Chances for a URM Physics Nerd?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>So I did Post this in the What are my chances forum like a month ago, but no one responded... so I'm just giving it another go!</p>

<p>-About Me-</p>

<p>African American
Female
Income: 120,000$
South Carolina
Perspective Majors:
Physics, Computer Science, English, Biomedical Engineering.</p>

<p>-Schools-</p>

<p>Howard University
Oberlin University
Boston University
UPitt
Carnegie Mellon
Tufts University
Barnard College
Rice University
University of Virginia
Colgate University
Emory University
University of Pennsylvania
Duke University
Columbia University
Yale University
University of Chicago
Stanford University</p>

<p>-Academic Stats-</p>

<p>-My Schedule is the Most Rigorous offered at my School, all honors and AP where Available.
-AP Courses so far:
-AP World History, AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP Bio, AP English III
-Senior Year Schedule: AP Physics B, AP Calc BC, AP English IV, AP French, AP Gov, AP Econ, Accelerated Computer IV (Taken through a local college, so we receive college credit for it)</p>

<p>-GPA: 3.85 (Damn that B+ in sophomore year!)
-SAT I: 2140 over all (700 (M) 740 (CR) 700 (W)) It was my first time I'm sure I can due better in March!
-SAT II: Haven't Taken those yet, But I think I'll Take Bio, Math II, and Maybe US History.
-AP Scores: World History: 5, Chem: 4</p>

<p>-Extracurriculars-</p>

<p>-Internship in the Neuroscience-Optometry Department at the Medical University of South Carolina under Dr. Barbel Rohrer - Summer Before and During Junior Year
-Debate Team -9th/10th/11th
-Quiz Bowl- 9th/ 10th/11th
-National Honor Society- 11th
- Newspaper/Literary Magazine(Hopefully an Editor Next Year!)- 9th, 10th, 11th
-Great Books-9th/10th/11th
-School Musical- 9th(Les Miserables), 10th(Grease), 11th(Sweeney Todd)
-Co-Creator(Co-President) Sci-fi/Fantasy Club-10th/11th
-Vestry - 9th/10th/11th
-Youth in Government -10th/11th
-French Club-10th/11th
-National French Honor Society -10th/11th
-Summer Reading Committee-9th/10th/11th
-Service Leader Program-11th
-Peer Leader- 11th
-Tutor- 11th(Algebra I)
-Chorus- 9th/10th/11th
-Volunteer at Multiple Old Folks Homes-9th/10th/11th
-Leader of an after school program in the arts for Inner City Youth -9th,10th/11th
-all of my service totals to 300 hours+</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>-NCWIT National Award for Aspirations in Computing sponsored by NCWIT and the Bank of America- 11th
-Jeopardy Contestant 2006
- Several Debate Awards
-1st Place Local Poetry Contest 2010
-NAACP Exhibition of Student Excellence Award 2006
-2nd place Poetry Out Loud 2009/2010
-Honor Roll 2009/2010/2011</p>

<p>I applies for MITES, SSP, and Carnegie Mellon SAMS for this summer, here's hoping I get in to one of them!
Anyway Thanks in Advance for Chancing!</p>

2

<p>So far, so good. Get your SAT score up and focus your ECs a bit - your level of engagement in most of them can’t be very high given the number and it makes you look superficial. You want to convey the depth of your commitment which means spending more time and investing more effort in the 2-3 activities that you really care about.</p>

<p>Also, Oberlin College is a great school but it’s a LAC - and it don’t offer biomedical engineering.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, some people have told me my list looks too long, but I don’t enjoy sports, and at the same time I don’t like having nothing to do so I invest A LOT of my time into my extra curricular activities, and I thoroughly enjoy and participate wholeheartedly in every one of them. Is there anyway I can convey that in my app? Any other chances?</p>

4

<p>stanford/yale/upenn is far reach. emory is a match and it also has the biomedical engineering major thing that you said you are interested in. currently, the program is partnered with ga tech and is ranked 2nd in the nation.</p>

5

<p>Given you’re URM, I’ve got a great shot at all these schools. ~2250 SAT and a slightly higher GPA by next year and you’re pretty much set.</p>

6

<p>“I thoroughly enjoy and participate wholeheartedly in every one of them.”</p>

<p>At the very top schools, it’s not about participation - it’s about leadership, initiative, creativity, and going above and beyond what other ‘whole-hearted participants’ are doing. To demonstrate those characteristics requires more than enthusiastic participation. You need to start new programs, do research for the organization, help them present themselves favorably to their stakeholders; in other words, make some contribution that will result in, for example, a letter of recommendation from whatever adult is in charge saying that you are truly exceptional compared to all your peers in terms of the difference you have made to the organization.</p>