<p>Hey all, Any feedback would be great :)
-probably a 3.6 gpa at the end of junior year, (3.2 freshman, 3.4 sophomore and 3.8 or so junior)
I have taken 3 honors courses and one ap (the school does not allow us to take more then 2 aps before junior year unless there is an outstanding circumstance)
-34 on the act
-740math1,800math2, taking bio and chem sat 2s in febuary both of which will be above 750 for sure, probobly above 770.
-president of the largest club at the school as a junior
-two year varsity captain
-has been a mentor/tutor since 7th grades for children with disabilities
-hopefully taking an online class in group theory through stanfords online high school next year.
-submitting an art portfolio
-well on my way to becoming a published scientist
-also part of a student help center which helps students out with their essays.
-I would also have great recs from teachers</p>
<p>I know my GPA is low compared to most of Duke's accepted students but I do go to one of the most competitive schools in NJ.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any feedback.</p>
<p>I think your scores (SAT IIs included) look to be great for Duke. The GPA is low, like you said but if your essays/ECs are strong/become more diversified I’m sure you’d have a good shot. Maybe take a class or two online to bumpy our GPA? </p>
<p>Good luck, go devils!</p>
<p>Your ACT is fine, but I think with your grades you are going to have to show something a little special in your application. You said that you are submitting an art portfolio, so my suggestion is go all out on that to stand out. While I do not know how the admissions will take into account the art portfolio, I do know there has been a strategic emphasis on the arts at Duke in the last 5 years (as a complement to the sports culture) and if you are a good artist, it would be a nice way to shine. </p>
<p>Also, I would suggest getting involved with something that is beyond a high school organization. Is there a local city or county issue (ie environment, legislative, etc) that you can get involved with? I say look beyond a high school activity, not because those are not worthwhile, but because they can be a little cookie-cutter (essentially every applicant was a president/leader of at least one club). If you can bring a new idea or activity to an adult-level organization (ie working with a lawyer or activist on some project that most high-school students are uninvolved with (or even aware of!) can show some maturity and initiative that can help set you apart). That said if it is your senior year, it might be a little late to make a meaningful impact, so I would focus on your art. BUT if you had more time 1 year +, I would try follow up with something like that.</p>
<p>You said you have tutored disabled kids. There may be a theme in there with your application: Perhaps read about issues that are going on across the country. See the Office of Civil Rights for instance, [Protecting</a> Students With Disabilities](<a href=“http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html]Protecting”>Protecting Students With Disabilities), and look to see if any group in your area is trying to raise awareness or address an issue about disabled access, bullying, etc. </p>
<p>TL;DR Try to expand your activities beyond a typical high-school cookie cutter activity or really work on your art portfolio…</p>
<p>Hey tourjoursduke (love the name by the way ;)) and Atlanticcoastdoc,
thanks so much for your feedback 
The mentoring is run through the town church and rec center but they honestly do not offer any leadership positions to kids, I’ve tried to create my own programs and things like that but the program manager doesn’t want to take any advice from the kids.
Arts been a major part of my life in high school so my portfolio will be pretty substantial and hopefully pretty good
Thanks again for your feedback</p>
<p>btw its my junior year</p>
<p>I would contact your school district and see if you could possibly implement the program there… OR, suck up to the church people and get the spot ;)</p>
<p>And thanks, I like my username too :D</p>
<p>I go to a private school and my town district is pretty low on funding so I would not be able to generate any support there. We have a similar program at my school but it doesn’t really fit in with the rest of my schedule</p>
<p>Also, I don’t know if this is significant at all and please tell me if its not, but I work full time during the summers (45+ hours/wk)</p>
<p>I think the job would be a good thing, but I’m not sure as to how much it would factor in.</p>
<p>Would that affect his aid? Anyone?</p>
<p>I most likely will not need aid (my sis just got an awesome scholarship which takes a lot of the load off) and my parents have said that I shouldn’t let that impact my decision all that much. Also, my grandpa is willing to cover any that we aren’t able to.</p>
<p>2240 on december sat if that changes anything…</p>
<p>I’m confused are you currently taking more ap’s?
Anyways… as AtlanticCoastDoc mentioned. Duke has been on an arts kick recently. There’s a wonderful art festival weekend thing every october (DART). But many of the participants are engineers/scientists as well as artists. It might be interesting if you bring both together- How does art make you a better scientist and vice versa. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Ive taken one so far… In all fairness its next to impossible to get into more then 2 before senior year, so I plan on loading up next year. I may self teach BC to myself over the summer and take calc 3 next year if that would help… If I do that I will have 4 honors and 5 ap’s through high school
also tahnks for the feedback :)</p>
<p>also on collegeboard they say that standardized testing is “very important” whereas academic record is only “considered”. could anyone tell me a little more about that? I find it hard to believe that a school like duke only considers gpa</p>
<p>They consider both, but by no means are scores more important than grades on the transcript.</p>
<p>Ya i kinda thought that would be the case</p>