Chances for Stony Brook?

Demographics

  • Korean Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident
  • Residence: Long Island, NY (10 mins from SBU)
  • 3-year public HS, fairly competitive but sends tons of students to SBU
  • Gender/Race/Ethnicity: Male, Asian
  • Other special factors (first generation to college, legacy, athlete, etc.):

Intended Major(s): AMS on pre-med track

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: *
  • Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): *
  • Class Rank: N/A
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 35
  • SAT II: Math II 800, U.S. History 740

Coursework

4 years of Spanish from 7th to 10th grade
AP: U.S. Gov (5), USH (5), Psych (5), Physics 1 (3), Environmental (4), Calc BC (5, AB Subscore: 5), World (5), Lang (5), CSA (5), Chem (5); 12th grade APs: Lit, Bio, Stats, Microecon
College Level: Multivariable Calc w/ Linear Alg (12th)

Awards

  • AIME Qualifier (AMC 12B: 100.5, AIME: 6)
  • COVID-19 Video Contest 3rd Place
  • AP Scholar with Distinction
  • National Merit Semifinalist Hopeful

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)

  • Math Team (Treasurer)
  • Student Government
  • HOSA
  • NHS
  • Student Volunteer @ nursing homes (~100 hours, gap due to COVID-19)
  • Volunteer/Clerk @ non-profit organization aimed at educating public about hydrocephalus
  • Lab Intern @ Neuroanatomy lab
  • Crew Member @ McDonald’s

GPA: I have attended 2 schools w/ different grading systems. For 9th and 10th grade, I have a 3.93/4.00 UW GPA and around 4.4 W. For 11th grade, I have a 104.38/100 weighted GPA (no UW).

Am I being too paranoid? On the Naviance scattergram for our school, tons of kids with GPA and ACT orders of magnitude lower than mine have gotten in. Just heard the stories of how competitive the CS and engineering majors at SBU are so my perception may be skewed.

Have you spoken with your guidance counselor? SBU admissions must be their area of greatest expertise. Ask them point-blank whether anyone from your school, with your stats and qualifications, has ever been denied. I have a hard time imagining your not getting in, especially as an AIME qualifier
 but your counselor should be able to give you better-substantiated info than anyone else.

Are you considering applying to the Scholars For Medicine program?

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I think you can very confidently consider SBU to be a safety.

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Hi, thanks for the reply! I am first of all not applying to the scholars for medicine program but am eyeing the honors college and merit scholarships, as well as the University scholars program, but to clarify this post is concerning admission to SBU in general - whether I can be admitted to any capacity or get flat-out rejected.

I have not been able to talk with my counselor as our school has not started yet. However, looking at Scattergram data, no one in the history of our school with my stats has ever been denied. I’m just super anxious about the small chance that I become the first red “X” in a sea of green check marks for any reason whatsoever. (And just for the record, I don’t have any ‘red flags’ like a felony or anything.)

Thank you! I have lately been super anxious about getting rejected from my safeties (paranoid much?) and your reply reassures me a lot.

Just to add: do you think that my lack of leadership - only 1 position(!) - will be of any detriment to my application?

I think you’re worrying too much. If I were you, I’d look for a few good safeties that will notify you as early as possible, so you can put the getting-shut-out worries to bed. The Pitt application is already open; apply ASAP to get a decision as early as possible, and maximize merit scholarship and honors college potential as well. Assume you’ll apply EA to Stony Brook, but with Pitt you could have an acceptance even earlier, and it’s a good premed destination as well.

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Hi! I already have Pitt as my other safety and am planning to submit my application there no later than end of August. Hopefully I can get some early reassurance before I can really start grinding for my targets and reaches throughout November and December.

As with SBU, I think your chances of denial are remote. But you’re best off focusing on what you can control - do a good job on the application and get it in early.

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I think you should feel confident that you would be admitted and eligible for the honors college with a corresponding merit award. I suggest applying to the honors college at Pitt as well.

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Thanks for the reply! I have already gotten a head start on my Pitt application and am planning to finish it before the end of August.

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I, a stranger on the Internet, am supremely confident in your chances regardless of what you perceive to be a lack of leadership roles (look again and be more generous to yourself and I think you’ll find examples of how you lead or contributed to teams/groups in positive ways).

The transcript is excellent, the test scores tip-top, the awards impressive and distinctive, and the extras better than what you are giving yourself credit for. Consider SBU to be in the bank, perhaps find another safety or match with EA/rolling admissions as others are suggesting, and work on building a great list of reaches and matches. Good luck.

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@friendsgreenwich
IMO, with your stats, SBU UG admission is very likely. SBU’s Honors program is small and highly selective, the Honors College enrolls only about 100 of the 2,800 freshmen entering the University each year (about 3.5% acceptance rate). University Scholars is SBU’s sister honors program but slightly larger. They have about 250 students per class (about 9% acceptance rate). Good luck.

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