Chances at UPenn, WUSTL, Notre Dame, UNC, Tufts, and More? (Will Chance Back)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey everyone! The schools I am looking at are UPenn, WUSTL, Notre Dame, UNC, Tufts, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and JHU. Safeties consist of Case Western, BU, and Rutgers

I have a pretty solid upwards trend, but a low cumulative gpa.

Demographics: Asian Male, Washington
Intended Major: Biochem (pursuing premed)

SAT: 2350 (single sitting, 2nd try): 750M 800R 800W
SAT II: 800 chem, 800 math 2
AP Scores: Chem (5), Bio (5), Lang (5)

Significant upward trend
Overall Weighted: 93.957 Overall Unweighted: 91.81
10-11th Weighted:95.58, UW: 93.43
My school weights by adding 5% to honors and APs.
School does not report class rank, but I’m guessing top 20% due to bad freshman year.
Top 10% if you discount freshman year

Freshman year courses: Geometry H, Physics H, English H, World Studies CP, French, Band, Gym
Freshman year weighted: 90.714 Unweighted: 88.57
Sophomore Year courses: Algebra II CP, English H, CPUSH, AP Chemistry, French, Band, Gym
Weighted: 94.857 Unweighted: 93.43
Junior Year courses: AP Lang, AP Bio, Precalc H, German H, CPUSH, C++, PeerLeaders
Weighted: 96.3 Unweighted: 93.43
Senior Year courses: AP Calc AB, Honors English, AP Physics C, AP Econ, AP French, AP Comp Sci , PeerLeaders

Extracurriculars: Unicef Treasurer (10th-11th grade), VP (12th)–Introduced and organized fundraiser that netted $500 profit
National Honor Society member (11th), Secretary (12th) JV Track and Field (11)
Science League captain (11-12)
School Doctor Club Treasurer (12) – Completely renovated the club. Previously all it did was stage hospital visits. I plan to bring in guest speakers, increase advertising to improve club membership, and introduce fundraisers that will fund medical research.
Planning to start Mental Health Club to disseminate information about mental illnesses, eliminate stigma against mental illnesses, and fundraise to fund research. My common app is about a family member’s mental illness and how it affected me. (Essay honestly isn’t looking to hot right now, but the topic means a lot to me and I think it can potentially be very impactful)
Hoping to get an article on Mental Health published in a magazine

100+ volunteer hours at local hospital. Conducting a 3-month-long research internship at state university with a biology professor.

Questions:What other schools should I be looking at? The reason my freshman year gpa was so bad is that I was addicted to video games. I’ve since learned self-control and haven’t played since. Would this explanation reflect poorly on me? Should I instead say that I improved because I found motivation to do something with my life? (also true).
What other schools should I be looking at? Would it be better for me to apply RD instead of EA, so that I have a chance to bring my gpa a bit more during senior year?
What can I do to improve my chances?
Thanks in advance! And I’ll chance back of course!

2

UPenn- reach.
WUSTL- low reach, make sure to show interest
Notre Dame- low reach bc of rank.
UNC- match.
Tufts- low reach.
Vanderbilt- reach.
Northwestern- reach.
JHU- reach.
Changing the essay topic may improve your chances, as this topic seems to be clichéd.

3

I agree, I think you should make your topic a little more unique. that said, it’ll have the same effect if you use that topic but write a very strong essay. your sat scores are outstanding, and your ec’s are pretty good. I’d say yeah, the only thing that might hurt you is your gpa/rank. everything else looks great and at this point, it’s really up to the essays. (not sure how your school’s grading system works, but our won’t update gpa until after december - 2nd sem - so i don’t think you would be able to send in an updated gpa even if you got it up)

4

You have really great test scores! Your GPA isn’t amazing, but it’s better than a lot of other applicants’ GPAs. Your ECs, while good, aren’t very extraordinary. The publication in the magazine would really help you out. AdComs would really remember that. If you haven’t yet checked out Brown’s PLME program, I suggest you do. I think the UCs would be pretty lucky to have you as a student too.

I think one of the biggest reasons high achieving (and mostly Asian) STEM applicants don’t get into prestigious universities is because of their lack of ability to write good and passionate essays. I wouldn’t so much say lack of ability, but more of just neglect since they don’t intend to go into humanities. Make sure your essay is STRONG. If that goes well, you’ll have a good shot at your reaches.

Chance back:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1903498-separate-my-college-list-into-low-medium-high-reach-match-or-safety-i-will-chance-back.html

5

Your GPA makes most of the schools on your list a high match/low reach (besides UNC), but your ECs are impressive and I think that you should have a good shot at some of the reaches if you write good essays!

Chance me back:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1903974-chance-me-please-ill-chance-back.html#latest

6

Thank you all for your responses!
As for the essay, I simplified it A LOT in my post, and I’m confident it will be quite unique. I don’t want to get into specifics on an open forum, but i’ll pm the essay to anyone interested.

@ambitious2468 schools that I apply RD to will see my first semester senior grades.

Do these revelations change anything?