Chance me please?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey fellow collegeconfidential-ers, </p>

<pre><code>I would much appreciate it if you would be able to chance me for colleges. I am finishing up my sophomore year in High School. If you look at my GPA, I guarantee that it is horrible. I still have big dreams, and my low GPA has not put my dreams aside, although I may have to. Another thing is that I am hoping to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, stating that I have a passion for the field of medicine.

Another note. Please feel free to just leave your comments, and please do not change your answer only because it might hurt my feelings. I am already 99.999% sure that my top colleges will definitely reject me. So without further ado, here are my most up-to-date stats.
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<p>Grades: </p>

<p>Freshman:
Geometry: A/B
Literature and Writing: B/A
PE 9: A/A
Orchestra: A/A
Principles of Business: B/A
Biology: B/A
French 1: B/A</p>

<p>Freshman-Sophomore Summer: Algebra 2 Trigonometry @ Summer School: A/A</p>

<p>Sophomore: (2nd semester estimated grades are in parenthesis)
World Literature and Writing: A/ (A)
PreCalculus Honors: C/(A-B hopefully)
French 2: B/(B)
Orchestra: A/(A)
World History: A/(A)
Chemistry Honors: B/(B) </p>

<p>Sophomore-Junior Summer: Brown University summer program, in medicine. </p>

<p>Taking Classes for Junior Year:
AP Calculus BC
AP Biology
AP United States History
AP Music Theory
French 3
American Literature and Writing</p>

<p>Taking SAT2’s:
After practice in Barrons test prep, I have got around 800’s on both the Math 2 and Chemistry ones. But that is only an estimate. </p>

<p>Extra Curricular:
Volunteer: Hospital
Intern: Cardiac Stem Cells ******* ( This is what I’m depending on for college.) </p>

<pre><code>Siemens Science Fair: going to enter, and hopefully Intel and Synopsys.
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<p>Link Crew: (helps freshman transition into high school) </p>

<p>National Honor Society </p>

<p>I have shadowed many surgeons in the operating room, and have seen multiple cardiac surgeries. Added onto me wanting to become a doctor :P</p>

<p>Sports:
Water Polo: (2 years)
Swimming: (10ish years) maybe recruit for swimming. </p>

<pre><code>Now, I know I am definitely not the competitive type. But is there any chance for these colleges? If no, please suggest more colleges which I may fit into:
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<p>Duke University (ED)
Johns Hopkins University
Georgetown University
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
UC Davis
UCSC</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Although you might think that the Cardiac Stem Cell research internship is impressive, tons of kids apply to top schools with research, so I wouldn’t ride on it. I mean, the gpa is prob. too low for those schools and the ECs won’t make up for it. You might not get your top choices, but you may get a UC (I’m not from Cal so I’m not as familiar with those schools).</p>

3

<p>Lets see…
Duke: High Reach
Johns hopkins: High Reach
Georgetown: Low reach? I honestly don’t know much about georgetown
UCB: High match/Low reach
UCLA: High match
UCSD: Match
UCD: Low match
UCSC: Match</p>

<p>But honestly it is impossible to predict when you are still in your sophomore year. Do siemens, join some clubs. Kick ass with ur GPA junior year, get really good recs from some of the surgeons you shadow and i think youre chances will improve a lot.</p>

<p>sorry for terrible punctuation… its 12 haha</p>

4

<p>I would say you’re into all the UC schools minus Berkeley. People on CC are very snobbish. I got into WUSTL with similar grades and similar extracurriculars, and they are just as selective as any of your reaches. Keep up good grades (strive for A’s, but a B every once in a while won’t kill you) and make SURE to show demonstrated interest – visit campus, talk to admissions officers, interview if possible. </p>

<p>And for kicks n giggles:
Duke: It’s unlikely, but it’s always unlikely. I’ve had friends get in with a lot less. It will really be contingent on your essays and what sort of student they want for your year.
Georgetown: I can’t see you going to GT, it’s not a very premed-heavy school, and is religious.
Johns Hopkings: really not as selective as everyone says. It’s very hard to get in as a premed/bio person, but I would put you in the upper 50% of applicants. Again, no guarantees.
UCB – Instate, you have a very good shot. </p>

<p>Again, most of the schools you listed are reaches, but I would safely bet $100 if you got all B’s and better (primarily A’s), got a 2100+ on the SAT and 700+ on the SATII’s you would get into at least one of your top choices.</p>

<p>Also: go and visit all of your top schools, go to the swim coach, and have your times ready. They may recruit on the spot if you’re good enough, or at least put in a word at admissions.</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys for all your views. Yeah. definitely. I am not allowing myself to get another B or worse in high school ever again. Im working really hard to get 800’s and 2400’s. So does that help… IF everything goes as planned.?</p>

6

<p>Grades and SATs will only take you so far. After a certain point (top 10% of high school class, 2200+ on SAT) they will start to look more closely at your extracurriculars, sport recruitment, and personal stuff (interview + essays. Think about it like this – if they get 100 other applicants with identical SAT and GPA scores to you, why should they pick you? You already have some great EC, but keep trying to answer that question.</p>