Lacking Confidence, would I be a strong applicant for these schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi guys. I'm a junior at the North Carolina School of Science and Math; its a pretty well respected boarding school for NC juniors and seniors that offers a great variety of classes and research opportunities in a number of fields (with a very competitive application process). Many people from my school get into ivy league schools and other prestigious universities on a regular basis. But seeing what all those other people do has really made me question if I'm qualified for such schools. What do you guys think? Here goes:</p>

<p>-SAT: 2170, from my sophomore year so it will likely improve when I take it next month (800 in math)
-Yet to take ACT</p>

<p>-Junior Year Courses:
Advanced AP Calculus w/Topics (my school offers normal AP Calc BC and advanced) (Currently A)
Advanced AP Chemistry w/Topics (same thing) (Currently A-)
Physics w/Topics (Pretty much AP Physics B)
American Studies (Its like a history/english/a bunch of boring discussions class) (Currently A-)
Intermediate level Spanish (Equivalent to Spanish III, I will take Advanced Spanish next year) (Current A)
Anatomy and Physiology (Final A-)
Jazz Ensemble
Wind Ensemble </p>

<p>My school offers engineering courses and many advanced math courses that I will take my senior year.</p>

<p>-Notable Courses from my old high school (CHS)
AP Biology (4)
AP Environmental Science (5)
AP US History (4)
AP Stats (4)
All my grades from my old school were A's</p>

<p>-Extracurricular activities
NCSSM Wind and Jazz Ensembles
National Society of Black Engineers
Varsity Basketball starter
NCSSM Math Club
Science Olympiad (CHS)
CHS Democrats' club
CHS Tri-M (Music Honor Society)</p>

<p>-Volunteer Experiences
Volunteer at the North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF) and Riverworks at Sturgeon City (Both environmental restoration groups); completed a 60 hour service project with the NCCF for my school
At my school we do 3 hours of work service per week in various areas of this school; this past trimester (yes trimester) I worked with the Chemistry department to clean up and set up labs...not really voluntary though
Volunteered for the Democrats' of Carteret County (local organization)</p>

<p>-Awards
All-district and All-state band member
7th place medalist at state science olympiad
1st place National Society of Black Engineers regional competition (going on to nationals)
Various math competitions (at the regional and state level)</p>

<p>Random: My personal best for solving a Rubik's Cube is 18 seconds, just throwing that out there not like it would matter on an application</p>

<p>I'm interested in biomedical engineering and medicine so I'm looking at MIT, Georgia Tech, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and some ivy league schools...I know what I've listed here isn't really all that looked at for an applicant but how does this sound for someone applying to schools like this?</p>

<p>P.S. I'm black I know that might kind of help my chances</p>

<p>Sorry this post was so long but thanks if you looked it through!</p>

2

<p>so no gpa?</p>

3

<p>Sorry, 4.7 at my old school (first in my class), 5,125 at my new school</p>

4

<p>Also forgot:
SAT Subject tests - Biology 770, Math 1 800, Math 2 790</p>

5

<p>well, there’s going to be a lot of interest in you, and a lot of people telling you what they think you should do. I teach at an hbcu, so I know how this has worked for my best students. I think it would be a good idea to put a couple of those schools you mention on your application list, along with several matches and a couple safeties. The question is which ones, and that could have more to do with who you are and what you like and want than it does with what other people imagine for you. Over the next year, keep reminding yourself that this process is about you and who you are. The process could be one of self-discovery if you are wise as well as smart. Here’s a couple of websites with questions you might try to answer for yourself:</p>

<p><a href=“6 Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing a College - LifeHack”>http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/6-questions-ask-yourself-when-choosing-college.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing A College - ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■”>https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/resources/college-prep/choosing-the-right-school/questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-a-college/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Some of the questions will be more appropriate than others, but these are places to start. Ask the people who know you well what kind of person you are. Ask your minister of physician, if these people know you well, what they think your strengths and weaknesses are. At what kinds of schools, at which schools, are you going to be most likely to become the person you want to be five years from now? I can’t tell you that, and no one else can either. I’ll still be here tomorrow, tho, if I can help.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for your advice! I’ve really tried not to get caught up in the historical prestige of the various schools I’ve looked at and tried just to look for a school that would be right for me, but sometimes its hard not to just wonder what your future could hold. I would like to have more knowledge regarding the types of schools that are good for what types of people, as well as what type of person I am when it comes to college admissions, but I guess that will just come with time. Thanks again! </p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>Weighted GPA without context gives no information. What is your unweighted GPA? It does seem quite high based on your description of A grades and one B grade, and won’t stop you from getting into the super selective schools (but is not by itself sufficient to get admitted at such schools).</p>

<p>Biggest factor to nail down before you make your application list is to talk to your parents about what they will contribute to your college. Then run the net price calculators on all of your prospective colleges to get financial aid estimates. Of course, check for merit scholarships as well. There are some big ones in these threads:
<a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #286 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p20.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #46 by ucbalumnus - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p4.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“NMF Scholarships: An Updated Compilation - #833 by BobWallace - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>NMF Scholarships: An Updated Compilation - #833 by BobWallace - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums; (if you have any National Merit status)</p>

<p>Make sure that you start your application list with a safety that you are certain to be admitted to, certain that you can afford, and which you like.</p>

8

<p>Got it, I definitely need a few safety schools: NC State would be one, and I think I have pretty good chances of at least being admitted to Georgia Tech (55% admission rate). Thanks!</p>

9

<p>If you want to stay in-state make sure you apply to both Carolina and Duke. You would be an outstanding candidate at both schools although to be honest I do not know the strength of the programs you are interested in at either school.</p>

10

<p>Georgia Tech may not be affordable though, its OOS fees are very high (cost of attendance is over $40,000 and there’s almost no financial aid beside the federal loans to which you’re entitled).
Based on your stats, you can definitely apply to all the automatic and competitive full tuition/full ride scholarships out there. Then, if your family makes under 75k (under 180k for the top institutions) apply to the 100% need schools <a href=“Colleges with Need-Blind Admission for U.S. Students”>Colleges with Need-Blind Admission for U.S. Students;
NCState is definitely a safety. Schools like RPI, WPI… probably are, too.
Once you have two safeties, apply to a couple colleges with a 35+% admission rate where you’re near the top 25% (match) and to a couple colleges with a 20-35% admission rate where you’re well above the top 25% (reach), then add as many colleges with under 20% admission rates as you wish or can afford.</p>

11

<p>

</p>

<p>UNC-CH does not have engineering. Duke has some engineering programs, including biomedical.</p>

<p>Be aware that the bachelor’s level job prospects for biomedical engineering tend not to be as good as for other engineering, though better than biology.
<a href=“University Graduate Career Surveys - #69 by ucbalumnus - Career Opportunities & Internships - College Confidential Forums”>University Graduate Career Surveys - #69 by ucbalumnus - Career Opportunities & Internships - College Confidential Forums;

12

<p>Duke has a 4+1 masters in engineering for biomedical engineering majors so I have been looking into that. </p>