chance me, please! (Northeastern; others?)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello, everyone! My name is Laura and I am currently a junior in high school. I was wondering if you all wouldn’t mind chancing me for Northeastern University. My goal is to major in psychology - specifically with a concentration in their behavioral neuroscience program.

If my credentials aren’t quite good enough for NU, would you mind possibly guiding me towards a psychology program with a neuroscience concentration that might be a little bit more in my academic range? I currently live in Pennsylvania, but I’m willing to look at schools in most any state.

Thank you!

Unweighted GPA: 3.7
Weighted GPA: 4.1
Class rank = ~top 30%
High School: Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (#2 high school in PA; only offers honors and AP courses)
SAT: 2040 (760 writing, 740 reading, 540 math. I plan on retaking to raise my math score.)

Courseload (again, all honors unless AP):
Freshman: Language Arts 9, Biology, Algebra 1, AP Human Geography (3), Spanish 1 (plus electives)

Sophomore: AP Language and Composition (4), Chemistry, Geometry, World History, Spanish 2 (plus electives)

Junior: AP Literature and Composition, Human Biology, Algebra 2, AP US History, Spanish 3, dual-enrollment Freshman Composition and Intro to Sociology at Gannon University (plus electives)

Senior: Freshman Research (Gannon U), Anatomy & Physiology, College Algebra & Trig, Intro to Psych (Gannon U), AP Spanish (plus electives)

Extracurricular:

  • National Honor Society
  • Collegiate Academy Chamber Singers & Vocal Jazz (the elite choruses at my school; section leader in Chambers)
  • Model United Nations
  • Drama (lead roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie, 12 Angry Jurors, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
  • potentially mock trial this year
  • potentially robotics this year

Volunteer/Work

  • 200+ hours of volunteer service at my local community theatre
  • Junior counselor at Calvary Christian Center Kids’ Camp 2015
  • Lifeguard at Splash Lagoon Indoor Waterpark summer of 2014
  • Cashier at Tipperary West Irish Imports 2012-present

Other

  • In summer of 2015, I will be attending a month-long, educational trip to Ireland (via the Irish a Life Experience) with a scholarship from the Irish Cultural Society of Erie
2

I think that it’s possible, make sure your essays are great though! The abroad program sounds very cool (ireland is amazing!) I encourage you to get your math score up but you know this already.
I don’t know specifically about psych programs but maybe look into Villanova or Ithaca college.
Chance me please! :slight_smile:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1782833-chance-a-rising-senior-for-uchicago-georgetown-ivies-etc-will-chance-back.html#latest

3

I feel you have a decent chance. If you up your sat and write a good essay, it would be extremely likely you get in.

4

thank you for the responses! I appreciate it.

another chance question: what are my chances for Carnegie Mellon? (Pittsburgh is my favorite city, and I was set on Pitt for a long time, but to my knowledge they don’t have a strong neuro program in undergrad.)

5

Your scores/grades might be on the lower end, but you definitely have a huge chance! Just get the test scores up and your ECs should help a lot!

6

I realized today I was mistaken; Pitt does have a neuroscience program, it’s just not offered as a specific concentration within the psych degree. I’m going to do some research into possibly double majoring in psych and neuro.

What are my chances for Pitt? (it’s been my dream school for a few years.)