My S: Act 34. GPA 95%
@anxiousenior1 Definitely!
My stats: 34 ACT, 2190 SAT, 770 Bio M and 800 US History. Asian American Applicant as well. But I’m an international living in the US, so idk how that affects my chances (I didn’t apply for aid though).
35 ACT superscored, 2300 SAT, still waiting on those subject tests though haha
I wonder if they still implement the point system by category during the admissions process
Also, did anyone’s interviewer ask them what colleges they have applied to…? Mine did and I answered honestly but I found that interesting
@Lift35 I am still waiting on my SAT score which is 9 days now. I gave it a second time. As for the subject tests, I had an 800 in Chemistry and 790 in Math Level 2. Though obviously, test scores aren’t all of what they look at. But I still hope I get a good score in nine days.
As for the interview thing, my interviewer didn’t ask me about the universities I applied to. But I believe that if they would, it’s only out of curiosity because in the end, these interviewers want you to have what’s best for you.
And hah, I am an asian applicant as well. I guess it is more difficult for us to get in compared to someone who’s not an international applicant. Where are you from though?
@anxiousenior1 Trust me, you’re not at the bottom of the 50th percentile. Many people apply with ordinary scores or send no scores at all and then get in. It’s partly based on if it’s meant for you. If it is, you’ll get it. And you sure do seem like a strong candidate to me.
@Lift35 What exactly does the ‘point system by category’ mean? I am totally unaware.
@Extinguisher A student filed a request for information about the Duke admissions process and it was revealed that at the time, Duke gave students points, out of 5, for categories like ECs, Test Scores, Course Rigor, etc.
Ok so I was looking thorough Duke’s emails, and found out that international admissions is hard only for those applying for aid (less than 5 percent acceptance rate). Apparently, internationals not applying for aid are considered with US and green card applicants. So hopefully, I should only be compared with other people from my region in the US. Whew!
@Extinguisher if you care to read the article, here it is:
http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2015/03/ferpa-request-gives-inside-look-duke-admissions-process
@Lift35 this article is less than 1 year old, so I’d assume Duke still uses this process.
@Extinguisher @Mango920452 I do tend to forget that scores aren’t everything. And @anxiousenior1 that is correct, a lot more students apply with subpar (for Duke that is) scores than we think as a result of marketing and recruiting. I remember Guttentag mentioned in an admissions video that during the RD process, the applicants go to the regional officers first then to the big house, and that intitial read by the regional admissions officers alone eliminates half the applicant pool purely on academics (GPA, Scores) because they’re not considered competitive for Duke. As for the point system, that kind of scares me considering idk what I would even give myself for each category let alone people deciding my admission
@Lift35 sometimes I forget that College Confidential represents a top percentile of students. I base all of my assumptions off of the results statistics, and fail to realize that most people who were accepted did not post their stats on college confidential.
@Mango920452 Thank you for sharing that. I did read it and I think it’s a good thing that they do. Because I know of applicants so strong with grades and test scores of top notch and then they’re rejected just because they don’t have a lot of good ECs. So this system gives a good overview of everything, or so I think. But it’s scary when they say almost half of the applications are just rejected after initially declaring them as ‘uncompetitive’.
And yeah unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I am one of those who’ll be judged under the 5% admission criteria because I am an international applicant and I have applied for aid.
@anxiousenior1 Thanks for sharing the information. Does make sense now.
@Lift35 The point system is scary but remember to always look at everything positively. And @Mango920452 is right, people appearing on this website are usually the strongest candidates and so they tend to scare the rest of us. But in reality, we don’t even know more than 75% of the applicants who apply.
I was wondering. So out of this point system, which basically includes Academics, Recommendations, Essays, ECs, Test scores and HS curriculum, which are you guys most unsure about? Or are they all perfect for all of you? O.o I think mine have to be the ECs. Meh.
@anxiousenior1 Since you have been accepted to Tulane, are you applying for aid? And if you are, do you have any idea if we need to send the CSS Profile and stuff by 15 November as well?
@Extinguisher after HS Curriculum and Academics I don’t know what I would receive. I know for my school id receive 5’s in curriculum and academics but after those two, I think it’s really down to admissions officers’ thoughts. Although I think a 33 ACT would be given a 3/5? I don’t know if they judge test scores of applicants based on in the general population or just of Duke’s applicants because if my statement is true then would a 34 be a 4 and 35-36 a 5? It’d be kind of odd if it worked that way. Also, it’s interesting how they track “economic diversity”…hmm maybe that’ll work in my favor as a low income applicant
It’s also important to consider the fact we are applying Early Decision. Duke is one of the few school that readily admits that Early Decision is advantageous. So maybe that would “boost” the numbers. In that case, a 33 or 34 ED may be valued more than a 33 or 34 RD
I think it’s interesting they track 1st generation immigrant status. Since I’m an international living in the US, that might help me.(Fingers crossed)
@Lift35 In addition, I think for the standardized test score rating it matters to which school (Trinity/Pratt) you are applying. A 33 would be at about 50% percentile of admitted students for Trinity while that is at 25% for Pratt.
@Mango920452 What do you mean by “1st generation immigrant status”? Would applicants with parents who received their degrees in other countries qualify as such? Just wanted to know–thanks!
@Resonated first generation immigrant refers to applicants who were born in a different country and immigrated to the USA. If you were born in the US, regardless of your parents, you would only be considered a second generation immigrant, but a first generation American.
@Mango920452 Born in different country but moved to US and got permanent resident status–hope that counts! And so would Duke look at this as a “hook”, maybe?