Here’s my college list:
- Pomona
- Harvey Mudd
- Pitzer
- UCLA, UCB, UCD, UCSB, UCI
- JHU
- Cornell
- Emory
- Georgetown
- Washington/St Louis
- DePaul
- Baylor
Asian female in California, high income, no hooks or anything
Major: either psych or bio (pre-med)
GPA: 3.9 UW / 4.35 W / 4.2 (capped) UC GPA
SAT: 1500, 700 Math II, 700 Chem
ECs
- stem cell research for a summer, received a stipend
- started a non-profit a month ago, raised some money to donate to hospitals
- interned/volunteered at a hospital for a month last summer
- President of a volunteering club
- founded a pysch/mental health related club
- played piano for 10 years
Volunteering
- volunteer as a piano teaching instructor (was a paid job until I changed it to volunteer for college apps lol)
Awards
- national level in history competition (nothing much to say about this, didn’t do much of the work)
- 1st place in a regional science-related competition (same as above)
I’m worried about being a “generic pre-med Asian,” since my essays and ECs are very focused on the medical field. The major awards I received, I didn’t do much work for, and I wasn’t successful in the competitions I entered my research into. My SAT subject scores aren’t up to par, and my SAT took me lots of expensive courses to achieve that score. So I guess I’m just really not sure about where I can get in-- I thought my research gave me a good chance at some of the higher schools, but I don’t know.
bumppppp
would really appreciate any help please!
As you know, all are reach for everyone except Baylor and DePaul.
I’d cross out Baylor unless you’re serious about religion (and as a Californian, remember Baylor medical school acceptance is unrelated to the college and heavily favors Texans).
If you want a good pre-med program+LAC that are easier to get into than the Claremonts, look at Whitman, St Olaf?
@MYOS1634 yup, most of the list I put here is my reaches, but I have a few in-state safeties (including CSUs) that I didn’t list here. Thank you for the suggestions! Which reaches do you think I have a semi-decent chance of getting into?
You’re within the perimeter for all but since they’re lottery schools no one can predict whether you’ll get into one, or two, or zero… If the acceptance rate is under 25% think of it as impossible to predict.
I’d strongly recommend adding a few oos private schools that are known for pre-med/sciences.
You look like a competitive applicant. Nothing much to say except that all your schools are reaches for everyone. Good luck
I might add Boston University and Tulane to the list, although BU has a reputation for grade deflation. Maybe Brandeis or Tufts although Tufts would be a reach. URochester should be added too since they have a highly rated medical school and your grades and SAT 1 are well in target.
I would take Georgetown off the list since they ‘strongly recommend’ 3 SAT subject tests and the 2 scores that you have are kind of mediocre for an Asian student. Don’t report them if you can.
UCs are going to be brutal for pre-meds with the weed out courses.
Do you have any AP scores?
@Hamurtle I have mostly 4s, one 3, and some 5s on APs. I’ve taken a total of 7 APs so far (in soph and junior year).
@pyschbiogirl 4s and 5s should be fine. I would still recommend taking Georgetown off your list since they recommend 3 SAT subject tests and the 2 scores you have are so-so.
Also take out the Claremont’s with the exception of maybe Pomona. Harvey Mudd is more Engineering focused and also is a grade deflator. Not a good combination for a pre-med.
WashU is a reach/low reach if you are considering Psychology, which might be the easier path for pre-med. The school likes full-pay and if you are considering ED1/ED2 then decent chances.
Your scores are in range for both Rochester and Tulane and I would substitute them for your reaches.
Are you planning to ED to any schools?
@Hamurtle I’ll probably take off Georgetown and Mudd. I didn’t ED to any schools and don’t plan to, since I like to keep my options open. The only application I’ve submitted so far is for UW.
Assuming that you mean WashU (WUSTL) and not UW-Seattle. Try not to make that mistake in the apps.
@Hamurtle I do mean UW-Seattle.
OK-didn’t see UW in your original list though. That should be a match school given GPA/test scores and their medical school is quite good.
@Hamurtle oh I must’ve forgotten to add it! That’s a relief. And I’ll definitely replace some of my reaches with matches.