Why Pratt?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>ACT: 32
GPA: 5.0482
Rank in Class: Top Quartile (very competitive school) of 477.</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
AP Chemistry
AP Calculus A/B
AP English Literature
AP Macroeconomics
Yearbook
Showchoir
Chamber Choir
(I don't have a lunch)</p>

<p>Total AP classes taken throughout high school: 8
The four this year, plus AP World History, AP US History, AP Biology, and AP English Composition</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Yearbook [all four years]
Choir (two) [all four years]
Senior Council [Senior year]
Theater [all four years]</p>

<p>Clubs:
Leo Club
Tri-M Music Honor Society
Chemistry Club
Drama Club
French Club
French Honor Society
Relay for Life Club
National Honor Society</p>

<p>Leadership:
President of Chemistry Club
Editor-in-Chief of Yearbook [two years in a row, youngest ever to be awarded the position]
Secretary of Chamber Choir
Secretary of French Club/ French Honor Society</p>

<p>Community Service:
237 Hours working with impoverished children in Music Education.</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Held a job since my freshman year, as well as a summer job where after 1 month I became a shift leader (manager).</p>

<p>Awards:
Junior English Student of the Year (2011)
National Honor Society
National French Honor Society
Tri-M Music Honor Society
National Thespian Honor Society
Participated in various Theater competitions, scoring highest marks possible.
Participated in various Choir competitions, scoring highest marks possible.
Member of All-State Choir.
Member of All-County Choir.</p>

<p>I appreciate you taking the time to read this and responding!
Also,</p>

<p>Hooks:
Graduating younger than every one else in our class because I skipped a grade when younger. Graduating at 17 (for three months).
Parents are both immigrants, I am the first born American in my family.
My father never went to college.</p>

2

<p>I think you have a really good chance. I’d like to see a higher ACT Score, above 34 and i’d say you have a good shot.</p>

3

<p>HOLY YOU GO TO MY SCHOOL LOL. i had no idea you wanted to go to duke?!</p>

4

<p>OP: you are obviously a qualified student and have a good application but I’m not seeing (from what’s given above) a demonstrated interest in science or engineering. Sure you have chemistry club and some AP science and I’ll admit that when I applied 6 years ago (good grief I feel old) that’s pretty much the extent of my application (maybe a little more science ECs), but I don’t know what it’s like these days though I hear it’s more competitive. You can still put together a great application if your recs and your essays reflect an interest in Pratt but otherwise it is something of an eyebrow raiser.</p>

5

<p>skittlescutie: Are you sure we go to the same school? Do I know you?? And yes, I really truly do want to go! :)</p>

6

<p>And SBR, how would I go about demonstrating more of an interest in science? My school does not exactly demonstrate a high level of scientific research, in fact, there is no opportunity for research anywhere in the community, so I’m wondering if that is going to negatively affect my chances?</p>

7

<p>No not doing research will not negatively impact your application. Getting into a research lab, especially at the high school level, is mostly luck, being at the right place at the right time, knowing the right people, etc. Essentially, it’s not available to everyone so they don’t hold it against you if you don’t do it. </p>

<p>However, demonstrated interest in science or engineering is usually reflected in extracurricular activities such as math league, USAMO, science olympiad, physics olympiad, biology olympiad, chemistry clubs, odyssey of the mind, TEAMS, science fairs etc. in addition to advanced course work such as AP sciences, actual university classes, and such. While you do have AP classes and chemistry club, your EC are tipped heavily towards the arts and I’m guessing that your recommendations letters will reflect that. So the question becomes, why Pratt and not Trinity? </p>

<p>Your best bet at this point is to demonstrate through your essays and letters that you are interested in engineering and sciences and that when viewed in the context of your classes, grades, and such means you are at least committed to exploring the relevant fields.</p>

8

<p>Okay, thank you, I’ve definitely garnered my essays towards explaining why I want to study engineering with personal anectodes and experiences that led to my decision, but your advice was invaluable :)</p>