Overview Of Solar Cars Engineering Essay

Overview Of Solar Cars Engineering Essay Renewable energy is vital in the world today as in the near future non-renewable sources of energy will become scarce. The solar powered car is a step in saving these non-renewable sources of energy. The basic principle of the solar car is to use energy that is stored in a battery during and after charging it from a solar panel. The charged batteries are used to drive the motor which serves as an engine and moves the vehicle in a reverse or forward direction. Overview of Solar Cars Advantages: No longer needed to purchase gas or any other type of fuel Solar cars have no regular expense besides maintenance and repairs Doesnt produce any greenhouse gas emissions so it is environmentally friendly The use of solar cars as a combustion engine replacement will significantly reduce greenhouse emissions and improve air quality around the world Solar cars produce no noise Disadvantages: Solar cars dont have the same speed or power as a regular car that runs on gas While sunlight is free, the creation of PV cells to capture that sunlight is expensive. Costs for solar panels are steadily declining (22% cost reduction per doubling of production volume). The weather can directly affect the performance of the car, especially if it is dark outside Possible system layouts Fig.ure 1 : Basic block diagram representation of a solar vehicle Source: Wamborikar, 2010. Solar cars are powered by the suns energy. The main component of a solar powered car is its solar array or panel, which collects the energy from the sun and converts it into usable electrical energy. The solar cells collect a portion of the suns energy and store it into the batteries of the solar car. Before that happens, a peak power tracker (maximum power point tracker) converts the energy collected from the solar array to the proper system voltage, so that the batteries and the motor can use it. Once the energy is stored in the batteries, it is available to be used by the DC motor and motor controller to drive the car. The motor controller adjusts the amount of energy that flows to the motor to correspond to the throttle. The motor uses that energy to drive the wheels. The primary energy source for a solar powered car is the battery. The battery has a number of individual batteries connected inside which are in series or parallel. Each battery is typically 6V or 12V, and multiple batteries are connected in series or parallel to acquire the optimum system voltage. A single battery is made from multiple cells contained within the battery housing. The overall battery voltage is chosen depending on the motors EMF constant and the desired nominal driving speed. In order to get the most efficient operation of the drive system, the battery voltage is chosen so that the motor controller can operate with minimal pulse width modulation at the maximum speed of the car. Nevertheless, the battery voltage, especially for lead-acid batteries, fluctuates considerably around the nominal battery voltage, from full charge to maximum discharge. This is why, the nominal battery voltage is chosen so that the lowest possible battery voltage is able to sustain a reasonable speed. An alternative solution to this problem is to put in a boost or buck converter in the motor controller so that a desirable speed can be obtained for any battery voltage. Fundamentals and Application of Photovoltaics in Solar Vehicles The bond model uses the covalent bonds joining the silicon atoms to describe semiconductor behaviour. In the figure below, it illustrates the bonding and the movement of electrons in a silicon crystal lattice. Figure 2: Representation of covalent bonds in a silicon crystal lattice Source: Wenham, 2007At low temperatures, the bonds are intact and the silicon behaves as an insulator. At high temperatures, some bonds are broken and conduction can occur by two processes: electrons from broken bonds are free to move and electrons from neighbouring bonds can also move into the hole created in the broken bond, allowing the broken bond or hole to propagate as if it had a positive charge. It is also possible to shift the balance of electrons and holes in a semi conductor (silicon crystal lattice by doping it with other atoms. Atoms with one more valence electron than the semiconductor are used to produce n-type material. Meanwhile, atoms with one less valence electron results in p-type material (Wenham, 2007). This can be seen in figure 3. Figure 3: Source: Wenham, 2007 Figure 4: Diagram of a P-N Junction Source: Nave, 2005. A p-n  junction is formed by joining  n-type and  p-type semiconductor materials. Since the  n-type region has a high electron concentration and the  p-type a high hole concentration, electrons diffuse from the  n-type side to the  p-type side. Similarly, holes flow by diffusion from the  p-type side to then-type side. If the electrons and holes werent charged, this diffusion process would continue until the concentration of electrons and holes on the two sides were the same. However, in a  p-n  junction, when the electrons and holes move to the other side of the junction, they leave behind exposed charges on  dopant  atom sites, which