I am looking to major in biochemistry during college in preparation for medical school. I feel that, given my stats, this is a balanced (in terms of reach/competitive/safe) and well-numbered list. Given their programs, research opportunities, overall atmosphere, med school admissions rate, and financial aid (99k income) is this a nice list? Are there any schools worth adding, removing, or altering? Note: I do not wish to attend any western schools, as I’d be too far from family for my liking.
LIST: Harvard, Yale, UPenn, Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, Notre Dame, CWRU, OSU, The College of Wooster
+Washington University (forgot to add)
No one can tell you if this is a balances list without knowing your stats.
That said, I see mostly high reaches, reaches, and maybe matches (if you live in OH). No true safeties, especially if you need aid.
Based on your indicated interests you might want to search for “15 Best Value Small Colleges for a Chemistry Degree,” a list that includes schools strong in related fields such as biochemistry. You will note that one of your choices, Wooster, appears. Some of the other schools named may appeal to you as well. You might also want to consider colleges from the below group, which have been recognized for their opportunities for faculty-mentored research/creative projects: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/undergrad-research-programs.
brobdingnagian17 wrote:
Currently a Junior at a public high school
African-American Male
GPA: 3.934 (UW) and 4.529 (W)
ACT: 33 with 10 in writing – planning on raising it to 35-36 this spring
Plan on taking SAT and subject tests in Chem, French, and Math 2 this upcoming spring
Taking AMC and USNCO local exams this spring semester as well
8th Grade (High school courses):
Freshmen:
- Honors Geometry
- Honors Algebra II
- French II
- Honors Band
- World Studies
- Honors Physical Science
- Introduction to Engineering Design
- Honors English IX
Summer going into Sophomore Year:
- CCP Precalculus A/B
- Health
Sophomore:
- AP US History (5)
- AP Biology (4)
- AP Statistics (4)
- AP Calculus BC (5 for BC and AB)
- Honors Biochemistry of Health
- Honors Band
- Honors French III
- Honors English X
Junior (currently in):
- AP Chemistry (5)
- AP English Language and Composition (5)
- AP US Government and Politics (5*)
- Self-study of Calculus III (first-semester)
- Self-study of Differential Equations (second-semester)
- Honors Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Band
- Honors French IV
*assuming based on how smoothly the classes are going
Senior (planning to take):
- AP Psychology
- AP French
- AP Physics I: Algebra-Based
- AP English Literature and Composition
- Self-study of Linear Algebra (first-semester)
- Honors Genetics of Disease
- Honors Biomedical Innovations
Planned Recommendations:
- AP Chemistry teacher
- AP English Lang teacher
- Teacher I had for Calc III/DIff Eq/Linear Alg and whom I also compete in Mu Alpha Theta for (same person)
- Teacher I had French 2 thru AP French
Extracurriculars:
- Founded project Spark the Park with TomTod non-project organization – revamped our local park and added bat boxes and mini-libraries along the trails (9, 10, 11)
- Founded and preside over Math Club as we are competing in AMC for the first time this year (10, 11)
- programming team on 4121 FRC robotics team (9, 10, 11); Captain (11)
- French club officer (9, 10, 11); next in line to become president
- JV academic challenge team (9, 10); quit before joining varsity team junior year
- Marching Band/Pep Band/Full Orchestra/Symphonic Band playing Mellophone and French Horn (9, 10, 11); Officer (10); quitting after this year
- Leadership Club (9, 10, 11); Officer (11) and got accepted in RYLA conference
- President’s Council (10, 11) and NHS (I don’t know, haven’t heard back yet) – mainly a title
- Mu Alpha Theta collegiate team (10, 11) – compete twice per semester – personally have nationally ranked
- Planning to do 100+ hours of neuro-research at NEOMED during summer (may continue with this going into next school year with band being out of the bucket list)
- US Soccer Referee since June 2018
Community Service (over my high school career):
- Camp Invention Leadership Summer Intern (40 hours)
- Altar Server at my church (31 hours)
- Rotary Club Flag Set-Up/Take-Down (10 hours)
- VBS Assistant Teacher (45 hours)
- FFF Assistant Teacher (57 hours)
- Instruments of Christ (play horn in my church–20 hours)
- Senior Citizen Cover Story/History Project (10 hours)
- …and several other hours for soup kitchens, concessions, marching band (uniform fitting, band room decorating, mattress sale, contest facilitator, etc.), senior citizens’ prom, French tutoring and crepe making (FRENCH WEEK!!)
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/2122335-valid-college-list-p1.html
And Madison is a fantastic city.
@momofsenior1 Since you were wondering about stats, here you go. Also, I have more reaches because I feel that’s what I should do to increase my chances of getting into one of them. I can add a school with a greater than 60% acceptance rate though.
