Do I have what it takes to get into Duke ?

Colleges & Universities Duke University
1

Hello,
I am a rising senior and would like to apply ED to Duke:

GPA: UW=3.82 W=4.25 <-- Junior Year UW:3.86 W: 4.56 <-- Senior Year
ACT: 30C/ 10W
SAT Subject Tests: 750 Math II 730 Chem 730 U.S History

Senior Classes: IB Math HL2, IB Chem HL2, IB English HL2, IB History HL2, IB Computer Science, IB Human Geo, IB tok
(have taken the most rigorous classes throughout high school)

E.C (School ): Captain of Boys Frisby Club(2 years), Captain of Boys Varsity lacrosse (4 years), VP of Key Club, Treasure for International Club, Secretary for NHS, Secetary of chem club Director General for MUN, FBLA

E.C(out of school): TA for a computer science class taught to elementary school students, CEO of a business that creates/sells computers(over 1000+ in profits), Shadowed a Pediatrician, Shadowed an Orthotist(prosthetic) doctor in Pakistan, Had a fundraiser to raise money so that the cost of getting an artificial limb would decreased (raised over $500), Year-round volunteer at Hospital (300+ hours) recently promoted to head volunteer, Year Round Volunteer at Library(350+ hours), Private Math Tutor and Chemistry Tutor

Awards: a few awards for the highest grade in a class (annual), Youth-Salute, Best Volunteer award @ hospital and other minor stuff

Want to double major in Computer Science and Biology (goal is to be able to 3-D print body parts to make the overall process easier and less expensive for people receiving these limbs)
I had one parent who went to college and the other didn’t
Male and am from Pakistan

2

Forgot to mention I’m an IB diploma candidate

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Are you retaking ACT? I think it is just too low for you to compete. Id retake if you can.

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Also forgot to mention that my Class rank is 5/500+

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You obviously are very involved at your school and in volunteering. Based on your scores it might be a reach, but I think you should apply

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Bump

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Are you currently in Pakistan?

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Big reach in my opinion. Worth a shot though. You definitely won’t get in if you don’t apply.

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@telephoneone, how can you be an IB Diploma candidate with a second language? Your 4 HLs are impressive, but there’s no language shown, which many schools will want.

Other than your 30 ACT, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be competitive. Duke looks at 6 factors:

  • Curricular rigor. You have a strong IB curriculum. I believe Christoph Guttentag has said that Duke likes students from IB programs because of the rigor and critical thinking and writing skills emphasized.
  • GPA. You're in the running here, especially given your curricular rigor and slight upward trend. Your class rank is strong.
  • Standardized tests. Your SAT IIs are ok. IB doesn't prepare students as well as AP for SAT IIs, and I've heard that many schools will accept slightly less impressive Sat II scores from IB students because of this. Your ACT is in the lowish side. The 25th-75th percentile ACT range for the class of 2018 was 31-35 (for Trinity), so it would be nice if you could at least be in that range. http://admissions.duke.edu/images/uploads/process/DukeClass2018Profile_Dec2014.pdf
  • Extracurriculars. You seem solid here, with good community service and school activities. Nothing special, but solid.
  • Essays. TBD, but you have the makings of compelling essay given your long term focus.
  • Recommendations. Also TBD.

Retake the ACT and try to bring that score up, keep your senior grades up, and focus on articulating who you are in your essays. I’m not sure otherwise why it would be a big reach, as @NerdyChica thinks. I don’t see any one thing that stands out, though, so I would try and write an essay that really pulls together who you are, especially with your interest in limb prosthetics coming from Pakistan.

10

Thank you for the feedback. I’ve taken Spanish I to Spanish V from 6th grade to 11th. So I have completed the language requirement and Comp Sci is also an HL

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I still don’t understand how your courses fit into the IB diploma, which is highly structured. As I understand it, diploma candidates have to take a 2nd language as one of their 6 subject areas junior and senior year, and they can only take 3 or 4 HL subject area courses. People doing IB certificate aren’t bound by these rules. Perhaps I’m misunderstanding something.

12

So Spanish can be taken in the 6th grade for IB middle schools and it is because of this students who started then, can finish Spanish there junior year while students who didn’t take it during their years in middle school take Spanish both junior and senior year. The requirement for the IB program is to go up to 5 so once you’re done you can replace group with a different elective. I hope that answered your question. As for the five HLs I am taking Comp Sci is an elective while chemistry is my group and the remaining classes fall under their respective groups. Human Geo is also my elective.

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No I am a student from the U.S, Maryland in specific

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bump

17

Are you applying to Trinity or Pratt? I assume trinity because of the biology major/comp sci. Pratt also has one of the best biomedical engineering programs in the country, and it sounds like something you would be interested in.

However Pratt has a very high median ACT for admitted students (33-35): http://admissions.duke.edu/images/uploads/process/DukeClass2018Profile.pdf

Even if you apply to Trinity you will be below the 25th percentile for admitted students (31-35). This puts you on extremely shaky ground. Unless you have some earth-shattering hook, I really would find it difficult for admissions to let in someone who would be at the 15-20th percentile. Being an ORM (pakistan), you would need to score in the 50-75th percentile range to get some attention.

Focus on improving your standardized test scores and then re-assess before the ED deadline.