Hi, so far I only have safety schools and 1 reach school(UT Austin)
GPA: 3.97 UW, 4.3 W
SAT: 1390
Coursework: 4 APs so far, 2 Dual Enrollment classes, 4 more APs for senior year
ECs: Hospital volunteer, HOSA, NHS (secretary), tutoring middle schoolers, Chemistry club,
Awards: National Hispanic Recognition(possible), minor school awards.
I will need a lot of financial aid and I live in Texas.
I’m interested in majoring in biology(microbiology concentration)
Two things. First of all needing a lot of financial aid points you to schools that give very good need based aid (for example, forget about the Universities of California as an out of state student). Secondly, given how good UT Austin and the overall Texas public university system is, my inclination is that you should have your safeties and match schools in-state and for reaches look at top ranked schools that meet full need.
Being Hispanic with a 3.97 unweighted is going to help you. The issue for some schools might be your SAT. How much SAT preparation did you do? Do you have the option to do more? If you are a junior then you might have time to retake the SAT in the fall if things open up. Also, some schools will be going SAT optional due to the pandemic.
If you can get your SAT up then even Harvard and Stanford might be worth applying to. However, it appears that they are not SAT optional even with the pandemic. If you want a smaller school, Bowdoin (in Maine) and Amherst College (in Massachusetts) are SAT optional and do want to get a more diverse student body. If they can do this with students that have a 3.97 unweighted GPA that is likely to appeal to them. Chicago is also SAT optional but is quite a demanding school based on what one D’s good friend has told us.