<p>Hello, first post here. I'm an 11th grader aiming to study biological sciences + pre-med. I really screwed up in my first early in high school and I've been working to improve, I'm scared I might not have done enough. I still have a summer and 12th grade left.</p>
<p>Any help and insight is massively appreciated.</p>
<p>Test scores:
SAT: 2020, retaking in May aiming for at least a 2200.</p>
<p>ACT: Taking this summer. Based off SAT score + general abilities I can get above a 30.</p>
<p>AP exams: All 4's and two 3's. 5 in AP Bio which is what I'd like to study in college. Expecting similar results for future AP exams.</p>
<p>GPA/Grades/Classes: Weighted ~3.1. My performance in school has been continuously improving since the start of my high school career, but has increased the most rapidly and drastically during my 11th grade year. At this rate, I hope to have something AT LEAST in the mid 3s by the time I apply. I am unsure of my unweighted GPA at the moment, it is not great, however it is and has been improving. Some things to consider:</p>
<p>I. Grades have improved since the start of high school. </p>
<p>Unweighted average: Low C(9th) -> Solid B(10th) -> High B(first half of 11th grade)-> All As (currently, 2nd half of 11th grade) -> All As (expected summer and senior year)</p>
<p>II. I've had an extremely rigorous course-load. Every high school class I've ever taken with the exception of art and P.E. have been Honors, Pre-IB Honors, or AP. I will continue to do this for the rest of my high school career, I've mentioned below how I've signed up for 6 APs and 3 Honors classes this upcoming summer + my senior year. Because I am currently making As in similar classes, I expect to do so for the rest of my high school career.</p>
<p>Hopefully my rigorous course-load explains part of my low GPA as well or my drive to challenge myself</p>
<p>III. I've been taking extra classes (Honors and AP) online in addition to my school work-load, these have helped my GPA, I've only made As in my online classes and will continue to do so. Hopefully this reflects my desire to do more than what is necessary to achieve things, and my ability to continuously challenge myself.</p>
<p>IV. I've advanced very quickly. Finished 99% of my graduation requirements before I'm even a high school senior.</p>
<p>APs that I've taken
Biology, World History, Human Geography, Microeconomics, US History, Statistics, European History, Language and Comp, Literature and Comp</p>
<p>APs I'm taking this summer and in my senior year, already signed up:</p>
<p>Psychology, Physics, Calculus, Enviro, Latin, Gov, Maybe Computer Science and Chem if I have time </p>
<p>Honors classes for senior year:</p>
<p>Anatomy, Physiology, Marine Bio</p>
<p>Note: Cleared up required classes so I can take mostly science-related classes as a senior. They align with my personal interest/passion as well as career plans. Also will be a teacher's assistant for a year.</p>
<p>Extra curricular: </p>
<p><strong>Weaknesses:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><p>Nothing special in terms of clubs. 2yrs ModelUN + JCL, 2 yrs JCL, with no real achievements or recognition.</p></li>
<li><p>No awards except for 1st place district History Fair </p></li>
<li><p>Symphonic band and Jazz band in middle school, probably doesn't count since I quit in 8th grade.</p></li>
<li><p>Would consider being active in clubs next year but I'm going to be pretty busy with schoolwork and nothing at school really suits my interest. Will consider picking a musical instrument back up and sticking to it. Would consider getting a paid job.</p></li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Strengths:</strong> </p>
<p>200+ hours of diverse volunteering in my field of interest as of 11th grade, hoping to hit 300+ hours by the time I graduate, lots of stuff done and lots of stuff learned. Can reflect on these experiences through writing. I've been told by my teachers and guidance counselor that my dedication, hard work, and passion for what I do outside of school is well above what is standard. This might be a testament that I'm not as lazy as my GPA would suggest.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Volunteer every summer at a large hospital, did extra hours and was chosen specifically to make a video, Power-Point presentation, and informational packet for all incoming volunteers. From what I've heard this was pretty hard to get accepted into.</p></li>
<li><p>Volunteered at a small school clinic in a low-income county about 2 hours away, assisting elementary school aged children with health check-ups. Done one summer, 1-2 times a week for the entire day, 6am-4pm. When the clinic was slow, I went to different class rooms to help the teachers teach the kids.</p></li>
<li><p>Help with Dad's public health research projects. Both in clinical and academic settings. I love public speaking, my upcoming task for this is traveling to different institutions around the state (churches, schools, etc) delivering talks to inform people about breast cancer, why and how they should get checked, etc. Also helped with the filmography and post-production components of advertisements made regarding these topics. Learning how to write grant proposals from my dad who has pulled in millions of $ for research funding.</p></li>
<li><p>Confirmed that I will shadow a surgeon and observe surgeries as well as a non-invasive physician this summer and intern for hospital executives who run the hospitals.</p></li>
<li><p>Will be observing and participating in university level medical and health classes (not dual enrolling), to get a feel of how college classes are structured and their atmosphere. Hopefully this will be beneficial to me. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>6.I tutor kids with schoolwork and SAT stuff for free. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>No sports, although I've made great improvements on my personal health and fitness which I could possible reflect on positively as a testament to willpower and hard work and self improvement. </p></li>
<li><p>Will assist my dad in pro-bono medical help of underprivileged rural inhabitants in a third-world country sometime before the end of this year. He does this on his personal time and I want to help. Beyond the scientific stuff, I feel like this will be a humbling and informative experience on the reality of how people live, which is vastly different to how I live. Hopefully I can feel more worldly and understanding after this. I hope to reflect this in writing.</p></li>
<li><p>Took a huge responsibility with my younger brother as I've been growing up. Completely by myself, I've taught him how to read and write and do math well ahead of his school pace to put him in an advanced position, I tutor him with homework nightly, and he's now in the Gifted program at school and succeeding academically because of my guidance, parents did not assist with his learning because I did such a good job. Does this count?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I have been told that my essay writing and communication skills are a big asset, this should help in writing my application essay. I've experienced a lot of lessons in self-improvement that I could write about. I have a good background for recommendation letters given the diverse group of people I've worked with throughout my life who praise my hard work and dedication. If there's an interview, I will fare very well.</p>
<p>Here are some miscellaneous things that apply to me, let me know could help me if I elaborate on them. Or if they could hurt my chances. Please be honest:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Parents are affiliated with FSU for work, although I'm not sure if this has any pull</p></li>
<li><p>Good family educational and professional background, parents have MD, MPH, and PhD degrees</p></li>
<li><p>Diagnosed with ADHD, prescribed Adderall near the end of 11th grade. Am able to function well and work hard without it, but it has helped slightly.</p></li>
<li><p>Will pay tuition in cash. Unsure if I will stay in a dorm or if I will live off-campus.</p></li>
<li><p>Male, South Asian, $250-300/year household income</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks, you guys are awesome. What are my strengths, weaknesses, what should I do in the future? </p>
<p>I apologize for any grammatical errors, I'm typing pretty fast and a little exhausted at the moment.</p>