<p>Hi everyone! I'm only a junior but a year from now I'm going to be applying to colleges so I'd like to see if I'm on the right track. Also, the years I'm putting down for ECs and stuff are what I expect will be put on my college applcation.
Schools I'm thinking of applying to (not including safeties): Boston University, Tufts, Northeastern, Bowdoin, Holy Cross, University of Rochester, College of William and Mary, Penn State, UConn
Prospective major: Double major in biology and music</p>
<p>SATs:
-Taking them in March for 1st time, expecting/hoping for a 2100 by the time I apply
GPA (A=4.0):
-UW: 3.85
-W: 4.1
Rank:
-Definitely at least in top 10% (can't find out until 2nd semester)
APs:
-Junior year: Bio, Gov, Lang (haven't taken exam yet)
-Senior year (planned courses): Chem, Lit, Calc (maybe Psych)
ECs:
-Piano (10+ years, hoping to continue in college)
-Dance (7 years)
-Concert Band (2 years, mallet percussion)
-Peer tutor (3 years)
-Piano teacher to young children (3 years)
-Spanish Honor Society (2 years, vice president)
-National Honor Society (2 years)
-Science Olympiad (2 years)
-Marine Science Club (2 years)
Job/work experience:
-3 months at froyo shop (don't think this is worth putting on my application)
Summer activities:
-International Piano Festival (1 week per summer) in Portland, ME (grades 6-10)
-International Piano Festival (2 weeks) in ME (grades 10-12)
-Piano Festival in Italy (3 weeks, grade 10)
-This summer: St. Paul's ASP for 6 weeks (hopefully)
Other:
-Have won many awards for piano and have performed at Carnegie Hall 3 times
-Going to perform at Carnegie Hall w/ school band this year
-Semi-fluent in Russian, both of my parents immigrated from Russia
-100+ volunteering hours</p>
<p>State - NH
School - competitive public school</p>
<p>@samMIT - being a good musician does not make you an automatic match for the nation’s best colleges. Academics are far more important. And a 3.85 and 2100 are a little too low for HYPSM. Plus, the OP doesn’t show much passion for academics in his/her ECs, and to colleges really like to see that.
To the OP - you’re definitely on the right track for the colleges you listed. Try to get that SAT up. A 2100 is great for most schools, but if you have time to improve, you should. Also, since you’re planning to major in biology, I’d suggest looking for some more bio-related ECs. Maybe classes at a local college, a research project, etc.</p>
<p>A 3.85 GPA is perfectly fine for HYPSM. I however agree that a 2100 might not be enough. If it brings it up to a 2200 the OP can certainly get into HYPSM. </p>
<p>For the major-related ECs, I would like to remind you that the OP is planning on double major in biology and music. While his ECs are very music-oriented, music is one of his majors. However, ivanov2014, you have a point. If the OP adds some bio-related ECs his application will be even stronger.</p>
<p>OP-
definitely put that you work at a froyo shop on your app. Admissions LOVES to see that applicants are well-rounded and have a normal entry-level job in addition to the extracurriculars/academics. Take my word for it- I wrote an essay about my job at fast food restaurant and it got me into an Ivy</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, everyone! I’m going to work at improving my SAT, hopefully it will pay off.
Also, I am debating about what to do this upcoming summer. I can’t decide if I want to do a 6-week program at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH doing molecular biology (if I get accepted), or if I should do the 3-week, extremely intensive music performance program I normally do. If I do St. Paul’s, I’m worried I will have no time this summer to dedicate to music, which might be an issue because I won’t have time to prepare new repertoire for the Fall competition season. Which should I do?
I agree that my application is weak on the biology side and that I don’t have a lot of science extracurriculars. I would love to get involved with research or something at a local college, but I don’t have many good colleges around me (closest universities are UNH and Tufts, but those are both over 45 minutes away and I don’t know if it would be practical). How can I get involved with more science-related extracurriculars?</p>
<p>Join clubs that do science competitions, or even better, start your own. I know a friend you started a robotics club at my school and now he goes to competitions. Colleges love that.</p>
I’m going to work at improving my SAT, hopefully it will pay off.
(closest universities are UNH and Tufts, but those are both over 45 minutes away and I don’t know if it would be practical). How can I get involved with more science-related extracurriculars?</p>