Hi, my son is a current junior in Texas, and is in top 6% of his class. He had taken 7 APs this year. His wish is to get into UT Austin Biochemistry. He would be taking 5 APs as a senior, and AP Bio is one of those. One problem that I already see is that he has a B in his AP Chem. Other subject he has a B is World History AP. Otherwise he has " A"s in all other subjects throughout his high school (all are Pre APs and APs). How much would that B in AP Chem affect his chance of getting into Biochem? He says the AP exam didn’t go well either. He still likes chemistry, but due to the heavy work load this year, he couldn’t spend enough time on it as he should have and hence the B.
SAT: 1480
ACT: 32
EC:
115 hours of volunteering in a hospital (would be doing another 115 this summer, so total 230)
100 hours of research experience in a Biochem lab (as a high school student trainee)
NEHS VP
Active assistant music instructor in a private music school.
May I know his chances of getting into UT Austin Biochem? Also I have heard that UT Austin looks for a good EC, so I am wondering what else could be done this summer to make his EC impressive, any suggestions? TIA!
If he can’t handle a lot of work, Is biochemistry really for him? When he goes to college he’ll be taking two sciences curses at least per semester. Sometimes three.
Yes, we understand the challenges of the Biochem. The workload - as far as I know, not many students had taken 7 APs in junior year (atleast not in his high school, only 5 students in all), and even in those, 3 have planned Chem for senior yr and instead taken Bio as junior (since it is relatively easier to score in Bio in his school). Others who have AP Chem as junior are not in 7 APs. So, we feel that the work load he has is more than what his peers are having (not something we are proud of, just wrong planning!). Also my son had been spending more time on the courses he found difficult and not his favorites, like APUSH, APLAC etc and hence felt the pressure. Basically those courses took most of his time and he would do better if he has more science and math courses.
If he maintains his rank, I believe he will be an autoadmit to UT. I don’t personally think a B in AP Chem will keep him out of the major. He still has to have strong essays, test scores and show his passion in his intended major which I think he has with his lab work etc. It’s a competitive major at UT since a lot of the students are premed. I think he has a decent chance but there are no guarantees at UT.