AA Male – Junior at a suburban public school in Ohio
- WGPA: 4.546 UWGPA: 3.923
- ACT: 35 w/ 10 in writing (planning on improving writing)
- Plan SAT Chem, French, and Math II this upcoming fall
- I have a Seal of Biliteracy in French
8th Grade (High school courses):
Freshmen:
- Honors Geometry
- Honors Algebra II
- French II
- Honors Band
- World Studies
- Honors Physical Science
- Introduction to Engineering Design (9/9 on my EOC)
- Honors English IX
Summer going into Sophomore Year:
- CCP Precalculus A/B
- Health
Sophomore:
- AP US History (5)
- AP Biology (4)
- AP Statistics (4)
- AP Calculus BC (5 for BC and AB)
- Honors Biochemistry of Health (9/9 on my EOC)
- Honors Band
- Honors French III
- Honors English X
Junior (just finished):
- AP Chemistry (5)
-
AP English Language and Composition (5)
- AP US Government and Politics (5*)
- Accredited self-study of Calculus 3 (first-semester)
- Accredited self-study of Differential Equations (second-semester)
- Honors Human Anatomy and Physiology (9/9 on my EOC)
- Band
- Honors French IV
Senior (planning to take):
- AP Psychology (5)
-
AP French (5)
- AP Physics I: Algebra-Based (5)
-
AP English Literature and Composition (5)
- Accredited self-study of Linear Algebra (first-semester)
- Honors Genetics of Disease (9/9 on my EOC)
-
Honors Biomedical Innovations (9/9 on my EOC)
- maybe AP Micro/Macroeconomics? (5 and 5*)
*my assumption
Planned Teacher Recommendations:
- AP English Lang teacher (Extremely good relationship, has sponsored my grant project with at my school and has witnessed my leadership, I submitted to her literary magazine and help her out at track meets, etc.)
- Teacher I had from French 2 thru AP French (Extremely good relationship, has seen me lead in groups in class and as a French officer and now president of French Club, going on the French trip with her, got my seal of biliteracy, on a text basis unlike other students, etc.)
- If necessary, my Calc 3/Differential Equations/Linear Algebra professor (help me through the self-studies and I volunteer/participate in his math club)
College Essays:
- I’ve already started; I’d like to think I have a strong/evocative writing style
- I might have my college app essay be about my name (and it’s a unique one with a story)
Extracurriculars:
- Founder and President of project Spark the Park with TomTod non-project organization – revamped our local park and added bat boxes and mini-libraries along the trails (9, 10, 11)
- Math Club founder/president as we are competing in AMC for the first time this year (10, 11)
- Programming/Vision team on 4121 FRC robotics team (9, 10, 11); Captain (11)
- French club officer (9, 10, 11); President next year
- JV academic challenge team (9, 10); quit before joining varsity team junior year
- Marching Band/Pep Band/Full Orchestra/Symphonic Band playing Mellophone and French Horn (9, 10, 11); Officer (10); quitted
- Leadership Club (9, 10, 11); Officer (11) and got accepted in RYLA conference
- President’s Council (10, 11) and NHS (11); President of NHS next year
- Mu Alpha Theta collegiate team (10, 11) – personally have nationally ranked
- Participating in a Histology Atlas project at NEOMED during summer; I will get to implement my math skills in my own research project (100+ hours)
- U.S. Soccer Federation Referee since June 2018
- Founder and President of the “School Name Handshake” Initiative (11): I founded and now preside over an initiative that aims to benefit out-of-district students as they get accustomed to my school through a grant (includes a scavenger hunt with business and coupons, a published handbook, spirit wear, interviews, etc.)
Community Service (400+ hours over my high school career):
- Camp Invention Leadership Summer Intern (40 hours)
- Altar Server at my church (31 hours)
- Rotary Club Flag Set-Up/Take-Down (10 hours)
- VBS Assistant Teacher (45 hours)
- FFF Assistant Teacher (57 hours)
- Instruments of Christ (play horn in my church–20 hours)
- FLL Tournament Reffing (9, 10, 11) (30 hours)
- …and several other hours for spooky science fair nights, STEM demonstrations, soup kitchens, concessions, marching band (uniform fitting, band room decorating, mattress sales, contest facilitator, etc.), senior citizens’ prom, festive church performances, French tutoring and crepe making (FRENCH WEEK!!)
@barrons I don’t think it’s worth the cost as an OOS student. Thanks for the suggestion, though!
@momofsenior1 Would adding Ohio Northern University be better?
@momofsenior1 or the University of Cincinnati?
Price limit? Are all Ohio public universities affordable based on running the net price calculator on each college’s web site?
By the way, with a 35 you don’t need to take the ACT again. The writing score is not important. Your AP language course demonstrates your writing ability.
And Madison is a fantastic city.
We are just starting to build the college visit list for our oldest (D21) so I usually don’t feel qualified to comment on threads like this but I thought you might want to consider this program at UC.
https://med.uc.edu/connections
With your stats Wooster is a good safety.
If you need merit money, Ohio Northern, Miami of OH, and UC would be good to add as well.
Also agree that retaking the ACT is totally unnecessary.
@hokiemama24 I know there are risks associated with going the traditional route, but I know I’d hate the binding feel of a BS/MD program. Thanks for the suggestion, though!
@ucbalumnus I can’t think of a limit on the top of my head, but if it is an Ohio public university, I would want there to be merit scholarships/paid research opportunities/etc. in order to pay a good chunk of it. Don’t want to accumulate that much debt before med school!
Talk to your parents to find out what they can contribute so that you know the price limit.