Chance for Notre Dame

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>I’m a new poster to the site, but a follower for over a year. My son will be a rising Junior next year and I would like to gauge his school preference to Notre Dame with a realistic eye. Any and all comments regarding his chances based upon this info. would be greatly appreciated for this 1st time poster. </p>

<p>White Male, from South Florida</p>

<p>He plans to pursue PreMed Studies (ultimately Med School) or International Business/Economics.
He’ll be a Junior in the Fall Junior, so I'll make reasonable estimates for that and his senior year.</p>

<p>Stats. as of now:</p>

<p>GPA UW: 3.93 (Core Only)
GPA W: 5.12 (School weights +1 pt. for Honors & 2 pts. For AP Classes)
Class Rank: 2 of 110
Counting senior year, 9 AP classes will have been completed</p>

<p>Freshman Year: AP Human Geo (5)
Sophomore Year: AP Biology (just taken-very certain a 5)
Junior Year: APUSH, AP Environmental Science, AP Lang and Comp.
Senior Year: AP Physics B, AP Chemistry, AP Lit and Comp., AP Stats.</p>

<p>All Honors or AP level courses - Medical Professions Track at his school is heavy on the Sciences, has or will complete: Medical Terminology, Embryology, Anatomy & Physiology,
Forensic Science, Pathology, Medical Internship, Medical Exam, Biology (Honors & AP),
Chem. (Honors & AP), AP Physics B, Microbiology, AP Environmental Science.</p>

<p>PSAT: 214 as a 10th Grader (Intensive tutoring for PSAT and SAT continuing up until October Test date – School provided scholarship for tutoring 20 high achievers at his school)</p>

<p>Sat Testing with tutor in timed test conditions is yielding CR 770 M 740 W 720</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
National Honor Society (Secretary)
National English Honor Society
National Spanish Honor Society
PreMed Honors Society (2 Years)
Key Club
Community Service 450 hrs. to date (YMCA, Fundraising for various overseas causes, Acting Camp mentor at local County Playhouse)
Physician Shadowing
Tutored Middle School Students in grade specific math</p>

<p>Dual Citizen- USA/Italy
He researched, applied for and was awarded his dual citizenship. He would like the option of living/working overseas after college.</p>

<p>Awards:
• Palm Beach Regional Science & Engineering Fair 2nd Place Physics Category (2012)</p>

<p>• Florida State Science & Engineering Fair Finalist – 2nd Place Engineering Category (2013- only student in school history to make it to and place at State Level).</p>

<p>• The Stiles Nicholson Foundation “MAD Scientist” Junior Achievement Award.</p>

<p>• ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers & Florida Foundation of Future Scientists- Outstanding Project Award – State of Florida 2nd Place Senior Division.</p>

<p>• Received a Full 4 year Academic Scholarship to attend his Private School from amongst 250 competing Highest Academic achieving Middle School students in South Florida.</p>

<p>• School-Wide Speech Finalist (as a 9th Grader)</p>

<p>Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards: Biology, Pre Calc, Anatomy & Physiology, World History.</p>

<p>AP Scholar with Distinction (as of next year)</p>

<p>Recommendations:
Honors & AP Biology teacher (was also his State Science Fair Coordinator)
Medical Professions Program Chair
School Headmaster</p>

<p>All three will be outstanding recs.</p>

2

<p>Academically- obvious</p>

<p>The only thing missing at this point is leadership. Alot of his awards/accomplishments are solo activities. Leadership being working up to being President of some club/Captain of a team/something that shows he works well with others and they respect him. That he is growing as a person, not just way smart.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for the response…all upper classman hold the leadership positions in the clubs…he was just approached for a sitting position with the NHS and accepted…he’ll try to work up from there…Thanks again for the reply</p>

4

<p>He certainly has the grades, and if he does well on the SATs he will be in good shape. But, as you probably know, ND gets tons of applications with high numbers. What may set your son apart is continued high achievements in serious science/engineering competitions. I would focus on that, rather than trying to add more honor society positions, which I doubt the admissions committee will care much about. Putting together a winning science project takes considerably more time, effort, persistence, talent etc. than does being an officer in an honor society. </p>

<p>And keep in mind that much of the whole application process depends upon factors that are beyond his control – his gender/race/geographic location/legacy/socioeconomic status, etc. There is something to be said for pursuing one’s passions in high school rather than choosing every activity with an eye to how it will appear on a college application.</p>

5

<p>Wise words…thank you for the response</p>