What are my chances of getting into Duke University?

What are my chances? Should I apply for Trinity or Pratt?

white, female
State: VA
High School: competitive public school

Test Scores:
SAT: 1440, 730 math, 710 writing
ACT: N/A
GPA: 4.25 W, 3.9 UW
AP Exams: world history (5) (plan to take more this year)

Class rank: unsure of exact rank, definitely in top 10%, possibly in top 5%

Classes:
APs: 12 classes (by the end of 12th grade)
ap world, ap bio, ap com sci a, ap pysch, apush, ap calculus ab, ap calculus bc, ap physics, ap chem, ap lang, ap stats, and ap econ.
Dual enrollment: english 12

ECs:

  • SEAP summer internship at the Naval Research Lab (worked with neural networks/data collection research project for 8 weeks)
  • Janelia/Howard Hughes Medical Institute summer internship (8 weeks) - neuroscience
  • Earned Patent (Co-inventor)
  • Worked as a STEM camp counselor (2 weeks)
  • Participated in 2 week Exchange Program w/ engineering internship at Continental in Frankfurt, Germany
  • Science Olympiad President (2 years)
  • Student Council Representative - Junior year
  • Staff member for yearbook; copy editor for spring supplement - won a Pacemaker 2016 award
  • Member of multiple honors societies (MHS, NHS, SNHS)
  • Member of Varsity Tennis team (2 years) – won conference title
  • First of two high schoolers to work with non-profit service organization, leading weekly science exploration sessions to get elementary schoolers interested in science (usually only professional adults) - 2 years
  • Secretary for Habitat for Humanity Executive Board (youth)
  • Participated in Appalachia Service Project (Week long program for rebuilding/repairing homes in impoverished areas of Appalachia; Rebuilding Together
  • Gold and Bronze Presidential Service Award Recipient
  • Lettered in Service at my HS
  • Member of FTC robotics team that made it to the states level (also been doing robotics since ~5th grade) and won a Rockwell Collins Innovation Award
  • Girl Scout (Since about 1st grade) – earned Silver Award and working on Gold Award
  • Design Lead for Art and Lit Magazine
  • Representative for County International Youth Summit
  • Student ambassador for HS China Exchange Program (10 days in China)
  • Participated in Oxford Leadership Program (2 week program in Oxfford/London England)

*I am also unsure as to whether or not to apply to Trinity or Pratt. I am interested in computer engineering, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, computer science, and biology.

Pratt and chances are good

@Johncasher can you tell me why you think it’s better for me to apply to pratt vs. trinity? also, is there anything that really stood out to you?

Are you planning to take the SATs again?

Pratt is heavily focused on test scores and grades. In fact Pratt emphasizes these factors 3x more than Trinity. So unless you can raise your SAT score considerably, I think your chances are better at Trinity. Details can be found in Rachel Toor’s book.

However note that your chances for Trinity are not that great. My guess is that a 1440 on the new SAT would put you lower than the 25th percentile. Duke hasn’t released the middle 50 for the new SAT yet. But if you take last year’s middle 50 and use the conversion table from college board, Duke’s middle 50 is 1460 - 1590. Duke rarely takes students below the 25th percentile unless they have a serious hook.

So my advice is to retake the SAT and focus on getting your score solidly within the middle 50 and then apply ED. You should then be in good shape. Good luck.

@bucketDad yes, I plan to take it again. I’m hoping for higher scores in both sections.

@sgopal2 thanks for responding. I plan on retaking the SAT. I hope my scores will increase!

What are my chances? Should I apply for Trinity or Pratt?

white, female
State: VA
High School: competitive public school

Test Scores:
SAT: 1440, 730 math, 710 writing
ACT: N/A
GPA: 4.25 W, 3.9 UW
AP Exams: world history (5) (plan to take more this year)

Class rank: unsure of exact rank, definitely in top 10%, possibly in top 5%

Classes:
APs: 12 classes (by the end of 12th grade)
ap world, ap bio, ap com sci a, ap pysch, apush, ap calculus ab, ap calculus bc, ap physics, ap chem, ap lang, ap stats, and ap econ.
Dual enrollment: english 12

ECs:

  • SEAP summer internship at the Naval Research Lab (worked with neural networks/data collection research project for 8 weeks)
  • Janelia/Howard Hughes Medical Institute summer internship (8 weeks) - neuroscience
  • Earned Patent (Co-inventor)
  • Worked as a STEM camp counselor (2 weeks)
  • Participated in 2 week Exchange Program w/ engineering internship at Continental in Frankfurt, Germany
  • Science Olympiad President (2 years)
  • Student Council Representative - Junior year
  • Staff member for yearbook; copy editor for spring supplement - won a Pacemaker 2016 award
  • Member of multiple honors societies (MHS, NHS, SNHS)
  • Member of Varsity Tennis team (2 years) – won conference title
  • First of two high schoolers to work with non-profit service organization, leading weekly science exploration sessions to get elementary schoolers interested in science (usually only professional adults) - 2 years
  • Secretary for Habitat for Humanity Executive Board (youth)
  • Participated in Appalachia Service Project (Week long program for rebuilding/repairing homes in impoverished areas of Appalachia; Rebuilding Together
  • Gold and Bronze Presidential Service Award Recipient
  • Lettered in Service at my HS
  • Member of FTC robotics team that made it to the states level (also been doing robotics since ~5th grade) and won a Rockwell Collins Innovation Award
  • Girl Scout (Since about 1st grade) – earned Silver Award and working on Gold Award
  • Design Lead for Art and Lit Magazine
  • Representative for County International Youth Summit
  • Student ambassador for HS China Exchange Program (10 days in China)
  • Participated in Oxford Leadership Program (2 week program in Oxfford/London England)

*I am also unsure as to whether or not to apply to Trinity or Pratt. I am interested in computer engineering, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, computer science, and biology.

since your EC’s are engineering heavy i say go pratt

1440 on the SAT is more than good enough. people on this website like to scare you.

@Johncasher agreed.