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Duke applicant: Is ACT w/ writing good enough for duke engineering/math, or are subject tests needed
mountainnnn
5 replies1 threadsRegistered User New Member
hey all-
I am a rising senior looking to apply ED to Duke. I only took the ACT with writing and am planning to send that score. However, I want to apply either into engineering (Pratt) or mathematics. I have taken both the Biology and Math II subject tests and did not do well on them. However, I have been told that EVERYONE who applies to Pratt sends in 2 770+ STEM subject tests. I am trying to test subject tests again in August, but obviously I don't know how well that would go. Would solely sending my ACT enough to be competitive if I don't like my scores? thank you for any reply:)
11 replies I am a rising senior looking to apply ED to Duke. I only took the ACT with writing and am planning to send that score. However, I want to apply either into engineering (Pratt) or mathematics. I have taken both the Biology and Math II subject tests and did not do well on them. However, I have been told that EVERYONE who applies to Pratt sends in 2 770+ STEM subject tests. I am trying to test subject tests again in August, but obviously I don't know how well that would go. Would solely sending my ACT enough to be competitive if I don't like my scores? thank you for any reply:)
Replies to: Duke applicant: Is ACT w/ writing good enough for duke engineering/math, or are subject tests needed
From whom did you hear this?
What is your ACT Composite and section scores? What math class did you have junior year, grades, and AP test score, as applicable? What math class will you have senior year?
So actually going onto the Duke website under admissions might help you out. Looks to me that for any school you do the above. My understanding is if you took Act then your done. If you took the Sat then submit 2 sections for subject tests. Not sure why they do this? If it's not clear then call them today. Most schools are pretty clear on their policies.
On ACT, I did:
Composite: 34 Science: 32 Reading: 34 Math: 34 English: 36
Junior year I took precalculus, got an A (I have a 4.0 UW), and will be taking AP calc BC senior year
Or, you can apply to Trinity (Arts and Sciences College) instead, which does not place as much emphasis on STEM subject test scores than Pratt does, and transfer to Pratt later. Many students transfer between the 2 colleges, some even back and forth. Good luck.
While it may be that some Pratt applicants have near-perfect ACT scores and SAT2 scores (I actually did the same thing sending my ACT and SAT2 tests), that is certainly NOT required and the OP would be much better off having a strong ACT + Writing. It doesn't hurt to try to take the SAT2 again, but I knew plenty of people who got in with just the ACT. Your test scores and grades in STEM are competitive -- frankly, I wouldn't worry about it at all and would focus on other parts of your application.
Finally, a large number of high schools do not even allow students to take calculus sophomore or junior years. Duke absolutely will not simply defer an ED applicant to see how they do in Calc senior year. If the applicant is competitive and shows promise and good fit for the university, he/she will be accepted. If not, they won't.
But Duke deferring somebody from Pratt just to see how they do in Calc is not going to happen. They certainly want you to take Calc before you graduate high school, but it's not a pre-requisite or even close to have completed it by application time. In fact, the vast majority of Pratt applicants start in Mulit-variable calc when they enroll after having taken BC in high school. I even knew people who only took AB Calc (gasp!) and didn't take MV calc until second semester. I would absolutely NOT recommend applying to Trinity and then planning to transfer. Adcom can see through that and I assume your ECs align better with Pratt anyways. That will not help you and with your test scores you should be fine for Pratt.
Good luck.
Obviously everyone has different perspectives on the subjective admission process at extremely selective schools. If only it were black and white. What I previously noted was a trend in the stats of recently admitted Pratt students I know personally from across the US. You may have had a different experience. Even though it is true that Duke doesn't officially require SAT2s, having strong scores on a couple would definitely strengthen OP's application. I also recommend OP retaking the ACT + Writing if possible, but OP's current ACT score of 34 isn't bad, and the extra 1-2 points may or may not be worth the time.
My own high school also does not allow students to take calc too early. It doesn't matter for Trinity, but for Pratt it may put OP at a slight disadvantage if a lot of people have been able to take calc early. The AOs would take that into consideration of course. Someone I know who applied to Pratt (did not take calc as a junior) was first deferred, and he did not send anything else except his grades, and he was accepted later after getting a 100 in his calc class. There could be other reasons for the deferral, but calc probably played a role. I did not mean that it was impossible for someone to get into Pratt with calc taken later (there are other aspects that factor in as well).
There are many ways to craft an application, and applying to Trinity first (then Pratt) actually worked for some people who have multiple interests and were able to show that in their application. I only suggested it as an option to consider. Since I don't know OP personally I cannot say for sure if it will work or not. It is a risk. If everything OP has done in high school so far is all related to engineering, then like you said applying to Trinity would be a huge mistake. It is up to OP to decide what is ultimately the best course of action.
I agree with your latest note.