<p>Hey guys</p>
<p>I’m a junior who really wants to go to Duke for Econ and PolSci. This summer I will be traveling to the UK and I’ll have an internship with a prominent politician in Parliament (don’t want to name names but he’s the head of a prominent political party). I have a 33 ACT but my grades are slightly below Dukes average, but discounting freshman year they are about Dukes average. I’m involved in some things at school such as sports and two clubs, one of which I founded and am Pres. </p>
<p>But my question is will a unique internship make me stand out a bit in Dukes eyes, especially if I want to major in PolSci?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Based on some generalized rules, both of those things should work out well for you. First, chools like to see you get really involved in something you’re passionate about, even better if it’s your intended major. Second, if there are changes in your level of academic performance, upward trends are the best, especially if it’s just freshman year. They understand and applaud that more than someone who did well until the very end when they slacked off. Really try to capitalize on your internship/political involvement, though. It looks like you’re certainly a leader so work those things into the theme of your application. It certainly seems you’ve got the potential to go places, so make that apparent in your application to appeal most to them. I’m revving up to the application process too after this summer–good luck to the both of us! :]</p>
<p>an internship in something you are passionate about is a good booster for almost any college, particularly if it is hard to get.</p>
<p>Alright thanks guys, if anyone else has opinions that would be great. I can give my full stats and all too. And will being in the student council also help the government theme? I’m thinking of writing my essay about my experience overseas in their government.</p>
<p>No need to post all your numbers and stuff if you don’t want to. You can just type them up if you want and compare. Duke, College Board, or SuperMatch should have info for you where you can compare your scores, GPA, etc., and I think you can know for yourself whether or not your ECs are enough: leadership, involvement, whatever. </p>
<p>As to your questions, StuCo will definitely help with the gov’t theme because you learn to work with other people to make decisions, which ties in well with your experience overseas this summer. Unless there’s something else stronger that’s somehow been left out of all this, diplomacy/law/gov’t/etc seems like the picture you’ll be painting of yourself–which is a good thing. Once you’re on par with others as far as numbers (or even a little below), the clearer your sense of self, the better your chances are.</p>
<p>I think you have a good shot because you show passion in your government theme. Just make sure it comes across in your essay. Student council adds to this theme nicely.</p>
<p>If your school has sent kids to duke in the past that will help too. Make sure to visit/apply early to show you are really in love with Duke.</p>
<p>Alright thanks everyone. A lot of my time is consumed up by sport, I’m pretty good (ranked in state and country) but just on the line of recruitment, but hopefully colleges will see the commitment to the sports. </p>
<p>If anyone else has any opinions I’d appreciate them</p>
<p>Obviously it would give you an added boost but it won’t make or break
Your application as a whole must be strong
A great internship won’t cover up for weaknesses and you know that
Best of luck</p>
<p>I’ve listed my stats and ecs below to help paint the full picture. I know college admissions are a crapshoot when it comes to elite universities, but with an ED app have I done enough To stand a pretty good chance? If not is there anything I should consider doing?</p>
<p>Cum (W)GPA- 3.9, ACT 33</p>
<p>And we can’t take APs until Junior year and more than 2 honors until Sophomore year. Also, my school does not give A+s, an A is the best grade. </p>
<p>Frosh Year (GPA 3.54- Yes I know this is very low)
French II- B-
Geometry Honors- B+
English- A-
Religion- A-
World History- A-
Music- B+
Health A
Biology- A-</p>
<p>Sophomore (GPA 4.02)
English II Honors- A-
US History Honors- A-
Alg II Honors- A-
French III- A-
Chem- A-
Health- A-
Art- A-
Religion- A</p>
<p>Junior Year (GPA 4.2-4.26ish)
English AP-A-
Calc Honors- A
French IV- A-
Physics Honors- B+/A-
US AP- A
Religion- A
Music- A</p>
<p>Senior Year Courses:
AP EnviSci
AP Stat
AP Econ (Micro and Macro)
AP Euro History
Religion
English </p>
<p>ECs
Freshman Cross Country- Captain- Elected
Indoor and Outdoor Track- Freshman, Soph, Jr
-Note: I’m pretty good at track, and if I cut off a few more seconds on my mid/long distance events I might get a scholarship at some schools, so this could help. I have won national track invitationals
Student Council- Elected and Served-End of Freshman throughout senior year
Gaelic Games Club- Co-Founded sophomore year
Ping Pong Tournament for Charity- Founded, sophomore and junior years
NHS- Tutor 2 hours a week
Community Service- about 150 hours, have done a little more than school requirements, plan to do excess this summer to make around 200
Internship with politiican in Europe (mentioned above)</p>
<p>I mean obviouslly kids with my stats get accepted and denied, so is this internship unique enough?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Its quite unique I must say
None of us here are adcomms so we can’t really make safe predictions
Do what you love and shine in your essays
Thats the best I can say :)</p>
<p>if anyone else has an opinion it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I hate to bump threads, but…</p>
<p>I mean, yes of course it will help. Doing anything productive over the summer helps. But no, nobody knows if you’re going to get in or not. You’re not a horribly delusional candidate with a 1700 SAT, but you’re not some super star that has his pick of the top colleges. You are, as the vast majority of Duke applicants are, kind of iffy. You’re obviously pretty worried about April 1st, 2012.</p>
<p>From what I’ve seen at my school this year (11 accepted, 7 attending) is that Duke is kind of an oddball compared to the other top colleges. If you’d like to know more about the people that I know that got into Duke, PM and we’ll chat (I’d rather not post other people’s info publicly). I personally got rejected from all eight Ivies but got into Duke. Plenty of people got rejected/waitlisted at Duke but were accepted/waitlisted at the Ivies. However, with all top schools, there’s no magic formula. Your question basically boils down to whether or not you’ll get in, and the thing is that nobody knows. Hardly anybody chancing on these forums is on an admissions committee, and I’m pretty sure not a single person here is from Duke’s adcom. Rather than worrying so much about the uncertainty, you’d be much better off just accepting it and focusing on things that can help. </p>
<p>While nobody can tell you if something will get you into a college or not, everybody knows what things help and what things don’t. Go and do your absolute best at that internship, and maybe get a good supplementary letter of recommendation. Go and get an A in every single one of your classes senior year. Get better at running and win more track competitions. Try and become captain of the track team. Retake the ACT for a better score. Above all, stop worrying. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t get into your dream school. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Alright thanks. Ya I’m kinda worried but I guess there’s nothing to do except do well from here. I guess the main point is will this give me that unique factor? Obviously tons of people apply to duke with similar stats and ecs so I just want to standout. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>well, your unique internship will certainly help you. One word of advice: just don’t get hung up on the name of the person you are interning for. Yeah, you should mention it, as it will impress people, but it is more important to focus on what you have learned from this person and how it affected your views about yourself, your interests, and your future studies and career. It could certainly make for a great and very unique essay topic. It is also good to show that you are doing something productive with your summer and not just chilling by the pool.
As with most applicants to selective colleges, one factor isn’t absolutely going to sway the committee one way or the other, but you definitely have a shot at getting in. Just do your best, and the results are out of your control. Worrying too much won’t help you out. (kind of tough to say on cc, i know, but i had to try).
Good luck, i’m sure you’ll end up at a great school. :)</p>
<p>duke is so easy to get into i live like 30 min away so i know. some serious dumbasses get in, trust me. apply ED and you’ll be completely fine</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1159533-yale-ea-chance.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1159533-yale-ea-chance.html</a>
chance back!!!</p>
<p>ED = 32% acceptance btw, just so you know, same goes for penn</p>