Female Asian in Western NY - Chance me for MIT+ JHU + Columbia + HPS!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Just clarifying not NYC haha, near the finger lakes. I would appreciate any type of feedback! Thanks!
Applying to Princeton REA just for the early boost.
Hooks: first gen, low income (65k 6 dependents) and maybe girl in STEM, polyglot?
Supplementals: I’ll take any opportunity to submit my research abstract w/ mentor’s LoR as well as a nice art portfolio

GPA UW: 3.9, Weighted (4.0 scale): 4.04? Not sure how that works as an ib diploma candidate but ok counselor
ACT: 34
SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 (800), Physics (800), Biology (800)
APs: World (4), APUSH (4), Lit (3)
Senior Course Load: IB Physics HL, IB Biology HL, IB Mathematics SL, IB Spanish SL, IB History of the Americas HL, IB Literature HL, Theory of Knowledge, AP Calculus

Awards/accomplishments
Top 50 in the USA Biology Olympiad out of 7,000 test takers across the country
Fluent in 4 languages: English, Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi and studying Arabic and Spanish (candidate for new york state seals of biliteracy in the last 4)
Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors; Mastery in Math and Science Endorsement

Main EC: Scientific research at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute for 2 years (10, 11, 12) 1000+ hours
Doing independent research on chromatin function in response to radiation and a chemotherapeutic drug, working towards second author publication (hopefully pending in time for feb. report).

Job: Attained a paid part-time job as the lab manager (11) by managing supplies at the lab, making laboratory solutions, fixing machines and organizing materials

Leadership

  • Lab manager (11)
  • Founder and President of Chemistry Club (11, 12)
  • President of Art Club (11)
  • Coordinated and organized events to raise funds for cancer research with hospital organization (below)
  • Worked with director at local Mosque to create a free English language program to benefit the community (below)

Volunteering

  • Taught English to immigrants from India and the Middle East (10, 11, 12, summers). Designed lesson plans, presented lessons to 30-50 people per class, worked with each individual to develop their fluency, 6 hours a week - amazing experience, essay topic
  • Raised funds for hospital research (10)
  • Peer tutoring in science and math (9,10,12)
  • Key Club (9, 10, 12)

Sports/Other

  • Recreational badminton (9,10,11,12)
  • High school track (10)
  • Currently enrolled in Arabic classes after school (11,12)
  • Trained how to use robotic equipment for surgery in hospital program (Summer after 10th)

Major: BME/Biological engineering, minor in Chinese
Concerns: Besides USABO I’m not a NMSF, don’t have a high GPA, may not publish by february, asian, no science fair stuff

2

Wow! I’d say you have a 60% chance of getting in!!!

3

As BME is your interest, look at WPI as backup if you find their unusual approach of interest. They do a lot of research with the University of MA medical school and have a BM research park on campus. The average, unweighted GPA for this year’s freshmen class is 3.89. Your hook is your research, they would like to see it. They do undergraduate project research around the world at no additional costs to students. You may use some language skills here. See https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/biomedical-engineering

You might also take a close look at Tufts University.

If 60% is close to accurate for admission to your listed choices, you need some solid backups that interests you and fit into your goals. Learn about them.