The All-In-One Chance Thread (aka everyone who want to be "chanced" post here)

Colleges & Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Ok so lately, we have been flooded with "chance" threads and many people (including me) have expressed their "concerns" (well more like complaints) about these threads. </p>

<p>So as suggested by one the senior members, we are going to try to have a "master" or "all-in one" chance thread where everybody who wants to be "chanced" posts.
So if you want to be "chanced" post here.</p>

<p>Also, please don't try to hog this thread to yourself if you want to be thread. When no one is replying, it means that no one has an answer because none of us are admissions officers and thus concludes that we do not truly know if you are going to get in. We are here to help see what you can do better, we don't have a definite/correct answer.</p>

<p>Also, please make sure that you have done research on Duke before you post. Like don't ask some questions that can be found in the Duke FAQ or the Duke website. </p>

<p>Thanks,
cdz512</p>

<p>For more information about Duke's 2008 acceptance rate, middle 50% SAT/ACT, minority and geographic distribution, see here: Duke</a> University Admissions: Class of 2012 Profile</p>

<p>For questions about Duke that you are not sure, first check here (there are numerous FAQs and there are many categories which they are placed in): Duke</a> University Admissions: Ask a Question</p>

<p>For information about Financial Aid (and FA questions) and Tuition, see here: Duke</a> University Admissions: Cost & Financial Aid
Duke</a> Financial Aid
Duke</a> Financial Aid: Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</p>

<p>If you want to learn about the Freshman year experience, see here: Duke</a> University Admissions: The First-Year Experience</p>

<p>Information about AP credits can be found here: [Duke</a> University | Trinity College of Arts & Sciences : Academic requirements<a href="for%20Trinity">/url</a>
[url=<a href="http://www.pratt.duke.edu/policies-procedures#10%5DPolicies"&gt;http://www.pratt.duke.edu/policies-procedures#10]Policies&lt;/a> & Procedures | Engineering at Duke University, Pratt School<a href="for%20Pratt">/url</a></p>

<p>Also if you want to learn more about double majors, fellowships, studying abroad, they can be found here: [url=<a href="http://trinity.duke.edu/academic-requirements%5DDuke"&gt;http://trinity.duke.edu/academic-requirements]Duke&lt;/a> University | Trinity College of Arts & Sciences : Academic requirements<a href="for%20Trinity">/url</a>
[url=<a href="http://www.pratt.duke.edu/policies-procedures%5DPolicies"&gt;http://www.pratt.duke.edu/policies-procedures]Policies&lt;/a> & Procedures | Engineering at Duke University, Pratt School<a href="for%20Pratt">/url</a></p>

<p>For questions about applying: [url=<a href="http://admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply.html%5DDuke"&gt;http://admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply.html]Duke&lt;/a> University Admissions: How to Apply](<a href="http://trinity.duke.edu/academic-requirements?p=ap-credit-by-department%5DDuke"&gt;http://trinity.duke.edu/academic-requirements?p=ap-credit-by-department)&lt;/p>

<p>For information about housing for first years: Residence</a> Life and Housing Services :: :: Class of 2013 :: Living on East Campus</p>

<p>Best of luck to all that are applying!</p>

2

<p>Guess I’m the first one. haha</p>

<p>Gender: M
Race: Chinese
Location: Competitive public school in texas
Major: most likely econ</p>

<p>SAT I: 2000- not going to send it</p>

<p>ACT: 33 composite
30 second time, retaking in Sept hopefully for a 34+</p>

<p>SAT II: Math Level II-760; us history-670 (retaking for 700+)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.82 unweighted, 4.23 weighted
Rank: 56/960 but will probably be top 45 beginning senior year
Schedule: Most rigorous, 11 AP completed by senior year</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
DECA- (11,12) VP- Went to nationals in Accounting Applications
Students Organizing Community Outreach (11,12)- Secretary
Will likely start a ping pong club this year and I have several table tennis awards
Youth group at my temple(9,11,12) help with various community activities
Habitat for Humanity(11,12)
NHS(11,12)
member of Mu Alpha Theta(11,12)</p>