are fixed in the crystal lattice and are unable to move. An electric field forms between the positive ion cores in the  n-type material and negative ion cores in the  p-type material. This region is called the depletion region since the electric field pushes the free carriers out, hence the region is depl eted of free carriers. A built in potential (Vbi)  is formed due to the electrified created at the junction. Figure 5 Source: Wenham, 2007When sunlight falls onto the semiconductor material, photons with energy (Eph) lower than the band gap energy (Eg) interact insubstantially with the semiconductor, passing through it as if it were transparent. But, photons with energy greater than the band gap energy (Eph > Eg) interact with electrons in covalent bonds, using up their energy to break bonds and to create electron-hole pairs which can then move about independently. Also, higher energy photons (red light) are absorbed closer to the surface of the semiconductor than lower energy photons (blue light). The open circuit voltage (VOC) of a solar cell is the voltage measured when there is no current passing through the cell. The top side of the solar cell is of negative voltage and the bottom is positive. The open circuit voltage is independent of the size of the solar cell, and is determined by the materials the cell is made of (refer to Appendix 2). The short circuit current (ISC) of a solar cell corresponds to the current measured when the solar cell is short circuited (Fig. 2.11), the voltage equals 0. The electric current  ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ows from the bottom (+) of the cell to the top of the cell (-) when the solar cell is under illumination (refer to Appendix 2). In advanced solar cars, they include a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) which maximizes the amount of current going into the battery from the solar array by lowering the panels output voltage which increases the charging amps to the battery. The maximum power output of a solar cell is at the maximum power point (MPP), wher e the product of voltage and current is a maximum (refer to Appendix 2). When solar cells are connected in parallel, the output current is the sum of the currents from the individual cells, and output voltage remains the same to that of a single cell (proven by data, refer to Appendix 1). When solar cells are connected in series, the output voltage is the sum of the voltage from each cell, where the output current stays the same (proven by data, refer to Appendix 1). Therefore, the optimum alignment for solar cells on a solar car would be in series. This is because the MPPT needs more voltage as it extracts the solar cells output voltage in order to maximize the amount of current going into the battery. Source: Blimpy, 2010. How a solar cell works Figure 6: A diagram of a solar cell. Source: Lollini, 2010. The photovoltaic effect used in solar cells allows direct conversion of light energy from the sun into electricity, by the generation and transport inside a semiconductor material, of positive and negative electric charges, through the action of light. This material features two regions, one exhibiting an excess of electrons, the other an electron deficit, resistively referred to as n-type doped and p-type doped. When the two are brought into contact with the silicon, excess electrons from the n-material diffuse into the p-material. The initially n-doped region becomes positively charged and the initially p-doped region is negatively charged. An electric field is thus made between them, tending to force electrons back into the n-region and holes back into the p-region. Then a p-n junction is setup and by placing metallic contacts on the n and p regions, a diode is acquired. When the p-n junction makes contact with light, the photons having energy equal to or hi gher than the width of the forbidden band or band gap yield their energy to the atoms, where each photon causes an electron to move from the valence band to the conduction band, leaving behind a hole, also able to move around the material thus, giving rise to an electron-hole pair. If a load is to be positioned at the cells terminals, electrons from the n-region will migrate back to the holes in the p-region, by way of the outside connection, giving rise to a potential difference- an electric current passes. Importance of Correct System Design and Sizing / Non-shading The main point that should be kept in mind while making a solar vehicle is the mounting of the solar panel. The panel should be mounted in such a way that it receives maximum sun rays so that it gives maximum efficiency. Since the sun is at a different angle to the ground all the, so the solar panels need to be directed according to this positioning.  