Application desperately needs improvement, any advice?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey, I was hoping some of you could give me a few tips for improving my application. My top school (which, for the sake of not being told I have absolutely no chance, I think it's best I not mention the name of) at this point would probably not even take a second look at my application. I have one more year of high school to build it up.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Causasian
Currently a junior (grad. 2011), attend a very competitive private school in Texas
GPA: 3.86 unweighted on 4.0 scale for freshman and sophomore year
Rank: unknown (school doesn't rank)</p>

<p>PSAT: 198 sophomore year and just took it as a junior (don't really know what to expect)
SAT: Haven't taken yet.
ACT: Also haven't taken. Practice tests ranged from a 31-33.</p>

<p>APs: taking Chem, US History, French IV, and English Language and Composition this year (obviously don't know my scores yet)
Next year I'm taking Biology, Calc AB, and others that I haven't decided on</p>

<p>SAT II: plan on taking Chemistry, US History, Math II, and perhaps English Literature this year.</p>

<p>ECs:
Athletic Training 10-12 (Most Improved 2008-9)
Volunteer at large public hospital during summer getting prescriptions filled for elderly and disabled: 210 hours b/w sophomore and junior year, plan on 300 b/w junior and senior year
Photography
Co-founded a club at my school, but we need to get it going </p>

<p>Sorry for the lack of scores and grades. I'm mostly worried about my severely lacking extracurriculars and my grades. I'm taking Honor English, AP Chem, APUSH, AP French IV, Pre-Cal, and Genetics in addition to doing photography and staying at school for an additional 2 hours everyday for athletic training, so managing my time has been difficult.</p>

<p>Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>What are you hoping to major in?</p>

3

<p>I plan on going pre-med in college, but I’m not sure what exactly I want to major in…most likely Chemistry or possibly Microbiology.</p>

4

<p>what’s athletic training?</p>

5

<p>if you like athletic training then I would think you would be better off interning with a team AT or physical therapist than “getting prescriptions filled for elderly”.</p>

6

<p>^ Sorry. I help out the athletic trainer after school everyday from 4 to 6 when the sports teams are practicing. We wrap ankles/shin splints/etc, get ice for injuries, and do anything else the athletes need. We also watch games and have emergency kits in case anybody gets injured.</p>

7

<p>Thank you for the suggestion, I’ll look into that. The hospital that I volunteered at has thousands of volunteers, and most of the high school volunteers only do paper work. I was lucky to actually interact with patients, but, even so, it wasn’t really what I was looking for.</p>

8

<p>Kind of in this order - Work as hard as you can on your GPA, Class Rank, SAT, ACT, SAT II’s (take them as soon as you finish the class - don’t wait to Sr. year) AP Classes, Prepare to get great references from 2 teachers and your GC, Take a leadership position in a club or org. (in the HS or Community), Write about being a athletic trainer and submit it to a paper or teen publication. Use Your Summer - Shadow a DR or do something that is much more one to one. </p>

<p>Check out colleges that’s pre-med graduates often are recruited to med schools AND are given great merit aid. Davidson in NC would be a good example. </p>

<p>Good Luck</p>