I’m still in my sophomore year and looking to get into a medical career
GPA: 3.77 UW
4.65 W
Sophomore year:
AP Chemistry
AP World History
Algebra II Honors
AP Psychology
Spanish 2
English 2 Honors
Freshman year:
Algebra I honors
Biology Honors
English 1 Honors
Health and Gym
Reading ( was forces to due to moving states)
Spanish 1
Art
US Government Honors
Geometry Honors
Chemistry Honors
Marine Science Honors
I’m taking 4 more AP classes next year( us history, biology, calculus , literature, )
And 3 honors (precalc, Spanish 3 and anatomy )
And I only have like 4.5 hrs of volunteer services
I’m in Rho kappa history honors society and looking to get into to National Honor Society
9th PSAT: 1080 /1520
10th PSAT: 1130 /1529
Everywhere I search online, there are varied standards. So I would be welcoming any kind of improvements I could make.I have zero to none basis of how good I need to be …
The chances are that you won’t. the chances are for most kids that they won’t. Focus on looking at cost and performance, GPA, improve on test scores, having some fun and doing some service here and there or a job if that is a priority. If you are not a citizen, understand the impact that this has, even at your local state school. If you have a green card, do the same due diligence. Look at instate schools and work out the money. What country are you from?
I’m from India, living in America for a little over 2 years. Leaving about Ivy leagues and finances, how do you think my chances are for a good college if I keep on getting steady good grades and a good SAT score( I’m already going to classes for the SAT and using khan academy a lot)
Good. If you are looking in to getting in to medicine, most important are your undergrad grades, MCAT, research and other experiences and ability to shadow at a hospital, not where you go for undergrad. Your top in-state publics would almost certainly be fine.
What is your legal status? If you are not a citizen or legal permanent resident, forget about med school here. Most of them do not admit any international students. It would make more sense to complete medical studies in India, then come back here for your residency.
Your legal status will affect your chances of admission, and your eligiblity for financial aid. Again, if you aren’t a citizen or legal permanent resident, everything will be significantly more difficult.
Mantra for the HS student:
Do not think 'Every point I get off of a homework or test is a point away from going to Harvard."
Think: “I need to do my best, and there will be a college that is right for me when I graduate.”
Do not think “If I don’t go to an Ivy League School/Top20, I am doomed forever.”
Think: “No matter where I go, I can bloom where I am planted. I can get involved and shine.”
Do not think: “My life is over…the kid in my math class is taking 20 APs and I am taking 5. I will never succeed.”
Think: “I need to challenge myself, but only to the point where I can still do well.”
If you are interested in medicine you should get involved in medical related extra-curricular activities. Here in the US in order to get into selective colleges you need a lot more than just good grades and good scores on standardized tests.
That said, I also agree with bopper. Students here on CC tend to over romaniticize the Ivy League and other top colleges. (Believe me, I went to Harvard and liked it, but it’s not the best place for everyone and it’s not equally strong in every field.) Because med school is so expensive, many people recommend going to your local state college to save money, though what your least expensive options will be depends a lot on your state and you family income.
My kids got involved in activities because they either wanted to them, or their friends were doing them. They did not take every AP their high school offered by a long shot. They still got into great colleges and also really enjoyed their high school years. My older son had time to spend several hours every day on his real passion computer programming.