The ideal situation is when the suns rays are colliding with the panels at a perpendicular angle of 90 °(proven by data, refer to Appendix 4). This  maximizes  the amount of energy hitting the panels and being produced. The two factors that affect the angle as such are controlled by the orientations (north, south, east, and west) and the angle of the panels from the ground. The main feature of any solar is its array of solar cells. An ideal solar cell would be made of expensive gallium arsenide which are nearly 30% efficient. However a cheaper alternative can be used such as ultra pure monocrystalline silicon which can reach efficiencies of over 20%. Selecting the solar cell with higher efficiency means the less surface area needed so the solar vehicle is able to carry less weight and travel at a faster speed. Therefore, itd be recommended to use a small solar panel with a high efficiency rate so then sizing is not important. For maximum power efficiency in a solar powered car, the solar panels should be in full contact with the suns rays. If a single cell is somewhat shaded by even a small object, it can create a power drop as much as 50%. This is because the cells in a panel are connected in a series string, so if one cell is shaded, then the rest dont work properly (proven by data, refer to Appendix 5). To reduce the effects of shading, the strings are usually kept short and paralleled as much as possible. Having lots of parallel strings is good, because whatever currents are generated can be added together, while the voltage of each string remains relatively similar with or without light. Voltages of parallel strings are taken as the average voltage of each string. An example of how a module might be wired is shown below. Source: Sanghster, 2006. Safety Issues Since the solar powered car is run by a DC motor, there are safety issues with direct current. If a person is electrocuted, electric currents can produce severe burns in the body, particularly at the points of contact to the circuit, as the electrical power dissipates across the bodys resistance. Electric shock can only occur when contact is made between two points of a circuit, and when a voltage is applied across a victims body. Since direct current moves in one direction through a conductor, it has the tendency to incite muscular tetanus, even at low voltages. Victims are often unable to let go of a DC conductor because of the continuous motion and stable voltage. Also, DC electricity tends to make the heart stand still. Conclusion It is essential that the design of solar cars are efficient, safe and takes into account the specific requirements and limitations. For example, in order for the solar car to run on solar power it needs a lot of power and an optimum angle needs to be decided to maximise this power output. It is best to use a MPPT to maximize the current going into the battery and to choose an efficient solar array or panel. This being said, the solar car can have a significant impact on the reduction of unhealthy greenhouse gas emissions and help prevent global warming. We need to make use of solar powered cars so that we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Ho Chi Minh- North Vietnam Leader

Ho Chi Minh: North Vietnam Leader Published Online: July 25, 2006 Although the most visible symbol of America's chief enemy in the Vietnam War, Ho Chi Minh was still a difficult figure to hate. A frail and benign-looking old man in peasant garb or Mao jacket, the leader of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam seemed perfectly described as ‘Uncle Ho,' an epithet bestowed upon him by friend and enemy alike. Indeed, he often seemed more symbol than substance–a mere face on a poster, an intangible foe unreachable by modern means of warfare, an almost mythical personification of the Communist enemy. But Ho Chi Minh was the very real driving force without which the unified Vietnamese state would never have been achieved. For more than 50 years, most of which he spent away from Southeast Asia, Ho worked single-mindedly to realize the end of French colonialism and the erection of a Vietnamese national state. That determination, rather than genius, was his hallmark as a leader. If the Vietnamese revolution produced a real genius, then it was certainly Vo Nguyen Giap, a military leader who would have stood out in any army. Ho Chi Minh, however, was the essential man whose drive and determination focused the efforts of others and whose leadership excited the admiration and support of Vietnamese on both sides of the 17th parallel. Details of Ho Chi Minh's life are vague, curiously so for such a prominent national leader. Every biography differs in some fundamental detail, offering the reader no certainty about the man. Ho Chi Minh himself is responsible for much of this, for he consciously distanced himself from his own past and his own origins, choosing to identify with the revolutionary ideal rather than the old mandarin traditions. In his personal break with family and tradition, Ho set the example for the new nation he wished to create, a Vietnamese state unencumbered by the weight of a heritage that accepted foreign rule. Because he gave no particular importance to details of his life, Ho Chi Minh's date of birth and true name are in question. Most of what we know about the man can only be considered informed supposition. He was probably born Nguyen Van Thanh, the youngest son of three children of Nguyen Tat Sac, in Kim Lien Village of Nghe An Province in Central Vietnam, on May 19, 1890. He attended the French lycee in Vinh between 1895 and 1905 when (depending upon the source) he was dismissed either