ACT: 31 (English 35, math 27, reading 36, science 26, writing 9)
I’ve only taken the ACT once so hoping to get this up.
Weighted GPA: 4.01
Unweighted GPA: 3.82
I’m going into my senior year. I messed up my freshman year academically because of my life situation at the time. I plan on explaining this in my essay. I got As and Bs as a freshman, but have only gotten As since.
University of Michigan is my top school!! I also really like UT Austin (I’m out of state though), UMiami, and UC Davis.
I want to go somewhere with strong alumni and athletics (football). I want the full college experience. I live on the west coast so I’d prefer to go to another part of the country. I want to meet new people.
I’m having a hard time finding other schools that fit this criteria that are an appropriate academic level. Any suggestions would be appreciated
I’m from California and I’m a biochemistry major! Don’t have a budget and I haven’t taken the subject tests yet. Both UC capped weighted and fully weighted GPAs are 4.0.
Well, the UCs won’t count freshman grades, so you have a good start there. And UC Davis is on your list. Add some more state schools, less selective and you are good to go. You can then apply wherever you please with impunity
It’s important you know where you stand in costs. What are you parents able and willing to pay? How much financial aid are the NPCs saying you may get? If you can’t afford a school, it becomes an issue. Make sure you do the math.
Out of curiosity only, why do you care if your college has famous alumni? Football I get, but people who’ve attended and graduated 10 years ago?
And I’d add Ohio State to your list.
Make sure you don’t devote your personal statement to a “Why my freshman grades weren’t great” explanation. If your life experiences at that time were compelling in making you the person you are today, then okay, but this is not the place for explaining/excusing past performance. Ask your guidance counselor to address those issues in his/her recommendation, or put it in the optional short “Is there anything else we should know” essay. The personal statement should be a positive expression of who you are and who you hope to become.
I’d suggest you consider taking the SAT, particularly if you had trouble finishing the math section of the ACT. The SAT has no science section, and the math section isn’t quite as fast-paced as the ACT. Seems like you’ll probably do great on the verbal side regardless, so anything that can bump the math side up a little will strengthen your profile.
Affordability isn’t a problem for schools like UMIch and UT with high OOS costs? If you’re not in a money-no-object situation, look at some of the flagship schools where you could get the WUE discount, or flagships in other regions that offer merit and/or lower OOS sticker prices. Ohio State, above, is a great suggestion. Colorado-Boulder is particularly strong in biochem. (Although U of Utah has many of the same attributes for a lot less money.) UGA, 'Bama, UMinnesota… there are many good options, and you’d qualify for the honors colleges/programs at many of them.
Why biochemistry? Are you thinking med school or other pre-health? Grad school? How have your STEM grades and rigor been in HS? (Because your testing profile tilts away from STEM.) Your post-undergrad goals make a big difference in determining where would be best to go, and also in considering your major path (i.e. life sciences majors shouldn’t necessarily be the default for premed).
The University of Florida sounds like a good match too. It is top ranked, great for your major, 40% acceptance rate, cheaper, amazing football/school spirit
