everyone here gives you a special word of good luck. Plus Duke is full of students who just love the place and your enthusiasm is noted and appreciated and will come through in your app…it is good to lead with your heart in life and Duke is worth that love. </p>
<p>best of luck and open doors for you are coming.</p>
<p>But keep your strong heart and mind open! You can make next year truly wonderful in another college on your list if things don’t go your way, and you can fight for a place off the wait list if this happens to you.</p>
<p>i swear. my essay totally sucks (aka is solid but borderline dull). why do i suck at language in general. i live by actions, not words. no one understands me! aaaaahhhhh!!</p>