for reasons of politics or poor grades. Between 1906 and 1910, he was a student in the noted Lycee Quoc Hoc in Hue, a school distinguished for its nationalist sentiments and one that produced other prominent figures in modern Vietnamese history — among them Ngo Dinh Diem, Vo Nguyen Giap and Pham Van Dong. In 1910, again for reasons uncertain, he left the school without a degree and briefly taught in Phan-Thiet, a little town where, coincidentally, Ngo Dinh Diem also lived as provincial administrator some 20 years later. In 1911, Ho completed courses in a school for bakers in Saigon, and in 1912 took the name of Ba and accepted a job as a messboy on a French liner on the Saigon-Marseilles run. Bernard Fall, one of the earliest and most acute students of the Vietnamese revolution, regards this as the single critical decision of his life. When he turned to the West, Ho Chi Minh rejected the traditional conservative Vietnamese nationalist course of militarism and a mandarin society, and instead chose the course of republicanism, democracy and popular sovereignty. Meeting other Vietnamese nationalists in Paris, Ho found he could not accept their course of peaceful cooperation with the French, and sought another solution. After living in France for a time, Ho is said to have moved to London, where he was a cook's helper under Escoffier at the Carlton Hotel. During World War I, some sources insist, he moved to the United States, where he lived in Harlem. If true, this experience gave him background material for his Pamphlet La Race Noire (1924), a tract bitterly critical of American capitalism and treatment of blacks. Sometime in 1917 or 1918, living now under the name of Nguyen Ai-Quoc (Nguyen the Patriot), he returned to France and earned his living retouching photographs in the XVIIth District of Paris. The great Peace Conference at Versailles in 1919 was the occasion for Ho's formal entry into politics. Excited by the prospect of a peace based on President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points — especially the point concerning national self-determination of peoples — Ho drafted a modest eight-point program for Vietnam and, renting a formal suit, sought an audience with leaders of the great powers. His proposals would not have meant independence for Vietnam, but instead called for greater equity, more basic freedoms, and Vietnamese representation in the colonial government. Unable to gain a hearing at Versailles, Ho then pursued the colonial question in the French Socialist Party, of which he was a member. At the Party Congress at Tours on Christmas Day, 1920, Ho Chi Minh sided with the Communist wing of the party since the Communists advocated immediate independence for all colonial areas. He thus was a founding member of the French Communist Party and became the party's leading expert on colonial matters. In 1920 and '21 he traveled throughout France, speaking to groups of Annamese soldiers and workers who were awaiting their return to Vietnam, doubtless earning some early converts to the nationalist cause, if not to the Communist one. The next half-dozen years were spent as the true Communist internationalist. Ho attended all of the early Comintern conferences, and became acquainted with the great figures of the Russian Communist Party, meeting Lenin probably in 1922. He lived in Moscow for several years; in 1924 as a student at the Eastern Workers' University. In 1925, Ho went to China with Michael Borodin and helped organize the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth League, a training school for Indochinese students in Canton. That year saw the publication of his most important work, Le Proces de la Colonisation Francaise, a naive pamphlet that indicted the French colonial system. Despite its limitations, the tract became the handbook for Vietnamese nationalists and was widely distributed in Indochina. From 1925 to 1927, when Chiang Kai-shek broke with the Communists and Borodin's group fled to Russia, Ho formed more than 200 carefully trained cadres of expatriate Vietnamese, whom he sent back to Indochina. Ho's ruthlessness showed up in the formation of those cadres. If, at the completion of training, any of the men had second thoughts or displayed an unwillingness to obey Communist instructions, Ho simply leaked their names to the French officials in Indochina. The French promptly arrested the defecting cadres and probably paid their informant a reward. Ho was then killing two birds with one stone; he rid himself of undependable nationalists and gained funds for his movement. Over the next few years, his wanderings are not well-documented. It is likely he returned to Europe as an agent of the Third International, some sources claiming that he lived in Berlin for a time. By 1929, he was living in Thailand, working within a large community of Vietnamese emigres. He traveled to Hong Kong in 1930, where he pulled the various Indochinese Communist movements together into one party. Briefly under arrest in Hong Kong, he surfaced in Moscow in 1934 as a student in the Lenin School. By 1938, he had returned to China and was serving as a radio operator with the Chinese Communist Eighth Route Army, eventually becoming