It is important to note that my class size is over 800, with it being common for students to take courses outside of school. My school does not consider my UW in rank, only W, and because I have taken numerous APs in school, I am within the top 40-50 students in my grade for my non-recalculated W GPA. I am definitely firm on Duke ED simply put: I love Duke.
As for outside courses, that is actually what happens with other kids in my grade. Students take courses outside to avoid the hard AP classes in school. I will be telling schools when submitting official transcripts to colleges that my reasoning for taking outside courses, especially during my senior year was to free my weekdays that would permit me to both work a part-time job and intern for the District Attorney.