<p>GPA: 5.096
NOT in Top 10%
SAT: 2220
ACT: 32
School newspaper for two years, won first place in State for one of my articles
Dancer for 10 years</p>
<p>I know that my GPA isn't very high; it is a result of me slacking off a bit and not taking my education seriously until well into my junior year. However I am determined to boost my GPA into the 5.1's this semester.
I am retaking the SAT as well as the ACT this fall, aiming for a 2350 and 34 respectively. I think I have a pretty good chance of doing so as the 2220 and 32 were both my first time officially taking the test.
I took the subject SATs in June but did mediocre in them so I am possibly going to take some more this year as well.
I am planning on applying to UT, UTSA, SMU and Univ. of Houston in Texas, and WashU in St. Louis out of state, as well as NYU as my 'dream school' application. (I would only go to UTSA if I somehow got into their 7 year med program aka FAME). If anyone has any opinions on where they think I can easily get into versus where I might not, that would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>I’m in NHS, and also volunteer through fundraisers from my dance school that I am heavily involved in. My grandfather is a social service physician (he treats the poor for no fees) and I had a close friend and aunt who suffered from cancer. All of these are reasons why I want to be a doctor. However, I also love to write, and am extremely passionate about newspaper as well as the blog I run. In the future, I hope to combine both of these interests to make a significant impact in people’s lives while also fulfilling my passion.</p>
<p>It is honestly very difficult for us to gauge your competitiveness without more details, specifically: race, ECs (esp medical/volunteer related), what your course rigor was like, what type of HS you attend, what state you live in. Please elaborate and we can potentially be of more help.</p>
<p>Hello sgopal2</p>
<p>Sorry for the lack of details, it’s my first time posting on here. Here is some info that will hopefully help:</p>
<p>Race: Asian</p>
<p>ECs: I honestly haven’t volunteered for hundreds of hours or anything, like most students these days. A lot of my friends sign up to sit behind a desk every summer at Baylor or some other big hospital but I’ve never really seen a purpose to it other than to show a college that I’m interested in pre-med (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing to do, but it just never seemed right to me to do that for months, just to add the bullet on my resume). Instead I’ve tried to search for opportunities in a field I am interested in (I love the idea of starting a non-profit in the future, and also see myself possibly becoming a dentist).</p>
<p>So apart from the fundraisers I do alongside my dance school (proceeds go towards providing clean water resources for villages in India), I shadowed my grandfather in his clinic for two summers (and have been watching him practice medicine since I was a child, really). I have volunteered at an old-age home in India, a nonprofit organization started by a group of doctors. The home takes in senior citizens who are sometimes self-sufficient but have no family, or have health issues. I’ve done some hours at a private dental practice here in Texas as well. I plan on spending some time with senior citizens in Texas this fall as well.</p>
<p>I have taken a lot of AP courses:
Human Geography (4 on AP test)
World History (3 on AP test)
Biology (3 on AP test)
Physics
Language&Composition (5 on AP test)
US History (4 on AP test)
Statistics (4 on AP test)</p>
<p>This year I will be taking the following AP courses:
Gov/Econ
Literature
Psychology
Art History
Calculus BC
Environmental Science</p>
<p>I attend a pretty competitive public high school in Texas. The valedictorian for the Class of 2013 had a GPA of 5.74, and I believe the valedictorian for the Class of 2014 exceed this GPA by a tenth or so of a point.</p>
<p>Course rigor looks great (total of 13 APs). GPA looks high to me (5.0), but I’m having trouble figuring out how a 5.0 cannot put you in the top 10%?!?! Are you in some sort of magnet school or something? </p>
<p>What are your grades in the AP classes? Did you bomb some of them? The SAT scores are good, but as you probably guessed can be improved. Did you take any SAT II tests?</p>
<p>sgopal2</p>
<p>I go to a pretty competitive school, but it is not a magnet or charter school, just a public school - our cutoff for Top 10% is a weighted GPA of 5.36, and my weighted GPA is about a 5.1. I guess I didn’t bomb my AP classes, but did make at least a B+ or an A on almost all of my AP classes. I took the Math I and Math II Subject SATs but with little preparation. 730 on Math I and 630 on Math II. I’ll probably retake Math II along with a science subject. </p>
<p>Any idea of your rank? That is important for UT. I think you are in at SMU and UTSA. dk about FAME. Does St Mary’s have a seven year BA/MD program? I think you’d be a match there. </p>
<p>I’d forget about taking the SAT again with 2200plus. worry about SAT II and your essays.</p>
<p>Wash U & FAME program - mid/high reach
UT, NYU - mid reach (it would be good if you could get into top 7%, then you would be auto admit)
I think the rest of your schools are matches.</p>
<p>I think that your greatest drawback is that you “slacked off” your first 2 years of high school. But, if you write good essays, you may have a good shot at UT and NYU since your rigor is good you have good intentions/reasons for choosing your field of interest.</p>
<p>Chance back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1674535-please-chance-me-i-ll-chance-back.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1674535-please-chance-me-i-ll-chance-back.html#latest</a></p>
<p>@Lizardly I’m in the top 15% for sure but we don’t get our ranks. I’ve never heard of St. Mary’s. Can you tell me about it?</p>
<p>Thanks!! @germangirl123 </p>
<p>It is a small, private liberal arts college in San Antonio. Expensive, but generous with aid. I do think they have a special premed program that either lets you cut a year off or slide into med school more easily (i.e. a certain GPA and not too lofty MCAT assures admission). Your test scores might wow them into merit aid. If you are definite about med school it would be a good option. </p>
<p>Agree with others. Focus on improving SAT II scores (esp math). You should try for some of the BA/MD programs on the east coast/Chicago area, as they are very competitive.</p>