Odds of Getting Accepted to Duke

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello Everyone,

I am wondering if anyone could weigh in on my chances of getting accepted to Duke this year.

So I have applied to Duke Regular decision and sent my application in before the priority deadline which means that I will be able to receive an Alumni Interview.
I have received a full tuition scholarship on behalf of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, which basically means that I will not require any financial Aid because the Navy will be paying for everything but room and board. The NROTC application was extremely intensive, way more than the Common Application was, and I was specially selected to receive an advance scholarship due to my outstanding qualifications for the Navy.
I have also applied to Rice, Georgia Tech, Stanford, Tulane, and Vanderbilt, but Duke is by far my first choice. I have taken multiple tours at the Duke campus as well as had an interview with the department chair of DUK NROTC.
Also my uncle is a current assistant professor at the Fuqua School of Business and has spoken to my admissions advisor speaking on my behalf.

I have pasted my most current resume below, please give me any insight as to if you think I have a chance at getting into Duke or any of the schools that I have applied to.

Thank You in advance for all of your valuable insight.

College and Career Plans:
Currently a senior at Liverpool High School. Plan to achieve an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering at an academically competitive university through the U.S. Naval R.O.T.C. program. Then serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Education:
November 29th, 2014

Liverpool High School, Liverpool NY 13090.
Graduation date June 2015.
Unweighted GPA 96.7, Weighted GPA 101.4.
NYS Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Mastery in Math and Science. Project Lead The Way Engineering Courses (9, 10, 11).
College Courses: Physics, Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Psychology.
AP Courses: Global History, American History, United States Government. Spanish Language (7,8,9,10,11).
Java Language Computer Programming (12).
• • • • • • • • •
Honors and Awards:
High Honor Roll.
Current Class rank 9th of 552.
ACT (plus writing) Composite Score of 30.
National Honor Society (9, 10, 11, 12).
Liverpool High School Student of the Month (2 time recipient).
Optimist Club Student of the Month and Essay Contest Award Winner (9).

• • • • • •
• • • • • •
Service and Work:
Eagle Scout Rank, Boy Scouts of America and Scouting (200 service hours). 2002 - Present Crouse Hospital Junior Volunteer, Syracuse NY (10,11).
Food Service Rescue Mission Volunteer, Syracuse NY (9, 10, 11, 12).
Camp Talooli (Campfire USA) Videographer and Counselor, Pennellville NY (10, 11, 12). American Red Cross Certified First Aid, CPR, and AED (12).
NOVA Ambulance Volunteer, Licensed NYS EMT expected 2015, Liverpool NY (12).

School Organizations and Activities:
Liverpool First Robotics Team – President, programming, and controls (9, 10, 11, 12). Liverpool Board of Education Student Liaison – elected position for all grades (12).
Model United Nations (12).
Concert Band – Alto Saxophone (4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
Downhill Ski Club (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).
St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Expedition Earth Science Program (9, 10).

Athletics and Interests:
Liverpool High School Crew Team (9, 12).
Off Season Robotics Team (9, 10, 11, 12).
Professional Piano Lessons (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
NRA Junior National Rifleman Program (7, 8, 9). Camillus Sportsman Club Junior Member (9, 10, 11, 12). Oswego County Okinawan Karate Association (11, 12). Empire State Half Marathon, Liverpool NY (12).

2

I forgot to mention that my ACT Composite score has increased to a 31, which I realize is on the low end, especially for engineering, but I feel that I have more to offer than just my brains, and I have more than defiently proved myself with my class rank and grades.

Thanks again

3

Pratt’s avg ACT is 33-35. Your ACT is beyond the 25th percentile. You have some math/science extracurriculars, but not really anything outstanding. But your hooks are ROTC, Eagle Scout, and your uncle. I’d think you’d have a strong chance. But this is Pratt, once again. Your stats aren’t very good, but you are definitely more than your numbers.

So jealous. I’m applying to Trinity and I really want Duke.

