<p>I am a junior
-rank is 6/~400, have gotten mostly As and a few Bs
-10 AP classes by the time I graduate
-have taken SAT only once so far, got a 2080 :/ (goal is 2200, is that possible?)
-have only taken the subject test in chem so far, and i did pretty well
-participated in Varsity Swimming, USS swimming, Indian dancing, and hip hop dancing with a professional troupe
-in many clubs at school, president of two small clubs
-did Duke TIP camp for two summers and did an internship and Harvard Medical School one summer and winter break. I am applying to many programs for this summer, so I'll see later if I get accepted.
-fluent in 3 languages (idk how important that is though)
-i am not a very good writer, so i'm kinda worried about the essay part of applications
What are my chances? My dream school is either Duke or an accelerated med program</p>
<p>As my humble opinion, I really think you have to go into your classes with confidence, settling for nothing less than the top grades. This is a fine line to walk on, because you have to respect your limits and not fall apart in the process. I say this for two reason, because most Ivy League and top schools expect top grades from you (there is flexibility here if you’re an outstanding applicant in other areas), but if you struggle to achieve those grades in high school, you’re going to struggle throughout all of your undergraduate degree. I don’t know anyone who would enjoy that “struggle” for a long period of time, but there is obviously a difference between struggling and being challenged.</p>
<p>The degree I am completing now encompasses all pre-medical courses and the first thing I realised is how high the drop-out rate is. I am going to relate this to my previous point, if you struggle (at all) now, you’re going to struggle in that program. I am talking futuristically, because you can’t afford to get “B’s” in your undergrad and you’re getting them in high school. That doesn’t mean you can’t be successful in medicine, but it does mean you’re going to have to step it up if you can. Again, respect your limits and make decisions accordingly. </p>
<p>I would recommend nothing less than a 2200 on your SAT (yes, you can get in with less), but the higher your score the less stress you’ll have. For your senior year, you have to get A’s. Not just because you need them for admittance, but because it only gets more challenging and demanding as you advance. You want to set yourself up for success after all! You can always do more extra circulars, but it’s better to pick a few things you’re really passionate about and excel at them. I also recommend working on your writing skills, it’s an important skill in every discipline and will benefit you greatly in the future. </p>
<p>Ultimately, you have to do the best you can and see where that gets you. I wish you the best of luck! :)</p>