<p>It sounds like your chances are good, but I know Stony Brook is pretty competitive these days. As a graduating senior who transferred to SB as a junior, let me give you a word of advice. Stony Brook is insanely competitive in the sciences, and the pre-med community can be cutthroat. Be careful about whose advice you take. There will be incoming freshmen who have been doing research in a biochem lab since they were 16. Academic advising will tell you to take 18 credits of chem, bio, calculus, and DECs in your first semester.</p>
<p>Take 15 credits your first semester, don’t slack off, seek guidance during your professors’ office hours, go to TA’s, and explore what’s out there. Take on only as much as you are sure you can handle. Look for research and volunteer experience early. Mentors prefer taking in students who can commit to 3-4 years, for two reasons: they want people they can train who will stick around, and they doubt the intentions of juniors who are looking for resume boosters in the year or so before applying.</p>
<p>Find a major you really love. I hated Stony Brook last year when I was taking classes with pre-med “gunners” who intentionally give bad advice to new or clueless students to boost their chances against the competition. Fortunately, I kept a high GPA and found a small major that has introduced me to an awesome group of peers. I was already determined, self-motivated, and good at negotiating the “game” associated with pre-med. It was hard enough for me to find my niche.</p>
<p>If you end up at Stony Brook, take it easy in your first semester or two. You’ll have 4 (well 3) years to prove you can juggle a high course load with volunteering, research, and other EC’s. I’m in the Honors College, and I’ve met students who were accepted to Harvard and are extremely bright, but who had some really bad experiences academically. Advisers will push you to “prove yourself” and push you into a rigorous schedule of weed-out classes. It’s better to get a 3.8 with 15 credits than a 3.3 with 20 credits. And trust me, I’ve met freshman who were actually ADVISED to take 20 credits. </p>
<p>It’s a great school, but it can be a mine field for the unsuspecting freshman. Again, I encourage you to take the time to explore everything it has to offer. Gravitate towards groups that make you feel comfortable and supported, and not necessarily the gun-ho pre-med groups. </p>
<p>Good luck! If you have any questions, PM me.</p>