#extracurriular activities

[askadukecrazie]

What kind of extra credit work did you have??

Extra credit work: I mostly did volunteering. I volunteered at my local library on the weekends for a couple of hours. I also volunteered at the soccer program I used to be in growing up, and I also volunteered as a Bible School teaching assistant.

In class, my teachers rarely gave out extra credit. If they did, it was once in a rare while. They wanted us to do our best on all the assignments we had.

To stand out, your best bet is to be committed to activities that show who you are and shows why you’d be a great addition to the school. Show your potential and dedication. That’s my best advice.

-Cameron Crazie 2015Go Blue Devils! 

[askadukecrazie]

Hi! Okay, so I want to ask you if I'm on the right track to Duke and what more I can do to heighten my chances of acceptance. I just finished freshman year, I took 2 maths to get ahead of most of my peers, took 2 honors, and was a part of 2 clubs. I'm spending my summer doing volunteer work (an animal ranch and a library) Additionally I play piano. I am taking the highest classes next year and each year after. How am I doing and what else can I do? How was your HS experience? Thanks so much! :)

Hi there. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get back to you.

As far as what you've told me, you look pretty good on paper with your classes and activities. However, there is no set plan that will guarantee your acceptance into Duke. It will look very impressive that you took two maths your freshman year and that you'll be taking higher-level classes next year. Continue each year after to take on higher-level classes, just as long as you know you can handle them. It's also good to be part of school clubs; that adds to your extracurricular activities. The same goes for your volunteer work.

Remember, your grades and activities are parts of what Duke admissions look at. Do well on your SATs and ACTs; you never know on which one you'll score highest. I took both the SAT and ACT and I was in the right ballpark with my ACT score. Also, make sure your personal statement is kickass. The point of your personal statement is for them to try and see who you are as a person - get your personality written on paper so they know exactly who you are. This is further into the future once you start applying to schools, but it's important to keep in mind.

So far, you're doing very well. Just make sure you get the best grades you can in your advanced classes and continue with your volunteer work and clubs.

As far as my high school experience, let me sum it up: pain freshman year, new and different sophomore year, AP crunch time junior year, apps and dance and apps and school and apps and APs senior year. To see a full extent of what my high school experience was, just read here and my other earlier posts. Go into the archive and look up any early ones.

Good luck!

-Cameron Crazie 2015 Go Blue Devils!

[askadukecrazie]

What extra curricular activities do you recommend to people who would like to get into Duke? Do you have to be from a super super nice school and be Ivy league bond?

For extracurricular activities, I think you shouldn't focus primarily on the exact activities you should participate in. Rather, focus on some aspect that you want to explore and build on that. I like dance and I am not that great of a leader, so I joined Dance Troupe at my school and I eventually became a Grade Level Captain. I had more responsibilities and I learned leadership skills. That's just one example.

Really, I would just focus on finding an activity (or activities) that interests you and you want to try out. But here's the catch: let it be an activity you know you'll be committed to. Don't try out activities if you're not going to stick to them. It may seem cool that you participated in many activities, but will you be able to say something you liked from participating in them? That's really the important thing.

And no, you don't have to be from a super super nice school. I went to a private school, but in my school's history only one other student had enrolled at Duke; she's currently a junior and she was the Dance Troupe Head Captain when I entered Dance Troupe. Other girls have been accepted to Duke, but they didn't enroll. I admit, I was somewhat of a strong student academically but I feel that I could have been better. So yes, I tried some Ivy Leagues (didn't work out, obviously) but I don't regret it. You don't have to be Ivy League bound, and I don't think you should worry about that. For some students, it may be helpful that they are a legacy - their parents went to the school, their grandparents went, uncles, aunts, so on and so forth. Me, I'm first in my family to graduate from high school, as in didn't drop out and go back to school (that's a different story), and the second cousin to go to college straight out of high school (a first cousin of mine is in her junior year at UPenn).

In reality, you just have to be dedicated to your studies and your activities. Schools like Duke can't ask for more than that. If you show that you are dedicated and hard-working, odds may be in your favor. I'm just speaking from a non-administrative standpoint.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask me any questions you have.

-Cameron Crazie 2015Go Blue Devils!