Hello,
I am an international student, and I am trying to use the early chance as best as I can. I cannot seem to make a choice between these two, since both are reach schools and I need every help I can get. Duke does say that applying ED is advantageous, while Princeton claims that it is not. On the other hand, Duke is need aware, but has scholarships for int’l students (Karsh), for which my Iranian nationality will probably be helpful for the first time in ETERNITY, while Princeton is need blind and probably more generous due to it’s vast wealth.
I have already finished my application and most of my supplements, so changing at this point isn’t really difficult.
here are my stats:
Intended Major : Biochem/neuroscience/Molecular Bio
GPA: I double majored in Junior year so I have two gpa’s: 19.20 for my theoretical major , 19.40 for my Experimental , 19.06 Sophomore, 18.76 Freshman. according to https://www.wes.org/gradeconversionguide/index.asp, all my GPA’s translate into 4 in the american system. will this upward trend be helpful?
Rank : 2/75. keep in mind that my school is extremely rigorous.
Course Load: Biology 3, Calculus, Physics 3, Advanced Algebra and Probability, Geometry 2, Geology 1, Chemistry 3, Persian Literature 3, Persian Linguistics 3, Islamic studies 3, Arabic 3, English 3, Contemporary History, Math for EXP majors.
ACT : 34 (34 34 33 34)
Sat ii : 800 Chem, 770 BioM 790 Math 2
AP or IB classes are not offered in Iran, and we all have the same curriculum however, I was in a NODET (national organization for development of extraordinary talents) school, which means that our curriculum was tough as hell. however, I did have some advanced extra curricular classes in Math, Physics and Astronomy. I will probably write it as an academic Extra curricular.
EC:
English Teacher at a prestigious language college.
I also have a certificate of English Teaching competency from Longman.
Arts and humanities club member.
Internship at a very prestigious Lens and Optics Lab.
part of high school National Computer Olympiad team, no medal though.
9th at Ferdowsi Univ. Programming contest.
5th at Team Math&Chem City Contest
Fluent in English and Persian, good at Arabic, Intermediate in French
c++, HTML, CSS, JS, PHP coder.
Web designer. (BTW, should I submit a portfolio for this?)
Amateur Sketcher ( I am not submitting a supplement, but maybe this can make me look more well rounded?)
Swimming and Taekwondo, no awards though.