How can I improve my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, may you please chance me? I'm currently a sophomore, and plan on applying to the following schools:
-Brown
-Dartmouth
-Rice
-Duke
-Northwestern</p>

<p>I will mainly focus on attending premed programs, so my primary focus would be on math and science. </p>

<p>GPA (unweighted): 4.00
GPA (weighted): 4.30
GPA (aimed): 4.58</p>

<p>Courses:
9th Grade (5 A+'s, 2 A's):
-Spanish I
-Geometry
-English 9
-Western Civilizations
-Biology
-PE
-Physical Science</p>

<p>10th Grade (2 A+'s, 5 A's):
-IB Chemistry SL
-AP Biology
-Music I
-Spanish 2
-US History
-English 10
-IB Math SL</p>

<p>PRE-PLANNED COURSES (will be an IB Diploma student):
11th:
-IB English HL
-AP Statistics/Physics (my school hasn't decided yet)
-IB Spanish SL
-IB Math HL
-IB History HL
-IB Chemistry HL
-TOK</p>

<p>12th Grade:
-IB English HL
-IB Psychology SL (will replace AP Statistics/Physics)
-IB Spanish SL
-IB Math HL
-IB History HL
-IB Chemistry HL
-TOK</p>

<p>Online courses:
Brigham Young University (it doesn't offer A+'s):
-Algebra II: A
-Intro IT: A
-Physics: A</p>

<p>I am taking the most difficult courses that my school offers (while still maintaining my school's policies). I have the highest GPA in my class (out of 50 students; private school; very rigorous and competitive).</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-Tae Kwon Do Club (9th, 10th; red-blue belt): I practiced TKD since the fourth grade, and had never stopped ever since.
-Science Club (10th): We toured around a lot of water plants around my home town, and we try to promote ways on how to improve water quality.
-Engineering Club (10th; President/Founder): I have led the club to join UTSDC (stated below), and I will attend the conference this year in May. The members get to build their own designs/models, and we host a lot of small competitions to allow the members to learn what it really takes to become real engineers.
-Orphanage Club (9th, 10th; volunteer): I volunteer regularly on Friday's, and always take part in the Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
-University of Toronto Space Design Contest (10th; student leader): I was recruited by my Biology/AP Biology teacher (he is the adviser for Engineering Club) as the student leader for the UTSDC team at my school. At this point, everything is going very well, and all I have to arrange is the model and the presentation.
-National Honors Society (10th): I just got inducted last week, so I can't really describe my commitment right now.
-Canadian Mathematics Competition (9th & 10th): I got Top 25% Most Distinguished Contestants (stated below under awards) twice (once every year).
-American Mathematics Competition (9th)
-Shou Shan Animal Compassion Center (10th; volunteer): I volunteer every week during the weekends, and is considered one of the most hard-working volunteers.
-Clarinet (I'm the only clarinet player at my school that plays at a professional level): I have been playing the clarinet since the third grade, and have performed at many school concerts. I am recognized as the best clarinet player at my school, and my music teacher even promoted me to play at my school's fun fairs and very formal school performances.
-Cadenza Club (9th, 10th): This connects to my clarinet EC's above, and I am always being requested to perform at every musical event at my school.
-Internship at a genetics research lab at a hospital (10th; summer): I just planned out my research topic, but haven't started it yet.
-KASPER Newspaper Committee (10th): I was recruited by my US History teacher this year (he is the current adviser of this committee) as an editor. I was in charge of all of the meetings, and organize all of the deadlines and topics for every issue. Most HS students love the things that we wrote because we would often reveal the 'hidden truth' beneath very interesting events (i.e. explains why this committee is called "KASPER"). We also get to challenge the HS principal, so that we can make my school a better place to be.</p>

<p>Honors & Awards:
-High School Student of the Year (9th)
-Director's Honor Award (9th; 10th)
-President's Education Award (9th; 10th)
-Top 25% Most Distinguished Contestants (for Canadian Mathematics Competition; 9th)</p>

<p>PSAT score: 200 (will retake and try to get a 230+)
SAT: (pending; will try to get 2300+)</p>

<p>Subject Tests:
Math IIC: 800
Biology: 740</p>

<p>Teacher Recs: They will be outstanding because all of the teachers at my school recognize me as the top 1% of my class. </p>

<p>Personal Statement: It should also be very good; I have thought of two very good topics to write about that will show who I really am (apart from academics). </p>

<p>My school limits us on the number of AP courses that we can take. Only the top 3 sophomores can take one AP course; juniors can take 2, and seniors can take 3. This explains why I only have one AP course in my sophomore schedule, but I'm going to self-study for most of my other AP courses. Also, my school doesn't offer any Honors courses. This year is the last year that my school will offer AP courses, so it will move on to become an IB World School next year.</p>

