Chance me? Pomona/Emory/USC/Bowdoin as well as in general guaranteed or accelerated Medical programs

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi I’m applying to Brown, Pomona College, Emory University, Bowdoin and University of Southern California and the acceptance rates are really scaring me. Could you please compare me to others who have either gotten in or denied? Thanks I appreciate and help or suggestions!!
Asian Male
Weighted GPA 4.9
Unweighted: 3.9
Sat 2280
ACT 35
Sat Subject Chemistry 760, Math II 780, Bio E 750
I may take the SAT again, let me know if you think I should

AP classes taken

AP Chemistry-4
AP Environmental Science-5
AP US History-4
AP Calculus AB-5
AP Physics C-4
AP Spanish-5

Current Senior Schedule

AP Bio
AP Psych
AP Stats
AP Lang
Honors O Chem
Honors Anatomy and Physiology
Honors International Relations

Extra Curriculars

Model UN
Team Captain

National Level Champion, Regional Champion, State Champion, Local Champion

Speech and Debate
Team Captain

Extemperaneous Political Speaking and Lincoln Douglas Debate

National Level top 60, Princeton Nationals Finalist, Local Champion, Regional Champion, State Finalist(twice)

Science Bowl

Regional Champion and Team captain

Investment Club

Founder and VP

Model EU

Founder and Regional Champion

Future Medical Leaders Club
Founder, shadowing experience in surgeries and other clinical fields

Research

Conducted multiple independent and joint projects related to Lung and Liver cancer as well as Diabetes. Published NIH papers.

Indian Classical Music

Play Harmonium, Sitar, and Tabla Since the age of five
numerous local and regional level awards for each

2

You would have a nice demographic edge at Bowdoin.

3

USC and Emory should let you in unless something pretty funky happens.

The rest are reaches, but they are reaches for everyone. You have the stats, so don’t worry about that. The two best things you can do are having unique essays and checking the “prefer not to answer” box for ethnicity, as colleges are INCREDIBLY unfair to asians in admissions these days. Bowdoin is score optional (but send yours in, obviously) which means they lean pretty hard on essays and EC’s so make those stand out.

You need one safety that you like. Emory could be that, but you should probably go for ones that are even safer. With your stats I would add UCLA, UMich, or UT Austin; big public schools that are super stat-driven.

You’re in good shape, don’t worry too much.

4

I disagree with the previous poster. Not checking the ethnicity box will make readers suspicious on what you have to hide. If your name is typically like other Sikhs then it will be a dead giveaway. Embrace your heritage, don’t run away from it.

5

Check out Scranton. My friend is going there next year in an accelerated 7 year BS/MD program.

6

@sgopal2 No, because being Asian IS the worst. Literally the most competitive pool of applicants. If he checks it, and they become suspicious, they are going to be thinking “what if he’s asian?” It’s like doing drugs in your room. If your Mom calls “whatcha doing?” and you respond “nothing”, it will make her suspicious, but it’s a hec of a lot better than shouting “Drugs, Mom! Lots of drugs!”. If he checks “no comment”, there is at least a chance he won’t have to deal with unfair treatment. I hate that the college process is like this, but it’s best to be smart about it. I’m totally for embracing one’s culture, this isn’t a political rally. This is trying to avoid a trap, and getting sucked into it for a reason that has no purpose is stupid.