I’m a current senior and would appreciate if anyone could chance me for my reaches. I consider UT kind of a reach because of my rank (i’m in state, applying to Natural Sciences).
GPA: 3.88/4.0 unweighted
Rank: top 25%
SAT: 2240
Going to take SAT II (math 2, lit, bio E) and ACT (anticipate at least a 32 based on practice test scores)
Pakistani female going into pre-med with a biology-related major
Residency: TX
APs taken so far: World history (5), English language(5), Spanish language(5), Physics I (3), Human geo (5) Gov, Macro
Senior schedule: AP Chem, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, student leadership honors, academic decathlon honors, research honors
Volunteering: ~200 hours
Awards: NSE gold, DECA stuff, ap scholar with distinction, some in-school stuff (academic excellence, english award, etc.)
ECs:
-NHS
-DECA
-i tutor freshmen in a peer tutoring program
-red belt in chun kuk do , don’t know if i’ll list this on my app though
-thespian honor society (have been part of 10 ish plays, out of those i’ve had leadership positions in about half)
-have chaired a few educational campaigns this year (one for cultural awareness, another for religious tolerance)
-am doing a research and awareness project on health care for the impoverished
-am part of an international studies magnet program within my school
-summer writing workshop at rice (not selective)
-selective pre-health summer program at Baylor
there are others, but i don’t think im going to list them on my app.
Cornell, JH, Brown will be pretty tough because of your GPA/rank. Your EC’s don’t scream “bio”, they’re a bit all over the place. Rice, I’d say is a high match or low reach. Tulane and UT Austin you should get into. Work on your essays, but make sure to apply to good solid safeties as well.
and i do have some science ECs (HOSA, robotics club, Future Physicians of America, science NHS) but i didn’t join them until junior year when i decided on a science major
i feel like adding them to my app would make it look like i just joined a bunch of clubs to beef up my app , rather than actually caring about them
do you think im better off just listing them ? @delineated
I’d add them! It’s common for people to not get a good idea about what they want to major in until their junior year, and it’d make a lot more sense with your bio/pre-med path.
You have fair academics and good test scores for these schools. ECs if say are average. At this point, the best thing you can do is get great subject test scores, especially in Bio. Here are your chances:
Cornell- reach (ivy…is for most people)
JHU- reach (one of the best science/pre-med programs in the country)
Brown- reach (ivy… Is for most people)
Rice- low reach
UT Austin- match
Tulane- low/match
My best advice. Don’t bother taking the ACT. Your SAT score is more than enough and a 32 on the ACT = 2110 on the SAT (fyi). So you would need at least a 34 on the ACT to do any better and that would add anything to your application. Only a 35+ on the ACT would do anything. Don’t waste your time.
i already registered for the september act im also taking it as a sort of cushion in case my subject test scores are sub par. Thank you for your advice, though @jarrett211
You have a good shot at rice and Tulane. Cornell and Brown are high matches not reaches for you in my opinion. Also, don’t take the Act unless you get 34+
overall, your scores are very solid for a good student and your extracurriculars as well - Cornell, Johns Hopkins and Brown are high matches imo, and Rice should be slightly easier - I am not familiar with the other 2. good luck!
im also taking it as a sort of cushion in case my subject test scores are sub par. Thank you for your advice, though