<p>In Northern CA, if you attend your first 2 years of college at one of the better CCs, are enrolled in the honors program and get over a 3.5, you have a good shot at all of the best universities. I live next to Stanford and there was a recent article speaking to the strong interest in transfers from CCs ... much preferred to other transfers because CC transfers are considered more stable and usually have more life experience. Besides, in CA, a unit at CC costs $15 vs around $1000++ for private. The stats are really quite impressive ... and i am not easily impressed. My child currently attends one of top (many think one of the top three) boarding schools in the US.</p>
<p>CCs are becoming the smart choice in our area.</p>
<p>Set your ego aside ... it only matters where you graduate from and ug is not that important anyway ... grad school is the biggy.</p>
<p>I suggest for all to take a gap year ... especially if you are nervous about college. It does not bode well for staying in college. Getting in is only the first hurdle.</p>
<p>OP - your scores are low across the board for Duke. Do you go to a competitive HS? How did you do relative to other students on your test scores? If your school's students have traditionally not done well on SATs, then it's more of a reflection on your school than on you. Many schools will send out their profiles to colleges - it would include median SATs, and AP scores for its students. If most people in your school have 4 and above, then it would be a problem for you.</p>
<p>To be competitive to get into schools like Duke, aside from perfect GPA, you would need 2200+ SAT I, and mid 700 range for SAT IIs.</p>
<p>Think of the BIGGER PICTURE. If a college rejects you for one score when your grades, other scores, ECs are good, then it seems that that college may be looking for numbers, not who students really are as people and what they can contribute. </p>
<p>A grade in an AP course and a lower AP score doesn't tell us anything about the quality of the course or high school. Maybe the teacher didn't teach to the AP test, maybe the student doesn't test well in a certain area. Many factors may be at play. </p>
<p>I know you have your heart set on Duke and you may end up there, but consider that there are many wonderful colleges/universities (3000 in the US I think). I believe that there are a number of colleges that would be a good fit for each student and where each student would be happy. Broaden your visors and visit other places you might like as well. </p>
<p>Follow your passion, be who you are, and you will end up in the right place for you. You will be happier along your journey in life.</p>
<p>Consider this great thread (that someone commented was the best thread on cc):</p>
<p>Wow. You sound exactly like me. 32 ACT and probably a horrible Calc AB exam (my calc died right before Free Response and my mom was having a baby, not the best testing conditions). Don't stress it. And guess what freaking out will not help you at all, so chill, go hang with friends (dumber than you if you want confidence boost =D) and wait for Duke to decide themselves. CC crack was a joke.</p>
<p>Anyways, um it's not the end of your life, 2 Ap scores won't be a significant detriment towards your admissions so focus on bringing your SAT's up and stuff.</p>
<p>Seriously, it's no big deal at all. Whoever suggested community college was probably joking to offset your panic or whatever. Your stats are good, and 2 AP scores won't tattoo "Reject This Person" on your personal information when it's time for college applications to be reviewed. Just relax. You don't have to get all freaked out about one person's comment.</p>
<p>Olli, you're definitely still in the running for good schools. AP scores won't hurt you too terribly, especially since you didn't get 1's.</p>
<p>But you may want to try to find some match and safety schools that you really like. Duke seems to be a reach for you at this point with those test scores. I had 2150/4.6/33/700+ SAT II's/president of several clubs and I still got waitlisted. Duke, although not certainly impossible for you to get into, is a crapshoot at best. I'm not sure where you're from, but maybe apply to a couple in-state schools where you'll know you'll get in with good financial aid packages to fall back on if you don't reach one of your dream schools. The in-state private LAC I ended up at is everything I wanted in my college experience, and at a very affordable price for my family. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>I have my "one sure thing" college actually. It's a good school with a high success rate in terms of actually working the field you went to college for, it's in an area I like, everything I would need to be happy. I went to a camp there very recently and I was offered a full ride if I applied. They aren't selective in the slightest (83% admittance) so even if I wasn't flat out told to come there I would probably get in. I'm not worried that I won't get in to any of the top 10 schools, just concerned that it might be foolish to even try when there are several other match and safety schools that would gladly take me.</p>
<p>The guy who said you're going to a community college is an idiot.. You're definitely in okay shape... the scores will make them suspicious but it wont hurt alot. also, colleges do recognize your situation/circumstances. if you don't get in duke, it's still okay... you'll definitely get in a decent school.</p>
<p>seriously. CHILL. it's not the end of the world. just try to bring up your scores a bit (you have a good ACT score though) and remember that AP scores aren't used for admission. it's used for placement.</p>