Hi,
I am currently a junior and I have always wanted To attend University of Michigan and go to med school. By the time I apply, I will most likely have 3.65ish unweighted GPA (my school doesn’t do weighted GPA)
By the end of senior year, I will have taken 8 AP classes. There’s not much info I can give considering I’ve yet to become a senior. But last year I took World AP and scored a 4. I know my profile is average for most of the kids applying to University of Michigan but if I can get a 2100+ SAT score (or 30+ ACT score), I wanted to know if I still have a good chance. Also, I have some really solid extracurriculars:
-Spell Bowl 3 years: we got 3rd in state
-Science Olympiad 2 years: 5th in state
-Super Bowl 2 years: currently in and plan to join next year if possible
-S.T.A.N.D club (human rights) 3 years: This is something I’m really passionate about. This is basically a human rights organization that raises awareness about genoicide and other tragedies around the world. I’ve gotten many opportunities bc of this club. Last year, I became a part of a protest led around campus facilitated by the local college against domestic violence. I also helped sell some jewelry during lunch and my friends and I were able to raise 1000 dollars.
-Model UN delegate
-Pathfinder 2 years: this is basically a volunteer club where students are chosen to go to games, concerts, teacher meetings, etc and show the visitors around campus
-Link Crew (where upperclassmen are chosen to help out incoming freshmen) 2 years
-Environmental Volunteer (4 years)
- The last 2 summers my parents and I went to visit my family in India as they are very special and close to me. Bc of this, there was not much I could do except volunteer at my dad’s clinic for a couple of weeks for the remainder of the summer. I did however, donate some of my hair both times (this was something one of my teachers recommended I do) and I also tutored some of the kids in my grandparents’ neighborhood.
-JETS Engineering Club 2 years
-Intern at my dad’s clinic for some time the past 2 years
I recently am doing a biochemical internship at my local college (going on right now and I plan to do another internship under a different professor next year)
Next year I plan to do some some research work in the field of biology or biochemistry to get some experience, as I am much interested in going to med school in the future.
I’ve done a lot of research and have heard that colleges like to see things being done in the area where the student is interested in because it shows experience and willingness (Clinic internship, biochemical internship, etc). Is this true? Also, I know I might be lacking in leadership but I feel like my experience as being chosen to represent the school (Pathfinder) and guide upcoming Freshmen (Link Crew) should make up for that right (sorry I might be biased but I feel like I’ve worked really hard for this). Also, will it give me some what of an edge if I do a pre-college summer program? I know a friend of mine that did one in Georgetown and one in Berkeley and got accepted to Berkeley. I’m currently applying for a scholarship for a program abroad to do research in the field of science this summer and also am applying to a program at a university where I can get paid and still get some experience in the field I’m most interested in.
I know this looks like I have some laundry list of activities but there are a lot of things I’m interested in as you can see from just how much I’ve dwelled on and described those activites. With the statistics I’ve listed above concerning SAT/ACT scores, stellar extracirriculars, a couple of good recommendations, and a really solid essay…can I still have a good shot at my dream college, even if my grades are too average for the students they admit?
PS: I’m also interested in these schools as well
-University of Indiana Bloomingtom
-Notre Dame
-Berkeley
-University of Washington - JHU (even though I’m pretty sure I have no shot)
So please feel free chance me and also offer some advice as to how I can raise my chances.
Also, I have already accounted for the cost of most of these universities so pls do not ask me if I can afford to attend out of state. Sorry, it’s just that I don’t want money to be a factor in limiting my abilities as an applicant and most of the questions asked in College Confidential always has someone making that comment. Thank you!