Chance me!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey all! I’m a senior who has applied to all the UCs, HYPS, Duke, Johns Hopkins, UChicago, Dartmouth, Brown, USC, and UPenn as a human biology / public health / pre-med student. I know that these schools have very low admit rates, and so these chance threads may be sort of useless, but I would greatly appreciate any thoughts on my shot at these schools. Probably just more of my post-application nerves talking right now, but any input would be great.

Objective:
SAT: 2330 (800 Math, 760 CR, 770 Writing, 11 Essay) - highest sitting, 3rd try / 2360 (800 Math, 760 CR, 800 Writing, 11 Essay), superscored
SAT II: 730 Biology M, 780 Math II, 790 USH
GPA: 3.91/4.0 (UW) & 4.33/4.0 (W) - my GPA took a hit first trimester Senior year due to family circumstances… explained in additional info and by counselor, turned it into more of a strength
Class Rank: n/a, but I know I’m top 5% in 500+ graduating class
AP: Calculus AB (5), Calculus BC (5) - AB subscore (5), European History (5), Human Geography (5 - self studied), US History (5), Biology (3), Chemistry (3), English Language (5), Psychology (5)
Senior-year course load: AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP English Literature, AP US Government, AP Statistics, 3D Computer Animation 1/2, P.E.
Honors/Awards: 1st place at local AWQ and 13th nationally, peer ambassador at school, Gold Level President’s Volunteer Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended (didn’t include)

Subjective:
won’t be giving names of organizations to keep from being recognized
Extracurriculars (leadership and involvement in parentheses): online flu/disease map that connects users to local public health developments (Founder/Lead Developer, 10-12), cardiac stem cell research at local UC (coauthored paper and presented findings at state conferences, 10-12), researched socioeconomic determinants of cardiovascular health at community health center (11-12), annual medical publication with 1000+ readership (first in school district, Founder/EIC, 10-12), organizing citywide health access advocacy campaigns and obesity conferences at community health center (Project Fellow, 11-12), future doctors of america club (Founder/President, 9-12), human anatomy teacher at local K-8 school (10), after-school medical explorations program at local middle school (Founder/Instructor, 9-12), appointed to school district board (advising superintendent and staff on medical sciences curriculum, 11-12), peer tutoring (Founder/President, 9-12)
Summer activities: research, took a class (and got an A!) in Global Health at a local UC, taught myself a lot of programming languages, herded alpacas (made for a quirky extracurricular essay on learning how to lead)
Essays:
Common App - (disclaimer: I was raised in a very holistic, hippy-dippy, eastern medicine household lol) talked about solving problems and being curious through my experience trying to figure out what band-aids are used for, related this experience to my interest in medicine

Additional info:
Mentioned self-studying troves of edX courses because I wanted to learn more about healthcare and other related topics that my high school does not offer classes on.
Also explained my drop in first trimester senior year (went from all A’s frosh-junior year to a C in AP Physics, B in AP Lit, A’s in AP Stats and AP Gov). Throughout elementary, middle, and much of high school, my dad has had severe heart problems, so I spend most of my afterschool time at a hospital with my dad or studying in his room/lobbies. Even with these circumstances, I’ve consistently performed in the top 5% of my graduating class. However, first trimester senior year my dad’s condition got more severe, so I couldn’t dedicate as much time to my studies, leading to the lower performance. Again, my counselor is explaining this in depth on my mid-year report. I’m also attaching my mid-2nd trimester grades (all A’s but one B in AP Physics) to the mid-year report to show improvement, but I know this isn’t an ideal scenario :frowning:

Thank you guys for any input!

2

You have good stats - a very high SAT and lots of APs. But your ECs aren’t broad at at all. They’re all health-related (except for herding alpacas which sounds awesome!). I know this shows that you’re very intent on pursuing medicine, and it’s really cool that you’re this dedicated, but I’m not sure if that’ll make colleges love you or put them off.

Also, I saw you have 3’s in both chem and bio. This might be concerning to colleges, seeing as you’re on the premed track.

3

Dare I ask if you applied to a match or safety school of any description? If you are a CA resident, you will certainly get into many of them. The rest,who knows. They are high reaches for all. Are you hooked? I would hate to see a post from you come April saying “I didn’t get in anywhere.”

4

I think that the focus on health is completely fine and colleges don’t really care if you know what you like and completely and fully pursue that and letting other subjects or extracurriculars go a little bit. Your app clearly shows passion and pursuit in the area that you really want to study. I think you have great chances

5

One of my classmates had a similar app to yours and got accepted to Duke ED, of course you have a chance at all of these schools, but since they’re selective you have slim chances. I would ED to one if you can really picture yourself there…I, too am suffering from post-application anxiety so pls respond to my thread!!!

6

^^^ED deadlines are long gone.

7

I would be very surprised if you didn’t get into at least 1, but best of luck!

8

You have a good chance, but less than a student who has a near perfect SAT. I’d say you might get into one, but you definitely should apply to more safeties. You have a good shot at getting USC and Duke more than any else. My guess is you will get into Hopkins, but the rest might defer you. Ivies all have about the same acceptance rates. Below 20 usually, so you can’t only apply to them and expect to get into at least one.

9

Thanks for all the comments! I am a CA resident unhooked other than my father’s condition (that probably doesn’t count though). I am ELC with the UC system, which is why I didn’t apply to more safeties.

10

I also applied ED to Yale and recently was deferred.

11

Would anyone be willing to read my three Stanford supplements? I just want to get more perspectives and opinions on what I’ve sent out, as I’m considering using these essays for future scholarships. Plus, it would be nice to get rid of some post-application anxiety with some more opinions on my essays

12

Thought I recognized your name from somewhere. I was also deferred from Yale and your stats are definitely higher than mine (http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1939905-chance-me-p1.html) I think you’ll definitely get into at least one Ivy. And who knows, maybe it’ll even be Yale! Part of this is just pure luck. I saw people on the Yale results thread that were accepted for my major with lower stats and less extracurricular activities, and I’m sure you did too. Best of luck.

13

Thanks for all the help way back in the way back! I was accepted to UPenn on Ivy Day and will be matriculating in the fall :slight_smile: