Rising junior WAMC for Ivies, UPenn LSM? What should I be doing better?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi everyone, I am a rising junior from St. Louis, MO, who is interested in pursuing a career that integrates science research and finance. I am planning on applying to the schools listed below, and I wanted to see if there is anything I can do to improve my chances. Thanks!

Schools Applying to (in this order):

  1. UPenn Vagelos LSM Dual Degree
  2. Harvard
  3. Stanford
  4. Columbia
  5. Yale
  6. Duke
  7. Cornell
  8. WUSTL
  9. Northwestern
  10. Boston U.

School Type: Large, public, suburban
Race/Gender: South Asian, Male (rip)
GPA (UW/W): 4.00/4.52 (if I stay on track will graduate with 4.73)
Rank: School doesn’t rank, but in top 1% out of 600 students in my class

Test scores:

ACT: 35 (E 36, M 36, R 33, S 35) + 10 Writing

SAT: N/A (but 1500 on sophomore PSAT)

SAT Subject Tests: N/A (but planning on taking Chem, Math II, Physics, and World History)

ECs: (This is the tough one, and the most diverse category):

Outside of School

  1. Substantial medical research, worked in renowned research labs at WUSTL on the Human Connectome Project. Planning on getting about 2 papers written by the time I graduate through this lab (likely in journals like Neuroimage).
  2. Research intern at UPenn as a Human Connectome researcher. Currently writing a paper that will likely be published in Journal of Vision.
  3. Started a small company that collaborates with STL startups to build partnership networks of biotech and medtech companies. Not-for-profit however, just an interest of mine that I used to help companies in the area.
  4. Working with a NY-based startup to on neuroimaging related research as a collaborator.
  5. Midwestern Regional Outreach Administrator of a student-led nonprofit educational equity startup seeking to improve access to academic opportunities throughout the US.
  6. Taekwondo athlete from almost 10 years. 3rd Degree Black Belt (will achieve 4th Degree, Master certification by the time I graduate). Instructor at local school and state/national level competitor.

Inside School

  1. Investment and Economics Club, Founder and President (since 10th)
  2. Model UN, Regional Administrator for STL (since 9th)
  3. Member of Science National Honor Society, will be granted VP/President position by next year due to seniority policies (since 10th)
  4. Future Business Leaders of America (starting in 11th)

Recognition (on all levels; school on up through country):

  1. For research: planning on publishing multiple papers, and submitting my research projects to science fairs and competitions this year (Intel, Siemens, AAN, Davidson Fellows)
  2. Taekwondo: 2018 gold medalist and state champion in MO and IL, silver medalist in KS
  3. State Stock Market Game Winner

I don’t have that many recognized awards or anything (hopefully don’t stay this way), I am submitting all the work I’ve been working on this year for competitions and such, so hopefully I don’t stay this way!!


APs taken: Calculus BC, World History, Physics 1, Computer Science A

APs for junior year: Language and Comp, Spanish, Stats, Chem, Physics 2 

APs for senior year: Bio, Econ (macro + micro), Psych, Physics C (electricity + magnetism), Seminar

Scores on AP Tests: 5 (Calc BC + AB subscore) Note: I only have score for one AP because I took it freshman year, all others I have not received yet

I know this is super long-winded, but this really important to me, so if you all can help it would be incredible!!

2

I dont see a reason why these schools shouldnt choose you. I think you have a good shot everywhere you apply. Good luck! You can chance me back here: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/2087350-chance-me-for-elite-schools.html#latest

3

I would consider you a competitive candidate for acceptance at any school you apply to, but keep in mind the volatility of selections at schools like HYPSM. If the SAT is 1500+, and you can get 750+ on two Subject Tests, I would stand by my evaluation. However, remember that there are many students with similar ECs and stats that will also be rejected in the application process to these schools, as well. To address your concern on your ECs, I don’t see your concerns to be valid - I can quite clearly see you have an interest in both business and science based on your ECs alone, especially because of your labwork and papers, along with your non-profit company. Not every single thing you do EC-wise needs to line up to your expected major, but AOs should be able to see a passion and interest in those fields specifically communicated through the ECs you do. In your case, you have done this well. Glad you’re not in my graduating class, and you look poised to do great things even if you don’t get into the schools you’re looking at. GL!

