How much will a summer research internship help?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm currently a sophomore in high school, and was admitted into George Mason's Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program!!! It is a very competitive program that accepts high schoolers and undergrads, and only 7% of applicants were admitted this year, so of course I am super excited!! I will be working in a bioinformatics lab, basically all summer, and will have the chance to get my name in a publication + connections with professionals. I may get more research experiences/internships out of this for future summers.</p>

<p>How much will this affect my chances of getting into colleges like Virginia Tech, UVA, William and Mary, WPI, or UC Berkly? Will it make up for my expected SAT score (see below)?</p>

<p>My scores/grades/EC's:
I currently have a 4.1 GPA, and when I graduate I will have 7 AP's (almost all in math/science)</p>

<p>By the time I graduate I will have 5000+ hours of volunteer hours (I work at a therapeutic riding stables).</p>

<p>The only thing that isn't that great was my PSAT score (a 1720 with no studying :( ) but hopefully I can change that for the SAT, at least to a 2000!</p>

<p>Thanks!!!!</p>

2

<p>A summer internship is definitely amazing. Since you have time, I suggest you do ample SAT and ACT prep over the year. Try to get a 2200+ SAT and 34+ ACT. Then, not only will you get into those universities you listed, but you will also have a great chance at Ivies. So yeah, the internship thing is def a great boost to your resume. </p>

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<p>Wow, thanks! I’ve never really considered Ivies before! How hard will it be to bring my SAT up that much? Oh, and even if I never got this internship, would my volunteer work get me into some good schools? Thanks!</p>

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<p>any other thoughts?</p>

5

<p>By the way go for 2200+ or 33+ (not 34) those two numbers are equivalent and sufficient. Maybe try the ACT? I personally found it easier!
And yes it will help especially if you’re able to submit a transcript of your work to the school.</p>

6

<p>Internship will help a lot. Colleges like to see their students do something unique during the summer.
chance me- <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1632659-chance-above-average-student.html?new=1”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1632659-chance-above-average-student.html?new=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;