What Are My Chances? Duke, Emory, Vanderbilt University, 2022

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hope I included enough information! I have omitted some of the more detailed information. Thank you! :slight_smile:

Personal Information:

Female, white, dual citizen.

Florida resident.

Aunt went to Emory. Not sure if that is considered legacy.

Would apply to Duke as ED. Top choice.

Looking for possible financial aid.

Tried to do as much as I can with my circumstances. Have had to overcome various difficulties. Extremely passionate and devoted to everything I do.

School:

Florida Virtual School/County Virtual School

Grade: 11th, have completed additional courses to graduate a year early.

Rank: 1st

Unweighted GPA: 4.0

Weighted GPA: 4.5

Focused on science classes. Have taken seven science courses.

All classes are honors, except the ones that were not offered as honors, such as language, or AP classes.

AP classes taken and plan to take (11 or 12 in total):

*Biology
*Environmental Science
*Psychology
*Computer Science
*U.S History
*U.S Government & Politics
*Macroeconomics
*Microeconomics
*English Literature and Composition
*English Language and Composition
*Art History

Debating taking calculus or statistics?

School only offers 1 more AP class that I have not taken, no IB.

AP Scholar.

ACT: 33

Subject Tests: Have not taken yet. Going to take Biology E/C, English Literature, and Math II.

Extracurriculars:

Athletics:

  • Lettering in varsity swim team for 4 years.
  • Going to be captain next season.
  • Hoping to go to districts or further next season.
  • Swimmer on a U.S.A club swim team, multiple Olympic swimmers have also been apart of the swim team and coach. Coach attended Duke.

Clubs:

I have a lot of involvement in these clubs. I have omitted detailed information to not ramble too much.

  • Science National Honor Society: Member for 3 years. President for 2 years. Vice-president for 1 year. Nominated for club award.
  • National Honor Society: Member for 3 years. President, vice-president, and treasurer for 1 year each.
  • STEAM: Member for 3 years. President for 1 year. Vice-President for 1 year. Nominated for club award.
  • MUN: Member for 2 years. Attended GatorMUN. Hoping to attend another conference.
  • Latin: Member for 2 years. No officer position, but have helped with various school-wide events.
  • Student Ambassadors: Volunteer to help teachers with their lessons.
  • School Advisory Council: High school representative out of whole high school student body.

Volunteering:

  • 100+ hours at a prestigious hospital. Assigned special area. First high school student to volunteer in that area.
  • Probably have about 200 or more hours of various activities.

Work:

  • Going to help my father with his business.

Awards:

Not a lot of opportunities to receive them.

  • Character counts (twice).
  • Student of the month.
  • Featured as a student in newspaper multiple times.

Etc.:

  • Attending prestigious research program this summer. Hope to publish or enter research into fair.
  • Hoping to do research over the next school year with a prestigious cancer lab.
  • Have been accepted to and attended multiple programs at the hospital previously mentioned.
  • Shadowed multiple physicians.
  • Nominated to represent my school for a young woman focused program. Possibly joining the program's leadership council.
  • Run a somewhat successful blog on my journey as a student.
  • Founder and leader of a pediatric focused organization.
  • Going to start working on essays soon. Putting my heart and soul into them.
  • Recommendations will be great as I have a close relationship with those who I will choose.
  • Close friends with many Duke alumni.
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what major?

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Most likely a science major, such as biology, or biomedical science.

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@kjake2000

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@studyingSTEM
Your application is shaping up to be great, especially if you can write some great essays about these circumstances you speak of.
Emory-Reach ( RD acceptance rate around 15%)
Vandy- High Reach( RD acceptance rate is close to 6%)
Duke- Reach( you are applying ED so have a better chance)
It would be best to raise your ACT and apply ED2 to Emory or Vandy if you don’t get in ED1 to Duke, to make sure you aren’t shut out of your TOP choices. Disregard this and apply RD if financial aid is Very important to you, but you are planning to apply ED to Duke so I think fin aid is not that important to you.

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You have the exact right idea. These colleges do not want to see a well rounded student, but a student that is deeply passionate in one area. You will most likely be accepted into some of these schools, but these schools are hard to get into so there are no guarantees.

As for the decision to take AP Calc vs AP Stats, take Calc. Most colleges will be wary around someone who has opted out of Calc.

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you would get in Emory ED. Duke ED for bio/BME is a tough one, your stats and EC are competitive enough and I could see you getting into Duke BME early.

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If you get in contact with the Duke swimming coach and he likes you, then that should help. Right now you have about average chances at Duke. Your ACT is a bit low, but if you get 750+ on two or more subject tests than that certainly helps. The essays for Duke matter a great deal as well so be sure to work on those this summer. Be sure to stress your passions in your order and listing of ECs on the Common App, in the essays, in the interview, and even in the recommendations if you’re able to. BME is a tough major to get into at any top school, so maybe try applying for just regular biology. Good luck!

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@VANDEMORY1342 @collegeboundprogrammer @kjake2000 @doorrealthe Thank you for all of your feedback! I greatly appreciate it. What would you say is the most important thing that I should improve if my dream is Duke?

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You should consider ED2 to Emory if ED to Duke doesn’t work out. You are a competitive applicant, but RD is still tough at Emory. For Duke, even raising your ACT to a 34 would be a big boost. I suggest studying relentlessly over the summer and aiming for a 34 or 35. You should also look to do something that reflects your passion/major over the summer.

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Just make sure to stress that you’re interested in biology or medicine in every part of your application! You want a Duke admissions officer to say “Wow, this person is going to be a fantastic doctor - we want him/her here!”

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Maybe ask your swim coach for an additional rec? Also, a 33 ACT could be improved; shoot for 34 to be safe.

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@Dontskipthemoose Thank you! I am actually attending a prestigious research program this summer, and sadly won’t have too much time to study for the ACT, but plan to take it again.

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@doorrealthe Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. I am trying my best to do that. :slight_smile:

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@Pineapplejr7070 I didn’t think about that! Thank you!

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100% take calculus no question. I think you have a very good chance at Duke if you ED and raise the ACT by 1-2 points. What else could they possibly want?

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@callogan44 Lol. You are awesome. Thank you!