Going to a state college then Ivy League?

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<p>Going to a state college then Ivy League? </p>

<p>Hey everyone,
Right now I’m in the process of evaluating my academic situation and my ‘qualifications’ to attend an Ivy League University. Currently, I don’t feel as if I stand out academically and extracurricular wise because of several reasons. One of my reason is that I didn’t take AP or honors classes 9th to 10th grade because my school ‘home school’ didn’t offer them; you might be saying I could have taken them at a community college, but my circumstances prevented me to do so
(detailed explanation here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/833829-i-m-african-american-homeschooled-i-need-help-how-get.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/833829-i-m-african-american-homeschooled-i-need-help-how-get.html&lt;/a&gt;)
I currently only take one AP class, but I plan on taking the majority of them my senior year. My reason is simple; I’m just not academically prepared to take AP Calculus and Physics, when I haven’t even taken standard Chemistry or Algebra II (I’m currently in those subjects). Anyways, I have this dream of becoming a neurosurgeon and I’m willing to accept the challenges that come along with it, but I don’t know if the ‘make up’ work I’m doing now will be enough for Yale, University of Pennsylvania ect. I’m just a driven and determined as any other Ivy bound, but I’m playing serious catch-up compared to everyone else.<br>
I know if a different card had been dealt to me I’d be adequately qualified to attend an Ivy League university now. However, I’m trying to make the most out of where I am presently. Is the better option for me attending a state college then attaining my medical degree from an Ivy League university? If anything I would attend the University of Florida or the University of Miami. </p>

<p>I do have questions on how competitive Ivy League universities become for graduate degrees. My ideal dream would be attending John Hopkins or Harvard University for my medical degree. Also, does anyone know of how many African Americans (females) apply to either of those schools for a medical degree?</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies, :)</p>

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<p>ur taking algebra 2 in 11th grade? O.o</p>

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<p>You should attend the college that will best support your longer term goal of being admitted to a medical school. Remove all the name tags from this venture (Harvard, JHU, etc.) and focus on the realities before you. </p>

<p>You’ll need to get practically all A’s in your core pre-reqs for medical school as well as a very very high GPA in whatever your major will be. Then, you need top shelf MCATs. </p>

<p>Your goal should be: what school can I best accomplish these set of goals? Once you line that college up: then and only then should you be thinking of the type of medical school you should attend. </p>

<p>One bit of caution: Unless you will have an outstanding track record of research, the tippy topmost GPA and MCATs, the top level med schools aren’t realistic choices.</p>

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<p>@ DannyNobel </p>

<p>I took algebra I in the 9th, and Geometry in the 10th. My school didn’t offer Algebra I in the 8th grade, I would be in Calculus now if that was the case. However, I will be taking pre-calculus over the summer. So I will be in AB Calculus in my 12th grade year, and I will take Cac BC in that summer.</p>

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<p>If you’re as driven and willing to catch up as you say, you’ll find more supportive faculty members and peers at the very best private universities than you would at lesser-known public universities.</p>

<p>The professors and administrators at these schools will work with you to make sure you succeed.</p>

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<p>check out the results thread and use it as an outline to post your stats so we can give you a legit decision ;D</p>

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<p>^Somehow I doubt that anyone here is capable of giving him a “legit decision” even if he posts all of his stats.</p>