Chances? I'm getting so nervous

Colleges & Universities A-Z Brown University
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<p>SAT I: 2100 (620 CR, 750 M, 730 W)
SAT II: Taking Bio-M, Math 2 and Spanish later this month. (Expecting 700+ on all of them)
ACT: 31 (Also retaking - expecting a 33 or 34)
GPA: UW - 3.9 W- 4.3 (4.0 scale)
Class Rank: 1/583
Courseload: Most rigorous available. 6 AP classes my senior year, 5.0 GPA this semester (out of 4.0 possible)
First-Semester Grades: Straight As with a few A+.
Intended Major: Biology/Philosophy double major (premed focus)
APs Taken: Biology - 5
Taking this year: Gov & Politics, Economics, English, Calc AB, Chem2, Physics and Spanish Language
School: Very large public school, rarely sends grads to Ivies (one grad from last year is at Princeton - everyone else goes to state schools)</p>

<p>Significant Extracurriculars:
Student Council Rep - 3 Years
Science Olympiad - 2 years
National Honor Society - Senior year
Study Abroad Experience - This past summer, became fluent in Spanish with a college program
This year - Fashion Show, Scholarship “Contest” (it’s kind of like a dude pageant?)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
3 Years (fast food) - This is my big leadership role. I work 30-35 hours a week leading a crew of more than 80 people. Nominated Crew Person of the Year for 2009 in my region
Hospital ER Volunteer - 4 hrs/week for 8 weeks (left because I was leaving the country)
Webmaster - I run the websites for 3 local businesses</p>

<p>Other Interesting Facts:
I’m huge into web design…my freshman year I engineered my own social networking platform. After it launched, over 600 members registered from over 5 different states. It didn’t get too big, but the advertisement money went to charity. I quit because of time issues. I consider web programming a passion of mine.</p>

<p>Recommendations: Very Good and Good</p>

<p>Essays: One was about study abroad experience. written in a diary format, very personal and very well written (commonapp)
-One was written as a very personal letter to my father, explaining his struggle with depression (VERY personal - i wouldn’t even show this to my dad)</p>

<p>Other Facts:
-Very low income (<$20,000)
-White male
-Indiana (apparently under-represented at the Ivies?)</p>

<p>Strong Points: Class rank, GPA, work experience, unique talent
Weak Points: Test scores, lack of leadership experience (other than work)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Another question: What makes Brown better than other ivies? How good is Brown’s pre-med program?</p>

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<p>Getting into an Ivy League school is never guaranteed, but I’d say you stand a very strong chance. You are not lacking in leadership at all. Given how much time you put into work, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t have much time. That you manage to do Science Olympiad as well is truly amazing. You have everything Brown wants: good grades, self-sufficiency, ingenuity, and powerful essays. Brown is also looking for people from diverse economic and regional backgrounds. </p>

<p>Another thing Brown loves is Computer Science. It is one of their goals to recruit CS majors. It is never good to apply for a major just because Brown likes it, but given your strong experience with programming and considerable passion I would highly recommend applying for Computer Science. I was admitted early primarily for Computer Science, and I think it was because I had experience very similar to yours.</p>

<p>As far as testing goes, your scores are good enough as it is. But if you can improve that would be great too. A 33 or 34 would be awesome.</p>

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<p>Thanks floatingriver! I have already submitted my application, and put Bachelor of Science for Molecular Biology as my intended major…looks like it’s a little late to switch it over to computer science. I wish I would have researched this beforehand =/</p>

<p>But thank you again for your insights!</p>

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<p>Ya, I’d say you stand an above average chance of getting in. I was accepted ED with a 31 ACT, so it’s definitely possible. </p>

<p>Reason to go to Brown: I honestly believe it’s the students’ attitudes towards each other and learning. They are the nicest, most down to earth people I have ever met. The professors are awesome as well. I talked to 2 professors (one in the math department and the other in the geoscience department) and I never felt so invited. Yes, the Open Curriculum is great and the academics are fa nominal, but the people at Brown is what made me want to go to Brown. It was the perfect fit for me.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure if you have gotten your login yet for the application status page, but you can change your intended major even after you have submitted your application using the application status page. This being said, since you did not submit the extra essay for computer sciences, you cannot change your primary major to Sc. B and Computer Science. But you can change your secondary major to SC. B and Computer Science, and it is possible they might notice this.</p>

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<p>Thanks again! I just updated the application. I had no problem changing my primary major to Sc. B and Computer Science. I just left my secondary major the same.</p>

<p>Do you know if these are binding choices? Meaning, if admitted, am I committed to these majors only?</p>

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<p>You are not committed to these choices by any means, but updating the primary major is not a good idea. If it were any other major it would be fine, but since you wrote your sciences essay about a different major, you cannot update your primary major without confusing them. Best to change the primary major back and update the secondary major…</p>

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<p>to be honest the reason I at first really loved Brown was I got a great vibe from the people there. Like what was said above, very down to earth</p>

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<p>Thanks again floatingriver. lol what would I do without CC? I’d probably just not even consider college. =P</p>

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<p>you have a great chance
AND UR FROM THE INDIANNA!
ur in, dont worry
brown has a great 7 yr med program, but you missed the deadline
but its still a great school
GOOD LUCK!</p>

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<p>Premed program is very rigorous (sorry I can only answer this part of the question seeing as I am a current student haha). Physics and chemistry both suck. Apparently we have one of the hardest organic chemistry courses in the country. Math department is pretty crappy, too. D:</p>

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<p>Ohh sweeet…well I might change my mind once I get there. Brown seems to be into the whole “explore your interests” thing so who knows…I might find some strange class about African studies or politics interesting and change my mind about my major.</p>

<p>Brown is moving up on my list! Seems like a fantastic school</p>

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<p>Why do Phys and Chem suck?</p>

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<p>csmith: you may want to read this,</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/385841-brown-curriculum-university-college-explained.html?highlight=explained[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/385841-brown-curriculum-university-college-explained.html?highlight=explained&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>That article made me appreciate the curriculum guide a bit more, but it is disappointing that they consider their main focus a liberal arts education. Obviously, it’s still possible to do a pre-med course and go on to medical school, but that’s not the main focus at brown. This could be good or bad depending on perspective.</p>

<p>Thanks for the link wolfmanjack. Very informative</p>

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<p>Brown is not a pre-professional school. I’d look into the benefits of a liberal arts education over other systems. FYI though, you should look into these things prior to applying!</p>

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<p>I don’t want to limit myself based on a choice that I’m not 100% sure about. I don’t want to not apply to schools just because they don’t have the kind of program that I MIGHT want to go into. At the moment, I’m not 100% committed to a pre-med undergrad education, that’s why I left the option open for Brown and applied, and that’s why I asked for opinions about Brown as a pre-professional school. </p>

<p>Lots to consider</p>