<p>Volunteer at an assisted living facility(11,12)
Volunteer at my city’s therapeutic recreation for kids(9,11,12)</p>

<p>And I skipped tenth grade, don’t know how they view that.
Any suggestions appreciated
I know duke is a reach for me but do I have a shot?</p>

3

<p>^You have a shot. ACT of 33 is solid (you don’t need SAT II’s if you submit your ACT score). At first I saw rank of 56 and assumed very low, but out of 960 that is top 10% so good and you have challenged yourself. I don’t know how much you have dedicated to your ECs so I can’t really comment on those. They look as though you have some leadership. I would take time to describe your roll for those on the Common App. Likewise I would write great essays.</p>

4

<p>I don’t know about the skipping tenth grade part but
Seeing that you are what? 17? and you are going to finish high school with 11 APs and managed to maintain a 3.82 (A-) average up junior year, that is actually really good. As for your EC, they’re not really that stellar to set you apart but if you could try to do a lot of volunteering over the summer (now) then it should help you a lot (like see if you can get 100 hours in, it will help a lot). Your SAT II Math is fine, I actually would recommend you take Bio if you are good (because of your circumstance of skipping a grade, having SAT IIs along with ACT would help them see that you are really a good student). As for the ACT, it’s up to you, but seeing that you skipped a grade, you might want to try to make your application look the best as possible so go ahead and try to get a higher score if you want. But you have a good shot but increasing your ECs would make it a lot better.</p>

5

<p>can someone chance me too?
Location: CA
Intended Major: chemistry, bioengineering (plan to go to med/pharmacy school)
GPA (roughly): W-4.1, U-3.9
UC GPA: same as above
Class rank (as of end of 11th): top 9%, maybe 8%
SAT 1: 1810/2400 (first time and will retake in nov, aiming for as high as possible)
CR: 500
M: 670
w: 640
SAT Subjects (will take bio m, chemistry, and maybe physics in dec)
Math Level 2: 730, is this good enough?
US History: 660, I only took Honors US History because I couldnt fit AP in my schedule
ACT: not taken, will take in oct</p>

<p>EC’s completed

  1. Basketball and badminton, but only on badminton team 9-11
  2. Participation in local marathon training program 11
  3. Babysitting for free 9-11
  4. Drawing cartoons and comics 9-11
    Weekend Job: minimum wage, 3-8 hours/week, saved earnings for college, 9-11</p>

<p>Honors classes completed: US His, Chem, Eng 3
AP classes completed: Calculus AB (exam score not received yet)</p>

<p>Teacher Rec’s
I know 3 teachers to ask, all of whom I have had before and will have again for senior year. 1 is math teacher, other is science.</p>

<p>Will these help?
Poor background, low income
Minority status
Strong math, science, and writing skills
Went from 3.75 W (3.5 U) GPA for 10th grade to 4.4 W (4.0 U) GPA for 11th grade</p>

<p>Senior year schedule
Honors US Gov/Econ
Honors English
AP Chem
AP Bio
AP Calculus BC
French 3</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

6

<p>Are you a URM?
As for your ACT/SAT I, yes they are quite low. Use the Barron’s book, it works well for me. Your SAT II math is fine. But you really want to get the SAT I score higher and take the ACT, you might do really well on it. </p>

<p>The bad part is that you have little ECs. ECs at Duke are actually viewed as pretty important. They make a lot of their decisions on acceptance based on ECs (because after they eliminate the people with low scores and low GPA, the rest of their applications are pretty much similar in GPA and similar in ECs and they want to find which one stands out)(there are people with low test scores and low GPA but stellar ECs that get in).</p>

<p>The upward trend in your grade will help (but it will still hurt a bit that you got a 3.5 GPA average during your sophomore year, not a lot and most likely not enough to break your application). Your overall GPA will help greatly.</p>

<p>Any volunteering?</p>

<p>Overall you have a chance, just get more ECs (volunteer a lot over the summer like I said to the other person) and raise those test scores.</p>

