<p>Hello, i was hoping you guys could help me decide whether or not to ed purely just looking at my academics.</p>
<p>Gender-male
Race-White</p>
<p>GPA- unweighted-3.9
Weighted 4.0
Act Composite 32
English -28
Math-33
Reading-33
Science 34
Sat 2s
Math 2-750
Bio -730
World History-770</p>
<p>Aps AP us -5 Ap world 5 Ap-Lang 5 (im taking AP bio, AP calc bc, AP Macro, and Ap Lit next year)</p>
<p>I have also taken the most rigorous courses provided at my school in combination with Science research taken every year which i had to go to during lunch.
Thanks for the comments in advanced</p>
<p>What do you mean by “risking your ED on Duke”? If Duke is your top choice, it’s more of a risk to apply there RD because ED gives you a palpable edge admissions-wise. </p>
<p>While there is a lot of relevant information that you have not provided, I believe you have a “shot” at ED acceptance (and, at least, at deferral). However, you need to understand a CRITICAL fact: Duke’s era of excellent grades and standardized tests (an ACT Composite of 33 or more would increase my confidence) being decisive to admission is long over. They are now only the THRESHOLD that every viable candidate MUST meet. Therefore, you need to consider a vital question: how will my candidacy be distinguished from the literally tens-of-thousands of other outstanding '19 applicants? I know this is probably tough and discouraging; however, I highlight this crucial issue because favorably responding to it – in essays, recommendations and the alumni interview – just might separate you from the “pack” of other truly exceptional aspirants. </p>
<p>Your uncle’s status will probably not assist you very much, if at all. First, legacies are generally defined by Duke as the children/step-children and the grandchildren/step-grandchildren of all alumni plus siblings/step-siblings. If Duke is aware of your relationship, it might help MOST slightly (but probably not at all). </p>
<p>Much more important, however, not all legacies are equal. For example, the child of an alum has not been very active in advancing Duke since graduation is unlikely to receive any real advantage, whereas the child of an alum who has generously provided volunteer leadership, devoted considerable time and talent, worked diligently to accomplish university goals, and/or has constantly and meaningfully donated gifts is much more likely to attain a modest legacy advantage.</p>
<p>I agree with @TopTier. You have a fairly decent shot at ED. Your numbers are within the range, albeit a little low for Pratt. Your chances will primarily be determined by how well your application is packaged together.</p>
<p>What is your intended area of interest? Hopefully something science related (based upon your statement above).</p>
<p>I am really up in the air at this moment tbh. I was a finalist in a national science competition but i really enjoy economics and won the world history award in my grade.</p>
<p>@longislandkid123: It’s great that you have multiple and diverse academic interests (it is also likely a key sign of a fine intellect). In fact, for many individuals stretching across many generations, the first couple years of undergraduate school are (in very large part) intended to permit you to take survey-level courses in ALL those areas (and more), before deciding it’s science (but which one?), or economics (macro- or micro-, applied or theoretical?), or history (US, European, African, modern or ancient, etc.?), or . . . .</p>
<p>Wherever you matriculate, don’t cheat yourself of this wonderful and essential opportunity. Fall passionately in love with a subject area (or more than one), by working HARD with professors, by going well beyond the class’ requirements, and by taking (at least) a few courses in may disciplines. You really don’t need to plot ever educational/career/life step today (or even in the next several years).</p>
<p>Good luck (from a long ago Huntingtonian). </p>
<p>@longislandkid123: I very much doubt if Duke establishes any sort of quantitative limitation for any secondary school. Fundamentally, every applicant is assessed individually; I’ve never heard even the slightest hint that there were any secondary school numerical constraints. </p>
<p>I’m not on the admissions committee, but here is my impression of how the reviews are done:</p>
<p>1) All of the applications from your region will be assigned to a reader from the admissions committee.
2) Most readers look at all of the students from a school/city/area together. This way they can get a sense of what your accomplishments were in relation to others. So you definitely will be compared to your peers
3) Your application will get sent to a second reader. This person may or may not have experience with the schools in your area</p>
<p>So @TopTier is correct. There are no hard and fast limits for the # of students from a single school that I’ve ever heard of. But the point is that you will essentially be competing with other students in your area who also apply to Duke. If you have a lot of other high quality candidates applying then it will be difficult to stand out.</p>
<p>Being a finalist in a national science competition is a pretty fine accomplishment. Was it Intel or Siemens? If so this will definitely get their attention. </p>
<p>Thanks @sgopal2. Perhaps it would be wise briefly to mention the key function of the “readers.” Obviously, much crucial application information (GPA, standardized test scores, curriculum, etc.) is straightforward. The readers thoroughly assess this. However, I believe their most important objective is to gain (or, at a minimum, attempt to) an in-depth “understanding” of the applicant, one that goes deeper than the “objective criteria” alone can provide. This is why ESSAYS, RECOMMENDATIONS, occasionally interview results, and so forth are so important! That “feel” for the candidate becomes a major element of the Admission Committee’s discussions/deliberations. To summarize, perhaps 25,000+ Duke undergraduate applicants in the 2019 cycle will be fully qualified, competitive, deserving of admission, and would do well once matriculated. However, only about 15 percent of that group will receive acceptances. The readers’ vital role is to ensure that this process is not simply a “cut and dried” quantitatively-oriented decision; they focus on the INDIVIDUAL and they go beyond the data. </p>