<p>I am a rising Senior
Top 4% of Class
GPA ~3.7-3.8
SAT: 2330 (750CR, 780M, 800W)
SAT II's: Math II 790, USH 780, Chem 780
AP's: Euro, Chem, Lang&Comp, USH, Calc AB. Got a 5 on all these exams. I will take 4 more AP classes this year. Otherwise, took highest-level classes possible
EC's (weak point):
Academic Team 3yrs (JV Captain for one),
Science Bowl Team 3yrs (JV Captain for one),
Physics Olympics 2yrs
Mock Trial 1yr
150+ hours community service</p>
<p>Looking for Biochem or Bioengineering major with pre-med courses</p>
<p>Here's my college list so far:
Columbia U
Stanford
U Pennsylvania
Tufts University
Johns Hopkins U
U of Michigan
Brandeis University
Penn State U Park
Temple University
Swarthmore College
Boston University</p>
<p>What I'm worried about is that I might have too many reaches on this list. I would appreciate it if you guys could give me some suggestions how to change this list, or if you could suggest some good matches for me. Thanks!</p>
<p>Reach
Columbia U
U Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College</p>
<p>Low Reach
Johns Hopkins U</p>
<p>Match
Tufts (beware of the Tufts syndrome)</p>
<p>Safety
U of Michigan (on stats alone)
Brandeis University
Penn State U Park
Temple University
Boston University</p>
<p>I’d actually argue that you have way too many safeties. If you want to go to a top school you school cast a wide net and hope you catch a few (or at least one fish). You have too many safeties (I’d lose almost all of them except Michigan and one more), and not enough “targets.” You should add a couple of reaches (schools like Duke, Dartmouth, Brown, Amherst) a few more low reaches (schools like Northwestern, WashU, Rice), and a few more matches (Vanderbilt, Emory).</p>
<p>You’re wasting apps by emphasizing the wrong side (safeties) of the app pool then where you should be applying to the more top schools with the idea that a couple might work out (reaches and matches)</p>
<p>Figure out which schools are safeties for both admissions and cost.</p>
<p>Then eliminate all schools that you would not choose over your top two or three safeties (regardless of whether the schools are reach, match, or safety otherwise). Also eliminate any schools which would not be realistically affordable (for example, many public schools give little or no financial aid to out of state students, so if their full price is not affordable, they may not be worth applying to). Any other schools you add should be those which you would choose ahead of your safeties and would be realistically affordable.</p>
<p>Note that pre-med can be done around any major, and most pre-meds do not get into any medical school. Also, medical school is expensive. So consider your other academic and career goals when choosing a major.</p>