political commissar of a guerrilla training mission in Kwang-Si Province. In May of 1941, after 30 years abroad, Ho finally returned to Vietnam. He went to the town of Pac-Bo on the northern border, where the Central Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party was to hold its eighth meeting. At this meeting, the party created the Viet Minh, a front organization intended to draw the support of Vietnamese who opposed the French, but were not yet Communists. Upon his return to China in early 1942, he was imprisoned by a Chinese warlord, but released in 1943 to gather information about the Japanese units in Indochina. It was then that he took the name Ho Chi Minh (He Who Enlightens), returned to the northern part of Vietnam, and devoted himself to running the Viet Minh. Operating from the jungles of North Vietnam, Ho received aid from China and from the United States, fought the Japanese, and extended his influence throughout the area, building a firm infrastructure to support the Viet Minh. By May 1945, he had managed to liberate six provinces from the Japanese and moved to assume control of the government. The puppet emperor Bao Dai abdicated on August 19 and, with both the Japanese occupation government and the French colonial government in complete disarray, Ho's National Liberation Committee proclaimed a provisional government with Ho Chi Minh as president. On September 2, Ho declared that the Vietnam Democratic Republic was an independent state and sought recognition from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and China. The French, however, were determined to reestablish their colonial hegemony in Indochina. Talks with the French failed to produce a negotiated settlement, and French armed forces seized Haiphong and Langson in November 1946, initiating a war. Ho moved his government into the mountains of North Vietnam and began almost nine years of warfare, culminating in the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The state of war actually simplified Ho's political problems. Vietnamese did not have to be Communist to join the fight against the French, and the ranks of the Viet Minh swelled with patriotic volunteers. Also, the real political opposition was easily squelched by declaring them to be traitors to Vietnam. By 1954, Ho was the undisputed leader of the country. The Geneva Accords of 1954 provided for a national election in 1956 to determine the fate of Vietnam, an election Ho confidently expected to win, especially since the bulk of Vietnam's population was in the North under his control. When the government of South Vietnam, which was not party to that portion of the agreement, refused to play into his hands, Ho created the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam and began the second phase of his war for a unified Vietnam. First, however, Ho ruthlessly consolidated his power in the North. Evidencing the fact that behind his carefully constructed facade of the kindly and gentle ‘Uncle Ho' he was in reality (in Susan Sontag's particularly descriptive words) a ‘fascist with a human face,' Ho massacred his countrymen by the thousands in a Soviet-style ‘land reform' campaign. In November 1956, when peasants in his home province protested, some 6,000 were murdered in cold blood. With such actions, Ho proved he was a worthy contemporary of Lenin, Stalin and Mao Tse-tung, who had also built their empires with the blood of their countrymen. By the time of his death on September 3, 1969, Ho Chi Minh was generally spoken of in the same breath as Lenin and Mao Tse-tung. He had certainly led his native Communist Party through almost 40 years of success, creating a state where none had existed before and devising a Communist government to run it. He was a national leader with strong internationalist credentials, having served the Communist Party throughout Europe and Asia for more than 20 years before his return to Vietnam. He led a Communist Party unique in that it had never had a major purge or a major theoretical dispute. As a young Communist functionary, he avoided Stalin's great purges of the 1920s and 30s. As a mature Communist leader, he steered a middle course between the Russians and Chinese in their great schism, offending neither and retaining the support of both. In sum, Ho Chi Minh was that great contradiction: a dedicated Communist who was also a fervent nationalist. Throughout his life he never lost sight of his goal of an independent Vietnamese state, and even as a Communist leader he pursued an essentially Vietnamese course, even when pure Communist theory might have dictated other choices. Yet there is no doubt that he was fully committed to the Communist ideal, that he accepted it completely in 1920, and that he never had second thoughts. Ho Chi Minh's Communist ideology was flexible enough to serve his purposes. In any case, he was never the doctrinaire, and always much more a political activist whose strong will was directed at the goal of the independence and unification of Vietnam. [pic] This article was written by Charles E. Kirkpatrick and originally published in the February 1990 issue of Vietnam Magazine. For more great articles be sure to subscribe to Vietnam Magazine today!

