Chances for ...Harvard?

<p>getting good scores on class exams doesn't really have to do much SATs</p>

<p>Well I know it doesn't absolutely ensure it, but doesn't it help? Isn't SAT test-taking and regular test-taking similar in some aspects?</p>

<p>No. I know kids who have straight A's in honors/AP courses who fail miserably to reach at least a 2000. </p>

<p>School tests are just "content mastery" whereas the SAT is more of, "innate brainpower".</p>

<p>And I know kids who score above 2250 on the SAT but struggle to even touch a A- average in school. (Including myself, lol)</p>

<p>Your chances at any school are 0.<br>
Reasons:
1. You are ignorant, arrogant, and need a wake up call.
2. You don't necessarily have good test taking skills just because you can get good grades on a Regents exam. You probably did well because you either knew the material or that the test is outrageously easy. Anybody who doesn't get a 99+ on the Global regents has epic fail syndrome.
3. Your credentials are just poor in general.
4. You are a prestige hunter.
5. You WILL not follow through becoming a surgeon because of your motives.
6. You are ignorant, arrogant, and need a wake up call.
7. You are ignorant, arrogant, and need a wake up call.
8. You are ignorant, arrogant, and need a wake up call.</p>

<p>See you at community college bud.</p>

<p>Tests in school are different from SATs but it's good that you do well on tests in school. (I don't think you're being cocky; if that's the truth, then you shouldn't water it down and be humble and modest because that skews information)
I would definitely take SATs and try to get 2300 + and 3 SATIIs
Also, look into APs even if your school doesn't offer a lot of them. Try self-studying.
Good Luck</p>

<p>While the post above me is a bit blunt, I do have to say that if you portray yourself in any way like you did in your original post for this thread, you have.. a very slim chance. You WILL come across as an arrogant prestige hunter.</p>

<p>Also, you stated that the money is a HUGE part of why you want to be a surgeon. You realize that most people have a passion for a career they want to pursue, correct? It's not about the money. It shouldn't be about the money - or at the very least it shouldn't play as big of a role in your career choice. In my opinion, it shouldn't be a factor. Do something you want to do because you're PASSIONATE about it, not because it's a big check.</p>

<p>I really hope that you find a passion - otherwise, I feel you could potentially live a very small, superficial life in a career you don't truly enjoy. And all for the sake of a few extra 0s on your salary.</p>

<p>If it is just about money become an Investment banker. You can make like 100K and up almost right out of college, plus you save a ton by not having to go to medical school. You have to work insane hours (like 80 hrs a week), but if you only care about money then this is the path to go.</p>

<p>Troll alert. This person is just trying to get a rise out of us. There's no way there's anyone this naive, arrogant, or shallow.</p>

<p>He's so shallow, he doesn't know what it means to be "shallow" lmfao. To the OP, if you're fond of science, then being an MD is one of the worst directions you can take...there's really no science involved in the practical application of medicine. If you truly are considering medicine solely for the money, you should reconsider...granted, as a high schooler, it's not likely that you would be informed enough to make the right decision. I would advise you to do some more research into different career paths. Also, look up what "shallow" means when used as an adjective to describe a person and then work on eliminating that aspect of your personality...it's really a sign of immense immaturity and is the reason you have received so many brutal replies.</p>

<p>nj<em>azn</em>premed said:
"He's so shallow, he doesn't know what it means to be "shallow" lmfao."</p>

<p>Okay, I laughed at that.</p>

<p>At froozle:</p>

<p>Self studying... how much work is that really? When you have a school schedule as hectic as mine, how will that fit in? And most importantly, how does that look on a college application if I self study for say, bio and chemistry (and get 4s or 5s)?</p>

<p>At everyone:</p>

<p>You all are pretty much saying the same thing--that I need to explore more careers and find something that I am passionate about. It's been very helpful, albeit personal attacks. I guess I do need a wake up call. But here's the thing: I find it very hard to find anything that I like. I don't want to be a lawyer, I don't want to be a banker, I sort of like tech jobs, and I really like medical jobs. I also looked at anesthesiologist...would that be a bad choice?</p>

