Chances for ...Harvard?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am 16 years old, in my junior year. My ultimate goal is to become a brain surgeon (or another high-paying surgeon, i.e. cardiothoracic surgeon; sure, it's a LOT of work, but the rewards are immense). I would like to get an idea of my chances of acceptance into So here is my report:</p>

<p>I have always been an honors student. I have NEVER been excluded or opted out of an honors class. I am currently taking two AP courses (US history and English), and so far doing very well. I have been on the high honor roll (92% (?) or above) every single semester in high school. I am very well qualified in science and math. I will have taken 6 years of French and three (possibly four) years of Spanish by the end of my senior year. Here in New York, we have Regents exams, which are tests given out by the state on a per-course basis. My score are as follows: French 1 - high 90s, French 3 - 98, earth science - 97, biology - 96, math A - 99, math B - 92, global history - 99 (all out of 100). I will be taking the English and US history AP exams in May this year. I will also be taking physics and AP calculus my senior year. During my senior year, I will also be taking the New Vision program, which is a BOCES program that is specifically designed for advanced students going into the medical field. It is extremely credit heavy, counting for credits in all of my required classes (science, math, English, and social) and some electives. Many of these are college credits. It is where med students can experience a hospital and do extensive research through direct observation. By the end of my senior year, I will have 8 or 9 language credits, 5 science credits, 5 or 6 math credits, 4 or 5 English credits, and 4 or 5 social credits (and those aren't even all of them). I have the potential to be Valedictorian of my class. I have not taken any SATs or other standardized tests at this time, but based on my superior test-taking abilities and previous remarkable scores, I anticipate good results.</p>

<p>Now for my extra-curricular activities: I am currently student council president of my school. I was also the Freshman class president. I have participated in Model United Nations (MUN), and received an award. I will be participating this year and next. I also anticipate going to Harvard for Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN) this year and next. I am an Eagle Scout, having entering Scouting in 1997 as a Cub Scout and following through. I have held many (important) positions in my Scout Troop during these years. I really don't know if this would help, but I also play music religiously (guitar, bass, keys, drums, vocals; I'm best at guitar, acoustic and electric). Also, I have a knack for anything involving technology/computers.</p>

<p>I'm not shy when it comes to persuasive speech or writing. My spelling and grammar is impeccable (don't use this as an example! =D), and my essay-writing skills are high above average.</p>

<p>I think that's about it. Thanks in advance for chancing me (and reading this! =D). If there is any information you'd like to know, I'll be glad to supply it.</p>

2

<p>Let me say that I'm not just looking into Harvard. I'm looking at Ivy league colleges. Just my chances; I'm not saying I think I have the ability to get into any of these college. I'd just like some insight.</p>

3

<p>Wow. Just wow. You're in for a harsh wake up call in the near future.</p>

4

<p>I never said I expected to get into these colleges. I was just curious of my chances. Please don't look at me like a naive pre-disillusioned high-schooler EXPECTING to be accepted into these colleges.</p>

<p>Could you please tell me what I could improve upon? I know my SATI & II scores would be a huge benefit to accurately gauging myself, but unfortunately, I cannot provide these at this time.</p>

5

<p>Let me be perfectly honest. The Regents in NY (I'm in NY too) really don't mean that much.</p>

<p>I mean, I scored an 80 on the Chem Regents, but still got a 5 on the Chem AP. Regent scores really aren't that important.</p>

6

<p>Heh, I figured as much, but I thought I'd include them. Too bad our school doesn't offer a lot of AP courses or language courses--otherwise, I'd be all over those.</p>

7

<p>As a fellow New Yorker, I know the annoyance of Regents exams but have to agree that they really don't mean much. Your ECs are good, especially Eagle Scout. Right now its pretty hard to say what your chances are since you don't have any scores (AP or standarized) to refer to. However, you seem to be on the right track! </p>

<p>Could you chance me too? <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/565467-supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/565467-supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

8

<p>I say this because of the fact that you seem to be only concerned with getting into ivy league schools.
Furthermore, your career choice is to become any "high paying surgeon"; i guarentee you won't get anywhere with that attitude. Did it ever cross your mind that people choose professions for reasons besides monetary gain?</p>

