Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Complete your high school education. . Get involved with extra-curricular activities. Keep your GPA as high as possible. Take the required standardized tests. Have your high school transcript sent to Duke. Acquire two recommendations from teachers who know you well.

Answer: Duke is an elite university, highly competitive, and it's necessary to complete your high school education with excellent academic standing to apply. While you attend school, it's important to specialize in broad curriculum, high-level classes, as well as supplementing your application with diverse extra-curricular activities and above-average grades. Take courses in high school that include natural science, 3 years of mathematics, a foreign language, 4 years of English and social studies. Include electives that demonstrate your willingness to be challenged and expand your knowledge base and makes you an erudite. If you plan on applying to the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke, coursework in calculus and physics are strongly recommended during high school. While you may technically apply to Duke having attained a High School equivalency, like the GED, it's very difficult to get into Duke without a nice high school record. It's important to finish High School and graduation with outstanding grades if you want to get into Duke. ake Advanced Placement courses or honors classes, if possible. Duke University looks for students who have taken accelerated classes, and these course may, in some cases, be counted for credit at Duke. If AP courses are available at your high school, find out what it takes to enroll, and do so. Typically, AP courses are offered during 11th and 12th grade, are somewhat more advanced, and will end with a standardized AP test, in addition to a final. Typically, the AP test itself is optional, but you'll want to take it and do well if you want to get into elite universities like Duke. If you take AP courses and tests, you'll also typically need to arrange to have these sent to the Universities to which you hope to apply. The sooner you know you want to go to Duke, the sooner you can arrange to have your AP scores sent. To get into Duke, you need to display that you've received a well-rounded education and were fully engaged in a diversity of activities at your school. Get involved in a school sport, band, club, or other organization to make your application really stand out. The Duke Office of Admissions cautions students from involving themselves with too many activities. Duke officials stress that it is the quality of the participation that counts, not the number of activities. Pick one or two that you really care about, instead of joining up with the Xbox club just to have something to put on your app. Your grade point average is a demonstration of your consistency and ability to achieve at all levels in high school. Trying to maintain a consistently high GPA is a good way to stand out among your peers and demonstrate that you're a consistent and serious student and potential Duke grad. Pay attention to your class rank, as well. If you're somewhere near the top 25 or even top 10 of your class, this is important to keep in mind when you're applying to Duke. While the GPA is the most important thing, it looks nice and tidy if you can also let them know you were one of the best students at your school. Your GPA is another good reason to take AP courses, which are typically offered on a 5 point, as opposed to 4 point, scale. That means an A in an AP course is typically worth more GPA points than an A in a regular course, so you can skew your GPA higher as a bonus. Duke University requires that students submit test scores from either the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), so it's a good idea to sign up for one or both as soon as possible to give yourself enough chances to get a high score. While Duke does not have a specific minimum score requirement for admission, accepted students typically fall into the upper 50th percentile. Typically, for admission, students score above 29 on the ACT as a potential Arts & Sciences student, and above 32 as a potential engineering student. On the SAT, students typically score at least 680 on the verbal section, 690 on the math section and 660 on the writing section. On average, students accepted into Duke received scores slightly higher than the minimum requirement, between 700 and 800 on both sections of the SAT and roughly 31-35 on the ACT. All students accepted into Duke are in the top 50th percentile. Coordinate with your school's guidance counselor to send official grade reports and a high school transcript to Duke University as soon as possible upon your graduation, and talk about acquiring unofficial transcripts to complete your application. While you're still in high school, it's important to cultivate good relationships with at least two teachers who will be willing to write you glowing recommendations. Duke University requires recommendations be from teachers who have instructed you within the last two years. If possible, find out whether or not any of your teachers have attended Duke in the past. Letters from Alumni typically stand out more than recommendations from other teachers. Be sure to ask for a letter as early as possible in the application season, preferably early in the Fall semester, if you want a good letter. Teachers will quickly get swamped with requests, and you want to be early in the line.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Select plain cardstock paper that supports your color story. Purchase patterned paper that supports your theme. Experiment with transparency paper. Purchase a curated paper collection.

