Chances at IVY Leagues, Northwestern, Duke, Stanford, and Northwestern's HPME

<p>I am a rising senior, and I was wondering how my chances for Northwestern’s HPME and Brown’s PLME programs are, as well as undergraduate at any of the IVY Leagues and other higher level universities, such as Northwestern, Duke, and Stanford. I know that I want to be doctor and would love to be accepted into one of the higher-level direct med programs. I would greatly appreciate your opinions on my chances. Thank you for your input.
Academic:
• SAT I Scores: Math-790, Writing-790, Reading-720
• SAT II Scores: Math II-780, U.S History- 740, Chemistry-700
• GPA: Unweighted-3.9 Weighted-4.6
• Class Rank-2/386
• IB Student
o I have 4 HL classes as opposed to the standard 3.
• AP Classes-6 Taken, 4 More this year
o Human Geo. (5)
o APUSH (5)
o World (4)
o Physics B (4)
o Bio (3)
o Euro (3)
o Calc AB, Macro, Micro, and Gov. all being taken this year
• I will also be graduating with an AA degree from my local community college in addition to all of the other classes that I have taken, which should bring my total amount of credits earned in high school to over 40.
Extracurricular Activities:
• National Honor Society- Member for 3 years. Treasurer for 2
• Rotary Club- Member for 4 years. Treasurer for 2.
• Humanities and Entomology Society-Member for 3 years. VP for 2.
o This is a service club at my school that raises awareness for different cultural groups to promote equality and understanding. I have been a major part of organizing 2 of our biggest seminars to raise awareness for Hindu and Islamic cultures and religions.
• Beta Club-Member for 3 years
• Soccer Team-Member for 2 years
Volunteering/Work experience
• 500 hours of community service
o 350 at a hospital
• 150 Hours of Physician shadowing
• Spent an entire summer working at a radiology center
o About 300 hours
Additional Info:
• Ethnicity-Indian
• Single family household
• Family Income-$40,000
• Bilingual-I speak English and Telugu
Strengths:
• High GPA
• IB Student
• AA Degree
Weaknesses:
• I don’t have any research experience due to the cost and distance from my home.
• To many Indian people in college lol.</p>

<p>Strong stats, ECs are average, assuming essays/LOR’s are good quality as well, I don’t know if you have what it takes for HPME/PLME. Remember those acceptance rates are less than Harvard, and all I can say is that you have a good shot at Cornell/Penn/Duke (if you pick ED for one). But RD is a crapshoot and a typical overachieving Asian like myself, you’ll likely get into atleast one of the top schools. Can’t say that about a prestigious direct-to-med program however.</p>

<p>Thanks. Do you think that the lack of research would seriously hurt my chances for the direct med-programs? Also, for what do you think my chances are for regular undergraduate at Northwestern?</p>

<p>Don’t think that a lack of research will kill your chances. Make up for it by emphasizing your work in the clubs you lead. I mean, the direct med programs (especially PLME and HPME) want sciencey students, but you’ll be okay for the RD schools (NW).</p>

<p>My sister attends Northwestern and has several HPME friends, and they all have shadowing and/or research. But it’s usually research + optional shadowing, meaning research is more common. I’m obviously not saying that’s the only way to get in, but logically having research is more appealing. Nonetheless you’re a strong applicant and will succeed wherever you go, don’t sweat it.</p>

<p>Obviously your class rank, GPA, and SATs are no joke whatsoever. You seem very active and involved in your community and dedicated to your major and field of study, which is very good in the admissions process.</p>

<p>Did you emigrate from India when you were a kid? If so, that would be something I would emphasize, because simply being an Indian-American will not help at all in the admissions process, in fact, that makes you a typical applicant at Ivies like Yale. Make sure you describe how you are unique, not just the work you have done. Make sure that your personality shines through, as your courseload and grades are enough to qualify you anywhere essentially. What it ultimately comes down to in my opinion is the more subjective part of the app, such as the essay, recs, etc.</p>

<p>Best of luck and chance if you have the time!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1542999-nyu-stern-ed-chances-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1542999-nyu-stern-ed-chances-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Hey I speak Telugu too!</p>