<p>I’ve already submitted my ED application and now can only hope for the best (it’s a bit of a reach for me). Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting in? i.e. Emailing the Texas admissions counselor, etc.</p>
<p>In my opinion, no. I think they’d eventually be rather agitated if they got emails from every one of their applicants. You’ve done your best already, it’s all in your file.</p>
<p>I know that patience under these circumstances – and for what is likely THE most important decision in your young life – is difficult. However, with respect, PLEASE be patient. If you look at ED from the perspective of Duke’s Undergraduate Admissions Officers, any irrelevant e-mail/communications is quite likely to be unappreciated. In the next month, they have a tremendous amount of work to do well (this year, the schedule-pressure is even more intense, due to the week-plus ED deadline extension granted as a result of the Common Application’s software issues). Sit tight, hope and pray for the best, and relax . . . ten years from now, I promise you’ll laugh about all this.</p>
<p>So it would be to no avail sending an email stating reasons for a low GPA or letting them know information they wouldn’t know such as not attending any prep schools for ACT, etc.?</p>
<p>At that point you are just making excuses and whining.</p>
<p>cubey17: In my opinion, no. Here’s why:
a) You potentially advise Duke that you didn’t take an ACT preparation course and you suggest your scores might have been better if you had. However, from Duke’s perspective, that’s probably irrelevant; what percent of applicants took (and did not take) such a course . . . and, specifically, which candidates? Obviously, Duke has no way of knowing and, therefore, it can’t assign “extra credit” to anyone (even if it wanted to do so). The fact is, Duke can only asses the factual, documented information in your file.
b) Similarly, your reasons for a low GPA might well apply to many other applicants. How is Duke to know? Perhaps a protracted and serious illness or a severe family tragedy might be an exception to the generally applicable “documented facts on file” rule, but your school’s counselor should certainly have reported such information in his recommendation.</p>
<p>I’m going to tell you straight up that you need to stay away from any type of unnecessary pestering of anyone working in or closely with admissions. It CAN hurt your chances. There’s absolutely nothing you can do to improve your chances at this point unless you just won another significant award, which from what I understand is not currently the case.</p>
<p>My son has applied ED - does Duke announce ED results exactly on Dec 15th? Has anyone heard about ED admissions before Dec 15th?</p>
<p>Last year they announced it early. I forget the exact date but they’ll make it well known. </p>
<p>And to answer the question now what: you wait and writhe in eager anticipation for the best/worst day of your life.</p>
<p>That is of course only if you think like that.</p>
<p>Last year, ED decisions were made available electronically at 6:00 pm Eastern time on December 12th. Admissions sent an email several days ahead of time announcing the release time and encouraging students to be alone when viewing their decisions (i.e., at home or some place quiet rather than at school). I suspect they will do something similar this year but may need the full time through the 15th since they extended the application deadline by a week.</p>