<p>Hi, I'm currently a second-semester freshman at Duke, but after the first semester I still feel a little out of place here. I was accepted to Rice and Duke last spring, but I decided to go to Duke honestly only because it was a higher ranked school and I wanted to make my parents proud. Now, I'm thinking that might have been the wrong decision. Please let me know what you think my chances are for transferring.</p>
<p>High school GPA: 3.73 unweighted (ranked 12th in class of 410 students)
SATS: 740 math, 720 reading, 800 writing
SAT IIs: 760 calc II (i think that's what this subject test was called? I'm sorry it's been a while), 700 Biology
College GPA: 3.325 (a little low... my rank is ~940 out of 1411)
Major: Neuroscience, on pre-med track
ECs: I did so much in high school, and i think my extracurriculars played a large part in my acceptance to a lot of the good schools i applied for senior year. I won national awards for debate, published photography in international magazines, editor-in-chief and founder of a literary magazine, and was the president for a few clubs.</p>
<p>I'm not doing too much in college. I am part of the Red Cross and Asian students association.</p>
<p>Please let me know what you think! My GPA is a little low, but do you think the fact that I am a pre-med at Duke will help me out?</p>
<p>I think it will - I’ve heard of people being able to go down on the USNEWS list even with not very good GPA’s. However, if you really want to leave Duke either apply to a few safeties or wait until you finish your sophomore year when you hopefully have a higher GPA. If you apply now it’s risky, but you have nothing to lose and it can work out, just be sure you have backup options or are ok with staying at Duke until the end of your sophomore year.</p>
<p>You might want to figure out what it is about your first semester at Duke that is influencing your thinking. Is it your roommate, teachers, classes, friends, homesickness, culture or just normal adjustment? Sounds like you had a very active HS life with a lot of responsibility plus your grades were super. Now you are with all smart kids so you are not necessarily going to be getting the tippy top grades any more. You also don’t seem to be involved to the same level in activities. I think anyone would consider changing; however, if you go to another school you will be the new kid again with a new adjustment period.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I suggest you find someone(s) to talk to - RA, dorm director, school counselor, guidance counselor, freshman adviser, clergy, parents, sibling, aunt. </p></li>
<li><p>Pick one or two things you are passionate about such as photography or debate. Don’t just join the club, take a lead, take on responsibility. </p></li>
<li><p>Go to the gym and work out for an hour every day. You will release endorphins which will make you feel better. </p></li>
<li><p>Get enuf sleep, but not too much. Eat properly. Stay away from junk food, booze and drugs. They give you temporary highs. </p></li>
<li><p>Make a new friend every day by sitting next to someone in class, smiling and saying HI. It will be easy after the first few times. Do the same in the dining hall, library or wherever you hang out. Don’t sit in your room watching TV or playing video games. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>I PROMISE you that you will start to feel better and within a few weeks you will start loving your life art Duke. Life is about choices and doing the best you can with what G-d gave you. Go for it…I know you will succeed!!</p>