<ol>
<li>have an 1840 SAT (hoping to get it to at least 2000)</li>
<li>play 3 sports, 2 are varsity, and I am a team captain for one of them</li>
<li>chosen to present a project of mine in front of the Board of Education</li>
<li>provide free school and SAT tutoring to those who need it in my school</li>
<li>involved in a club</li>
<li>3.8 GPA unweighted</li>
<li>Volunteer in a soup kitchen every week</li>
<li>single parent home</li>
<li>low income</li>
<li>first generation college student</li>
<li>top 10% in my class</li>
<li>pretty high performing school in NJ (in top 1000 of all high schools in country)</li>
<li>and I’m black (just throwing that in there)
what are my chances of getting into Duke?</li>
</ol>
<p>I have similar stats except a higher SAT. Just kill the SAT the second time around and you’re a solid bet bro. Work really really hard to push it to a 2100. Good luck! Hope to see you at the gothic wonderland.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that almost anyone’s chances of acceptance at a top school is pretty much a crap shoot - basically 50:50 even for the most qualified candidates.</p>
<p>You should definetely apply. As suggested in the other post, do what you can to get your SATs up. If you can’t take a formal prep course, just keep taking practice tests.</p>
<p>Also, be sure to do your best job on your personal statement in the common ap and the Why Duke? essay. You’ve clearly excelled in what I suspect have been difficult circumstances. Be sure that this is clear in your essays. I suspect you have a lot to offer Duke and any other school you’re thinking about applying to.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>thank you for the input. I will most definitely strive harder to obtain I higher SAT</p>