Updated: Chances for ivies, second ivies, and publics, will chance back :)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>This is a long post, but I wanted to give detail in case you want it. Feel free to skim if you don’t have the time.</p>

<p>I'll be applying as a Neuroscience/Neurobiology major, planning on getting a PhD looking to become a researcher. I'm considering a dual MD/PhD program but I want to be a research scientist, not a 'true' doctor or surgeon with patients.</p>

<p>Background:
-I'm rising senior, and a white female from San Diego and a divorced family.
-50k income for the FAFSA and 140k for the Profile (changes based on if you factor one or two parent incomes).</p>

<p>You don’t have to reply to all my schools, just what you know or can contribute. If you're familiar with the Regents scholarship or Med scholars program at the UCs, please contribute for that. Let me know if you'd like additional information and/or if you want me to chance you back. </p>

<p>My List
Stanford (applying under Restrictive Early Action):
Pomona:
Brown:
Bowdoin:
Penn:
Caltech:
MIT:
Harvey Mudd:
UCSD:
UCLA:
UCSC:
UCSB:
UMich:</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT 1: 800w/790m/800cr single sitting
SAT II: Math II and Bio E/M this fall, expecting high marks on both (770+)
AP: School doesn't offer them, but they ran out of classes for me so I'm taking five AP tests (Bio, Calc B/C, Stats, Psych, and US History) on an independent study plan next year
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.3 W (no AP offered at school, perfect GPA w/hardest course load would be valedictorian if we ranked)
-Attending two schools, a small nationally ranked Charter school and Stanford’s OHS
College GPA: 4.0 at UCSD, took a neuroscience class and 4.0 at Grossmont College, took a biotechnology class</p>

<p>School ECs:
-President of Writing club
-Co-founder and Instructor of Test Prep Club
-Co-founder of Scholarship Club
-Vice President of Community Service Club
-Vice President of Newspaper
-Member of Stanford Newspaper
-Member of Stanford Astronomy Club
-Member of Model UN
-Volunteer tutor
-School Ambassador
-Junior Varsity Soccer
-Junior Varsity Volleyball</p>

<p>Out-of-school ECs:
UCSD Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
-Worked 40 hours/week for 3 weeks in January 2013.
-Conducted literature reviews. Completed EEG lab training with university students.
-Ran participants through experiments studying the Mirror Neurons and Autism.
-Analyzed EEG data. Gained experience coding in MATLAB with data analysis.
-Assisted with outreach and recruitment of participants into clinical trials.
-Designed, developed, and brought their new website live</p>

<p>The Scripps Research Institute for Regenerative Medicine
-Selected for highly competitive program 35 accepted out of/329 applicants
-Will work under one of the top five researchers in her field, paid internship
-40hours/week for 8 weeks in summer of 2013
-Will study induced pluripotent stem cells (non-embryonic) to create neuronal progenitor cells (baby neurons) to study and treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
-Will present at international stem cell conference on behalf of the lab in San Francisco </p>

<p>Blue Roses Girls (charity)
-Volunteer/Employee 2010-13
-Works with girls with sensory and cognitive disabilities to improve
their communication skills
-Hired from volunteer to paid position for summer of 2012, lead counselor in
camp program, directly responsible for six girls with Autism and Downs
Syndrome, indirectly responsible for twenty-four girls
-Invited back for Summer 2013, had to decline due to TSRI internship</p>

<p>Heather’s Tutoring Services (business)
-Founder and CEO of my own business, enough revenue to file with the IRS
-Specializing in Math and Science, raise student’s grades an average of two
letters (Ex. a D to a B)
-Too many clients for my busy schedule, looking to hire new employee</p>

<p>Better Education for Women in Science and Engineering (BEWiSE)
-Admitted into selective program to meet with scientists and engineers
-Toured labs and discussed opportunities for Women in STEM</p>

<p>San Diego Main Downtown Library Shop
-Director of Public Communications (volunteer position)
-Organized social media campaign, artist outreach, and normal store duties</p>

<p>Sailing Team
-School doesn’t have a team, joined a competitive recreational team
-Only girl and only teenager to make the team</p>

<p>Awards/Merits:
-National Merit commended
-Won “Writing for Literacy” grand prize contest out of 2000 applicants
-Commendation from city councilmember of large California City
-Johns Hopkins CTY Math and Verbal California High Honors Award
-Stanford OHS High Achievement Commendation
-Selected to be School Ambassador</p>

<p>Thank you for your time! I'm more than happy to chance back or contribute to one of your threads just let me know :)</p>

2

<p>Consider MIT your Safety… ;)</p>

3

<p>Haha thank you Equation :slight_smile: Being a girl with a 790 math should help with the tech schools, it was a 660 then a 680, so that’s a result of a ridiculous amount of studying</p>

4

<p>Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far…the only things you really have to work on are your ESSAYS and short answers for Stanford. Your true voice, identity, and personality must show through to move the “readers” of your application. I am assuming you will get stellar RECOMMENDATIONS from your teachers…but you never know. If Stanford is your TOP choice go for it…you have as good a chance as anyone. Good luck.</p>

5

<p>I do have great recommendations. My calculus teacher and I are really close, in a recent rec for the internship this summer he wrote that I was one of the top two students of his 10 year teaching career, along with other nice things about my natural intelligence along with high motivation, drive, curiosity, desire to learn, ect. He already agreed to write the common app rec. I’m also hoping for a rec from my Principal Investigator in the lab I’m working in this summer, she is the foremost expert in her sub field of biology and extraordinarily well respected (and I’m working with her for 8 weeks!). So those should be solid.</p>

