So right now I’m a rising senior and Georgia Tech is my top choice, what are my chances of getting in? I’m OOS, live in northern VA in one of the most competitive public school counties in the country. My UW GPA is a 4.0 and my weighted as of the end of junior year was a 4.375. The APs I’ve taken are World History, BC Calculus, Chem, Physics 1, and Lang and this year I’m taking Lit, Gov, Spanish, Bio, Econ, and Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra as my APs and dual enrollment classes, and all other core classes I’ve taken have been honors. My SAT is a 1540 w/ a 770 in each section and a 23/24 writing. I have a 780 on the SAT Chem and am taking Math 2 in October. My ECs are average, I did sports through sophomore year and now participate in regular tutoring and various honor societies, and also do consistent volunteer work. Most notably, I volunteer weekly at a respite center for children with mental disabilities. I’m not 100% sure, but right now I most likely want to major in biochem w/ either a minor or double major in math, and I want to focus on medical/health science and research. I’m confident that my letters of recommendation (from my BC Calc and AP Chem teachers) will be excellent because I was very close with both teachers and consistently performed in the top 5% or less of all of their students (about 100). I am concerned about writing a generic common app essay because I’m not super creative, although I do think I’m a strong writer. I’m also a half Filipino, half white female and daughter of an immigrant if that’s relevant.
You’re SATs are fantastic and your grades seem to match. Georgia Tech’s admit rate for women is 2-2.5x that for men, primarily because twice as many men apply as women. Overall, you probably have a great chance. However it works out, I’m sure your hard work will pay off!
With respect to your essay, I would recommend looking as some books that can offer guidance. I’ve been reviewing
“College Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay” by Ethan Sawyer. It’s available on Amazon for Kindle. It’s an easy ready that provides 4 distinct strategies to form an insightful and personal essay. I think your volunteer work with children and your interest in medical/health science and research can make make a very compelling essay.
any other opinions?
@shortnuke The most admission rate for women is about 34% vs. 22% for men, so higher, but not 2-2.5x.
Regarding the application, you are clearly a very strong student. Your ECs do seem to lack impact. Do you hold a leadership role in any of your activities or can you talk about a way you have impacted your community? If you can portray your community service as more than just showing up for service hours and as making an impact, you have a strong shot. I’d say you will more likely than not gain admission.
@InPursuit I didn’t mention this but I did win 1st place at my public school county’s science fair in the biomedical and health science category as well as an award from the U.S. Public Health Service, and I also volunteer regularly at miscellaneous events in my local church. I’m a very active community member there as I went to the associated school from K-8, but I don’t really know how to convey that in my application since I’m not really involved in one specific program that does consistent year-round work. Would that be worth mentioning? I know it’s too late to try and start doing more in my senior year, and I don’t want to do anything out of insincerity just so that it looks good to admissions officers.