College - What do you know???

[so0perspam]

There is no West Coast bias. I'm basing this on fact. A ton of guys from my school got into Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, and Duke. Only a few got into Stanford.

[Shadow of the Sun*]

Thanks for all the info. Although I think I would probably have a better shot at Stanford, considering they put a significant amount of weight in the legacy, I am tempted to go for Duke just for something new.

I will probably be right on the bubble for both... I scored a 2120 on my first SAT attempt, but will probably take them again, and have around a 4.5 cumulative 4.0 unweighted. But these days it just seems like a crap shoot on getting in. I have yet to take the ACTs which are important for Duke, so we'll see after I'm done with those.

Also, everyone is saying that playing a competitive sport is important for Duke, but is the same true even if you don't plan to play at the college. I play on my high school baseball team and on Connie Mack summer league team, but I don't plan on trying to play at Duke. Possibly walk on since they aren't that good but I'm not sure. Anyway, thanks for the help.

No playing a competitive sport is not important for admission to Duke. Thats why they recruit athletes for their teams. They want students in their classes. Your stats seem good enough to get in, but like you said a lot of the process is a crapshoot. My advice is that if you know you want to go to a school, let them know. Write a letter along with your application telling them why you like the school and why you would be a good fit. Saying "you are a good school and I want to go to a good school" is not the best answer. Do some reasearch and find things about the school that you like. It may seem like you are kissing butt, but it is worth it in the end.

[gostanford07]

Yeha, i was planning on contacting them as soon as I take the ACT so I have more info to reference. Also, just from initial research, it seems that Duke is aimed more at the sciences in terms of majors, which doesn't really fit me at all. Apparently, I need to look around more

[gostanford07]

There is no West Coast bias. I'm basing this on fact. A ton of guys from my school got into Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, and Duke. Only a few got into Stanford.

I'm sure one of the stat heads like Agnes would reply with the typical "Too small of a sample space" lol

[so0perspam]

There is no West Coast bias. I'm basing this on fact. A ton of guys from my school got into Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, and Duke. Only a few got into Stanford.

I'm sure one of the stat heads like Agnes would reply with the typical "Too small of a sample space" lol

Sample size you mean.

[gostanford07]

There is no West Coast bias. I'm basing this on fact. A ton of guys from my school got into Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, and Duke. Only a few got into Stanford.

I'm sure one of the stat heads like Agnes would reply with the typical "Too small of a sample space" lol

Sample size you mean.

Right... looks like I need some work before my applications. But doesn't sample space work in that situation? In terms of probability, doesn't sample space mean the same thing as sample size? Or am i just that tired?

[so0perspam]

The sample space is a list of all the possible outcomes of a SRS or experiement.

[gostanford07]

The sample space is a list of all the possible outcomes of a SRS or experiement.

Gracias, I'll remember for next time. Buuut, since you so kindly corrected me, I guess it's my turn. Kinda picky, but I think it should be an SRS since sounded out, it would be Ess-Are-Ess, constituting "an". I told you it was picky... [/b]

[so0perspam]

The sample space is a list of all the possible outcomes of a SRS or experiement.

Gracias, I'll remember for next time. Buuut, since you so kindly corrected me, I guess it's my turn. Kinda picky, but I think it should be an SRS since sounded out, it would be Ess-Are-Ess, constituting "an". I told you it was picky... [/b]

Wrong again. SRS = simple random sample.

[laxguy8947]

see Stanford and Duke on the same level academically

Ummm, no. Duke does not have a 5% acceptance rate.

Yeah, Duke may be great but Stanford is

I think you guys may be a little guilty of some West Coast bias.
Take a look at these rankings: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/colleg ... _brief.php

Duke #5 and Stanford #6. Both are equally as difficult to get into, so if you have connections to Stanford you probably have a better shot of getting in there. Both are excellent schools.

Princeton review disagrees: http://www.princetonreview.com/college/ ... TopicID=10

The gap from 9 to 14 must be massive...

Regardless those are all great schools.

I'll be happy just to sneak into UVA