You’ll get into Duke if you apply ED. They give ED applicants a noticable advantage. Also, why do you think you wouldn’t be good enough for HYSP? Let the colleges tell you that, but don’t make the decision prematurely. I could see you reasonably being considered at these schools.
JHU has one of the premier lacrosse programs historically, unless they have unilaterally contacted him, and he is being recruited, lacrosse will not be a legitimate hook. On the other hand, this is a very solid and promising application, and you will end up at some place on your short list.
@boolahi I completely understand that and have no expectations of playing lacrosse in college
@alec43 thanks for the detailed list! I do have one question, why do you place Williams in the match category? Isn’t it extremely selective? and @student9988 I am fully aware of this, do you know what I could do between then and now to improve my EC’s?
Get leadership positions and make sure you have the hours. Everything else looks pretty good, except try to get your SAT up. Duke is very competitive and even with EA its hard to say that someone is going to get in. With that said, you are still a competitive applicant and I wish you the best of luck 
I meant to put low reach…
Run the NPCs for these, then if the numbers are within budget for your parents, apply ED to Duke. ED2 Davidson.
Don’t stress over your SAT - you’ll reach 2250, everything above that is dust and poetry.
Work to get 3 strong SAT Subject scores, preferably in different areas (ie., not Math2, Physics, and Chemistry, but Math2, 1 Science, 1 Humanities, for instance).
Your weak point, as you know, is your ECs. Sports are good, but unless you’re recruitable are just another EC. See if you can tie some of your ECs together by creating a club or leading a project - that would show initiative and your ability to sustain something outside of the school’s structure. Not easy, which is why it’s valuable.
Yeah, you’re being way to hard on yourself. You will be competitive at all these colleges. I think you’ll get into Williams, Davidson, and Washington and Lee. I bet you’ll get into 3 or 4 of the other, too.
Duke alumni here. Your stats look good. Get your SAT math score up a tad.
Living in the Carolinas does confer a (small) advantage at Duke. If it is truly your first choice apply ED.
I have two more questions:
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What have you done to demonstrate interest in Duke?
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how are you a good fit for your proposed major?
@sgopal2: I take minor exception to your Carolinas statement. I would agree that Duke tries – and succeeds – to have substantial representation in each class from North and South Carolina; however: (a) there are no specific or mandatory targets and (b) the “applicant pool” from the Carolinas is so strong that NO admitted candidate has any less proven distinction than applicants from other venues.
I agree there is no quota or target. But there clearly is a boost to being a carolina resident. See below quote from Dean Guttentag:
^Duke probably intends to improve the town-gown relations by doing so.
@jacobpbrugh: You’ll probably get into Duke, Dartmouth, and Penn if you apply to any of them ED. In the worst case that you’re deferred, you’ll get into Davidson EDII if that’s your second choice. The chancing below applies only to RD:
Duke, Penn, Darth, Williams: mid-low reaches
Chicago: low reach, but you don’t seem to be a Chicago type, so expect a waitlist.
Cornell, Vandy: low reaches/high matches.
Hopkins, Rice: high matches
Emory, Davidson: matches
W&L: you should be in.
@sgopal2 (re post #30): In my opinion, without a specific, quantitative quota or target, it’s only “admissions speak.” Quotas and targets likely REQUIRE tangible action(s) to achieve a defined objective, whereas vague heartwarming statements allow ANY result to be characterized goal-achievement. This is precisely why I wrote post #29 as I did: words, as contrasted to concrete, measurable accomplishments.
With regard to the title of the post, CC may not be the best place to go realism, except for SOME of the parent commenters. (Just sayin’)
Hopkins: High match
Emory: Match
Davidson: Match/High match
W&L: High match
Everyone else is a reach…
@albert69 what was the point of that comment?