Road of College Research - Suggestions Wanted!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi Guys!</p>

<p>My name is Sam, and I am currently a junior at a high school in New York City.
My college selection process has officially began therefore I chose to come here and wish to ask for some suggestions and feedback from the seniority. (In addition, FYI, I am a first-generation college applicant)</p>

<p>Here's a statistic overview over my high school academic career:</p>

<hr>

<p>SEC 1.</p>

<h2>PROFILE:</h2>

<p>-Preferred Major: Computer Science / Pre-Medical Studies
-Top 5 Preferred Undergrad. Schools:
(1) MIT;
(2) Brown University;
(3) Cornell University;
(4) Stony Brook University;
(5) Georgia Tech.;
(7) Yale University...</p>

<p>The rest are relatively "safe" schools.</p>

<hr>

<p>SEC 2.</p>

<h2>ACADEMIC:</h2>

<p>-Current GPA: 4.0 (95.25%)
-Regents Examinations that has a score over 90: 100% (5/5)
-Current AP: NONE. BUT THERE WILL BE 2-3 IN THE SENIOR YEAR AND THAT'S ALL THE APs THAT MY SCHOOL OFFERS. (As some of you guys may know, there aren't many opportunities provided in NYC High Schools consider there are thousands of them that needed for funding by the DOE. Because of this, I often tend to self study)
-Diagnostic SAT: 2090 (I'm working on it)
-Currently Self-studying: SAT II Biology E/M; SAT II Math Level 2</p>

<p>*** PSAT: n/a ( will be administered on Oct 16, 2013) ***</p>

<hr>

<p>SEC 3.</p>

<h2>EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:</h2>

<p>(9th Grade)
1. Participant at the Model United Nations (In the real UN building)
2. Participant at the Service Club
3. Volunteer at New York Public Library
4. Interest-based Warcraft Map Developer</p>

<p>(10th Grade)
1. Participant at Chess-in-the-Schools (A non-profit organization that is dedicated to help students move toward success in an interactive form of chess playing.)
2. College-Bound Student at Chess-in-the-Schools (10th Grade)
3. Chess Tournament Director
4. Participant at Summer Academy (A branch of C.I.S where you contribute to your local society meanwhile learning about colleges and their idiosyncrasies.)
5. Interest-based Song Writer
6. Online liaison and supervisor for the largest online internet security forum in China (bbs.kafan.cn)
7. Participant at Chinatown Youth Initiatives (NYC) - Youth Conference at CUNY (City University of New York)</p>

<p>(11th Grade [Current])
1. Participant at High School Law Institute in Columbia University
2. Participant at the Japanese Club
3. Returning College-Bound Student at Chess-in-the-Schools (11th Grade)
4. Public Educational Intern at APICHA Community Health Center
5. President of the SA (Scholastic Achievements) Study Group
6. Chess Tournament Director
7. Participant at the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
Institute
-- Possible Future Programs--
*8. College Now (Advance College Courses)
*9. Code Now (Computer Science)</p>

<hr>

<p>SEC 4.</p>

<h2>QUESTIONS</h2>

<p>My questions for you guys are:
1. Out of all the schools that I've listed previously in Section 1, which one is considered the most "reachable", the least?
2. What should I improve on?
3. If I wanted to go to Brown, or MIT, what should I do ESPECIALLY so that my resume can look more fortified?
4. Most importantly, any other suggestions?</p>

<hr>

<p>Your suggestions and kindness are the essential fuels to my academic ignition!
Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Georgia Tech and Stony Brook should be fair matches for you, and Stony Brook is pretty cheap for residents. ([Tuition</a> and Fee Rates - Bursar/Student Accounts - Stony Brook University](<a href=“http://www.stonybrook.edu/bursar/tuition/tuition-and-fee-rates.shtml]Tuition”>http://www.stonybrook.edu/bursar/tuition/tuition-and-fee-rates.shtml)) Keep in mind if you want to go on a pre-med path you generally don’t major in “pre-med”. You can major in almost whatever you want, although certain majors tend to score better on the MCAT.</p>

<p>Of course, not much can be said until we know the ACT/SAT score, so that’s a matter for debate.</p>

<p>MIT, Brown, Cornell, etc. are very difficult to get into. You shouldn’t “prepare” yourself to try to get into those since they are so unpredictable with their acceptance patterns. They’re reaches for everyone - although Cornell is a bit less picky, but still should not be expected. 4.0 and 36 ACT students have been declined from those colleges… Although, if you really want to have a shot there, take upon some extracirriculars that are really unique. Research.</p>

<p>Stony Brook would be a good school if you wanted to go to med school. Low tuition means you can save up the money for med school.</p>

<p>For one thing though, do you have any financial need?</p>

<p>To be honest, you have a really good record here, and I personally don’t think you absolutely really have to improve on anything. Don’t improve for the sake of a nice looking college resume, more so just because it’s something you like doing.</p>

3

<p>I do actually have financial need. In fact, my family doesn’t make a great deal of family.</p>

4

<p>Chances are GTech will cost you too much. They are a public U from a different state. Check your other “safe” selections to see if you can afford them. Go to their web sites and run their Net Price Calculators. Then head to the Financial Aid forum and look at the stickied threads at the top for some merit aid options.</p>

5

<p>Given your interest in comp sci, why aren’t Stanford and Carnegie Mellon on your reach list? Mellon has a highly-regarded computational biology program that would probably be great for you.</p>

<p>Also, give some thought to liberal arts colleges that offer opportunities for undergraduate research. In particular, I am thinking Haverford’s Scientific Computing program would be a great opportunity for you to pursue CSci, complete your pre-med requirements, and finish with a senior project that would be a major asset to your med school application.</p>

<p>Stony Brook definitely looks like a great safety for you. In-state tuition for the win. And they have comp-bio, a good pre-med track, and even a BA/MD if you decide you want to lock in on medical school.</p>

6

<p>What I meant to say on #3 was I do actually have financial need. In fact, my family doesn’t make a great deal of <em>money</em>. I’ve reviewed all of your suggestions, and I find them very helpful. Thanks to all of you. </p>

<p>And also, Brown is actually my most favorite school. Any suggestions about what should I do in order to get favored? (I know that being idiosyncratic is very important, but at the same time, I feel like improving is also a way to go.)</p>