<p>I'm currently a junior - I know that it's relatively early to be worrying over which colleges to apply to, but I want to be decided on a list of schools soon so that I can focus my attention on achieving my goal, if you will.
I'm planning on becoming a psychiatrist or neurologist, but I haven't really decided yet. I will be applying to medical school, but my undergraduate degree will probably be something in the humanities department, maybe Languages/Literature/Linguistics or Psychology.
Aaaaaaand, I'm absolutely clueless. There hasn't really been that ONE college that's my 'one true love' and that I'm desperate to get into. It's really all the same to me - I just want a large school with a diverse population and a moderate/liberal feel. And, that I have a chance of being accepted into :p
(Oh, and I'd like the schools to be in the tri-state area... NY particularly? But it's not a must)</p>
<p>So then:</p>
<p>Gender: F
Ethnicity: Southern European (born there, moved to the US at 6 years old)
GPA: ~96.7 (UW)
Rank: 7-10 / ~850 (UW - will be ~5 when weighted)</p>
<p>SAT: took it yesterday (early for a Jr. I know); my PSAT last year was a 201 (without any studying/preparing), and I'm expecting this score to be at least 2250. In any case, I won't be satisfied unless it's a >2300, which I can manage if I retake in December.
Expected Score: M 800 CR 700 W 750</p>
<p>9th Grade:
Strings I - 97
World Hist H - 96
Biology I H - 98
PE/Health - 99
Algebra II H - 92 (I'm in an elite math program in my school - you can only be in it if you've been involved since the 6th grade)
Spanish I - 98
English I H - 97</p>
<p>10th Grade:
Strings H - 97
US Hist I AP - 98
Chemistry I H - 94
Pe/Health - 98
Geometry H - 97
Spanish II - 96
English II H - 97</p>
<p>11th Grade: (I'm one of 3 students not taking lunch; the other 2 are not doing so well academically so I currently have the most difficult course load in my school)
College Accounting I (not AP, but weighted as such)
US Hist II AP
Physics I H
PE/Health
Pre Calc H
Spanish III
English III H
Psychology AP</p>
<p>Expected 12th Grade Schedule: (again, no lunch)
European History AP
Biology AP
Chemistry AP
PE/Health
Calculus AP
Spanish IV AP
English AP
*** for 8th class haven't decided among Strings H, History of Art AP, or Statistics AP ***</p>
<p>--- I took the highest level courses all 3 years</p>
<p>Will have had 8-9 APs.
Will be taking Literature SAT II in Jan, US History SAT II in May, Math II in June, and Biology in October '10. I expect a 750-800 in Lit/Hist/Math, >700 in Bio.</p>
<p>ECs:
Been playing the violin 8 years, the viola for 5
Hopefully will make it to an elite chamber orchestra in my school this year...
Editor of Key Club - hoping for President next year
President of SYFASE - encouraging females in the field of science/engineering
Part of (hoping for co-captain this year) Ethics Bowl - was member of 5-people team that won 1st place in a debate competition last year
Will be a team member of Academic Decathlon next year (I'm a sub this year)
part of Conservation Club/JETS (physics-related)/Interact Club/German Club/Asian Club
Tutored kids at the local library Freshman/Sophomore Year: ~20 hours
Key Club volunteering events: ~10 hours
Volunteer at local hospital: ~250 hours
I will be VP of German Club next year - I know that's weird to say but the teacher is a bit of a ... slacker and my best friend is President (and chooses positions at a whim).
There's a very good chance I'll be Treasurer of Knights of Pythagoras next year, and also part of Psi Nu Sigma (science honor society - have all my requirements already)</p>
<p>Recommendations:
My counselor likes me, but I do have to build a stronger relationship with her - will work on it this year...
Fantastic one from my History teacher of 2 years (will be 3 senior year) - I'm the only student to have gotten 100 in a semester and on Finals in any one of his classes. And he likes me! Should be stellar.
Third one most likely from either my Strings teacher (we're very very very close - she's like another mother = phenomenal rec.) or my last year's English teacher (will be a pretty solid, good recommendation).</p>
<p>Hooks:
- first generation to college
- wasn't born here?
- fluent in my Southern European language :p (I'm being ambiguous because people from my school surf this board, and it would make it obvious who I am)
- I don't know if this at all matters, unless I put it in my essays, but I am a pro at audio engineering - could probably not go to college at all and still be successful in recording music.</p>
<p>Essays: I think I write very well. I just need an interesting topic, but I'm not too worried about this.</p>
<p>Other:
- Will self study for Music Theory AP and Environmental Science AP this year. Haven't decided whether to study for English Comp. and Comp Gov. & Politics too...</p>
<p>This was a bit long. Suggestions? I don't know whether to shoot for Ivies (I don't think I have a chance...), but I'm not very knowledgeable of other "good" schools. And is it even worth it to pay so much for undergraduate, if med school's what's important?
Thanks!</p>
<p>(PS: grade inflation = good. GPA needs to be high for med school)</p>
Considering my family’s financial status, I’m pretty sure I would qualify for need-based aid. I’ll be looking into different scholarships too, so we’ll see what I can afford after all of that is through. I’m just trying to pinpoint schools that are good, but that wouldn’t be terribly expensive if I didn’t have any financial help whatsoever, just in case. </p>