<p>Hello! I am currently a sophomore in an average public high school and I am considering applying to some top-tier schools. </p>
<p>I was wondering if you guys have any advice on how I am doing and what I should do to prepare myself for submitting a competitive application.
Here are my stats so far:
ACT:29, PSAT: 207 ( 54 R, 76 M, 77 W) <-yes i know i can't read =(
AP tests: taking Biology and Statistics this year - should get at least 4 on both
GPA: uw 4.0, w 4.6</p>
<p>ECs:
Math Team (9,10)- 1st place state competition last year, 3rd this year
Future Business Leaders of America (10) - national qualifier. Running for officer position next year
Orchestra (9,10) - all district(9,10). All-state (10)
Science Olympiad(9)
Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (8,9,10)
Played piano for 10 years, but quit this year b/c of time constraints. (State Honors Audition (9)
Volunteering at Hospital for 2 years (200 hrs)</p>
<p>Also, this summer I will be interning in a professor's lab at a local medical school. ( about 20 hrs/wk.). I have also taken many classes at a local community college for further enrichment.</p>
<p>I am hoping to get into an accelerated or direct medical school program after high school, or to a top college with a strong pre-med program. </p>
<p>I am very worried right now. Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>That's a character issue now. Your stats are great, but from what I can gather from your language, you're focusing too much on stats...now, I can't tell what you do in your free time, but sometimes what you do OUTSIDE of the college application is more important. That's what needs to come across on the essay: who you are, not what you do. Of course, if you enjoy what you do, then disregard this. But whatever ECs you do simply for the sake of putting on your app, drop now.</p>
<p>I think colleges want real "characters" nowadays, so if you want a "winning" strategy for getting in, follow one of the following tracks:
(1) "Genius hardworker": aces EVERYTHING in academics and is (close to) top in nation/world (think Olympiads) in subject that closely matches major
(2) "Star athlete": does REALLY well in a sport but somehow manages to keep good grades
(3) "Paragon of virtue": volunteers 1000 hours in HS and works to change the world
(4) "Unclassifiable but noteworthy": THIS is probably the best AND the most realistic category to work towards.</p>
<p>But, keep up the good work. Just sneak in some fun :)</p>
<p>do whatever you can to get that reading up. Some of those med programs dont even consider you w/o certain stats...I think NW's required a 1500+ on the old SAT to even be considered.</p>