<p>I've always liked Duke and wanted to go there, but I'm wondering if it's even worth the app fee to apply. Looking back at the decisions thread from last year, it isn't looking good. Is it likely that things will change at all due to the whole fiasco surrounding Duke, or will the results likely be the same?</p>
<p>Here are some brief stats:
GPA 4.53W, ~3.9UW (Straight A's 10th and 11th grades - it's 8th and 9th bringing me down)
Ranked 11/512
ACT 34 (Taking again Saturday - already registered before I got my score)
APs: Euro 5, English Language 4, Statistics 5, USH 4 (AP Scholar award - one of only two in my class)
5 APs Senior Year - Spanish, Calc BC, Physics C, US Gov't, English Lit</p>
<p>ECs - Here's where it falls apart a little
Babysitting - 10 hours/week, 4 years
Tutoring - 6 hours/week, 4 years
Young Life (Youth Group) - 4 hours/week, 4 years
Organized Church Christmas drive last year, plan to do so this year
Total Community Service ~200 hours (various activities with Youth Group, Teen Court, etc.)
Freshman Field Hockey team, Freshman Lacrosse team, etc. - No real school involvement but should be explained in counselor rec (redistricted away from all my friends right before 9th grade)</p>
<p>Essays should be decent, rec letters OK (I'm shy and don't know my teachers too well, even though I do well in school)</p>
<p>Sorry for the lack of organization, I've never really put one of these together before and I'm not sure how to do any formatting (like bold or italics).</p>
<p>Thanks for anyone who takes the time to read this - be honest and tell me what you think! Trust me, I don't have my hopes up, so I won't be let down.</p>
<p>Definitely give it a shot. Are you going to apply early decision? From your stats, you look like an applicant to the Trinity school. But, yeah, you should absolutely apply.</p>
<p>You should definitely apply. If it's a place that you've always been interested in, you need to give it a shot because you do a have a chance. Your grades seem pretty good even though your ec's aren't the best in the world. If anything, the fact that your grades 8 and 9 are bringing you down may help you. Also, are you from NC? That could help too.</p>
<p>The no real involvement explanation (as you give it here) isn't going to help you at all. You should apply though if you like Duke. You have stellar scores and you'll regret it if you don't. Work hard to raise your essays above "decent". Because your ECs are weak you need to put A LOT of yourself into them. Be boldly honest and creative. Good luck.</p>
<p>You have some church experience, from what it seems...and you've been working at that for a long time. Focus on that when writing your essays...Duke loves to see dedication to something you love and enjoy.</p>
<p>Scores are excellent, and I think you really should apply. Focus on the positives of your EC's with your application, and how you can make an impact on Duke's campus. I promise your dedication will show through to admissions.</p>
<p>As far as my essays go, I wasn't planning on writing about church involvement as my EC short answer or long essay. My essay topic deals with a life-changing event, and I wanted to focus on either tutoring or babysitting as my most valuable EC. Do you think I can still do this and allow my dedication to show through, or should I change it to church?</p>
<p>Yeah, definitely. Do what you feel is really the best way to give admissions a good picture of you beyond that of just a student. Obviously, a life-changing event is always a good thing to write about. 4 years involved in something will show dedication regardless of whether or not you write about it in an essay, so if you have this other topic in mind I'd say go for that...it will def. show another aspect of you and your personality to admissions!</p>