7

<p>cdz512, thx for the chance!
-im not a URM
-im pretty confident about taking act this fall, i seem to do better on no guessing penalty tests
-earliest i can volunteer at any local medical center or hospital is september so i’d have to wait for that
-i dont have time to volunteer this summer cuz im studying both sat 1 and sat 2’s and taking a dual enrollment English class
-can i point out that i’ve lived in the same ghetto my whole life and do not have many opportunities in such a crime ridden area? i barely feel safe even in front of my own house
for college app essays, can i include this and will duke understand?</p>

8

<p>You write an essay about it. and Yeah I think (not totally sure) but I think you can describe to them your situation.</p>

9

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.3ish weighted
SAT Reading: 740 Math: 680 Writing: 710
SAT II: Chemistry: 740 Literature: 760
APs: Chem, Psych, and Lang in Junior year. idk what I got on the tests yet but I’ve gotten As all year in all so I honestly expect 5s… and next year I’m taking Music Theory and Calculus</p>

<p>ECs:

  1. Playing guitar for 5 years, composing, recording, producing music
  2. Over 200 hrs volunteering at Hospital (ER and transportation) sophomore and junior year
  3. National Honors Society (I’m gonna try and be an Officer but I’m not yet) Senior year
  4. Chemistry Honors Society Junior year
  5. Jazz Band senior year
  6. Marching Band senior year
  7. Black belt in Chito-Ryu, been doing it (karate) for over 6 years</p>

<p>I’m white, middle class, and from public school. I was a semi-finalist in National Merit I think. I’m gonna submit a performance and composition of music for Duke’s Artistic Supplement, I’m applying Early Decision for Duke, gonna try to raise my math score at least, and my grandfather went to Duke but never graduated because he was in the service and they had to send him away. I put that down in the Common App and I’ll explain to the interviewer (if I can get one) why there’s no year of graduation selected. I don’t even know if it’ll help but it can’t hurt. Sooooo please chance me :)</p>

10

<p>Oh, also I’m from Florida, because apparently it counts what state you’re from…or something. >_></p>

11

<p>Sorry for the triple post but if rank really makes that big of a difference, I’m 6 in like 540-ish. I used to be 5 but that was actually because of a printing mistake lol.</p>

12

<p>^Applying ED will help you, you have a great ranking, good/unique ECs, and decent SAT scores-I think you have a good shot! :slight_smile:
For me, I’m applying RD…
SAT 1: 2250
SAT 2: 2230
GPA: 3.95 (THIS is my biggest worry, I have a downward trend! All As every year, but then in Jr Year, I got 1 B+ each semester for the same class-so two in total. Will this be considered really bad? Thanks to anyone with input)
ECs: Good, I don’t want to go into specifics…but I have leadership positions, and tons of volunteer work.
Courseload: most rigorous. 12 aps total by senior year
Top 5%
African American
Thanks to any who will chance :)</p>

13

<p>

</p>

<p>Your biggest worry is a “downward trend” leading to your 3.95 GPA?!? Haha, I’m sorry, but that’s just funny. That is the thing on the application I’d worry the LEAST about. Two B+s in your entire high school career is not “considered really bad,” especially if they were AP or honors courses (which I assume they were). That GPA is great. In any event, I think you’ll get in. Good luck!</p>

14

<p>[ b]Objective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 790 CR, 610 Math, 590 Writing
[ *] ACT:
[ *] SAT II:800 on US History, 700 on Lit
[ *] Unweighted GPA: 3.9/4.6. For 4.0 scale it is a 3.4
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):No Rank
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Euro (5). Waiting for AP English and AP American.Taking 4 AP’s Next year
[ *] Senior Year Course Load:It’s going to be heavy.</p>

<p>[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): President of History Club, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Christmas Toy Drive, Student “Dean” (Leader and advisor for about 13 guys), 3 years of Cross Country, 3 years of Spring Track, Habitat For Humanity.
[ *] Job/Work Experience:Going to get a job this summer.
[ *] Summer Activities: Penn State Journalism Program for a week, Community college history course.
[ /list][ b]Other[ /b][ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant):NJ
[ *] School Type: Private
[ *] Ethnicity: Black<br>
[ *] Gender:Male
[ *] Income Bracket:100,000+
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, go to extremely competitive private school.
[ /list][ b]Reflection[ /b][ list]
[ *] Strengths: URM, hopefully good job on my Sats.</p>

