What top colleges do I have a chance at? Please help, freaking out here.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I really want to get into Duke but here are my stats:</p>

<p>I am in the IB program. Here are a list of my classes that I took:
--Freshman--
Pre Algebra - A
French I Pre-IB - B
English I Pre-IB - C
Algebra I Hon - A
Geometry Hon - A
Biology I Pre-IB - C
World History Pre-IB - B
BST Computing - A</p>

<p>--Sophmore--
French II Pre-IB - A
English II Pre-IB - B
Algebra II HON - A
Anatomy Physiology HON - A
Chemistry I Pre-IB - B
AP Euro History - B</p>

<p>--Junior--
French III IB- A
English III IB- B
IB Pre-Calculus - A
AP Calculus AB - B
Biology II IB - B
Chemistry II IB - B
History of the Americas IB - B</p>

<p>--Senior (current)--
French IV IB
English IV IB
IB Mathematics Higher Level
AP Calculus BC
Biology III IB/AP
History of the Americas II IB
Theory of Knowledge IB </p>

<p>-GPA -
Cumulative Unweighted GPA: 3.3488
Cumulative Weighted GPA: 4.5116</p>

<p>-Ranks-
Class total: 615
Unweighted Rank: 164 (75%)
Weighted Rank: 83 (86%)
Unless I am mistaken most colleges weigh classes on their own scale?</p>

<p>-SAT-
First attempt(05/2009): Critical Reading - 650 Math - 690 Writing - 710
Second attempt(06/2009): Critical Reading - 630 Math - 710 Writing - 690
Best combined score: 2070
SAT Subject Tests not taken. Should I take them in October?</p>

<p>-Extracurricular-
- French Honor Society: 2 years, held the position of Treasurer- managed all the money flowing in and out of the society and mapped out spending for events, 2 hours contributed each week
- Cricket Club: 3 years, held the position of Captain (President) for the last year- organized meetings, bought the equipment and taught new players on how to play Cricket, 2 hours contributed each week
- Physics: 1 year, 1 hour contributed each week
- Math Honor Society: 1 year
- Ocoee Baseball Junior League: 1 year, 12-15 hours contributed for week</p>

<p>-Community Service (total of about 150 hours)-
- Gift for Teaching teacher store: helped teacher checkout and organized donations, 2 hours per week
- Orange County Head Start (Hal Marston Center),
- Nemours Children's Clinic, provided a welcoming and compassionate presence to patients’ families in the waiting room/resource center, 4 hours per week</p>

<p>-Employment-
Web producer/developer for an online merchanting site (<a href="http://www.cyberhypezone.com):%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cyberhypezone.com):&lt;/a> October 2006-October 2007, approximately 6 hours spent per week. The site was held as a model for my classmates for the time it was present and used simple html and flash.</p>

<p>Other info:
Freshman year there was an incident in my family where my father got lost while he was vacationing in India and that whole year it was a huge mess over here. I think that's why my grades were much lower. Also I was born in India, English is not my first language nor the language spoken at home. I am the only student in my school to start with Algebra 1 freshman year and end with Calc BC senior year. I am also the only student to take 4 Higher Level IB classes and one of few to take two IB science classes in one year.</p>

2

<p>Your chance at duke is well above a reach. Your SAT is below their median, your UW GPA is below their average, you are an over represented minority, and none of your ECs stand out as amazing or unique.</p>

<p>You don’t have a particularly strong academic year either. And I REALLY don’t get how you are able to take calculus AND pre calc at the same time…And I don’t get why you are taking IB math HL and a high level AP calc course, when math HL covers topics well beyond calculus.</p>

3

<p>Well our school had this weird year where they had a 0 period. I took 0 and 1 period Pre-calc one semester and calc the next. And yes I know math HL covers a lot more Calc but it also leaves a lot of stuff out according to my teachers. That’s why I took both. Thanks for the chance!</p>

4

<p>I’m sorry if I seemed harsh, but that’s the reality. You are obviously a good student and well above the US average. But the average Duke student is well WELL above the US average.</p>

<p>This isn’t to say you can’t get in of course, things happen, luck comes into play, etc. If Duke is genuinely the school for you, apply and hope for the best! Don’t go there just for a name.</p>

<p>You live in California, you have all the great UCs to apply to! </p>

<p>But if you are applying to a specific school (like Fuqua for undergrad) I do not know how that will change!</p>

5

<p>No that’s fine that’s the kind of chances i was looking for. What schools do you think are within my reach for a pre-med route?</p>

6

<p>I believe that you do have to take SAT subject tests. If I’m not mistaken, Duke requires 2 SAT subject tests along with the SAT reasoning test or the ACT plus writing. If you really want to try for Duke then take the SAT again and score really high on SAT subject tests and apply early (if they still have it). Also ensure you have the best teacher recommendations you can get and write a very unique essay that shows that you are better than your grades then maybe you would have a chance at Duke. But there is little you can do at this point to improve your extracurriculars and grades so your best shot is to improve your test scores, write good essays and get good teacher recommendations. Still as Poseidenj, Duke is well above a reach for you. Realize that most of Duke’s students have unweighted gpas of about 3.85 or higher and they take AP or IB course. But you also have to realize that you have a good shot at getting in if most of your other stuff is stronger than the applicants there. You can start with improving your SAT scores to 2300 or above and take 3 SAT subject tests and scoring all 760 or above. This would at least prove you are capable of doing well. Then at least Duke will only be a reach. Also you could consider going to a worse school and transfer into Duke. Maybe you could try Wake Forest University for your first year or your state’s flagship institution and do well there and transfer into Duke. Good luck</p>

7

<p>well, I dont know much about Duke, but I don’t think you have that great chances. I mean, pre algebra in 9th grade? Thats pathetic. Your indian too. Also your excurs are not AMAZING or anything, so I would aim a bit lower such as a state college.</p>

8

<p>I dont think you have a strong chance at Duke, but I think state colleges and universities might be a good match for you. </p>

<p>And to SA-07’s comment…I don’t think its pathetic. You took 3 math courses your Freshmen year and you’re currently in Calc BC, so you’re above average.</p>

9

<p>Agree that a good state school may make good sense for you. Med schools don’t care much about schools so little point in spending $50K for a non top private.</p>

10

<p>Your Unweighted gpa is too low for Duke, and your sat scores are weak for Duke</p>

<p>How is Weighted gpa so high when you made a lot of B’s and some C’s…your school must give a lot of bonus points for taking an advanced classes…</p>

<p>Whats your class rank? If your top 5 percent then, your gpa will be fine.</p>

<p>As for chances, I’d say duke is a High Reach.</p>

<p>I guess try for UC state schools…I think UCLA and UCB may be a reach(I don’t know much about these schools), but the other ones seem to be a match.</p>