Answer: Acid-free cardstock is a staple of scrapbooking. It is a stiff, heavy paper that can withstand the weight of embellishments, photos, and memorabilia. These characteristics make it ideal to use as a background for your album's pages. Cardstock is available in every imaginable solid color, texture, and finish. When you select your cardstock, pick out colors, textures, and finishes that complement your scrapbook's color storythe palette of colors you choose to use in the album. You may also use cardstock to mat photos, frame pictures, and create embellishments. Finishes include: iridescent, glossy, matte, and glitter. 80 pounds is the most popular cardstock weight. It is similar in thickness to a business card. Scrapbookers rely on acid-free patterned paper to help them tell their narrative, express their theme, and unite their album. The patterns you select should reflect your theme and align with your color story. This lightweight paper is perfect for accents and use as a background. You may choose patterns that clearly expresses your themepalm trees for tropical vacations or ballerinas for a dance recitalor you can pick paper with an abstract or geometrical pattern that will work for a variety of pages within your album. If you struggle to mix and match patterns and colors, you can purchase sets of printed paper. In addition to using solid and patterned paper, scrapbookers also incorporate transparent sheets of acetate paper into their albums. Transparency paper may be completely see through or contain a printed pattern. You may use this paper as an overlay or for a background. In an effort to keep your album cohesive, the transparency paper you purchase should match the cardstock and patterned paper you select for your project. Do not purchase transparency paper that is unrelated to your theme and/or color palette. Scrapbooking aisles provide consumers with a myriad of options, but don't allow the seemingly endless options to overwhelm you. If you are struggling to mix and match patterns, colors, and even paper types for you backgrounds, opt to purchase a curated pack of paper. Every pattern and color was carefully selected to complement the other options within the pack. A collection of paper will give you a good starting point. Most packs of curated paper have a line of matching embellishments.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Think about what your card should look like. Decide on a design. Write a list of what you will need. Assemble your materials for the card. Make a draft before starting the final product. Write your own instructions. Make a step-by-step list of things you need to do. Make your card. Evaluate the final product. Write the card. Deliver the card.

Answer:
This can be a daunting task- either you have a lot of ideas or none at all. However, you can find inspiration in many places. Be creative- how can you show what you are grateful for? Examples include a cut-out of your hand on colorful paper, apple/potato stamps, a pop-up-card- but there are no limits to your ideas! Look online on crafting forums for inspiration- even if you only find what you don't want to do! Bounce off ideas with friends or parents- good feedback is always helpful! Here you need to be practical and think about what's doable and what is not. Evaluate your artistic abilities and time. What can realistically be accomplished? Think of your teacher first- what would they like? Maybe something that you don't like would appeal to them. Now that you've decided on what you'd like to do, think of what you have and what you need and write it down. Look around the house and see what you already have- old paper scraps could be re-purposed for shapes you want to glue to your card, for example. Ask friends and family for old materials they might discard otherwise, such as textile cloths or old crayons. Consider using different materials to layer the card, for example: markers, crayons, glitter, glue, stickers, pens, and paint. Your list is complete, and all you have to do is buy your materials. Go to an arts and craft store instead of ordering materials online. The sales clerks at arts and craft stores create things everyday- they'll be happy to help and give you great tips! Line them up in the order you will need to use them. When you are in the process, preparation will save you time and energy. This step takes extra time, but it will be worth it in the end. Also, if your draft looks good, you can give it to another teacher! Put effort into the draft- it will give you ideas for the final product and tell you what works and what doesn't. Take notes during your draft- so that you know what worked and what did not. This may seem silly, but it's helpful to you and later to others, should you decide to share your instructions. This will help you to not forget anything important. Think about typing up your instructions and sharing them with others! After all the preparations, it's time to make your card. Here is what to keep in mind: Follow your own instructions- to a t! Neatness and precision are essential when it comes to crafting a card for a teacher- it's another way of showing them that their lessons were appreciated. Draw, glue, paint your card. Pay attention to what you are doing- it's easy to make a mistake working with different materials. You're done! Now it's time to look at your card and see if you like it, and more importantly, if your teacher would like it! Compare it with your draft- what is better, what is worse? Consider making a second card, to have a backup. This is often perceived as the hardest part, as you don't want to be cliched or trite in your words. Be honest and creative: tell them why they are great, but tell them in your own special way: For example, write your message in a secret code and leave them a clue. Be personal: If there is a special instance when they helped you or were nice mention that. The fact that you remember shows that you pay attention and your teacher will love it. On to the home stretch! A beautifully delivered card underlines the content and makes your teacher happy. Hand deliver the card. Deliver the card when your teacher has a free moment and time to appreciate the card- that's after school most of the time. Smile when presenting it to your teacher- this will signal your true intentions to them. Watch your posture and enunciate your words properly- this shows confidence!