What are my chances of getting into Duke University?

March 52010

I’m a junior in high school right now, my high school transcript is:
Freshman Year
-Algebra II (A,A)
-AP Human Geography (A,A) (4)
-Novice Debate & Forensics (A,A)(Policy Debate/Lincoln Douglas Debate/International Extemp)
-Art I (A, A)
-Pre-AP English I (A,B)
-Biology I (B, A)
-Physical Education I (A, A)
(All for 2 semesters each) *(Letter, Letter; are the grades received in the class at each semester.)
Sophomore Year
-Pre-AP Calculus and Trigonometry (B, A)
-AP World History (A, A) (5, score for AP Test)
-Pre-AP English II (A, A)
-Advance Debate and Forensics (A, A) (Policy Debate/International Extemp/Congress)
-Chemistry I (A, A)
-Chinese I (A, A)
-Computer Programming (A, A)
Junior Year
-AP Calculus BC (A)
-College Chemistry (A) *(Lesson Plan is the first half of AP Chemistry)
-AP Literature and Composition (A)
-Advance Debate (A) (Policy Debate/International Extemp)
-Chinese II (A)
-Pre-AP Physics (A)
-AP U.S. Government (A)
I scored a 32 on the ACT and a 2250 on the SAT, I plan to take AP test for U.S. Gov, Lit&Comp, and calculus BC. I’m pretty confident in getting a 4 or 5 on each of those.

Next Year I’m taking AP Humanities, AP Physics, AP European History, Advance Debate, AP Psychology, Chinese III, (and one semester of College Calculus III through William Jewell College, provided the credit will transfer to Duke University). I will most likely take each of those AP test as well. I plan on volunteering at several different affiliations in the next year and I’ll be the captain/head varsity of my debate team, as well as almost guaranteed a national spot due to the majority of my competition this year graduating. I also plan on trying to join the Duke Debate Team if I’m accepted. I hope to apply early decision if my chances of acceptance are strong. Any Suggestions that might help?
Also I plan on majouring in Political Science and Philosophy

Spencer, congrats on the 5 in AP World History. At my score, the passing rates are abysmal and hardly anyone gets a 3!!!

I don’t have any suggestions for you. You seem to know what you’re doing. Applying early decision will definitely increase your chances of getting in, although I think that they’d be crazy if they didn’t take you.

Yay! You’re earning college credits!

What kind of dance lessons are good to teach babies and toddlers?

March 12010

Posted in lessons | 1 Comment »

I recently got a job teaching children and babies at a daycare how to dance. I want to start incorporating lessons into my classes, as well as change up the exercises each week. What kinds of things should I be trying to teach babies, and what kinds of things should I be trying to teach children from 3-5 years old?

Don’t expect amazing things from 3-5 year olds.

Here’s RADs pre-primary syllabus:
Running in a circle
Running en diagonale
Walking with stretched feet
Walking on demi-pointe
Skips
Demi-plies
Rises
Points
Knee bends
Jumps
Bounces
Claps
Marches
Pony steps
Pony trots
Pony galops

Here’s the primary:
Swaying
Step close step point
Knee lifts
Stork walks
Sautes
Echappes sautes
Spring points
Galops sideways
Jumps with eye focus
Skip change of step

Here’s grade 1:
Battlements tendus
Petit jetes
Bivided battlements tensud
Transfer of weight
Classical walks
Swaying
Spinning
Soubresauts
Galops forward
Step forward (heel toe)
Picked up runs

For babies, focus on rhythm and movement. Clapping in time, counting to 4, bouncing in time, ‘free dance’ to music, happy feet and sad feet (pointed and flexed), pretending to be animals /ghosts /trees /princesses /butterflies, etc.

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