I am an incoming Junior in a pretty competitive public highschool in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the home of UMICH. What are my chances of getting into Umich, John’s Hopkins, Northwestern, U Chicago, Duke, UCLA, UCSF, and the IVies?
Academics:
I have a 4.0 GPA with all accelerated/advanced classes available except for APUSH. I am one year ahead in math, taking Precalculus ( Math Analysis) as a Sophomore, and got very good grades in those classes. I will be taking AP Chem and AP Calc BC and possible AP English in my Junior year. I got quite a few A+'s so far, and in classes that accelerated as well. My school is very well known in Michigan and it is very close to the UMICH campus (I can see the stadium from my classes).
ACT: 35 Composite ; 36 English, 35 Math, 36 Reading, and 32 Science.
ACT Writing: 11 out of 12.
Extra Curricular Activities:
I play competitive chess with an all-time high rating of 1706. I spend many, many hours a week working on chess.
I play classical guitar, performing some world-class pieces. My teacher was the guitarist for the London Orchestra.
I am an avid photographer, and run fairly successful Flickr and 500px pages (although this isn’t really relevant).
I participate in clubs such as Link Crew, NHS, Peer to Peer, and SADD.
I worked at a summer camp inbetween 9th and 10th grade.
I speak English fluently, Spanish and Romanian fairly well, and a bit of Hebrew.
Soon, I will be doing some research at the university on obesity.
I also enjoy sailing, and I play on two recreational soccer teams with my friends.
On top of my chances, what else do you guys think I need for curriculars? If you guys could help, that would be so helpful.
Hi there Pioneer student,
Make sure you take at least a couple SAT2 this year and you will be all set. Note that NU has specific SAT2 requirements for certain programs. So you did not take APUSH or you did? What is your intended major?
You are definitely in the range for all these schools (providing you fulfill the course and SAT2 requirements). You still have one whole year to build up your EC further.
Well, bear in mind that since you appear to lack legacy, the Ivies are all going to be reaches. Some (HYPC) will be high reaches, others not so much. The same is true with Chicago, Duke (high both), Hopkins, and Northwestern. UMich is probably more of a match because you’re in-state. UCLA is going to be tougher than UMich, but not so much that I’d call it a reach.
UCSF has no undergraduate portion. If you mean UC Berkeley, then that’s a tad tougher than UCLA, so a low reach.
But, since you’re a junior, this doesn’t matter. Wait until next summer to freak out about chances and just keep on truckin until then.
Thanks billcsho! I did not take APUSH, and I intend on going for some premed major (maybe something related to engineering as well, such as Biomedical engineering), and then going for medical school. What else do you think I would need EC wise. I also want to find EC’s that aren’t for college but for my enjoyment in general.
Kaarboer, I do have a legacy at Yale (my mom was a professor there, if that counts). Would this help me in any way?
If you are determined to go to medical school, you probably should consider other major than BME. First, BME at JHU is very competitive and so is at UMich (only BME has a 3.0 GPA requirement to declare major). In other words, it would be harder to get a good GPA that is required for applying to medical school. Second, there is not many jobs for BME bachelor. Most job would require a master degree. So it is not a very good option as a back up plan either. Nevertheless, my nephew took that path though.
You should have no problem in getting into UMich at all, while the other schools are always reaches.
As for EC, just do whatever you have passion on. Be more focus though. By the way, why you are not going to the music camp this week?
I don’t participate in the orchestras/bands because they don’t offer anything for classical guitar, which sucks a lot. Thanks for the advice! I really aim to go to Umich for the pricing, and your advice on the BME really got me into thinking about other paths. Either way, this was a big help. Thanks!
I hope you speak English fluently lol, considering you are from Michigan.