Chance a kid from a small town =)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I know that my chance at getting into a top colleges is slim, but I also really work hard for my grades and really want to get in somewhere I really like. My choices have been researched and I would love any feedback as to what I should do to improve my chances. In advance, thanks to all of those that reply. I'll chance back if I can.
I'll give you some background for my school. It is an underfunded, Title I public school with around 900 people (that is K-12). It has one AP course. It has some honors courses if you get lucky with your schedule. No one has went to an Ivy ever as far as I know, and the only one person in the last 20 years that I have heard of has went to a prestigious institute (Vanderbilt - on a football scholarship). So, my chances already look pretty crappy, but I am not giving up. =) Will my school hurt my chances a lot? </p>

<p>I want to be a doctor (pre-med with psychology major). </p>

<p>Academics:
SAT: 2190
SAT2: USH 730; M2 680 (I know, I know =( )
GPA Weighted: ~4.34
GPA Unweighted: 4.0
Rank: 1/~60 -- Valedictorian, if we had such a thing, haha. </p>

<p>AP Classes and exam scores (Remember: We only have ONE):
APUSH: 5 (the one AP class we have; I got the first five ever in fifteen years, so this is actually like amazing for my school)
AP Eng. Lang: 4 (online/self-study)
College Classes:
CH 104: A
EN 200: A+
(I took these with a program I will discuss below.)</p>

<p>Senior Year Courses:
AP Psyc: Online/self-study
AP U.S Gov: Online/Self Study
H English 12
H Forensics (strange that we have this)
H Economics
AP Calculus (online/video conference)
Band (major part of me)</p>

<p>I am the only senior taking any AP's if that helps anything. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars
- BAND. It's core to my life. 7 years of it, actually. I am drum major (leader of the band) and have been section leader (1st chair) for 6 years. I am possibly going to all-state, but that will be after college apps. I do a TON of things with the band and it takes a huge commitment. I am so passionate about band and I could write about it for hours. We have won various awards/competitions recently.
- Youth Symphony Orchestra: I meet once or twice a week and practice, and we have shows throughout the year. 2 years
- Honor Bands: I have attended many University Honor Bands where I played with people from around the area and learned challenging music. Also got 2nd chair in county honor band and 3rd in a university one.
- Student Council: Something I've been in for 4 years that does various things throughout the year.
- Red Cross Club: I founded this last year and we are officially affiliated with the Red Cross. I am President; we do volunteer/fundraising events for my local community as well as for disasters, like tornadoes. 2 years; A lot of passion here as well.
- Senior Class President. It keeps me busy, and I have organized fundraisers and service projects thus far.<br>
- Chamber of Commerce: Basically, we went around the community and learned about various things. Must be selected. 1 year (maximum)
- Scholar's Bowl: 5 years. We won county twice, and I love it.
- National Honor Society: 4 years. We go community service and must maintain an 85 or above and have a certain number of community service hours to stay.
- University of Alabama Rural Health Scholar's Program: A 5 week selective summer program where you take two college classes (CH 104, EN 200) and attend medical-related seminars. Approx. 25 get accepted, and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed myself and learned a ton.
- Shadowing: I am shadowing doctor(s) this summer at a hospital. Approx. 15 hours (the max allowed). </p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
April 2011 tornado outbreak – 25 hours (this devastated my area)
Food Shelter – 40 hours
Wounded Warriors – 20 hours
Red Cross – 40+ hours
Hospital volunteer– 20 hours (not shadowing)
Various other work: 30 hours
Coordinated a very successful blood drive at my school :) -- 20 hours</p>

<p>Awards:
Presidential Academic Achievement Award – 9th/10th/ 11th grade
Perfect Attendance – 9th/10th/11th grade
Highest GPA – 9th/10th/11th grade
Biotech 101 Award
Outstanding Performance at Smokey Mountain Music Festival – solo
Acceptance & Participation in University of Alabama Rural Health Scholars Program
Highest average in:
Algebra I
Adv. U.S History 10, AP U.S History 11
Adv. English 10, AP English (ACCESS)
H Anatomy & Physiology</p>

<p>Schools I'm applying to:
Johns Hopkins
UPenn
UAB (college in my state that has a decent med school - safety)
Vanderbilt
Duke
UNC (I've heard good things, anyone know how good the premed is here?)
Also, suggest colleges that you think I could fit in well.</p>

<p>Demographics:
Gender: Male
State: Alabama
Ethnicity: White
Income: Around 120k
School Type: Rural, small
Hooks: I am the first in my family to go to college, so first-generation student here. My real father is in prison, does that count, haha? I've come a long way... =)</p>

<p>Again, I know my chances are most likely slim to none. Ask me any questions. I just want to know if anyone thinks it is possible. I really appreciate it! (=</p>

2

<p>My friend is going to UNC for premed, and he passed up some good schools (like a 25k CWRU scholarship, berkeley), so I assume it’s pretty good (but worse than Duke).</p>

<p>I feel like you’d actually have a pretty good chance at Vanderbilt and JHU actually, but I’m not sure how much harder it is to get in those schools for a relevant pre-med major.</p>

3

<p>Thanks! Yeah, pre-med is so competitive these days, haha.</p>

4

<p>First, premed is not a major. :slight_smile: Plan to major in Chemistry or biochem (there’s a glut of Biology majors right now). You can also major in anything you like, languages, music, etc, as long as you keep high grades in your pre med classes.</p>

<p>Being first gen and from a school that has had few successful applicants would actually be a plus for you: you’ve obviously managed to take every opportunity available and have succeeded.</p>

<p>Include Emory, especially its Oxford College since you’ll have more support for your first premed courses than in large classes at the main campus, and after your 2 years you’ll move into the advanced classes for your major and get a degree from Emory.</p>

<p>Don’t forget the Honors College at UAlabama, the automatic scholarships, and the competitive scholarships. I believe the deadlines are Dec 1 so you need to hurry if you haven’t yet finished those competitive applications.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t apply to JHU - even if you got in, the premed program is cut throat and since you come from a small school with few AP’s, the odds of you getting the A’s you need in weed-out classes are so minuscule they’re not worth the risk (you’ll be with kids who will be “retaking” a lot of these college classes). If you’re serious about becoming a doctor, you need to choose a school where you’re reasonably close to being in the top 25% so that you avoid being decimated in the weed out classes. You clearly have what it takes (based on your summer program) so think in terms of a college with smaller classes for support for your first year, and excellent reputation for science.
Med Schools don’t care what school you come from. They look at your GPA, your MCAT score, your research experience.
I’d recommend you add a few schools - think Wake Forest, Davidson, Centre, Rhodes, perhaps Dickinson if you can look further North. Add a few LACs from the top 25 too.</p>

5

<p>Thank you – that is wonderful advice and is much appreciated! I will definitely look into those colleges. Do you think UPenn is out of reach?</p>

6

<p>Upenn is unpredictable. They may take a chance on a bright kid from a school that’s never sent anyone anywhere near the Ivy league. They may not. You won’t know until you apply.</p>

<p>Have you provided your counselor with a resume, so that s/he can detail your accomplishments? It’s also extremely important she stresses the fact you’re the first one who’s decided to reach so far and so high, that students who attend 4 year colleges attend local colleges, etc.</p>

7

<p>Will do, thank you!</p>