Should I apply OOS to UNC, or to Duke?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Here are my stats, and I was wondering whether you guys think I should apply to UNC from OOS, which is supposedly impossibly hard to do, or apply to Duke from OOS? I like both schools (even if I'm a huge tarheel fan...sry dukies, I'll change if I choose to apply there and get accepted), so I would rather apply to the one I'm more likely to get into from OOS. </p>

<p>thanks</p>

<p>Stats:
demographics:
*I am an Asian Indian Male (most likely won't help)
*From a competitive public high school in Oregon: Beaverton High School, which was also rated the best AP school in Oregon, so yeah, its a smart school. (being from oregon isn't going to help either)
*student body at school = 500+</p>

<p>The Numbers/ECs</p>

<p>*Freshman year:
Language Arts (Honors): A/A
Social Studies 9: A/A
Advanced Algebra 2: A/A
Bio/Chem/Phys 10 (Honors): A/A
SAT Math Prep: A
SAT Verbal Prep:A
Spanish 1:A/A
Team Sports:A
Health 1:A
Web Design:A
Computer Programming:A</p>

<p>*Sophomore Year:
AP Chem: B/A
Lit Comp 10 (Honors): A/A
Physics 2: A/A
Pre-Calc: A/B
Social Studies 10 :B/A (can explain this B)
Spanish 2:A/A
Symphonic Band: A/A
Team Sports: A
Health 2: A</p>

<p>*Junior Year: (Projected Grades for second semester)
Human Anatomy: A/A
IB Biology: A/A
Spanish 3: A/A
IB Calculus: A/B (should be able to get an A, but I'm assuming worst case scenario)
IB Psychology: A/A
Team Sports: A
IB Seminar: P (pass, no credit class)
IB English: A, A
Study Hall: P (pass, no credit class)
IB TOK 1: B (our TOK teacher is sooo hard!!)</p>

<p>*Senior Year: (projected schedule, maximum possible grades)
IB Biology HL 2: A/A
IB Calculus HL 2: A/A
IB English HL 2: A/A
IB TOK 2: B
IB Environmental Systems: A/A
(no idea what to take but will probably be a non IB/AP academic class)
AP Physics: A/A
IB Spanish SL: A/A
Team Sports: A</p>

<p>IN SUMMARY: I should finish high school with around a 3.85, or at very worst 3.8 UW for fresh-senior year.
*I know however that stanford, UCs, and Umich weight grades differently, so this number should go down slightly for these schools</p>

<p>*class rank UW right now = 38/515. Weighted = 30/515 (will go up because not many kids have taken hard classes yet)
*IB Diploma Candidate (to be)
*Varsity tennis 4 years (will have 4)
*Science Team 4 years (will have 4)
*World Quest Trivia 4 years (will have 4)
*Science Club Treasurer (1 year)
*Science Club VP (2 years)
*Math Club (4 years) (VP 2 years)
*Speech and Debate Team (2 years)
*Portland Youth Philharmonic (will have 2-3 years)
*Mathfest Algebra 2 1st place freshman year
*Oregon Invitational of Mathematics Tournament Participant Fresh Year
*Mathfest Participant (will have 4 years)
*Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Rising Star Program (will have 150-175 volunteer hours done)
*Mathcounts Tutor (about 50+ volunteer hours)
*School Team finished second in state for mixed doubles.
*Right now I get about a 1920-2050 on the SAT, 28-30 on ACT according to Practice Tests for SAT, and the PLAN (it's like the PSAT for SAT except the ACT version) on ACT, but I'm shooting for at least a 2100 on the SAT and 32 on the ACT. Don't count on me getting a 2100 or a 32 because its not going to happen as far as I can tell right now. (Score breakdown Math: >700 Critical Reading: 600-660 Writing: 550-610)</p>

2

<p>Sorry to say this, but they're very different schools and IMO you definitely shouldn't just apply based on which one you think you have a better shot getting into. It really should depend on what you are interested in studying and which school can help you best achieve your personal goals. I'm an engineer at Duke, and when I was looking at engineering programs UNC didn't even show up on my radar. Needless to say, I'm sure UNC boasts excellent programs in other areas. It's not that you can go wrong with either of the two, it just seems like you haven't fully researched the differences between them yet.
Besides, what prevents you from applying to both? Is it just a matter of which to apply to early decision? I didn't really go through your stats, but I THINK its about as tough to get in to UNC OOS as it is Duke in general. Not sure though.</p>

3

<p>Id say Duke is a reach as is Stanford. UNC, UCs, and UMich are all tough too OOS. I don't know if you have the stats to get in, but I would say UNC is your best shot. Good Luck, I am sure no matter where you end up you will enjoy it. And don't worry, you are obviously very dedicated to success, so you should be fine. </p>

<p>My only advice is to make sure you look at some safety schools</p>

4

<p>If you can, I'd say apply ED to Duke and EA to Carolina.. of course if you get into Duke, you can just forget all about Carolina! :p</p>

<p>Even though you say that you like Tar Heels now, if you go to Duke, you will definitely become a Blue Devil fan!</p>

5

<p>Duke is slightly easier (i.e. by 1-2%) to get into than Chapel Hill OOS, but both would be reaches. Duke does like IB, though, so that's in your favor. Try to visit or overnight if possible. The two have very similar academics, but the student bodies are pretty different.</p>

<p>Wake would be a good match with possible merit $.</p>

6

<p>Lincoln > Jesuit > Beaverton = ).</p>

<p>Anyway, you've got a shot, but you're going to need some higher scores and a bit of a better rank to help you. Your activities are solid, but what makes you different and more interesting than everyone else out there?</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>And: Go to Hell Carolina, Go to Hell!</p>

7

<p>re: biomed, I should hope UNC doesn't show up on your radar as they don't even have engineering... (well, except for a joint BME program with NC State)</p>

<p>just apply to both. it can't hurt</p>

8

<p>Yah why not apply to both?</p>

9

<p>lol lincoln?!!! Don't make me laugh. You guys didn't even get past first round this year I don't think!! </p>

<p>Btw, I'm not sure I want to apply to both because I really think it would hurt me to say that I want to be both a dukie and carolinian you know? It would just be hard for me</p>

10

<p>Does your state of residence have any affect on Duke admissions? I think I remember them asking for your county in North Carolina, but I didn't think too much about it at the time.</p>

11

<p>NC/SC applicants get a pretty decent leg up in admissions at duke</p>