<p>Would I have a shot if I apply early decision to Harvard, Boston University's Direct Medical Program, Penn State Direct Medical Program, Northwestern's Direct Medical Program,
George Washington's Direct Medical Program or John's Hopkins?</p>
<p>GPA: 3.608 unweighted weighted: 3.87
Female
Mostly honors and ap courses
11% of class
ACT-33
SAT II Bio-790
SAT II Chem- 780
SAT II Math- 740
SAT II APUSH- 780
AP Chemistry- 3
AP Bio- 3
AP US- 5</p>
<p>Environmental Club + Envirothon Competition
Science Teachers Aid
Tons of activities through key club
National Honors Society (Secretary)
Robotics Club (Project Manager)
Hospital Volunteer in Two Hospitals + other hospital related volunteering 300 Hours
Brain Research Internship
2nd Brain Research Internship--Resulted in a Publication
Another publication on the brain
Paid Internship this Summer, related to cancer
Medical Lectures attended
Science Honors Institute selected and attended
Tutor + Board Member of the organization I tutor for
Leadership Conference (selected to attend)</p>
<p>Really great recommendation from the doctor I work with also and I'm also considered a low income Asian with a single parent. Is that an advantage?</p>
<p>Remember that Harvard’s plan is Single Choice Early Action, so you would not be able to apply to other Early programs. You could apply Regular Decision to other colleges though.</p>
<p>Your GPA would make it a little hard, but the research/publications are very impressive, so make sure to emphasize those; definitely write an essay on it. If you emphasize the research, etc. enough, they might be willing to overlook your GPA (similar to when applying to grad school: often people will have a lower GPA because they were busy working on research, which demonstrates more about your abilities than any number can).</p>
<p>I realize that I cannot apply EA anywhere else and I’m committed to attending if I get in.
Should I include in my essays that because I was so busy getting real experience that my GPA almost became secondary. Plus I have so much to write about regarding difficult family things but how I focused and made it through regardless </p>
<p>It’s hard to say. On the one hand, your GPA makes it nearly impossible considering the amount of people with 4.0s applying (with similar schedules and scores) and getting rejected. On the other hand, your ECs are great.</p>
<p>I say, of course, apply. I would never discourage you from trying. Just realize that the standards are super high. Being an Asian student may hurt more than help. As with any ‘chance’ thread, we can’t predict these things, so apply and good luck. </p>
<p>As to the SCEA, I would go for a different early action school. Single choice seems to be best for those who have an above average chance already, but if you feel Harvard is the only one you want to apply early to, then by all means go for it.</p>
<p>Collegebound247, I’d say you really do stand a good shot. When I first read your post, I didn’t see that you were low-income and assumed that most of the summer stuff you’d done was because you had money. Paid summer programs don’t help out in admissions. But given that you’re low-income and first-gen, it’s absolutely imperative that you bring that aspect out on your application. Since the adcoms don’t look at your financial data, they look for any clues about your background in your application, and if they see that you had accomplished what you have (very impressive) despite adversity, they will definitely be willing to overlook a slightly lower GPA. Are your junior year grades strong? Do you show an upward trend? That would help.</p>
<p>(Being Asian, by the way, doesn’t make it more difficult for you. I know of many Asian applicants who weren’t “unbelievably amazing” by any stretch imagination, but were first-gen and low-income. Each got into Harvard, which is trying really hard to boost its socioeconomic diversity since it’s been lagging behind its peers in that respect.)</p>
<p>No, it’s not an upward trend because of certain problems at home that I will discuss in essays and by paid internship I meant that I was getting paid for work not me paying =]</p>
<p>Asian wont help but low income and single parent should. Questbridge does nt match with Harvard but if you forget Harvard, they can apply to 4 or 5 other schools simultaneously which is not allowed when you do single choice early action.</p>