<p>How do you think I will do when applying to Cornell, Brown, and Princeton </p>
<p>3.75 Gpa
25 Act</p>
<p>Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville Suzuki Violin Tour Group
International Violin Concert Tour of The Republic of Ireland
4 consecutive years of regional Imea (State Honor Orchestra)
Eagle Scout
African American
Marching Band (Drumline)
National Honor Society, English Honor Society, French Honor Society
French Club Treasurer
Varsity Cross Country</p>
<p>Plan on majoring in molecular biology and medical genetics so I can move into the immunology field focusing on the lymphatic system</p>
<p>Your ACT is very low for the three schools you have selected. If you had a 4.0 average and could demonstrate true raw ability suppressed by having attended a poorly-taught school, that might account for the relatively low ACT score. Yes, being disadvantaged as an African American will get you a second look – but you are nevertheless still competing against the nation’s very best African Americans and many of them will have higher grades or test scores or notable statewide or national awards.</p>
<p>You should also consider whether the school or the major is most important to you. Math and physical science classes at these top schools can be very, very unforgiving because the tests are very hard, your classmates are almost all among the top one percent in the nation, and test results are curved to the class. If you don’t learn new concepts as quickly as your classmates, you could easily burn out from overwork. And you could struggle to earn a straight B average – remember that everyone who earns B’s and C’s in those classes used to be a near-straight-A student in high school</p>
<p>This is in contrast to humanities or social science classes, where there are no single correct answers, but rather multiple well-argued perspectives. In such classes, it’s much easier to earn A’s by developing and arguing unusual perspectives, based on your very different life experiences.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you were to major in molecular biology in a state university or less selective college, your classmates’ range of abilities and motivation would be wider, allowing you a real chance of earning mostly A’s through sheer willpower and discipline to keep trying. Noble Prize winner Richard Feynman once talked about the problem with some of his physics students at CalTech – they were used to getting top grades in science in high school without effort. Suddenly at CalTech they were struggling to earn C’s. Just because you are deemed smart enough to get in does not mean that it’s the right place for you to nurture your abilities; often it’s better to be among the best in a less competitive classroom – certainly that would make it easier for you to get research opportunities and other relevant internships.</p>
<p>Brown and the others are “Reach” schools for almost everyone who applies. . . and the overwhelming majority of people who apply are told no. As long as you know that they are Reach schools Go For It. </p>
<p>Some data for Brown:
89% of students who applied from the top 10% of their high school were told no.
Same with 82% of Valedictorians . . .
and 92% of those with an ACT< 26 . . .
and 84% of those who got an 800 on their SAT Math</p>
<p>So, yes, you have a rough chance.</p>