<p>Forget the money issue. What would you be sincerely happy doing even if it paid you NOTHING?</p>

<p>Do you feel that way about any career? Maybe it's just my stupid 16 year old head saying this, but I don't think I would do much work without being paid.</p>

<p>Yes, in fact. I either want to work for a non-profit or do theatre full-time.</p>

<p>NEITHER of which pay very well. :)</p>

<p>But those aren't what I want. =] I don't feel passionate about theatre or not-for-profit...Now if I could tour with a band...okay there is my passion. But the chances of me actually making it big are slim. Very slim, due to the fact that there are so many bands out there.</p>

<p>I'm not trying to tell you that it's what you should do, I'm saying that it is possible to have a fulfilling career that isn't about the money. Therefore, contrary to what you think, I would be able to get a lot of work done without being paid. :)</p>

<p>Do what you love, not what gives you the biggest paycheck. If they happen to intersect and they're the same thing, great! But especially in medical fields - don't be a doctor or a surgeon or anything else if you aren't willing to put every fiber of your soul into it. You owe it to the patients. It's not a matter of money; it's a matter of LIVES.</p>

<p>You don't want to go into medicine for money. Period.</p>

<p>I want to be a surgeon, too. Really badly. About half of my family is in the surgical field; one of my grandfathers was a neurosurgeon, the other did heart transplants. My grandmother did general, and my uncle is currently head of surgery. Another aunt is also in medicine.
And every single one of them tried to discourage me from going into medicine.</p>

<p>Sure, you might get paid well later (which isn't even 100% sure given how malpractice suits are going these days...), but you have to make huge sacrifices.
My uncle is never home. He has to sacrifice having a healthy family life. His kid never sees his dad. He has to be ready to go in at any time.
He was at the hospital on christmas day while the rest of the family was eating christmas dinner.</p>

<p>If you're really into sciences, you could also look into becoming a researcher or something similar.</p>

<p>Also, going back to your application, there's nothing in it that screams passion, which is what I think might hurt you the most.
This is Harvard. They get thousands of applicants with beautiful grades, AP scores, SAT scores, and so on. They NEED to see commitment and passion to set you apart. Student council president is very good, and MUN and eagle scout are good too (even though I hear eagle scout is getting less and less impressive), but I don't really see much that really suggests long term commitment and going above and beyond.</p>

<p>That was really helpful.</p>

<p>What makes you want to be a surgeon, despite the warnings your relatives have given you?</p>

<p>What kind of commitment shows serious dedication like you were describing?</p>

<p>For me personally; part of it was actually dissecting pigs freshman year. It was just kind of an oh-my-god, this is absolutely amazing feeling that kind of progressed onwards and made me want to spend the rest of my life holding a scalpel, which sounds a bit ridiculous but it just felt very right. I'd already wanted to be a doctor, just because I wanted to do something that would let me hands-on help people, which I knew I wanted to do, and so it kind of fit in with that. I've also been doing scientific research for about 2 years now, which while it's really cool, just kind of led me to the conclusion that it's not for me.</p>

<p>As for ECs, I think there's another thread on the chances board talking about ECs titled something like "those ECs are weak- blahblahblah" or something that I would check out.
They do depend from situation to situation, especially positions for like student council president which in some schools is a huge commitment and in others isn't.
Also, if you want MUN to be a big deal you're going to want to be high ranking officer position in that too.</p>

<p>If you do decide that surgery is Your Thing, also keep in mind you don't have to go to harvard to make it.
You're going to be wanting to look for undergrad schools where you'll be happy and able to pull a good GPA, prep well for the MCATs, and get the volunteering and hospital experience you'll need to get accepted to med school. You can get that at harvard, and you can also get that at many many other schools, so keep that in mind too.</p>

<p>I totally loved dissection last year. Not in a sick way, but I just had a fascination with it.</p>

<p>My mother told me about Albany Med...how's that for a college?</p>