<p>I just took the March 2014 SAT and got a 800M/750W/680CR = 2230
I will be retaking mostly likely in October to improve my critical reading (and possibly writing) score.
I have compiled 300+ volunteer hours, am the president of 3 school clubs, have my own non-profit CA organization, play a sport, and play 3 instruments.
Unfortunately due to some personal problems my freshman year I only have a 3.7/4.4 GPA right now (I will probably have a 3.85/4.6 by the time I graduate if I continue like I am right now, even thought I know most colleges don't regard freshman year too highly)
I got a 720 on the Math 2 Subject Test as a sophomore and will be retaking that as well as Bio, Chem, USH, and Physics.
I am also a Full IB Diploma Candidate (all AP/IB classes)</p>
<p>With that in mind, I have a few questions:
1. What are my chances of getting into the following colleges (I will be studying Pre-Med):
Johns Hopkins
Stanford
Harvard
Caltech
Northwestern
University of Chicago
UCLA
UC Berkeley
UCSD
Claremont-McKenna
Swarthmore
UPenn
2. What are some other colleges you think I would have a good shot of getting into based on what I have provided.
3. I studied extremely long and hard (I hear the lols coming) for the SAT, so what are some things I could do to increase my CR score because I've heard from many people that once you get a 2200+ on your first time its pretty hard to improve, and also should I consider taking the ACT?
4. What are some other things I can do to better my chances of getting into these prestigious colleges.</p>
<p>I know some of my HS achievements are sub-par but I have some other things I am not willing to share that may increase my chances of getting in. Regardless, please be honest (and maybe A LITTLE harsh) and only judge based on what I have written.</p>
<p>Feel free to add whatever you have to say about your own personal experiences and I am eager to read all your responses.</p>
<p>P.S. If there are any spelling/grammar errors that explains my W score on the SAT haha.</p>
<p>Correction: I’m not retaking ALL those Subject tests just Math 2. I will be taking all the rest for the first time.</p>
<p>Sorry guys I’m new to this website! I would also greatly appreciate it if you could include a little on $$ in your replies. From my end, my parents combined income makes it hard on them because they just cross the threshold of getting close to no financial aid, but it will be really strenuous on them to have to pay for my undergrad, then med school, all at $40k+ a year and even though they are not making me pay them back or anything (my parents said as long as I maintain a 3.6 or higher in college they will handle my entire tuition and take on half my loans), that’s a lot of stress on them for 8 years, and then having to pay for my younger sister’s college for 8 more years (she wants to be a doctor too).</p>
<p>Make sure you’re involved in ECs. All those schools you listed are extremely interested in how you spend your time outside of the classroom and ECs will be what divides you from the rest of the pack.
Your GPA is in range for all these schools (no matter what anyone on CC says). Your SAT score will be perfect for all these schools as long as you can bring your CR to at least a 710.
Therefore, it’s mainly about your ECs and essays.
And yes, take the ACT!
Also, schools like Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Emory, and Columbia are in your range as well.</p>
<p>@xFirefirex thank you for the response. As I said before, I am involved in 6 clubs and president of 3 others, and I actually do stuff instead of just doing it for the title haha. I also work with Habitat for Humanity and other well known volunteer organizations regularly, as well as run my non-profit which raises money for AIDS/cancer/any other life threatening disease research. Unfortunately, I am only a 15 year old junior so all the hospitals in the area wont accept my application. What other things should I do to open up my choices? Also, do you think any of these colleges are a stretch, and if so in what areas am I lacking? Finally, I have looked at Vanderbilt and Columbia but don’t see them as top choices (despite both being prestigious institutions) because I can’t see myself there for some weird reason. Thx!!</p>
<p>Make sure you include enough schools that you would consider ‘safeties’. Go over your application list with your GC to make sure there are schools you should have on your list.</p>
<p>How about college visits in your area to get a feel for different types of campuses and what you may like and not like. During your senior year you can look at the others you have not visited that have accepted you and are financially within reach, and also that your family will find ‘not too far from home’ or too isolating.</p>
<p>The goal should not be getting into prestigious. You may believe that getting into prestigious is going to heighten your chances of continuing with their med school?</p>
<p>It seems you see yourself at an undergrad program school that has a med school there? It is one thing if it is your in-state public option. When it comes to applying to med school, the stats you have for that process is what is important. You want to be able to get through your undergrad program as cost-effectively as possible.</p>
<p>I also think you want to be pretty well rounded in the completion of HS and during undergrad. There are some specific things to do to increase your chances of med school interview and selection during college…</p>
<p>@SOSConcern the reason I am interested in schools with med schools (and you are absolutely correct about that) is that my top choices have the largest amount of students come from within their school, so that gives me some hope now. Also, could you please elaborate on what I can do to improve, and what my chances are for the specific colleges I posted. Finally, I don’t want to attend top-tier schools because of prestige but rather that they tend to be more lenient in grading and GPA is very important for med-school. Thoughts? Thanks!!</p>
<p>I am not expert in researching these schools and comparing the stats to you. Plus although it may have some value to you, I think you value those schools/programs too much.</p>
<p>Gives you some hope now? Although you have your eye on med school kind of steering you to certain ‘desirable’ undergrad programs, it sounds like you want to get into some very top-tier med schools and also want to be considered for their program based on being in their ‘feeder’ undergrad.</p>
<p>Your grades are moving up. How much of a challenge to you is your HS curriculum?</p>
<p>I have a good friend whose son is currently in his first year of med school. He was accepted to 3 med schools and all offered him a scholarship. He went to the state flagship for ChE (took all the pre-med courses) and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He did the things to help with his med school application (shadowed MDs, overseas medical mission trips, other things). He scored well on the MCAT. I’m sure he did great on his interviews. Our state has two medical schools and he was offered admission to both.</p>
<p>Grades are key. MCAT score is key. Top tear school more lenient in grading??? Maybe other posters can chime in.</p>
<p>I hear from many a make or break undergrad course is organic chemistry. When you get to undergrad program, you may learn more about where your capabilities are and how well you can do with the curriculum.</p>
<p>You do not need to be in a top 20 undergrad program to get into med school. You are setting yourself up early to see plenty of rejections from reach programs.</p>
<p>I have no idea what part of the country you are from and so I cannot steer you to look at schools and programs in your area.</p>
<p>superslugger unless you are on spring break this week or on the west coast - you are up too late for a school night :)</p>
<p>@SOSConcern hahahaha I am from Southern California not spring break yet 
and have insomnia so I cant sleep regardless lol</p>
<p>You have been extremely helpful so just a few more questions and then I promise to go to bed :)</p>
<p>1) which schools do you think are reaches and why? JHU is my dream school because I absolutely love their campus, focus on academics, setting, and because it is a D3 school where I might have a shot at playing baseball
2) what do you think of my SAT score? (800M/750W/680CR = 2230)
3) which part of my application, were I to turn it in today, would be weakest in your eyes
4) as i stated above, my age keeps me from working in hospitals or closely with doctors. what can I do until i turn 16 to help with this?
5) a poster above suggested Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Emory, and Columbia. comments?</p>
<p>THX!</p>
<p>Do not consider playing D3 ball with college (recreational or inter-mural is OK). First priority has to be academics. </p>
<p>My friend can probably help you more with some of your questions. She also is from CA so she knows a lot about schools from there.</p>
<p>I will ask her to look at this thread and chime in. She is mom2collegekids. </p>
<p>OK - go to bed superslugger.</p>
<p>My friend is moving. Hopefully she can post something this weekend to be of help to you superslugger.</p>