9

<p>haha, i knew someone was going to say it (about choosing professions for monetary reasons) and congratulations omgitsover9k today that person is you!</p>

10

<p>Your Ivy prospects are slim to none because of 1) your demeanor, 2) your poor credentials, and 3) your pitiable shallowness.</p>

11

<p>hahahaha, ouch.</p>

12

<p>I feel like colleges like to opt for passion. And not for the passion to garner kaching and prestige.</p>

<p>Look - XYZ AZN girl can be great at ballet, but she won't get into Juilliard. You know what I'm saying?</p>

13

<p>At nj<em>azn</em>premed:</p>

<p>Could you elaborate?</p>

<p>1) Demeanor - Do you mean my behavior? What stands out in it that would make a college avoid me?
2) Credentials - What could I improve upon?
3) Pitiable shallowness - Are you calling me stupid or arrogant? Or both? Please explain.</p>

<p>Thanks, I guess.</p>

14

<p>if you want to become a surgeon for the money, quit now.
people just like you who became surgeons for the paycheck lead depressing lives</p>

15

<p>bottom line: you are too cocky</p>

16

<p>At christian1206:</p>

<p>Actually, it isn't all for the money. A HUGE part of it is for the money. But, I'm seasoned to a lot of activity going on in my life. I'm the guy who doesn't show that much emotion, can deal with pressure situations (huge procrastinator), and I really have a fascination (not a sick fascination, nor an obsession) with what surgeons do.</p>

<p>I have heard stories of surgeons turning out to be alcoholics, depressed, and wasted. I know none of these people start out to become these types of people, but I think I'm up for the challenge. I'll have many years of college to decide.</p>

<p>At ragstoriches919:</p>

<p>Obviously that's a personal opinion, and you're perfectly entitled to it. I think most people who know me well would say I'm a genuine person, and I can see where you could get the idea that I'm cocky via my first post. Perhaps I gloat too much; I just wanted to put my best qualities forth for review.</p>

<p>But I must ask (and I honestly have no idea of the answer to this): Do colleges care if you're mildly to even moderately cocky?</p>

17

<p>"based on my superior test-taking abilities and previous remarkable scores, I anticipate good results."</p>

<p>LOL</p>

<p>try - extremely cocky?</p>

18

<p>Would I be lying? No; I do have superior test taking skills--I consistently ace exams (in fact, 100% on a chem exam this past Friday, the only one in the class). That's not to say I am without faults. For example, I have a very hard time reasoning on abstract topics, such as those presented in AP English. Also, my creative artistic ability is extremely limited. I can draw fine, I just can't create. It's weird and would take a long time to explain, and would ultimately get way off topic. I only presented my greatest qualities in my first post. I could go on way longer with a list of faults than qualities.</p>

19

<p>I'm going to be blunt here. If you want to be a doctor for the money being the primary reason, you should reconsider for the following:
1. Doctors should be doctors because they love what they do. Period. Most of them are passionately and genuinely interested in their profession and love every single minute of it - sans the money. You'll hate being a doctor if you just do it for the money. I promise.
2. To be that surgeon, you're going to have to spend at VERY LEAST 13 years of your life not making a single cent or a pittance. Trust me, the money is a long ways away. Be an investment banker, a lawyer or something else that makes the money without all the school or training. Trust me you'll be happier.</p>

<p>Tone down your level of pride. It will get you nowhere, especially in those medical school interviews - if you actually end up pursuing that career.</p>

20

<p>Thanks for being helpful. =]</p>

<p>So you're saying I shouldn't be a doctor/surgeon unless I love every minute of it? Here's my predicament: I don't want to be a lawyer. I just don't. I'd love a creative office job, like a graphic designer, but as I said before, I can't create. I'm just wired that way. Science is my thing. I understand science. I noted to myself that in bio last year, I really loved anatomy and the human body. I truly had a genuine interest in it. I didn't care for the biochemistry aspect, nor the ecology aspect.</p>

<p>Also, and I don't want to sound lazy here, but I don't want a job doing physical labor (I know surgeons require intense stamina, I'm not talking about that). That's just not my thing.</p>

<p>Any suggestions following this "criteria"?</p>