<p>so i got accepted ED.
the more i read comments on CC, the more i wonder how on earth i got in.</p>
<p>so my question is, how much did my ethnicity (i'm hispanic) have to do with my acceptance? i know this is a question that can't be given a concrete answer but i'd sure like to hear, or in this case read, your thoughts about racial quotas at duke. </p>
<p>i got a 1980 on my SAT (not the greatest score compared to a lot of other applicants maybe but compared to the national average it's good)
SAT II- 640 literature; 740 spanish</p>
<p>i also only mentioned a 4 in AP English [language] because my other scores were quite embarrassing.</p>
<p>who knows? perhaps it was my essay & my rec letters that mattered more or made the difference, etc.</p>
<p>It doesn’t take away from your accomplishment because you still got in.
Nevertheless, to be honest, if you were white or Asian, your stats would not have gotten you in, for sure…</p>
<p>Here’s my anecdote, if it helps any. I happen to be Caucasian. I received a 2190 SAT, had a pretty rigorous course schedule (most rigorous math schedule school offered as well), solid recs/essays, decent ECs, AND a dad who graduated, and I was deferred (still very hopeful and would love to go however). So, did race have anything to do with it? It’s quite possible. I’m interested to hear what others have to say as far as how race plays some role if any. I understand the Duke early decision pool is tough. Congratulations on making it through; it’s a great school, and I think you’ll enjoy it. The point is, something in your application stood out as impressive; otherwise you wouldn’t be going to Duke. I don’t believe it was your SAT score(s), perhaps your recs/essays or ECs.</p>
<p>I got in ED too. Had a 1990 SAT. 690 Lit 720 US History. 4 in AP Lang 5 in APUSH. But had awesome recs, EC’s, and essays. I didn’t list my race, but I’m white</p>
<p>cs4444, only the admissions officers know why you got in. But for your sake, don’t ever doubt that you are not qualified to be there just because your race MAY have helped you. When you go to Duke, study hard, and prove to others who may doubt your abilities, that you deserve to be there.</p>
<p>ryanh126, just wondering, did you apply to pratt or trinity? i read one of ur posts and it looked like you were interested in pratt. i’m asking because i would assume that getting into pratt is significantly harder than getting into trinity, which is where i applied. either way, best of luck. i really hope you do get in.
rk33, well hearing that def helps lol. i think i’ve just read too many posts by kids w/ crazy scores & it helps seeing someone with an SAT score under a 2100. of course, not to take away from ur scores in any way- they’re great. and congrats!!</p>
<p>i would like to think that my essay and/or recs stood out. i have no idea what was written in my recs. my counselor and 1st teacher recommender (chem) know me very well and know my personality. my chem teacher commented that he was looking back at what he wrote and had to give himself a pat on the back for how great he did lol. as for my 2nd teacher recommender, she has a phd in english and years of experience writing rec letters so i was told she’d do an excellent job.
idk wat kind of impression my essay made. i honestly took a really heart felt approach to my essay. i didn’t worry too much about technicalities. i let it flow well and gave it what i thought was a good voice. my eng teacher didn’t ask that i change anything when she revised it, she simply added a note at the end and told me it was well written. [honestly not what i wanted-- i wanted corrections lol. but i think she’s the type that just wants to hear a voice.] however-- idk how common this is, but i called my region’s admissions officer to ask a q, and he actually mentioned what i wrote about in my essay when he was anwering me. idk if all the officers go through all of the apps to some degree or if they’re split up by region or etc. but i did feel great knowing that he actually reconized my name and remembered the essay i wrote. </p>
<p>and seeme25, thank you for that post. i honestly was beginning to doubt a bit. i was worried that i was gonna log on and read a bunch of posts telling me my scores were terrible and i was not up to par lol. but thank u. i kno i have wat it takes & i’m def gonna stretch my wings at duke.</p>
<p>Yeah I hear you. In the ED decisions thread I was shocked I got in over some people with really really good scores, but there definitely is more to it than numbers. They openly admit that scores are just 1 of 6 factors they base their decisions on, but for some reason everyone is stuck with the idea that scores are everything. </p>
<p>Anyways, I don’t think listing that I was white would have hurt me, I have an obvious Irish-American name so it’s pretty easy to guess my race lol.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t doubt yourself because you seem less qualified in certain areas. It’s not admissions’ job to pick the people who look most intelligent on paper, it’s their job to pick the people who are best qualified and will be the most successful at Duke. Congrats!</p>
<p>ps- the comment about you not meaning to take away from my scores was unnecessary. It wouldn’t bother me if I had the lowest scores out of the whole Duke 2014 class! haha</p>
<p>Yes I did apply to Pratt, electrical engineering. Thanks for the kind words, and hopefully I’ll see you next year at Duke! haha</p>
<p>I did send in additional items to supplement my application, because I don’t want to let my application stay stagnant (i.e., not do ‘anything’).</p>
<p>rk33, i def think that what i’ve heard several ppl mention about admissions holds a lot of truth— most applicants are fully qualified. so who knows how they figure who will be the most successful at duke. i think a lot of it has to do with personality as well. my counselor mentioned they even asked her to rate my sense of humor. and i love the way you couldnt care less about ur scores. & it makes sense-- who the heck cares? ur in! lol</p>
<p>ryanh126, i honestly don’t see why you wouldn’t get in, so hopefully admissions feel the same way.</p>
<p>ps-- i listed my race because i actually have a white last name hahaha. [from waaay up high in my family tree lol]. i guess i didn’t want to take any chances as far as if my race would be what made admissions officers say, “well… hmm. oh- hispanic right? ok yea, then lets let her in” lol</p>
<p>You should feel really good about yourself, whether your race helped you or not, cuz they feel you’d be a valuable asset to their class. Hell I put my heart out there too and wrote about the most important moment of my life, and I’m one of those ones with the 2300+ SATs and 4.0s, but I still got deferred. You should feel amazing that your writing and your recommendations stood out in the pool of so many, cuz you obviously have something that makes you special enough for Duke to immediately want you.
Hopefully I’ll be seeing you guys next year too!</p>
<p>Moxess-- thanks so much. I want you to get in too! i don’t even know what your essay was about but it already lol it would be great for you, ryanh126 and the rest of us to have a little CC get together on campus in august! haha. </p>
<p>back to what you said moxess, it has caused me to def disagree with deter’s post. if i were white or asian, I feel I still would have been accepted because duke did see something in me that they wanted-- and whatever it is, the color of my skin wouldn’t change it. </p>
<p>i actually just read over some of the posts on the ED decision thread for the first time and it’s evident that admissions cares a lot less about numbers than most would assume. i still haven’t seen the guttentag interview [just saw the link and this computer has no sound–lame!] but i’m very curious to see if when he’s talking i’ll say “that’s so me!”</p>
<p>on a seperate note, the more i research Duke, the more I say to myself-- how on earth were you good enough? Duke is just amazing and I’m honored.</p>
<p>Do legacies ask if they’re admitted only because they are a legacy? Do athletes ask if they’re admitted only because they are an athlete? It reminds me of a joke I once heard a professor tell: “What do you call the person who graduated last in his or her medical school class? Doctor!” What do you call the person who graduated last in his or her Duke class?! A DUKE GRADUATE - a title that very few and only the elite people in the world can claim!</p>
<p>Just remember: Duke doesn’t give degrees because you’re Hispanic. You actually have to be smart enough to remain and graduate! Let the proof be in the pudding…</p>