Hello,
I am an incoming junior and I would like to know how to boost my college profile if my dream school is Duke University. I want to double major in Biomedical engineering and History. I know that is almost impossible to do in 4 years, but I am willing to take summer courses.
Class Average: 94.1
Class Rank: 17 of 195 (This has been a real issue with my parents; I’m trying to land in the top 10)
Classes:
I have all A’s in all of my honors/advanced classes except AP World History and AP Chemistry; I’m awaiting scores for both APs.
ExtraCurriculars:
Mock Trial, Treasurer of my school’s Hispanic Honor Society, Most Active member of Key Club, Incoming National Honor Society member, Treasurer of FBLA, By the end of June, I will have completed 96 hours of volunteering at my local Hospital, and plenty others more.
Extra:
I’m Nigerian. I have traveled to the Netherlands and the UK. I had the highest math, reading, and science CRCT scores in my 8th grade class. My first practice PSAT that I took sophomore year had a score of 172. I will graduate high school at the age of 16.
Fitness:
I do yoga, take boxing classes, and I ballroom dance.
Could you please explain your high school and why you will graduate at the age of 16? Are you young for your class, or did you skip grades? Or does your school allow sophomores to graduate?
Aside from that, being a Nigerian will help out in your Duke application. Also, I would recommend taking the SAT or ACT next year or early in senior year. A PSAT score of 172 translates to about a 1720 SAT, which is, honestly, far too low for admission to most top-tier colleges. If possible, you’ll need an SAT score of over 2000 to get a decent chance.
As for yoga, boxing, and ballroom dance: if possible, continue doing those activities through senior year. Colleges like to see commitment, especially for non-traditional sports such as boxing.
If possible, raise your class rank, but don’t treat it like a deal-breaker for college. In fact, colleges do not look at the actual rank but rather at the percentile. This allows comparisons across schools with differing class sizes (from tiny high schools with only 20 seniors to those with over 1000). Thus, colleges will see you as ranked at the top 9% of your class.