<p>Seriously, study your butt off for the ACT and try to get it to 32+. I got a 30 on my first try and improved it to a 34 (I NEVER would’ve gotten in with the 30 IMO) so a 32 is a reasonable goal for you. Work on bringing up the GPA and if it ends up putting you in the top quarter of your class as you said then your academics won’t be keeping you out of Duke. Write an interesting essay, and make sure all the subjective stuff is up to par. If you manage to do all that you’ll have a decent shot!</p>