URGENT: Need more safety schools?!(deadlines are soon!)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Please let me know if my list is too ambitious and unrealistic. I'm not familiar with the outcome of this process and neither are my parents, so any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>ACT:31...retaking
Subject tests: 770, 770
Class rank: top 2%
Race:white
Gender: F
State: GA
No hooks</p>

<p>EC's: HOSA(Health Occupation Students of America), Science Club, Science Ntl Hon. Society(founder and president), Science Club, Mu Alpha Theta (secretary --> president), Researcher at the state university, Red Cross(cofounder and VP), _____Cultural Association (since 11 years old; at the state university; serve on the organization committee), a camp I cofounded this summer to teach kids about the various cultures of the world, Student Gov Association(rep since 11th grade; senior class president), Freshmen and New Students (mentor), NJHS/NHS (NHS president)</p>

<p>*attended a selective summer science program at a National laboratory
*Speak, write, and read 3 languages(one that's not so common)</p>

<p>Awards: a few local volunteering awards, several academic achievement awards, AP scholar with Distinction, 2nd at HOSA Nationals, 3rd&5th at HOSA state, 1st x2 and HOSA regionals, 6th at state and 2nd at regionals in Science Olympiad, 3rd in state for Science Bowl, 10th, 5th, and 4th at regional math competitions, published writer in a poetry book, winner of a national poetry contest, and certified(by the sate university) in Biohazard safety precautions, results from research are now integrated into an international gene bank for the species I'm studying</p>

<p>Job: Private Biology tutor (one semester)</p>

<p>Volunteering: 250+ hours at cultural events(India, South America, Middle-East) and tutoring(math, science, and Spanish). Translator for a non-profit scholarship committee (translated Spanish letters from kids in S. America to sponsors in N. America), translator for a non-profit global news company.</p>

<p>Intended major: pre-med/Neuroscience (and maybe minor in Spanish...if possible at the school I choose)</p>

<p>Schools:
Stanford
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
MIT(should I?)
Univ. of Washington St. Louis
Vanderbilt
Emory
State University(they're known for rejecting people who are likely to get into more prestigious schools)
Columbia</p>

<p>Do I need more safety schools?</p>

2

<p>Hmmm, neither GT nor UGa considers “level of applicant’s interest” in admissions, according to their common data sets. It is usually private schools that consider that in order to reject applicants using them as safeties.</p>

3

<p>I think those are good safeties (above). You may also want to add another match or two.</p>

4

<p>I’m saying that based on the experiences of several seniors from years before. For example, one did not get into the honors program(not exactly a rejection, but a pretty close equivalent), but got into Vanderbilt and Duke.</p>

5

<p>What caliber school would be a “match”?</p>

<p>Thank you for the replies!</p>

6

<p>I honestly feel like your list is a little on the ambitious side. Obviously we don’t know what will happen, but I honestly don’t feel like you’d get into most of those schools (but I’m not an adcom). Anyway, you definitely need more match and warrens (I could see you ending up at the state u based of of that list). Look at the next tier on the us news rankings, you’re probably a good fit at most of those schools.</p>

7

<p>I can’t answer specifically for a pre-med student. But, check stats for school’s admissions to see if match up with yours. I’m sure there are other posters more familiar with pre-med who could suggest a few. Also, did you take the SAT?</p>

8

<p>Patriotsfan, yikes! :frowning: Is there something in particular that makes you say that? My scores? Not even Emory or Vanderbilt or WUSTL?</p>

<p>OhioMom, looking at the score ranges is not very helpful. It’s a very small part of the application process. My score fits Harvard’s 50th percentile, haha.</p>

<p>Also, I’m not too concerned with pre-med programs. I can fulfill the requirements at almost any college. I’m more interested in Neuroscience or even Biology as a route for undergrad years, as I’m not too sure I want to be a doctor at this moment.</p>

<p>I’m taking the SAT this month, too. Based on BB, I should get 730 CR, 800M, 780-790 W</p>

9

<p>I’m thinking worst case senerio, but I don’t think your scores are helping you and some of the schools are ridiculously hard to get into. I could see WUSTL or Emory if you’ve shown a lot of interest (I think both really track it) and maybe Vandy, but Vandy is still really hard to get into.</p>

<p>If you get 2200+ then your list makes more sense, but I’d still get one from that next tier</p>

10

<p>You are correct. Scores are just one aspect of the decision process and you have great ECs, too. But, comparing score ranges can give you a good idea of a school’s selectivity and where you match up statistically. If you get those SAT scores, I think you will be in very good shape.</p>

11

<p>Practice tests indicate ~2300(if the essay doesn’t *kill * my writing MC score).</p>

<p>I’m more concerned about standing out at this moment. Reflecting on my ECs, I see that they’re pretty usual, except for a few like my summer camp and co-founding and founding 2 others. I also consider my volunteer activities to be very passionate and focused(cultural awareness). Nothing amazing, though :(</p>

12

<p>Thank you, Ohiomom! I’ll be studying like crazy this week ;)</p>

13

<p>I’m currently taking Organic Chemistry w/ Lab(usually a junior year college course) at a community college. I also skipped Spanish 4 and Honors Physics.</p>

14

<p>You should apply to Oxford and Emory if you dont mind the two year program. And University of Alabama, I believe you’d get 2/3 tuition with that ACT (if you get to a 32 it’d be full tuition) and you qualify for the Honors College; but you’d have to apply by Dec 1 for guaranteed free tuition.</p>

15

<p>Thank you, MeMaw. I’ve applied for the Emory Scholars program.</p>

16

<p>I think your ECs and volunteer work are very good and that you’re a competitive candidate. Good luck on your upcoming tests!</p>

17

<p>Thank you for all your help, OhioMom! I hope so. :)</p>

18

<p>You need more safeties. Everyone does, so don’t take it at all personally. You seem to really be interested in southern schools (right?) so maybe look at Elon, Wake Forest, and Tulane. Possibly UF and UGA if you want to look at public schools too.</p>

19

<p>Would Berkley be a safety? I’m not familiar with the UC admissions process and how they evaluate applicants.</p>

20

<p>Not at all, Berkeley would be another reach. OOS tuition is also insanely high there.</p>