<p>What are my chances of acceptance at the colleges listed above? Please also provide any support in making my application stand out amongst others. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Your stats are great, though please don’t take my advice offensively.</p>

<p>Pre-med courses, especially the MDs, are IMPOSSIBLE to get in if you are not U.S. citizen, green-card holder, or married with American spouse, even though you have F-1 Visa. I’m just mentioning this because you are studying in Canada and also taking IB courses that are rarely offered in the US. If you really wish to pursue your dream as a doctor, you should apply for biochemistry, neurology, or other specialized fields. If you are US citizen or a green card holder, forget about what I’ve just said.</p>

<p>Your GPA is outstanding-- IB is extremely challenging and really hard to get 7-- yet you maintained with Aces. SAT IIs are also great but you should also consider that most applicants to Ivies usually have 800s on Math II, Bio, Chem, or Physics. I think it will be great if you can ‘decorate’ your application more with the subject that others do not usually do, such as Literature, History, or even languages. </p>

<p>I’m not sure that the awards you’ve listed are really valid. You should ask counselor or principal about the awards that you have received can be credited to college application. </p>

<p>Lastly, your E/As are flawless yet I think you should participate more on sports (JV or varsity); it will show that you love music, math, science, and a team spirit. Try to keep up the club activities rather than changing every year-- college admissions will definately look at your consistency.</p>

<p>Brown: mid-reach
Dartmouth: mid-reach
Rice: match
Duke: reach
NW: low-reach</p>

<p>Remember that these colleges receive 40,000 applications every year. Show that you are different than others! Show what you can do! Show you’ve got some talents!</p>

3

<p>Those awards are given out by my school, and only the Top 25% Most Distinguished Award is given out by the Canadian Mathematics Competition committee. I’m not exactly changing my club activities (since I’m only a sophomore right now), and I’m continuing with those until I graduate. BTW, Is it true that colleges would love to see that you continue with your club activities for at least three years to not have the impression that you are doing them just for the sake of ‘padding’ your application? And do you think that my course selection is challenging enough? I mean, even though my school counselor says they’re the ‘most challenging courses possible,’ what would colleges think when I show them my courses? Another question: Since you mentioned taking subject tests other than the sciences, I was thinking of taking the Spanish subject test in my senior year. Which one would be better, the one with more reading, or the one with more listening? I’m just taking all sorts of advice from different people (kind of a newbie myself). Thank you for the suggestions; it really gives me a different perspective. Plus, this is just half of my application: the other half will be complete once I reached the end of my junior year (when I get more test scores).</p>

4

<p>Colleges will love to see your “stick-it-to-da-man” spirit with your club activities. Moreover, if you are taking the courses that are considered to be the most challenging, then you are fine-- colleges know that all schools are different and cognizant for offered courses. </p>

<p>I believe that Spanish subject test consists of both reading and listening, though I’m not 100% sure about this. It’s fine if you take SAT II in your senior year, though you must take it before October if you want to apply for Early Decision & Early Action. Remember that sending out SAT scores take 2 weeks; make sure you send all your scores before December 10th for Regular Decision, or October 12th for Early Action & Decision. </p>

<p>Keep up the work. Be optimistic even though 2013 is going to be the most toughest year for applying colleges.</p>

5

<p>Thanks VengeanceSpirit. Yea, I’m trying to be optimistic here. I was hoping that taking four years of Spanish would pay off if I take a Spanish subject test in my senior year. Can’t wait to take the AP Exams this May… such a nail-biting experience!</p>

6

<p>Can anyone help chance me if I have a possibility for getting into a BA/MD program? I’m interested in these following programs:
-Case Western PPSP
-Northwestern HPME
-Rice/Baylor MSP
-Brown PLME</p>

<p>I forgot to list my volunteering activities/work experience, so here they are:
-volunteer at animal shelter since last year (100+ hours)
-worked as an intern at my family’s clinic (since last year, 500+ hours)
-volunteer at orphanage near my school (10+ hours)
-volunteer at nearby hospital (i.e. general patient care, etc.; 100+ hours)</p>

<p>I also plan to apply for the Stanford SIMR program next summer, and I’m going to shadow a geneticist this summer. Also, I will be creating a medical society at my school next year. </p>

<p>Regarding test scores, I will be taking two AP exams this May, along with a bunch of SAT Subject Tests. That explains why I didn’t include any test scores right now. </p>

<p>What are my chances?</p>