Chance Me : Duke ED

renaissancedad
Thu, 13 Aug 2015 21:54:44 +0000

Duke looks at 6 elements: GPA, curricular rigor, standardized tests, ECs, essays and recommendations. About 50% are rejected based on a numeric cutoff and a single read.

http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2015/03/23/ferpa-request-gives-inside-look-duke-admissions-process#.Vc0Q22A9b8k

Your GPA and class rank (top 5%) are fine. Your SAT I of 2270 in 1 sitting is above the 50% mark and towards the 75% range for admitted Trinity students:

http://admissions.duke.edu/images/uploads/process/DukeClass2018Profile.pdf

I assume your curricular rigor is OK - you want to make sure that your GC checks off the most rigorous box. I see 4 AP classes, but it’s not clear if this is calculus AB or BC, or what else you are taking.

Your ECs seem fairly solid, and you have some strong foci for Duke in terms of community engagement and programs like DukeEngage.

That leaves essays and recs. It’s fine to use your autistic brother’s influence on you, but make sure your essay is about you and not about him.

Duke is never a sure thing, but you look like a solid ED applicant, based on very limited information.