Chance scared rising senior for school list

Demographics

  • US domestic
  • State/Location of residency: New Jersey
  • Type of high school: public school
  • Gender/Race/Ethnicity: Male, Mexican-American
  • Other special factors: First Gen, Low Income

Intended Major(s)
Bio or Neuroscience with pre-med track

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.4
  • Class Rank: 3/85
  • ACT/SAT Scores: N/A not submitting

Coursework
AP classes(school provides 6):

Have taken APUSH and APLang

Will take APcalc, APlit, APworld, APphysics

The rest of my classes have all been honors/advanced.

Awards

  • QB CPS
  • 10-hour general safety and health OSHA
  • NHS

Extracurriculars

  • President and founder of mental health club
  • Very competitive 2 month medical internship at medical school(paid)
  • Chem club vice president
  • Soccer- Varsity for 9-10 grade
  • Key club member
  • Student Council member
  • Yearbook club member
  • Gender Sexuality Alliance member
  • Self-taught guitarist

Essays/LORs/Other

This will be the strongest part of my application, my saving grace

Schools

( applying to schools if I become a finalist for QB)

  • Safety *

Rutgers Newbrunswick
Ramapo
Kean University

  • Reach
    Fordham
    CCNY

  • HIgh reaches

Boston U
Case western
ED for Columbia(my dream school so I don’t care, why not.)

Thoughts and or Opinions? Should I add more to my list?

1 Like

lol

Congrats on your excellent accomplishments! You are doing great! Can you tell us more about locations you are open to? How far are you willing to travel? Size of school you prefer? Do you prefer schools in cities? Would you be willing to consider a liberal arts college within driving distance of a city?

Also what do you plan to write your essays about? The reason I ask is that some admissions officers will admit privately that they are more likely to reject students if they write about mental health struggles. They also do not like to read essays on coming out as LGBT, or about trauma histories. They say that “everybody” is writing about those topics lately, that they consider these topics unoriginal, and basically hold it against you.

Don’t think you need 3 safeties.

Everything but CWRU and BU is local. Is that desire ? You can go to lots of colleges for cheap if you are open to other places.

But the list is fine if you’re happy at any of the 3 NJ schools.

You could add more depending on need and desire. I mean you get 20 common app slots.

But the list is fine as is.

Any cost considerations?

You may look at Pitt.

Btw your 4.0 is your saving grace although I hope your essays are good too

1 Like

TCNJ? If lower income Rutgers has a new financial program for lower income students which could be great for you. UDel switched from merit based on gpa instead of test scores after Covid, it might still be the case and would work in your favor.

1 Like

Good list. I might reconsider BU or just add more schools. BU isn’t known for good aid. Also, given you are first gen and low income, I’d add a couple of smaller LACs. They tend to have more $$ and have focused on first gen and low income students. Some also have great neurological programs. Just a thought, but money is important.

You can go to med school with any major as long as you have the pre-reqs. I’d focus on the best neuro programs then check their med school admits.

2 Likes

BU does meet full need for incoming first years. They may or may not have as generous a calculation as some other schools when calculating that need though.

2 Likes

This is a pretty good, well balanced list, which is interesting since the headline was “Insane schools.” Most of the other chance posts I see are full of ivys and their peers, and short of safeties and realistic matches. Good job.

1 Like

I’d also add that you should look at schools which provide aid with no loans. These schools will allow you to graduate with no /less debt. This is VERY important esp if you are first gen/low income and are unlikely to have parental $ to help you.

2 Likes

My neighbor is going to BU for $4k all in. So I think it’s possible. She is a minority - dad from Caribbean. Mom from Europe. Def not full need.

Good to hear. I guess it depends. Generally, BU isn’t well known for good aid. But if someone gets a good package it doesn’t matter. Some schools tend to be very good for aid, I’d suggest OP lean in that direction and keep BU on the list.

1 Like

It sounds like you are already aware of the Questbridge scholarship program. Columbia and several others on your list are some of their match schools. https://www.questbridge.org

2 Likes

I did that headline for clickbait lol but thank you

I really want to go to college in NYC but I have realized that may not be the best for financial reasons. I really want to stay on the east coast and honestly, I really do want to go to a “prestigious” school. I do not mind if I go to a LAC or another type. Same thing with size of the school, no preference.

Hmm, they do not want to hear about trauma histories? Honestly, my essay will be about different points in my life where I have been at the lowest of lows and how I have learned and overcome them. I have a great metaphor that is used throughout the whole essay.

If I am being honest, my college list has much more schools including all of the ivys, t20 and t30 schools but I just do not feel confident enough to apply so I am not sure if I should.

Yes, that is a desire. I don’t really have a preference for where I go, well I just don’t want to go too far west. Well yes, my 4.0 is my saving grace but rightfully so. Thank you!

Fixed it for you

4 Likes

Yes, I am. I was selected for CPS. Hopefully, I become a Finalist and although matching is unrealistic, I hope I ED or RD after.

Yes, I have been thinking of LACs as well. Maybe Swarthmore as an ultra reach but Ill probably add more

A). My opinion. Change the essay. I’m sure your theme is great but from their pov likely unoriginal.

b). I asked cost needs with a 4.0 you can go to Arizona for $3k plus room/board and the honors college would work for you academically. Take an sat/act and Alabama or UAH get cheap. Arkansas. And other schools.

Cheap like under $20k all in.

Or like someone said Rutgers may have an income plan.

Okay, I respect your opinion. But what is an original topic? I am genuinely asking.

1 Like