Chance me at the following schools....

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey guys, I’m just wondering if any of you can tell me my chances of making it into the following schools…

Intended Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PreMed)
Other Academic Interests: Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Science

  • Brown University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • City College of New York/Sophie Davis
  • New York University
  • Boston University
  • Duke University
  • Cornell University
  • Vanderbilt University
  • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
  • Tufts University
  • University of Los Angeles
  • University of California Berkeley
  • Emory University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Stony Brook University
  • New York Institute of Technology
  • Hofstra University
  • Adelphi University

SAT I (breakdown): 1520- 800 Math 720 Reading/Writing
ACT (breakdown): 35C- 33E, 35M, 34R, 36S
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Biology M, 800 Chemistry
Unweighted GPA (out of 100): 95
Weighted GPA: 104
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Biology (5), AP Environmental Science (5), AP United States History (5), AP English Language and Composition (5), AP World History (4), AP Statistics (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology (Self Study), Science Research 4, Wind Ensemble (Alto Saxophone 2)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar with distinction, Regents Diploma with Honors, All-County Saxophonist

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
-National Honor Society
-Science Honor Society
-Math Honor Society
-English Honor Society
-Social Studies Honor Society
-Tri M Honor Society
-Jazz Ensemble (Tenor Saxophone 1)
-Pit Orchestra (Tenor Saxophone 1)
-Marching Band (Alto Saxophone 1)
-Key Club
-Environmental Club
-Pre-Med Club
-STEM Club
-South Asian Student Association Club
-Spikeball Club

Job/Work Experience: Professional Saxophone Player and I played for…
-NYSSMA (All-State Auditions)
-Private Lessons: 7th-12th
-Church Choir: Soprano Saxophone
-Played for Weddings, Engagements, Sweet Sixteens, Holy Communions, National Conventions, Fundraisers, Etc.

Volunteer/Community service:

  • Soup Kitchen Kitchen
  • Homeless Runs in Manhattan
  • Youth Ambassador of a Nonprofit Organization
  • Flood Relief Efforts
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Hospital Volunteering 200 Hrs
  • Altar Service, Ushering @ Church
  • Catholic Religious Education K-12
  • Jesus Youth Retreats

Summer Activities:
-Medical Office Shadowing 100 Hours
-Fire Department Junior Volunteer/EMT-B Classes
-Medical Research Internship at Mount Sinai Hospital and Albert Einstein College of Medicine
-Environmental Science Research Mentorship at Stony Brook University
-State Senator Summer Internship
-Dental Office Shadowing 50 Hours
-NYU College Of Dentistry Saturday Academy
-Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Decision for Dentistry
-NYU’s Annual Oral Cancer Walk

State (if domestic applicant): New York
Country (if international applicant): United States of America
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: South Indian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 180K+
Hooks (URM, first-generation college, etc.): N/A

I am currently in my 2nd month of Junior Year. I plan to get several positions in the honor societies and clubs within the year at my high school. Please give me any advice on applying to college and my chance of making it into these schools. Thank you:)

2

No top tier school cares even a tiny bit about any applicants membership in any sort of honor society. Of your EC’s and activities, this is the one most likely to make a difference, particularly if it results in a poster, publication, or national science competition entry: “Medical Research Internship at Mount Sinai Hospital and Albert Einstein College of Medicine”

Your stats are fine. In terms of ECs, less shadowing (no highly selective school really cares about that any more than they do about honor societies) more research.

3

That list is very top heavy. The big question remains, can you afford to go to these schools without taking on a pile of debt? If the answer is no, then you need to scratch them off the list.

Choosing a school based on “premed” rankings is a very bad idea. Doctor is a popular dream for kids coming out of high school, but almost none of them go to medical school. As you mature, you find undiscovered passions in different areas. You’ll want to choose a school that’s affordable and flexible, because the average college student changes their major at least twice.

If you do decide medicine, you need to keep the debt down because medical school is very very expensive. If you have $100,000 in undergraduate loans, your options are going to be very limited.

4

UCs are not the greatest for premed, especially Berkeley. Which is known as a grade deflator. UCLA might be slightly better, but not by much. Plus you’re OOS and for the cost you are paying, a private school is a better bargain.

Also are you are a current junior? If so how did you take 6 AP tests before junior year?

5

I am also wondering what your budget is. To me the cost of the Universities of California out of state seem unlikely to be worth it compared to your very good in-state public schools. Given the strength of your in-state public universities, I would not take on any debt to go anywhere more expensive. I would also run the NPC on each university and see what they are likely to cost you. Of course for the large majority of premed students who do not end up in medical school, having no undergraduate debt also provides significant freedom while you figure out what to do instead.

I am not a big believer for a premed student attending the academically most stressful and challenging university that they can get into. It might not be exciting to aim at an in-state public school where you are in the top 1/2 of admitted students for both GPA and SAT, but it is a good way to get a school which you can afford and where you at least have a decent chance of getting a premed worthy GPA. Premed classes will be tough wherever you attend.

Also, you have done very well to this point. Congratulations and keep up the excellent work!

6

Thank You.