4

@DJCURRYBEATS19 thanks man! and ya I agree on the fact that all ECs don’t have to align, but I’m just hoping to do things that are relevant. And regarding the volatility of acceptances, that’s true, but as I stated in another conversation with you, I think the point of these “chance me” discussions is to see how much you can increase that acceptance chance from the standard ~10%. Thanks for the response though! GL this year.

5

Thanks man! I replied to you on the other post with the math behind it though - I would recommend taking a look at that, as it shows that even for the most competitive applicants, the acceptance rate is still around 10%. GL!

6

With an ACT of 35, you don’t need the SAT. Your stats and ECs are competitive for any school in the country. But keep in mind that the vast majority of well qualified candidates are rejected from these top schools. They are all reaches, with the possible exception of BU which may be a match.

Do yourself a favor and research a few real safeties. Find some schools that you know will accept you, that you would be happy to attend and that you can afford. Treat them with the same care you would any other schools. I’m not saying you won’t get into the schools you listed. You very well may! But every year there are kids here who only get into their safeties and are devastated. The way to avoid that is to find some safeties that you like. This place is absolutely great at giving suggestions, so feel free to start a thread asking for help.

Congrats on all your amazing accomplishments!

7

@gallentjill thanks for the response. I actually have about 4-5 safeties on my list, they are mostly local so I don’t list them. Btw I’m surprised you said BU is a match, as the 75% percentile ACT is only 32 there! Of course, there’s so much that plays into this, but overall my stats seem higher than even the 75% percentile there. I think BU might be more of a safety-match (def not a complete safety though). The other schools definitely are so unpredictable that I think it’s safe to say they’re reaches for almost everyone hahah, you are definitely right about that!

Thanks again!

8

Thats what makes it a match. You are well qualified to go and have an excellent shot. But, in my book a safety is a school that you really have no doubt you can get into. A while ago I started a thread about the admissions statistics at Lehigh showing that kids who were in the top quartile didn’t have a much better shot at admission then the published admissions statistics. So if BU has a 29% admission rate, you should assume only a slight bump because your states are above the 75% – maybe to a 32 or 33% chance. Even if you bump it up to a 40% chance, That is still a 60% chance of being rejected. There is also the often discussed practice of “yield protection.” Some schools may see your high stats and assume you are using them as a back up to the Ivies. No school wants to be seen as a second choice. If you read this year’s Lehigh results thread, you will see many kids with states above the 75% who were rejected or waitlisted. The same is true for all the schools at that level of selectivity. So, while I think you really do have a great chance at BU, I would not call it a safety. And of course, make sure to show them you are truly interested!

9

@gallentjill BU’s 2022 admissions rate was 22%, it will be <20% given recent trends @nvb123 applies

10

Also the mean ACT for 2022 was a 32, so the most recent 75th percentile is likely a 33/34

11

bump

12

bump

13

I echo the advice of @gallentjill. You are competitive for any of these schools if you keep on your current trajectory. Getting published will be an added bump but you can’t assume anything at these type of schools so matches and safeties are essential. A safety is a school with basically guaranteed admission that you can afford. BU is not a safety regardless of your credentials.

14

bump

15

Would this program interest you at all? https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/programs/science-and-business I think it could be considered a safety, since Waterloo has about a 50% acceptance rate and a more predictably stats-based process than US universities - and it’s an excellent STEM school.

You seem like a competitive applicant for all of the schools you’re considering. Is there any reason MIT/Sloan isn’t on the list? I would think that would be the place to combine science research with finance. http://mitsloan.mit.edu/undergrad/15-3-finance/

16

@aquapt wow that program seems great for a safety! I’ll definitely look into it.

Regarding MIT Sloan, it’s actually in my list now! It’s one of my top choices for sure.

Thanks so much!

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MODERATOR’S NOTE:
OP opened an updated thread, so I’m closing this one.