<p>I will most likely be attending Duke in the fall. I am very excited, but I know I will be in classes with some of the brightest students in the country and even throughout the world. I hope to attend medical school in four years and I am am terrified that I won’t get in when the curves are set to half the class getting A/B and the other half getting C/D/F. No matter how hard I work, it is likely that I will get at least one C or lower in a class over the next four years. Can anyone give advice or comments to quell my fears? Thanks.</p>
<p>First of all, congratulations. Secondly, relax…there are plenty of basketball players at Duke with 19 ACT scores to take up the left side of the bell curve.</p>
<p>^Err… No, danstearns. There aren’t lol. And besides, one of the basketball players was a NMF. So no, they’re not stupid either.</p>
<p>Don’t worry OP. I was worried as well, but to be honest, there’s a lot of support not only from faculty and advisors, but also your peers themselves. While there are tonnns of really (sometimes intimidatingly) smart people here, you have to remember that you were admitted for a reason too! :)</p>
<p>Don’t panic.</p>
<p>You would be scared anywhere you go. Just try your best, and that’s the best you can do. If it helps, I think over 90% of people at Duke who apply to medical school get in.</p>
<p>collegehappy,
The really cool thing is that Duke brings so many really smart students from so many backgrounds (our son came from a very-less-than-stellar high school). You will be OK.
Go to class–every one, do your homework–all of it, go to office hours if there are any concerns, do the work…you WILL be OK.</p>
<p>Congratulations!</p>
<p>You’ll be fine. Not all students are admitted for their academics. Just work hard and you’ll do well.</p>