<p>General Info:
Asian Indian
Rising Senior
Semi-Competitive High School
California Resident
No Financial Aid Needed
Most challenging schedule possible</p>
<p>GPA:
Unweighted: 3.79
Weighted: 4.2</p>
<p>SAT/PSAT/ACT Scores:
SAT I: 2250 (710 CR, 770 M, 770 W)
SAT II: 800 Math IIC, 800 Biology E, 760 USH
Will Take: Chemistry (projected 800)
ACT: 35
Will Send Both ACT and SAT</p>
<p>Taking Next (Senior Year):
AP Calculus BC
AP English Literature
AP Government
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
AP Statistics</p>
<p>For Extracurriculars, I'm trying to avoid a laundry list.
Extracurricular Activities/Work Experience:
Neuroradiology Research at UCSF - will be published at least once
Gastroenterology Job Shadowing - 120 Hours
2500 Hours Volunteering at Sikh Temple (extremely involved and possibly an essay topic)
Worked at parent's small business sophomore summer
200 Hours Hospital Volunteer
Self-taught Pianist (sadly, no Certificate of Merit)
College Club President</p>
<p>Awards/Recognition:
San Joaquin Valley Champion Public Forum Debate
First Place Biomedical Debate State HOSA Competition
Finalist Biomedical Debate National HOSA Competition
Ranked #56 International Issues Extemporaneous Speech Nationally
California Scholarship Foundation Member
National Honors Society Member</p>
<p>Recs/Essays:
My mentor professor and my AP Biology teacher will be writing them. The mentor's rec should be superb and the teacher rec should be pretty good.</p>
<p>I'm an above average essay writer so I guess my essays will be pretty good.</p>
<p>Schools of Interest:
UCSD Med Scholars
USC Bacc/MD
Penn State BA/MD
Boston University BA/MD
Northwestern HPME</p>
<p>Yes. Family involvement. I live there in all practicality (it's like a second home) ... I can get something official from the chair of the organization if I have to as well.</p>
<p>i think you can really get into UCSD med scholars. the only thing i had going for me was a 2350 and a 4.86 GPA, and yet i still got an interview. if you nail that 400 word essay with deep personal experience (i talked about my cousin who passed away from duchenne muscular dystrophy), then you will definitely get an interview. </p>
<p>the interview was harsh for me, though. they asked a lot of stuff about medical experience, and i really had none, so it was difficult. you, on the other hand, actually have some med experience, so you can do it.</p>
<p>i guess the same would apply to the other programs. essays are ridiculously important for these programs.</p>
<p>I applied for the USC, BU, and UCSD programs from the ones you listed. I got into the USC and BU programs and decided to go to BU.
I think your GPA may be a little lower than ideal but if you have an upward trend in your grades then your GPA won't hold you back too much. It basically comes down to how well you can write your essays. I'm sure most all the people who apply to these programs are better than average essay writers, but you have to make sure the material you include in your essays is meaningful and connects well to your interest in medicine (that probably sounds really vague but oh well).
So, I think you definitely have a chance but don't limit yourself to only these colleges and programs.</p>
<p>GPA needs to improve. Your list of programs should be wider to include lesser known bs/md at state schools, if acceptance to combined program is your goal.</p>
<p>Here's the deal. If I get into a strong upper end college, I'd rather go there. However, if the opportunity for direct acceptance into medical school does come up, I'd be very willing to take it. I can't really "improve" my GPA per se at this point. However, I am determined to go to medical school and hope that my ECs which are medically oriented will help demonstrate that. </p>
<p>I'm also applying to UCLA, Cal, Stanford SCEA and numerous safeties.</p>
<p>You WILL get into Cal and UCLA if you think you even have any chance at all of getting into any of the BS/MD programs you named. Cal and UCLA should absolutely be safeties if you are applying to the BS/MDs you mentioned as well. If you would rather go to Cal or UCLA than the BS/MD programs, then I suggest you just don't apply to any of the BS/MD programs and instead focus your energies on other Ivy League schools.</p>