How to Address Family Members in Mandarin Chinese

Duke University Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is an elite private university with a 10% acceptance rate. This makes it one of the  most selective universities  in the country. If you are thinking of applying, here you will find admissions statistics you should know including average SAT scores and ACT scores for admitted students. Why Duke University? Location: Durham, North CarolinaCampus Features: The stunning stone architecture of Dukes main campus is just a small part of the universitys 8,693 acres. The school has a 7,000 acre forest, marine lab, golf course, and medical campus.Student/Faculty Ratio: 7:1Athletics: The Duke Blue Devils compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).Highlights: Duke rivals the Ivies for selectivity. The school has an $8.5 billion endowment and is part of the research triangle with UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. The area has the highest concentration of PhDs and MDs in the world. Acceptance Rate For students entering Duke in the 2017-18 academic year, the acceptance rate was 10%. This means that for every student who is admitted, 9 students receive rejection letters. Admissions Statistics (2017-18) Number of Applicants 33,077 Percent Admitted 10% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled 54% SAT Scores and Requirements Duke University requires all students to submit either SAT or ACT scores. For students who entered Duke in the 2017-18 academic year, 31% submitted SAT scores. Duke University SAT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile ERW 670 750 Math 710 790 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing The SAT scores needed to get into Duke are comparable to the Ivy League. The great majority of admitted students rank among the top 7% of test-takers according to national SAT score data. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between a 670 and 750 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam. This tells us that 25% of admitted students scored a 670 or lower, and the upper quartile scored a 750 or higher. The math scores were even higher. The middle 50% scored between a 710 and 790, and this tells us that 25% got a 710 or lower, and 25% earned either a 790 or perfect 800. The most competitive applicants to Duke will be in the top 25% and have a combined score of 1540 or higher. Requirements Duke no longer requires the writing section of the SAT as it joins the long list of universities moving away from the optional essay. However, the university does still recommend the essay. SAT Subject Tests are not required either, but Duke strongly recommends students submit scores from two Subject Tests. This suggests you would be wise to do so. If you have taken the SAT more than once, Duke invites you to use the SAT Score Choice option and submit only your highest scores. Duke with superscore your exams using the highest score from each section. ACT Scores and Requirements All applicants must submit scores from either the ACT or SAT, and the ACT is by far the more popular exam at Duke. For students who entered the university in the 2017-18 academic year, 70% submitted ACT scores. Duke ACT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile English 32 35 Math 30 35 Composite 31 35 Youll find that Dukes ACT scores are comparable to ACT of other top private universities. When compared to national ACT averages, youll find that the great majority of Duke students rank among the top 5% of test-takers. The middle 50% of Duke students scored between a 31 and 35 (36 is a perfect score). This tells us that the bottom 25% scored a 31 or lower, and the top 25% scored either a 35 or 36. The most competitive Duke applicants will be at the upper end of this range. Requirements Duke University recommends but does not require the optional ACT writing exam. Students who take the ACT are also not required to submit SAT Subject Test scores, but the university will consider those scores if you do choose to submit them. Note that Duke does superscore the ACT. If you took the exam more than once, the admissions folks will recalculate your score using your strongest scores from each section regardless of the test date. GPA and Class Rank Duke University does not publish GPA data for admitted students, but you can see from the graph below that the great majority of admitted students have grades in the A range. An unweighted average of 3.8 or higher is the norm. Class ranks are also high. 90% of Duke students were in the top 10% of their high school classes, and 97% were in the top 25%. High grades in challenging classes will be the most important part of your Duke application. Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph Duke University Applicants Self-Reported GPA, SAT, and ACT Data.   Graph courtesy of Cappex The GPA, SAT score, and ACT score data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Duke University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your own chances of getting in with a free account at Cappex. Admissions Chances Most students who get into Duke have A grades and standardized test scores that are significantly above average. That said, realize that many students with a 4.0 GPA and extremely high standardized test scores still get rejected from Duke. For this reason, you should consider a highly selective school like Duke to be a reach school even if your grades and test scores are on target for admission. At the same time, keep in mind that Duke has holistic admissions. Dukes admissions folks are looking for students who will bring more than good grades and standardized test scores to their campus. A strong Common Application essay and/or supplemental essays, glowing letters of recommendation, and a strong alumni interview can all strengthen your application, and of course the university will be looking for meaningful extracurricular activities. Also, you can improve your admissions chances if you highlight true artistic talent in an artistic supplement, and by applying to the university early decision (do this only if you are 100% sure that Duke is your first-choice school). Sources: Graphs courtesy of Cappex; all other data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Duke University Office of Admissions.