What are my chances for Duke ED?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2240 (Composite), 750 (Math), 710 (Critical Reading), 780 (Writing)
ACT (breakdown): 33 (Composite), 35 (English), 33 (Mathematics), 34 (Reading), 30 (Science), 23 (Essay) :frowning: retaking
SAT II: scores not available yet, but most likely 700+ for Math II, US History
Weighted GPA: 4.35 (most likely 4.40+ after this year)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 25% (school only ranks by quintile)
AP (junior year): US History, Physics 1, English Language and Composition
Awards: Day of Recognition (with certificate) from Governor on behalf of state, Geography Student of the Year, National Society of High School Scholars, National History Scholars Society, NHS, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, Science National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Dartmouth Alumni Club Book Award, Model Committee Chair (Youth and Government), First place for Photo Essay in international competition

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Incoming member of school’s Judicial Board, Boys Service Club (Treasurer), Pre-Med Club (Officer), School Admissions (Ambassador), Youth and Government Conference (Chair of Senate HHS Committee, awarded Model Committee Chair, and elected President Pro Tempore of State Senate - statewide), global peer-reviewed science publication for high school students (member of senior leadership team), Yearbook (Copy Co-Editor), Computer Science Club, Varsity Tennis team, independent genomics research (possible abstract), founder of statewide science conference (in planning stages)

Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: Work in school library, in a school for special-needs children, and for the science journal, as well as being a US History tutor for a foreign exchange student.
Summer Activities: state-funded science research program (last summer), JSA Georgetown and research (this summer), Independent research (9, 10, 11)
Teacher Recommendation: all should be excellent
Counselor Rec: my counselor knows me very well and is helping me in this process

Other:
Intended Major: Global/Public Health, Public Policy, Biology
State (if domestic applicant): North Carolina
School Type: smaller school (~80 people in class)
Ethnicity: Asian (Indian)
Gender: Male
Hooks: participated in National Spelling Bee twice? research article published in professional peer-reviewed science journal based off above summer research program?

2

I would say your chances are pretty good, but you never know. You seem to have a lot going on, and I know colleges tend to appreciate depth more than breadth. However, I do think that you exhibit both, but admissions counselors may or may not agree. The only thing that could possibly work against you is your race and the lack of Hooks like First gen or legacy. I absolutely believe you are a qualified candidate, but I know a lot of Asian students at my school had a harder time with college admissions than they should have. But I also do think that even though Duke is a private institution, they may accept more people from North Carolina. Ultimately, you absolutely should get in, but I would say you have about a 75%-80% chance (especially with ED). Good luck!

3

Marginally better than average.

4

Hello,

Here is what I would rate you on the 6 items:

HS Curriculum: 3-4
Achievement: 4
Recs: 3-4
Essays: 3
ECs: 4
Test scores: 4

Your score will probably be in the range 44-46. Read more about the rating system here:

http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2015/03/ferpa-request-gives-inside-look-duke-admissions-process

With a score in the 42-46 range, you will be on the borderline of being a competitive applicant. You need to do something to get your score in the 48-50 range to have a solid shot during committee review.

A few other questions:

  1. You mentioned that your school ranks by quintile, but yet you mention that your rank is top 25%. Did you mean top 20%? Or is your rank in the second quintile (20-40th percentile)?
  2. How many APs offered in your school, and of these how many did you take? I saw only 3 APs, which is why I gave you a 3 score on the curriculum.
  3. ACT writing scores have been challenged recently. There is suspicion that the ACT writing graders are systematically scoring low. Some students on CC have reported getting a higher score by requesting a re-score. See the ACT sub here for more details.
5

Thanks all for the constructive responses!

@IvyGirl27 — thanks for your response! This reassures me some. I agree that unfortunately Asians have a rougher time getting in to highly selective schools, but c’est la vie… NC has the highest representation at Duke, so that probably works in my favor.
@NerdyChica — I’m just glad I have any chance at all! :slight_smile:
@sgopal2 — yeah, sorry, I meant top 20%. But in reality, I’m probably very near the top few in my class. I’m a rising senior, so junior year I took 3 APs. Next year, I’m taking AP Bio, AP Calc AB, AP US Gov, AP Macro, and AP Lit. That’s good to know about the rescore — I may do that.

6

I don’t see why you wouldn’t get in, but it’s all a crapshoot. I see you getting deferred if not accepted.

7

Given your test scores and GPA, I see you as marginal for acceptance. However, your chances for acceptance via early decision are more than double that of regular decision: www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/college-admissions-the-early-decision-advantage/2004/?tid=a_inl.