<p>In terms of the essays, I’ve always been considered a strong writer. I’ve been stewing over topics for months, and I’m president of the writing club and enjoy writing in my free time. I tend to write with a flair of humor, so I hope my slightly quirky personality will come through. I’m certainly going to spend tons of time on those essays and supplements.</p>

<p>Stanford is among my top three. Honestly, I’m waffling a bit. I’m applying REA to Stanford because it made the most sense for me, I can’t afford ED, it boosts my chances (admittedly among a self selecting pool, but still), and I’ll know by december. But for neuroscience, MIT might make more sense, and I love the idea of a LAC so Harvey Mudd or Pomona are right up there too. My list is flexible (Duke, Swathmore, UC Berkley, and Reed keep fluctuating on and off)</p>

6

<p>Wow, I think you have an great chance at all the colleges on the list! You’re passion for research really shows so ECs are amazing, test scores and GPA is very great, and to top it off, you have your own business! Stanford and MIT are unpredictable, but you are a VERY competitive applicant for both schooling institutions. Well done and good luck!
Oh and can you chance me back if you have a chance?
Thanks!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1518316-chance-me-top-universities.html#post16076272[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1518316-chance-me-top-universities.html#post16076272&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I agree that your r</p>

8

<p>Thank you Faina00 and Achilles09. I’m glad my love of research comes through, it’s really what I want to do. That test score is from the June 1st date released today, which took a lot of work on the math (660->680->790) so I’m a little proud of it. I’m worried about Stanford because being from california and female hurts me on both accounts. Obviously MIT has ridiculously low admit rates, most of my schools do, but being female with the high SAT math and super science focus helps a tiny bit. I’m using the UCs as matches/safeties, since I would be perfectly happy at UCSD. I’m 4th generation at UMich (Grandma was a research scientist as well, mom is a research nurse, plus two aunts, a pharmacist an an engineer) which makes UMich closer to safety range. Summer self-assigned homework is for sure those essays.</p>

9

<p>I definitely agree with you about UMichigan. Based on the information you gave me, I would be immensely surprised if you even got waitlisted. Also, I didn’t think that Stanford discriminates against in-state students? There was a thread from a few years ago, so I don’t know if it’s information is still true to this present day. But here, check it out anyway
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/518522-does-stanford-like-state-people.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/518522-does-stanford-like-state-people.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>Interesting thread, thank you for directing me to it! That’s reassuring. However, what admission officers say over what they do is different, there statistically are more qualified kids who apply from california then anywhere else, and they don’t want a class of 90% california kids so they can brag about diversity. It’s honestly something we might never truly know.</p>

11

<p>Ohh that makes sense! Well either way, you’re an incredibly amazing applicant so it’ll be hard for them to turn you down! Don’t worry!</p>

12

<p>Ah, thank you! Same to you. College is sort of life-consuming at the moment. I’ve been nicknamed the guru at school, people just ask me random admissions process questions before they go to our counselor. I typically know the answer. I probably spend too much time on CC when I have the SAT averages at all my schools and ten or so others memorized. :)</p>

13

<p>Thanks! Yeah it is kinda time consuming, I have to agree with you. But in 10 or 20 years, we’ll be looking back and be happy that we gave so much effort in high school. We’re basically setting our life in these 4 years of high school. If you do well, you go to a good college, if you go to a good college, then you’ll get a nice successful career that is perfect. You’ll be separate from the norm, who just work laboriously for the money. You can do something meaningful in life and going to these top colleges will help you get there in my opinion. And haha lol, I don’t know too much about colleges but I’m starting to expand my knowledge on applications and colleges and things if that nature. I’m spending wayyy too much time on CC, I think I should take a break haha! :)</p>

14

<p>Wow these stats are just…beyong imagination for me hahaha. I believe that your academics and extra curricular are on par with the schools listed, but it will eventually come down to the essays and recommendations. Make sure those are Stellar as well!! </p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!!!</p>

15

<p>I’ve sacrificed sleep (noted by the fact I’m on CC right now when I need to wake up in five hours) and learned to live on less of it, and creatively integrated friend/fun time into work time with varying degrees of success. It’ll all be worth it in the end, which is why we’re doing this, but it can be overwhelming at times. CC is intimidating at first, then the threads all sort of blend together.</p>

<p>Essays and recs are actually going to be really strong points, I love writing and I have great people to give recs who adore me. All the “soft” areas are where who I am and my work ethic shine through.</p>

16

<p>Yeah when I first joined this site, I looked at some of the threads (like yours) and I was like are you serious? This is my comeptition?</p>

17

<p>Wow this looks absolutely awesome!
I think you will definitely get into all of the colleges on your list except for the Ivies and Stanford because those are very competitive.
However, I feel that if you do stand out with your essays/recs you are at least one foot in to Stanford already. Good luck :)</p>

<p>Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1518458-these-correct-safeties-matches-reaches-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1518458-these-correct-safeties-matches-reaches-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I know the competition is ridiculous, but I just try to do what I love and work really hard to get there. I probably should have more safeties on my list, but I simply can’t think of any besides the UCs</p>

19

<p>Yeah if I was from Cali I’d stay in Cali unless I got into one of the Ivies</p>

20

<p>your stats look great! just show yourself on the apps… I know everyone says that but it’s true! Female going into STEM is always a nice point to emphasize! submit a research abstract on your Common App maybe? </p>

<p>chance me back please? link is:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1518519-chances-ivies-duke-uchic-stanford-please.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1518519-chances-ivies-duke-uchic-stanford-please.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;