@lookingforward I guess what I am trying to say is that I am applying to all these top schools even though they’re reach schools for me because I feel like I’m obligated to do so just because I have a “good” SAT score that is within these schools range. When I referred to the college process being random and flawed, it was in regards to how some people will get accepted into schools like MIT and UCLA, yet get rejected from lower tier schools. To me, that is what makes the college process so random, not students.
I know others have said this, but please find some more safeties. While your stats are good, they do not seem to guarantee admission to these top schools. Maybe look at Lehigh, Bucknell, Urochester, Case Western…add a couple of match/safeties that you like. If it is not UMass, find others…
@parent1973 I am applying to Lehigh and Urochester already
I find out about Princeton on Dec 12!!! Sooooo nervous
Surprised that it wasn’t mentioned, but St. Olaf in Minnesota is a LAC that is excellent in both music and premed.
I find out about Princeton in a couple hours…
I got into UMASS with some money and into their Honors College!!! Happy about that because I know kids from my school that were qualified and somehow did not get into the honors college.
I got deferred from Princeton. Very disheartening. Will do my best for the regular round.
Just speaking as a parent, be proud of the UMass honors, just because you got it, not that others didn’t.
Princeton has agreed to re-review you. So be it.
Anything I can do to improve my chances with Princeton? Anything at all?
Make sure you know what they look for and check the impressions you made reflect those.
Obviously, they like you enough to keep your app in play. But there are so many factors and institutional needs they’re weighing.
I just enrolled in a Harvard edX Neuroscience course and will receive a certificate upon completion (projected time is 5 weeks but I’m hoping to get it done faster so I can send them the certificate).
I will start drafting my letter of continued interest and will send it by late January.
In the meantime, I’m thinking of adding some more safeties/even reaches.
I will apply to Lehigh, Tufts, and William & Mary as some matches.
Already done with my Rochester application, hoping to get in.
Any suggestions for more reaches? I was considering Emory as well.
WashU ED2 maybe? Although the deadline is 1/2 I believe.
@Hamurtle Definitely don’t want to ED anywhere…
Understood. I would consider a WashU RD application for you. I think that you are a viable candidate for admission to the school.
Be careful of Tufts-Google up Tufts syndrome.
@Hamurtle Yeah I’ve definitely heard of that but basically the entire top percentage of my highschools last graduating class went to Tufts so I think they accept kids from my town more than from others (those same kids had stats for ivies as well).
Quick question for anyone that can answer it: is it appropriate to add some humor into a college essay? (particular college is Georgetown)
I just think it adds more character to my essay.
@benandjerrys101 I don’t think humor would hurt, as long as it is not offensive. I assume you are talking about one of Gtown’s big 1 page essays? If it is any help, my talent/ability essay for Gtown was pretty humorous and I got in EA.
@buckybarnesx I am talking about the school activity half page essay. But that’s great info thanks!
Also, I think I am adding WashU and taking away William & Mary… makes more sense for my interests.
You’re way too hung-up on prestige and rankings. That’s the fastest way to find a college mismatch and 4 years of complete misery. If you want to do medicine, you need something affordable to keep the debt down. Medical school is horrendously expensive, and having piles of debt will severely limit your options. Prestige is not a factor in medical school admissions. It’s top grades and strong MCAT scores. I would suggest a scholarship. Your best chance is from your own home state anyway, because state schools favor state residents.
That being said, the average college student changes their major at least twice. You never want to go to a school because of “premed prestige” from a doctor dream out of high school. EVERY smart kid out of high school wants to be a doctor. Almost none of them actually choose medical school. Chances are, you’ll change your mind. As students mature, they discover hidden passions.