ED chances for a legacy?

Alligatorblood
Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:08:32 +0000

Chances for early decision and regular decision, if any?
My dad went to Duke. He passed away when I was young, and I’m discussing his story in my common app essay; I’m just wondering if this might also have some sort of push (don’t worry, it’s certainly not a survivor’s tale or a sob story). Anyway, here are my stats:

-GPA: 3.55uw
-SAT: M 720, CR 740, W 740, Total: 2200
-PSAT: National Merit
-Subject tests: Lit-660, USH-720
-Taking as many AP’s and honors as my school will allow me to take (11 honors, 5 AP)
-AP Lang: 5
-APUSH: 4

-White male from Arizona, family makes <60k
-Prestigious college preparatory
-School does not rank, but I’m in the ‘Summa Cum Laude’ program- the most regarded, most competitive diploma, which is typically a good indicator of being near the top (usually around 20-25 out of 200 graduate Summa)
-Prospective major is philosophy/neuroscience

-Founder and president of Philosophy Club
-Vice president of Politics Club
-Diversity/International Club board member; went with the club on a three-day ‘cultural exchange’ trip to our sister school in Kingston, Ontario, Canada
-“Friends of the Orphans” Club President; went on an 8-day volunteer trip to an orphanage in Mexico in March; went back for another 8 days in July
-Over 100 hours community service

-Very good recommendations (my speculation is that my counselor rec and two teacher recs will be phenomenal; I’m very close with my counselor and the two teachers I chose)
-Past employment as a lifeguard

-3 years varsity track for school
-Scholar-Athlete Award
-Club track during the summer and off season (Track Athlete Year Round)
-Qualified for and placed 27th overall in the USATF Junior Olympics National Championship for 110m hurdles (basically nationals for club track) (regionals came before this)

**Perhaps I should mention my thought for why my GPA is relatively low; my freshman and sophomore year, I didn’t have the accommodations plan I have now–because of my ADHD and anxiety disorder, I get extra time on tests and quizzes when I need it. I had a 504 plan in middle school but neglected to seek a similar accommodations plan when I entered high school. I was given the accommodation plan at the start of my junior year, and my grades skyrocketed.

My progression is something like this:
freshman: 3.44uw, 3.6w
sophomore: 3.45uw, 3.6uw
junior: 3.75uw, 4.31w
I’m not sure if I should mention this somewhere in my application or not.