What are my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>What are my chances of getting into UCLA, UCSD, UC Berkeley, USC, Rice University, Cornell, and Duke University (Dream school, and my sister graduated with amazing grades from there)</p>

<p>I'm an Asian American junior at a pretty good school and my unweighted GPA is a 4.0, and my weighted gpa is a 4.4. </p>

<p>SATs: 2250
Reading: 710
Writing:740
Math: 800</p>

<p>Subjects:
Chem:780
Math 2: 800
Biology: (haven't taken yet, but will probably get high 700s or 800)</p>

<p>So far, I've done JV tennis my freshman and sophomore years, and cross country my sophomore year. This year i started marching band as a percussionist for a school with a well known drumline, and we even performed at the Macy's Parade in New York. I was a bass drummer for winter percussion, and I will be in marching band and winter percussion next year too (hopefully as a tenor drummer). I am going to be a member of the wind ensemble for senior year, and an AVID tutor, most likely for biology, chemistry, and math. I have played guitar for about 2 years, drums for 2 years, and piano for about 5 years. I am a member of NHS, CSF, NCHS, and FBLA. I also placed at state last year for FBLA. I have about 100 volunteer hours (plenty more to add on soon with avid) and I had a summer job last summer. This summer, I will be going down to UCSD for their Academic Connections program for GMOs to get a headstart in credits for my future major. </p>

<p>I plan on majoring in bio-engineering, or biochemistry, and I really want to get into Duke, but I realize that that school is pretty much a reach for anyone. I just want to know my chances for getting into some of my top choices. Also, would it be a good idea to do early decision for my reach school? I don't really know much about how early decision and action work, so any help would be appreciated.</p>

2

<p>I don’t really know much about how early decision and action work, so any help would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Early decision: you apply by a school’s ED deadline, and if admitted, you agree to attend that particular institution, assuming financial aid works out. You’re notified of your admission decision in mid-December. Early decision is binding, which means if you’re accepted to Duke, you are committed to that institution and must withdraw other applications that you may have sent to other schools. </p>

<p>Early action (EA) is non-binding. You still apply by an earlier deadline, but you have until May 1, the Candidate’s Reply Date, to decide whether to enroll at the school. I don’t think Duke offers EA, only ED.</p>

<p>Also, would it be a good idea to do early decision for my reach school?</p>

<p>I don’t have a good answer for this. Statistically speaking, the admittance rate for early decision (ED) is generally higher than that of regular decision (RD). However, the ED pool tends to consist of more “highly qualified” students–that is, students with higher GPAs, standardized test scores, stronger academic records, impressive accolades, &c.–and as you can imagine, the standards of admission are probably higher. There is, however, generally no significant advantage to applying ED. If you feel absolutely ecstatic about Duke and would attend in a heartbeat, then I say go for ED.</p>

3

<p>If you really like Duke, go for ED.
I think you have decent chances.</p>

<p>Duke is a reach school if you apply RD.</p>

<p>Good luck to you!</p>