University of Chicago, Northwestern, and UIC GPPA?

<p>I live in Illinois and I think I want to stay here, so that really narrows down the number of colleges that I'm looking at.</p>

<p>If I attend U of C or Northwestern, I want my major to be in pre-med and then I want to continue on to medical school.</p>

<p>However, my other option is University of Illinois at Chicago's guaranteed professionals program (8 year program in medicine), which is supposedly very selective...</p>

<p>my weighted gpa: 5.36/6 [my school's scale is weird and out of 6 for some reason]
unweighted gpa: 4.6/5</p>

<p>ACT Composite: 34 (English: 36, Reading: 36, Math: 34, Science: 29)
ACT Writing: 9 (out of the possible 12 points)</p>

<p>I'm also planning on taking SAT II (3 subject tests) in the fall and hopefully doing well on them.</p>

<p>I'm not sure exactly what my class rank is at the end of junior year but I know I'm in the top 10%.
By the end of high school (so including senior year), I will have taken 10 AP classes (1 sophomore year, 3 junior year, and 6 senior year).</p>

<p>My extracurricular activities are:
-Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper senior year; News Editor junior year; reporter sophomore year
-Vice President of Spanish Club sophomore and junior years; elected to be President senior year
-Emergency Room Volunteer Receptionist at a local hospital; award for completion of 300 hours
-NHS and Spanish National Honor Society member
-Track Team member freshman and sophomore year (could not continue because of an injury)
-ASA Oxford summer program during the summer before my junior year; received an A and an A- in the two courses I took there
-District Leadership Conference attendant</p>

<p>If any of these schools are a reach/unattainable, I would like to know now so that I can apply to more schools (even out of state)!
Thanks!</p>

<p>bump 10char</p>

<p>I think you have a very good shot at those schools. There are a few things you could improve though.
First, your ACT math/sci scores are a bit low for someone going into medicine. I know the ACT science section is screwed up, but it definitely drags your composite down. If you’re better at reading/writing, take the SAT. the ACT is better for those who are really good a math/sci.<br>
You’ll be in direct competition with many people who have 3.9 or 4.0+ on the 4.0 scale. Nearly perfect, or perfect grades. But w/ all your APs, i don’t think colleges will care that much. Unless you’ve gotton grades lower than B-. Then, it depends on what classes. </p>

<p>Your EC’s are better than your academics. They are phenomenal! You’ll have no prob getting into Northwestern (did you know about their accelerated med program?)
However, Chicago is reputed to be a LOT more serious about academics, intellectualism, “life of the mind”, etc etc. Their admissions office will scrutinize your grades and transcript more.
Apply EA to chicago. it’ll improve your chances.</p>

<p>Yeah I’ve heard that applying early decision to some schools improves your chance of getting in. But I actually wanted to improve my gpa with my 1st semester senior year grades…
Do colleges count 1st semester of senior year in your gpa? Or do they only look at your gpa from the end of junior year? Because if that’s so I should apply early decision to all of the colleges I’m applying to, right?</p>

<p>Also, I’m actually considering John Hopkins University because it’s known for its medical program…What do you guys think my chances for John Hopkins are?</p>

<p>If you are interested in Johns Hopkins, then definitely apply early decision there. The admission rate is much higher that way. At Chicago, the admissions rate is not that different between early action and regular decision. My child was torn between those two schools, but decided she preferred U of Chicago, so she didn’t apply to JHU early decision. the reason was that if she was accepted early decision at JHU she would have had to attend it and then would have had to turn down Chicago if accepted there. Anyway, she applied EA to Chicago, was deferred and accepted regular decision. She was waitlisted at JHU regular decision and was basically told that she would have gotten in if she applied ED. She loves Chicago and is very happy with her decision.</p>

<p>Monica, you can apply early decision to only one school and must attend there if admitted (unless you also apply for financial aid and the aid offer is insufficient). Early decision should be used only at your one dream school, and should not be used if you want to compare aid offers.</p>

<p>You can apply early action to any number of schools.</p>

<p>Colleges do consider your first semester senior grades. If you feel you can improve them, maybe wait and apply regular decision.<br>
Heck, they even consider 2nd semester grades. I know someone who was accepted into UCLA, then rejected for bad grades 2nd semester. sucks.
But best of luck anyway! As i’ve said, you have a great chance.</p>