4

Radbg74 what are your stats?
and I could always drop engineering if need be because I would rather go to duke, but i not sure how that would work

5

and remember 33 and 35 are the lower 25 percentile and upper 75 percentile, which means that 25 percent of students have lower than a 33 and 25% have higher than 35

6

I’d still call it a reach. ACT is going to be a disadvantage, but NROTC and connections could potentially put you over the edge

7

I’d say its a low reach

chance back?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1729235-what-are-my-chances-will-chance-back-immediately-add-link.html#latest

8

For the record, I’m pretty sure the people posting here are aware that 1/4 of the class had below a 33, they’re just giving you an honest opinion. And to add to that, every student is more than just numbers, so it’s not like other people won’t have equally or more impressive stories to tell.

With that said, you’re a competitive applicant. Mid-Low Reach

9

NROTC will probably not allow you to drop engineering and keep your scholarship, and even if they did, NROTC still would almost certainly expect you to study a hard science such as physics or chemistry.

The Navy wants engineers, and is very emphatic about it.

10

I don’t see why you can’t just ask your uncle…

11

what am i supposed to ask my uncle?

12

^^^ The poster was sarcastically insinuating that your uncle who works at Duke could get you admitted.

Biomedical engineering is one of the most difficult of the engineering degrees. Also I have read that the degree is not very applicable for a career unless you also have a Masters. You might want to consider Civil or Mech. Eng.

When you are a senior and NROTC Service Selection day comes around, GPA is a big factor. I know. My S had a NROTC scholarship.

You haven’t said anything about what you hope to do in the Navy. What is your goal as a Naval officer?

13

I have already received my navy scholarship, I just need to get into Duke.
My goal is to be a surface warfare specialist or a pilot

14

I recently toured campus and met my NROTC officer and had a conversation with the head admissions director for NYS, does this FaceTime help my odds?

15
  1. No, it really does not.
  2. You have a misstatement in your initial post; neither you, nor any other candidate, regardless of application date, is guaranteed an interview.
  3. Your ACT Composite makes Duke/Pratt admission fairly unlikely.
16

possible, but low to mid reach. act is a little low. aim for 33
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18030162#Comment_18030162

17

top tier,

every candidate is guaranteed an interview, and I ams scheduled for one next week, so I have no idea what you are talking about.

18

It would seem many posters underestimate the power of having someone on the inside, especially if that someone is well connected. I’m not an expert on chances but I would say you have a better than average chance to get in simply because of your uncle, not to mention your scores and EC’s are good as well.

I see that you wanted to do the surface warfare or pilot route, as you may know, Pilot slots are EXTREMELY competitive (possibly the most competitive) so I would suggest getting that on paper if possible (don’t know a lot about the ROTC of any branch) if you want to advance quicker than the average joe in the Navy I would also suggest talking to your NROTC Officer about BUD/S (SEAL training) since you seem like the kind of person that likes a thrill, although make sure you get your Rating (job) before you go to BUD/S, you don’t want to washout of training and get stuck on a nuclear submarine in Antarctica for the rest of your career.

You also have the USMC option on NROTC as well if you would rather do that. Also, if you want to be a chopper pilot I THINK the Marines have more helicopters than the Navy so therefore you would have better chances at being an chopper pilot in the Marines.

Good Luck

19

@Alexander12123‌ (re #8): You are incorrect; every applicant is not “guaranteed an interview,”, as you indicated. That’s precisely what I was “talking about.” Although we (the Alumni Association and Undergraduate Admissions) try very hard to provide an interview to EVERY applicant, no one is “guaranteed” one (and Duke’s applicable website make this abundantly clear: http://admissions.duke.edu/application/instructions#interviews ). And, by the way, as a retired senior naval officer to a potential midshipman, I’d recommend you get your facts straight before you make erroneous statements.

20

No, it is not possible to get NROTC to guarantee pilot training in writing. NROTC cannot guarantee any career path at all, other than going either Navy or Marines. Specialties will be assigned sometime in the senior year, and are based on the needs of the Navy plus the midshipman’s aptitude, performance, and preferences. Almost all NROTC graduates go Surface Line, Submarines, Aviation, or Marines.

Generally the Navy has the quickest career advancement of the four services, but the Marines generally have the slowest.

LOL. Imagination running wild, eh? This scenario will not occur.