DuKeystone
DuKeystone,
Duke
B.A., Public Policy Analysis
The world's laziest overachiever.
Features Included
5
Essays
14
Schools
17
Scores
10
Advice
13
ECs
1
Sports

Background

Hometown Great Neck, New York
GenderFemale
EthnicityAsian
AdmissionRegular Decision
Class of2010
First Gen College StudentYes
English First Language Yes
Other Language(s) Spoken Mandarin

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Duke University (Durham, NC)
  • New York University (New York, NY)
  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
  • University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Columbia University (New York, NY)
  • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
  • Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)
  • Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
  • Tufts University (Medford, MA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Duke University (Durham, NC)

Applied for a B.A. in Public Policy Analysis

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
I wrote about my experience founding and running a charitable organization. I spent two summers raising money for a scholarship fund that financed the education of 40 female students in two villages of rural China through secondary school. I discussed the event that spurred me to set up the fund as well as subsequent visits to the villages. I then tied my passion for education and access to information to my desired course of study (i.e., policy and journalism).
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
24 Words
If you are applying to the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences/Pratt School of Engineering as a first year applicant, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something particular about Duke that attracts you? (Please limit your response to no more than 150 words.)
Discussed how Duke is known for its "Work hard, play hard" campus culture, and how that fit with my approach to school and life.
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Diversity statement
22 Words
Some students believe they have a unique perspective or background that contributes to their identity.
How Chinese folk dancing is culturally significant to me and has connected me to my ethnic heritage while also showcasing my individuality.
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
27 Words
My greatest accomplishment: Discussed my transformation from being both a role model for my brother and a source of his insecurities into his biggest fan and advocate.
Read more...

School Specific Advice

Reaching out to professors and coaches at schools I applied to
125 Words
I never intended to be a college athlete; I was always known as more academic-focused. I wasn't recruited, but I did reach out to the fencing coaches on school visits and discussed joining the fencing team...
Read more...
Additional material sent in after waitlisted or deferred
290 Words
I submitted an additional personal letter of recommendation from a Harvard alumnus after being deferred at Harvard. He was able to vouch for my character and the value I'd bring to the student body. I ended up being wait listed. I'm not sure the letter helped (at least not enough to admit me in the regular decision round), but it definitely didn't hurt. If you are deferred or wait listed, anything concrete that demonstrates you are serious about wanting to attend that school will be considered ...
Read more...
What I like about my school’s location and culture
171 Words
Being from New York, I wanted a college with a strong campus culture; I didn't want to get lost in a city the way you might if you attended Columbia or NYU. Looking back, I'm really glad I chose a school that is so centered around a campus because it...
Read more...
5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)
129 Words
Smart, accomplished, social, well-rounded, collegial. Duke is one of the few top tier schools (if not the only school) that is not just an academic but also an athletic powerhouse (just look at March Madness; what other top 20...
Read more...
Reaching out to professors and coaches at schools I applied to
121 Words
I never intended to be a college athlete; I was always known as the brainy one. I wasn't recruited for my team, but I did reach out to the fencing coach on a school visit and...
Read more...

More Essays

These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.

Supplemental Essay Other
28 Words
My diversity statement elaborated on my love for performing as an extension of my talents and opportunity to showcase my unique abilities that make me who I am.
Read more...

General Admissions Advice

What I’d change about my application process
301 Words
If I could do high school over, I would have obsessed less about taking the most advanced classes and maxing out my schedule. I overloaded every year, completing 15 AP classes and receiving all 4's and 5's on the exams except in two classes (those were 3's). It was entirely unnecessary. Although it earned me the title of NY State AP Scholar (only one female and one male student in the state receive this title), my grades and sanity suffered. I was so caught up in taking the most challenging courses...
Read more...
Recommended summer activities during high school and college
235 Words
If you have a rough idea of what career path you want to pursue or a particular academic interest you may want to carry over to college, test it out. Conduct research, shadow a vet, help at a law firm, intern at your local newspaper. Anything. It's better to find out the areas you're NOT interested in earlier on so you don't waste time in college switching majors halfway...
Read more...
What I’d change about my application process
313 Words
My application strategy wasn't really a strategy. I applied early to Harvard because it was my dream school. My heart was so set on Harvard that I didn't seriously look into starting my other applications for the regular decision round. By the time I found out I was deferred, I had to scramble. I ended up sending applications out to all the top schools, but their quality suffered because I didn't invest adequate time and effort into customizing them for each school. If you apply early, please don't let your desire for/confidence in a particular school blind you to...
Read more...
Additional material sent in after waitlisted or deferred
290 Words
I submitted an additional personal letter of recommendation from a Harvard alumnus after being deferred at Harvard. He was able to vouch for my character and the value I'd bring to the student body. I ended up being wait listed. I'm not sure the letter helped (at least not enough to admit me in the regular decision round), but it definitely didn't hurt. If you are deferred or wait listed, anything concrete that demonstrates you are serious about wanting to attend that school will be considered ...
Read more...
Why I recommend taking a gap year
530 Words
While I didn't take a gap year, I now believe I would have benefited greatly from time off between high school and college. Taking a year off before college was not something I even remotely considered as a possibility since it was a given that everyone who got into college from my hometown would go straight through. Now, having met a number of friends who did take a year off to explore other passions, travel, save money, and develop professional skill sets, I wish I had done the same thing and given myself a break after 12 years of intense academic...
Read more...

High School Performance

Weighted GPA
4.15
(equivalent to 4.00 unweighted)
Rank
Top 10%
 
High School TypePublic
College Classes In High School
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
35
 
ACT Score Details
 
ACT Prep
Highest SAT
1550
on 1600 scale
Highest SAT
2280
 
SAT Score Details
 
Original SAT Score2280
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep
Other Standardized Tests

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details15 classes and scores

Sports

SportsFencing (Recruited)

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesAsian Club / Asian Interactive Youth Association, Debate Club/Team, School Theater/Plays, Hospital Volunteer, Local Orchestra / Symphony / Band, Math Team, Nursing Home Volunteer, School Jazz / Orchestra, School Newspaper/Magazine/Journalism, Science Club/Team, Student Council / Government, Tutoring/Mentoring, Charity Drive Organizing
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

How Spent Summers
Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received
Application Additional Materials

Similar Profiles

nyulane
NYU


Accepted to NYU, UMich, CMU, UCLA, UC Berkeley, BC, Cornell, Rutgers, Northwestern, Stevens

Chem major. travel, music, friends. love cheeto puffs & toasted bagels.
NYU53717
NYU


Accepted to NYU

Regrets only applying to NYU but does not regret being at NYU
katiedolci
NYU


Accepted to NYU, BU, Ohio State

Chicago-->Cincinnati-->New York City. Dancer. Rower. Volunteer. Future Teacher.
Grace@DukeUni
Duke


Accepted to Duke, Cornell, Brown, UC Berkeley, NYU, Stony Brook

Passionate about the psychology, philosophy and policy of education in America.
nyudotedu
NYU


Accepted to NYU, BC, BU, GWU, Northeastern

I was born and raised in Korea, but I've studied in in U.S. boarding school for 7 years. I love people, building, and cars so I love every cities in the world.