I am a Junior. I am first in my class, carry a 4.0 GPA UW, and have a 34 composite for my ACT. I do a solid amount of extracurriculars, but I haven’t cured cancer or anything extraordinary. I am white and will not be seeking any financial aid (God bless my parents). Last summer, I was enrolled at Boston University and took Calc I. This summer, I am enrolled at Stanford and taking Multivariate Calculus and probably a computer science class. I plan to major in econ.
Anyways, over the past few weeks I have been shelling out a list of schools that I would like to attend. I have visited Princeton, Harvard, Yale, UPenn, and Duke. I visited Duke because my brother graduated there this past weekend. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major and is now employed by the university. My question for you, College Confidential, is whether or not I should do early decision at Duke? My guidance counselor tells me that if I will most likely get in if I do early decision there. I love the school, don’t get me wrong, but it just feels cheap to me. Doing that would feel like my brother got me in to college, and not me. As of right now, UPenn, Duke, and Stanford are probably my top choices. I would be happy to attend any of these schools (or any of the ones mentioned), but I am unsure if I would feel like I deserve going to Duke. Should I apply early to Duke and hopefully get in and be done with the admission process? Or should I “spend” my early decision elsewhere. Thanks for all the advice.
Early decision should be for the school that is your clear top choice. It looks like you are unsure of what is your clear top choice. If you plan to go on to PhD study in economics, Stanford and UPenn economics courses appear to have a higher math content, which favors them over Duke for this purpose.
Your guidance counselor may be overconfident in your ability to get into Duke or any other super-selective school anyway (probably overrating the legacy effect of your brother). Be sure to select your safety first.
In practice the logic and reasoning that admissions applies to pick one candidate over another dissipates for most freshmen their first day at the new college. Everyone is equal and no one really cares why the freshman standing next to them was accepted. The notion of “deserve” doesn’t really matter and is not relevant. More to the point is the upcoming challenge, which for some is more daunting than for others. So I would I encourage you not to second guess what admissions at Duke would do with your application and how the legacy of your brother may or may not affect the decision. In practice you’ll never know. And more to the point it doesn’t matter in the end. Your success at university depends what you make of the opportunity. When you apply to graduate school or for a first job no one making that decision knows or cares why/how you got into Duke.
Applying ED gives you a definite advantage. Duke and Penn offer you this option. Penn, for example, accepts more than 1/2 of its freshman class at ED. Duke accepts nearly 1/2. Applying EA, as would be the case for Princeton, Harvard and Yale, is less of an advantage.
Huh? Where did you get the idea that you’d be able to get in to Duke because of your brother? Almost no colleges take sibling legacy in to account during admissions.
Assuming money is not a consideration pick an ED school, whether it is your brother’s or not. The only reason not to pick an ED is you have fallen in love with an EA school, in which case EA there. If it is not a SCEA, then EA there and as many other places as you can. Stop overthinking this, go visit and apply.
Do not do as I do. I had a school that I was considering for ED but I was not sure. Six months later I am still not sure. However my ED school is no longer an option for me. I did actually get in but not in the way that I wanted or makes sense for me so I turned them down. Another school that I did not ED at because I did not think I would get in, I ended up on the Wait List and they are using it very little this year. Maybe if I had picked that ED instead. So while I do have excellent choices, in the end they were not the ones that I would have chosen for myself 6 months ago. Make a choice for yourself, do not let it be made for you by not doing ED.
Sibling legacy is powerful, it can definitely tip you in. I’d say be smart and ED Duke. Deserving it is tricky to determine as URMs and big donors have way lower standards. Your sibling legacy is a comparatively small factor, although it will definitely help.
@PurpleTitan Are you sure about this? Because I’ve seen multiple college applications that asked if you have an immediate family member who attended that university, and then ask for their name.
@reygun, my understanding is that at most places parental legacy to the undergrad school may give you a boost, but other legacy ties give a weak boost if any.
I’m not saying that it matters in admissions, but Duke’s supplement does specifically ask if any family members attended (as opposed to the commonapp which just asks about parents)
I am of the live your own life philosophy. I agree with the other poster here that stated that once you are admitted it is on you to do the work. I wouldn’t be bothered with the thought that your brothers success may have helped you to get in.
I don’t have much experience or knowledge with sibling legacy influence. I have been a bit surprised and fascinated by the number of siblings that attend Harvard.
Clearly selective college admissions is incredibly difficult and the desire to take advantage of a perceived advantage is understandable. Only you can determine whether that path is right for yourself.
Use ED only to the school you most want to attend. If that is Duke go for it. Your brother might provide a slight edge but don’t kid yourself – if you aren’t a very qualified applicant in your own right you won’t get in (it sound like you are if you are also considering Harvard, Penn, Stanford etc.). It’s not like your brother donated a building or something so it might provide you with a bit of an edge among equal candidates but that’s about it. Kids all over use parent’s legacy for that slight leg up and if you do that it is fine – just be sure Duke is what you want before you go that route. If you are close might be nice to have your brother working there when you start college but that is up to you. Bottom line - apply ED to Duke only if Duke is your top choice school.