Not really a chance thread.... Where should I be applying?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>So, I created a thread yesterday and got some good feedback. But I feel like I am asking the wrong questions (on whether or not I have a chance at Ivy leagues, Duke, etc.). I want to know what colleges I should be looking at as a reach, match, and safety (as a major in Biology). This way I don't apply to schools that are too unrealistic for me. Thanks! Here are my stats (same as my other thread. So if u read that thread, dont bother reading this one)</p>

<p>my GPA is a 4.0 unweighted and is a 4.19-4.2 Weighted (took too many regular classes freshman and sophomore year.... class rank is 16/350ish-- should go up after first semester b/c of my 6 APs). For senior year I am gonna take AP English Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Stats, AP Psychology, AP Chem and AP Human Geo (so, I think my course load is somewhat rigorous).</p>

<p>Total APs- 10... besides the ones mentioned above, I have taken AP Bio, APES, AP English Language, and AP World History</p>

<p>I just took the SAT and am expecting at least a 2150 if not a 2230ish.
Took the ACT and got a 30...I did retake those and am awaiting my scores. Though I kept practicing on tests and got 34s, I feel like I bombed this one and got a 32ish....
Also got a 780 on Bio sat 2 and 740 on math level 2.</p>

<p>As for awards, freshman year I won the all A's award, geomerty student of the year, and communication applications student of the year. Sophmore year (at my new school), I recieved the principals honor roll. This year, I won the Discus Award, an academic letter (for receiving a high GPA), and the prinicpal's honor roll twice. I will also be awarded several awards for the congressional award (probably bronze, silver, and gold certificates).</p>

<p>Volunteer at Library (9-11.... I love to read/write in my free time)
Will be a sports writer for Bleacher Report (has millions of views each month) next month (11-12 I love to write and love sports)
Volunteering at a Hospital (11-12... I would like to be a doctor-- specifically a cardiologist)
created a website called: yourheartdisease.org (11-12 talks about the heart and heart disease.... I would like to be a cardiologist)
Red Cross Club member (10, I would like to go into the medical field)
Helped out at a Basketball Summer Camp (10-11 Love sports)
Am going to be a cofounder of the cricket club (the sport) and the president of it (love sports)
Student Council Student Ambassador (9... leadership)
NSHSS student Ambassador(11-12... leadership)
Will be a teen council member next year (12, leadership)
Link Crew (12... help out freshman at school... leadership)
Spanish Club (10)
NHS (11-12)
Model UN (10)
Created a website on Education in Africa... not up anymore (9-10)</p>

<p>I am an American born Pakistani that can speak urdu quite well (not fluently). I can also read Arabic (haha kind of weird thing about me).</p>

<p>So yeah. If u can give me some input on what schools to apply to, that would be great.</p>

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<p>If you’re in state for UCs, you’ll make them all most likely. If not, Berkeley could be a good reach, same with Duke. Brown would be a high reach but you’d have a chance if your essays were impressive.</p>

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<p>@addymithas- Thanks. I am not from California =/… And what do u think it will take to get into a school like Duke/Rice or Brown? Better ECs? Better test scores? Thanks again!</p>

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<p>Hi, I think you will have a great chance at most schools with 2200+ SAT and that course load and GPA.
Have more focused ECs… and I think that would get you into many colleges.</p>

<p>Brown is reach… like almost everyone is… Duke and Rice would be a high match… and consider Emory, UVA, JHU, Pomona, Williams.</p>

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<p>@UrbanNight- Thanks man. Appreciate it! I know there are a couple random ECs (i.e. spanish club and model UN (only my old school had these)), but what do u think I can do in order to get my ECs more focused?</p>

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<p>@raza68 I guess you can do ecs that focus on biology research and youth diseases. Im not really science person so I dont know what kind of ecs for bio but I think youth dieseases would be a good one. You have a story</p>

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<p>@UrbanNight- hmm… ok i’ll look around for some opportunities. What do you think about shadowing a physician? That should work, right? And say I can only volunteer at the hospital or do something else Biology related (maybe research? Physician shadowing, etc), which do u think I should do? Stay committed to the hospital or do something new? Thanks!</p>

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<p>bump… any other thoughts?</p>

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<p>Consider Michigan for another match
Consider Wisconsin, Illinois, Pitt, Villanova, Bucknell, Boston University, Northeastern, etc. for high matches/approaching safeties</p>

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<p>Reach: Stanford, John Hopkins
Match:, UC Berkley, UNC
Safety:University of Washington</p>

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<p>I also forgot to mention that in 9th grade, I helped out the poor in my parent’s home country- Pakistan. I helped out those on the streets and helped out the many orphans with my grandmother. The country really is a poverty stricken place =/</p>

<p>@Stewta4- thanks! What do u think are my “slight reaches”-reaches?</p>

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<p>@ Seattlebulldog- Thanks! Appreciate it! Are stanford/ JHU huge reaches? If so, what should I do in order to bring them to “moderate” reaches? Thanks again!</p>

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<p>bump…anybody else wanna help?</p>

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<p>I don’t really know what the best schools with biology programs are.</p>

<p>But I think you could perhaps consider working on your SAT again… the score you’re expecting is very good of course but to turn those reaches such as Stanford into more of a reality it might be a good idea to try for a 2300+.</p>

<p>Then I read what someone else said about focusing your EC’s and I agree, right now there’s just so many different things it’s hard to take in. So I guess I just mean focus on the hospital volunteering and any other things you can do like that and really stress those in your essay. Perhaps also since you’re going for biology you could do some biology-related EC’s? Like volunteering at a lab or starting a nature hike club or something lol.</p>

<p>Oh that’s right, I forgot to mention I was going to suggest maybe Johns Hopkins? Isn’t that like a really good medical school or something? Also, I would recommend UC Berkeley as others have. And Stanford. Stanford and Brown would probably be your biggest reaches but you never know, could happen.</p>

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<p>consider Washington University in St.Louis as a match or low-reach. I believe they have a good biology department.</p>

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<p>Stanford is more of a huge reach than JHU. If you want to make Stanford a moderate reach visit their campus, and apply Early Decision</p>

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<p>@seattlebulldog- Oh, ok. Thanks.
@sephiro12- Should I not include Ecs such as Spanish club and model UN on my applications? Or should I put those, but stress about things such as hospital volunteering on my essays?
@america2011- Thanks. That was one of the schools I was looking at.</p>

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<p>What do you think of Tufts? It has a great bioengineering program, though that’s not exactly what you’re looking at. I think you’d have a great shot there, they love diversity and you seem to have it! :slight_smile:
Also, UNC Chapel Hill has a solid biology program. I don’t know too much about how difficult it is to get into, but one of my friends with stats comparable to yours is there right now!
Best of luck! :)</p>

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<p>@nomorekidsplay- Yeah, I was actually looking into UNC. I am also actually thinking about applying to Tufts :D… Do u think Tufts is a “match” for me or more of a reach?</p>

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<p>I think that academically and otherwise, you would fit in great at tufts! Your interests are definitely compatible with the school’s atmosphere and people. As to whether you could get in, I’m probably not qualified to say, but I’d say that I would be quite surprised if you didn’t get in ;)</p>