what are my chances at duke? (help please!)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>hi guys,
im a senior entering the applications maze, and i'm not sure what my chances are. here are my goals and my information; can you let me know what's realistic?</p>

<p>potential schools:
duke (first choice, possible early decision)
tufts
uc berkeley
ucsb
georgetown (reach?)
university of virginia
claremont mckenna
kenyon
usc
davidson
yale/stanford (extreme long shots, but a dream!)</p>

<p>My qualifications:</p>

<p>grades: straight A's throughout high school (taking most difficult schedule possible!)
class rank: 3rd out of 800
school: large, california public</p>

<p>ap classes: ap euro, ap us, ap english language and comp, ap bio, ap stats, ap english literature and comp, ap gov, ap spanish (5's on all exams except bio, which was a 3)</p>

<p>sat scores: 750 verbal, 730 writing (with a perfect score on essay), 640 math (i plan to retake in october); 730 literature sat 2, 670 us history sat 2, 640 bio sat 2 (i plan to retake in december)</p>

<p>extra-curricular activities: editor-in-chief for 3 years and founder of school newspaper; clarinet player for top school band; member of marching band; president of california scholastic federation; secretary of school interact club (a volunteer organization); copy writer for yearbook; member of national honor society; member of City of Murrieta's Youth Advisory Committee</p>

<p>awards: CA chicano news media association journalism scholarship for $2000 (awarded to only one student in southern CA); City of Murrieta Award for Leadership; City of Murrieta Award for Service to Community; Trailblazer Award for student leadership; National Merit semi-finalist; superior rating at Southern California School Band/Orchestra Association festival; 1st clarinet at All-Valley Honor Band (for 3 years); finalist at Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Academy; Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (1 of 3 students selected from district)</p>

<p>employment: paid staff writer for regional newspaper (circulation 200,000; only teen to hold such a position)</p>

<p><em>on a side note, i volunteered at an orphanage in India for 6 weeks; i plan to write my essay about this.</em></p>

<p>so, what are my chances? please be honest! also, i welcome suggestions of other schools!
thank you!</p>

2

<p>Have you looked at the Optional Artistic portion of the application? </p>

<p><a href="http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply-artistic.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply-artistic.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You might consider submitting a CD or cassette tape if you are a musician. Submitting the optional artistic portion of the application distinguishes your application from many of the others.</p>

<p>However, don't submit the material unless you are considered outstanding. Music faculty members will listen to your CD and send a rating to Admissions - it won't help you if you are an average musician.</p>

3

<p>i'm nothing terribly special musically. thank you for the advice! :)</p>

4

<p>I'd say you have a good shot, but Duke has become so competitive that nobody can really predict your chances, especially without the actual recommendations, essay(s), interview, etc. Davidson has also become quite selective, but you definitely have a good shot at being admitted there. Have you considered writing for the Chronicle at Duke? You mentioned that you have newspaper experience, and Duke's newspaper is very good. If you really want a good shot at Yale or Stanford, I'd advise you to apply SCEA to one of them, but only if you're not going to apply ED to Duke.</p>