I visited Ohio State a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with their campus. I heard their early action acceptance rate is around 70%, but looking back at last years thread on who got accepted and rejected with early action worries me. Here are my stats, please be honest about my chances:
In State student
-Intending to major in Biochemistry
-28 ACT
-Between a 3.4 and 3.5 unweighted gpa
-4.044 Weighted gpa
-8 AP Classes and many honors classes (Counting the 3 AP I’m taking this year) *not including dual enrollment spanish
- Dual Enrollment Spanish this upcoming senior year (Will be weighted as AP)
Extra Curriculars:
-President of Environmental Club
-Senior Class Vice President
-Co-Captain of Varsity Academic Team
-Key Club Member
-NHS Member (Very difficult to get into at my school, heavily involved with volunteering)
-Model UN
Awards and Volunteering:
-Won an Academic letter, Chevron, and Service Pin
-Over 200 hours of volunteering and counting
Extra info:
-Top 10% of class (27 of 355)
- First Generation College Student
-Have worked at Panera for a year and ref soccer games grades 1st-9th in the spring and fall
-Came from Europe at the age of 1 and speak fluent Hungarian (can’t write in Hungarian)
With top 10% of the class, first generation status, and ACT of 28, you should be just fine. Unweighted GPA of under 3.5 is somewhat low, but I think OSU admissions pays a lot more attention to class rank, where being in top 10% should help.
I heard that biochemistry is one of the most difficult majors to get into. If I changed it to Biology, would it be easier to get in?
As far as initial admission is concerned, I doubt that there is a difference between majors within a college (biochemistry and chemistry are both within in art & science). But there is no way for me to know 100%.
It is possible that one or both of these two majors only admits you as a pre-major, and then there are requirements for getting into major (based on first year class and grades?), It is possible that one may be significantly easier than other in this regard.
Glad you love Ohio State! I think you’ll absolutely get in. Great academic rigor, leadership, and volunteering experience, not to mention the first generation thing. And the Hungarian aspect. Emphasize that in your personal essay if you can. Osuprof is right about the differences between majors not mattering much in the initial application; you apply for the specializations later on. Put whichever one you’re most passionate about. Best of luck to you!