15

<p>The beauty of copy and paste. Plus updates!!!</p>

<p>GPA UW: 3.6-3.7
GPA W: 4.3-4.4
( A lame excuse for my drop in grades would probably be that I moved in between semesters of junior year. Yeah I know, I still should have done better)</p>

<p>6 honors classes Freshman year
8 honors sophomore year
9 (kind of, pretty much 8 1/2) junior year</p>

<p>APs:
AP Bio- 5
AP Chem- 4
AP US- 5
AP English Language- 4
AP US Gov’t- 4
AP Microeconomics- 4
AP Macroeconomics- 4
AP Human Geography- 5
AP Environmental Science- 5
AP Statistics- 4</p>

<p>Going for 7 tests next year.</p>

<p>Senior year:
Dual enroll: Philosophy, English, European History, plus 3 more second semester
Math and Science Center: AP Calc BC, Organic and Bio Chem, AP Physics C</p>

<p>When I transferred I got accepted to a small, private math and science center that’s pretty well known by the top universities. Next year I’m just dual enrolling at a university for half the day and going to the math center.</p>

<p>ACT: 32
SAT: need to take…:S
SAT II:
US History: 750
Bio- 770
Math 2: unspeakable (retake!)</p>

<p>ECs: Band- section leader since 7th grade. Jazz Band, University band, Civic Band in the university/community. State honors band 2 years (moved out of state so I couldn’t do it again.) I also am not in the school band here b/c I had to chose between band and the math and science center. State S/E since 8th grade, NHS 2nd year next year, volunteered at the hospital 70 hours plus going for some more somewhere when volunteer organizations someday get back to me!!, Science Olympiad 3 years probably again this year, (some sports here and there that don’t matter b/c I never contributed anything)</p>

<p>yeah not much in the EC department, I hope that’s okay though. Maybe some opportunities will arise next year. I’m going to try to do some more stuff for music and other people who are in my situation and had to give band up.</p>

<p>Essay: Not sure, I’ve got some good ideas. Will probably get the help of an English professor this fall. I think they will be really good- they’ve really got to be b/c it’s my only chance… lol
Recommendations: again, since I just moved here this will be difficult. I could use my bio teacher of 2 years but that was when I was younger.</p>

<p>I’m not sure if there’s anything else really. Moving really hurt me as far as extracurriculars and grades first semester. I know it’s not that great of an excuse, but I hope it’s some what understandable.</p>

16

<p>

Yeah if you bring your math up, you have a wonderful chance.

</p>

<p>This definitely will help you. your artistic supplement helps a lot. </p>

<p>@Melody224:
You have a lot of good stats, your chances are good I have to say. A downward chance won’t hurt when you still have been able to maintain majority A’s so you are not going to be rejected for that. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I have say that the 3.4 GPA will hurt and probably won’t help you. Your SAT isn’t that great. Yes, you might be a URM but you have to know that a lot of URM do apply to Duke. However, the fact that you go to a good private school will help. But overall, you have a good chance.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I have to say that your GPA will help you but the fact that you have a rigorous schedule will save you and actually might help. Your ACT is in the middle 50 but it is not exactly put you in the upper 50% but that shouldn’t hurt. Your ECs are not bad, send the optional music supplement.</p>

17

<p>Oh yeah, this thread has been used in HYPS so they kinda suck for those. Don’t even know what the Ivy’s want! They’re alright for Duke. Still unsure on whether to apply, it recently appeared on my list.</p>

18

<p>You mean the GPA will hurt but the course load will help?</p>

19

<p>Well your GPA isn’t exactly “great” if you compared to the other top applicants to Duke. However, your lower GPA is justified because of your rigorous schedule (unless you self studied majority of those). So it will even out. Don’ worry, your GPA is still a A- average, it won’t break your application.</p>

20

<p>Wow…10 APs?! I assume that you took them all before your senior year. That is ridiculous…</p>