I need serious help!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Can you tell me what schools i can apply to with this type of resume?(Safeties, normal, reach) I'm a NJ resident and a senior in one of the top public high schools in the country. I want to become a doctor (psychiatrist) like my mother and the rest of my family. I'm Indian (the asian kid lol) born here in the US. i'd rather stay away from NJ schools in general if i can.
My UW gpa is a 3.0 and my weighted is a 3.6. I have a 2010 sat score and took a tough schedule all throughout high school with 14 HN/IB/AP courses (7 are IB/AP). As for ecs: ive been told they are phenomenal: i have an amazing essay which explains a little bit why my gpa is a bit lower. (it brought some of my teachers to tears reading it)</p>

<p>Volunteer Work
1) Volunteer EMT at TVACK Ambulance Corps with over 300 recorded emergency calls (2011-2013)
2) Volunteer Transporter at Saint Clare’s in Denville Hospital with over 300+ recorded hours. (2006-2013)
3) Volunteer Firefighter of Chester Fire Department (2012-2013)
4) India Mission Trip #1: Helped construct a school for orphaned children and educated them for a month (2010)
5) India Mission Trip #2: Worked with young children trafficked as sex slaves providing them with medical care, finding them homes, and enrolling them in the previously constructed school for orphans (2011/2012)
6) Haiti Mission Trip: Traveled to Haiti after the Earthquake to help with the injured, provide medical attention, and reconstruct homes and churches (2010)
7) Took part of ASP (Appalachia Service Project) building homes for the poor in rural, poverty-stricken parts of West Virginia (2011)
8) Tutored 2 mentally impaired children for 2 years (2009-2010)
9) Tutored peers/ younger children for all of HS career after school/Saturdays (2009-2013)
10) Camp Counselor for the Grace Bible Chapel (2006-2013)
11) Worship Leader at the Grace Bible Chapel (2010-2013)
12) Activity Director at DaBarn Chapel Center
13) Worked at Food Kitchen for the elderly on holidays such as Thanksgiving (2005-2013)
14) Helped run a Blood Donation Bank at St. Peter’s Church (2010-2013)</p>

<p>Clubs/ EC School Activities
1) Student Council (2009-2013)
2) FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) (2011-2013)
3) Yearbook Club (2009-2011)
4) Social Planning Committee (2009-2010)
5) International Club (2011-2013)
6) Newspaper Club (2009-2011)
7) Mock Trial (2011/ 2012-2013)
8) Amnesty International (2011- 2013)
9) Drama Club (2009-2011)
10) American Government and Politics Club (2012-2013)
11) Current Events Club (2009-2011)
12) Service Club (2011-2012)</p>

<p>Sports
1) Varsity Soccer (2009-2011)
2) Varsity Track (2009-2010)</p>

<p>Paid Work
1) Marshals Employee (2012-2013)
2) DaBarn Party Director (2009-2013)</p>

<p>Awards
1) Award For Outstanding Services at Saint Clare’s Hospital (2011)
2) Most Improved Player for Soccer (2010)
3) Distinguished Literacy Award (2010)
4) Psychology Award (2009)
5) Distinguished Student of the Month Award (2009/2010)</p>

2

<p>The question of the day is what can your family afford for college each year?</p>

3

<p>You’re ECs are commendable. I am also a volunteer firefighter. The thing I would be concerned with is that you are involved in TOO many things. If you can balance your life, that’s wonderful, but colleges want to see you passionate in a few special activities. Including too many clubs may bring about diminishing marginial returns. You definitely have enough volunteer hours for anywhere! </p>

<p>Just putting a club to fill up space as much space as possible won’t fly. Are you an active member and leader in all them?</p>

<p>Have you considered any Ivy’s?</p>

4

<p>Probably not a candidate for the most selective schools with a 3.0 GPA and a 2010 SAT score. But that shouldn’t be an issue for someone who is pre-med since medical schools aren’t particularly ‘prestige’ sensitive. They care more about your college GPA and MCAT scores than the name of the school. And I would agree that the laundry list of school clubs detracts from the more impressive ECs and gives the impression of resume padding. Don’t bother mentioning those clubs that you aren’t actively involved with to a significant degree. And do a search here on ‘pre-med’ and you’ll see lots of threads with advise on choosing a school.</p>

<p>How much you have to spend on undergrad is the key question, especially since medical school costs between $160k-300k here. You want to avoid debt. Assuming you can pay for college without debt, you have a lot of good options but you need to tell us what you value in an educational experience. We need to know size of school, urban/suburban/college town, the vibe or culture, what you plan to major in, etc…</p>

5

<p>I agree with M’s Mom…</p>

<p>If you’re a senior, you need to get applying NOW. Many schools will shortly end their merit aid window. Some have already ended it…</p>

<p>Pretty much any college will get you into med school. Since you want to be a Psychiatrist, I’m assuming you want to consider those with a good Psychology/Cognitive Science department. Pending finances. Pending finances, Pitt, U Rochester, and Case Western would be options. All are decent for research options in undergrad and pre-med.</p>