Chances at Case, CMU, Cornell

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Thanks in advance for taking the time to look over my post. </p>

<p>SAT Scores: 800 CR, 720 Math, 740 Writing
SAT IIs: 790 Bio M, 630 Math IIC
GPA: 3.57 unweighted , 3.76/4.3 weighted
225 PSAT</p>

<p>Junior Classes:</p>

<p>AP Biology - 5 on test
AP Calculus AB - 5 on test
Physics II
American Literature
US History
Spanish 3
Gym / Lab assistant</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:</p>

<p>AP Physics C Mech/EM
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP Calculus
World Literature
Spanish 4</p>

<p>I'm pretty happy about my SAT I scores, but I plan to retake the Math IIC (ran out of time my first go), and throw in the Physics and Lit SAT tests</p>

<p>Sports:</p>

<p>4 years Cross Country (3 varsity) - captain jr. year
4 years Indoor Track (3 varsity)
4 years Outdoor Track (4 varsity)
Neighborhood swim team in summer</p>

<p>I'm a good runner, but am not fast enough to be recruited. I'll probably try to walk on to the school's team.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Model UN - soph through sr. years
World Quest Competition - jr./sr. year
NHS - likely to be inducted this fall
Likely National Merit Finalist
Boy Scouts - patrol leader - 8th grade to sophmore year
Volunteer at Delaware Puppy Rescue - jr year
Volunteer at St. Francis Hospital - jr year
Lab Assistant for Biology class
Job at Italian Restaurant - summer before sr. year
West Point Summer Leaders Seminar '06</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>2x Distinguished Delegate, Model UN
2nd Place, World Quest</p>

<p>Misc.:</p>

<p>I'm a middle-class white male, my parents both attended college. I'd like to study biochemistry or biophysics and also make sure that I've taken all of the pre-medicine courses, to keep that option open for me. I'm not looking for a name brand school, I want a school that will let me do undergraduate research in biochemistry. Unfortunately, I've got a list of name brand schools now... I would appreciate feedback on lesser-known colleges that still have great biochem programs. Right now I'm looking at Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, The University of Delaware, Cornell, The University of Pennsylvania, and Tufts. </p>

<p>I would appreciate any feedback on this bragsheet. Thanks for giving me your time.</p>

2

<p>You need to list your class rank for us to give you chances at Cornell--but based upon what you posted here so far:</p>

<p>Cornell-reach
CMU--slight reach
Case--match</p>

<p>The problem simply is that your UW GPA is quite a bit lower than the averages for Cornell and CMU. Your test scores and NMS finalist status could possibly redeem you, but it's pretty unlikely--especially given that Math IIC score.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>I'd say Cornell is a reasonable reach, CMU is a match (unless the applicant is applying to its CS program) and Case is a safe match.</p>