Where Should I Apply? *Help Needed*

Applying to College
1

<p>I have high SATs/somewhat low GPA at a tough public school in NJ (sends ~12-15 to Ivies a year and another 10-15 to other top schools). </p>

<p>Race: Asian
Gender: Male
State: NJ</p>

<p>GPA: <em>UW-3.84, W-4.25</em> and <em>UW-3.90, W-4.41</em> (w/o freshman year)
Rank: Easily top 5% in class of over 700, school doesn't give out rank so I don't have an exact position.
***System is difficult: A=95% and above.
SAT I: M-800, CR-770, W-730, T-2300
SAT IIs: Math II-800, Chem-800, Bio M-730 (self-studied)
APs: Phys B (4), Chem (5), Calc BC (5 and AB sub 5), Eng (5), Comp Sci AB (5)</p>

<p>ECs (really brief synopsis):</p>

<ul>
<li>Med Professions (10-12, officer 12th)</li>
<li>NJ Science Olympiad (founded and lead in 11th)</li>
<li>NJ Science League (2 yrs competed)</li>
<li>Research (2 summers); finalist at North Jersey Science Fair; competing at Intel/Siemen's next year</li>
<li>March of Dimes (10-12, officer 12th)</li>
<li>Science Competition Club (10-12, officer 11-12)</li>
<li>JSA (9-12, officer 11, VP 12, regional cabinet positions 11-12)</li>
<li>Math League (11, Calc required)</li>
<li>Volunteering hospital/March of Dimes/Senior Center: ~200 hrs.</li>
</ul>

<p>Awards:</p>

<ul>
<li>USNCO Semifinalist</li>
<li>Competed in USABO (self-studied)</li>
<li>North Jersey Science Fair Finalist</li>
<li>AIME Qualifier (low score on test though)</li>
<li>National Latin Exam (1 silver, 2 golds)</li>
<li>JSA Best Speaker Awards (4 of them)</li>
<li>Chemistry Olympics (2nd place in category)</li>
<li>Commended by NJ Legislature and Governor for work with March of Dimes</li>
<li>Columbia SHP next year</li>
<li>2nd, 4th, and 3rd place finishes at Princeton Univ competition for past 3 yrs</li>
</ul>

<p>Major: Biology/Biochem</p>

<p>So where are some good schools for me to apply? I'm planning to take premed classes (and make it to med school obviously). I was considering:</p>

<ul>
<li>UPenn</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Duke</li>
<li>JHU</li>
</ul>

<p>and other match schools. But, I'm not sure if I should bother with some (like UPenn which looks for near perfect GPAs right?). I'm willing to apply ED somewhere (but only if I actually have a chance).</p>

2

<p>Have you considered the U-Washington, Seattle? A little further away at best, I know, but it has one of the best bio programs in the country, and their hospital system is consistently ranked among the top 5. I'm sure you could get into the honors system as well. You should really check it out, even if only for a safety school (though it would be an excellent one indeed)! hope that helped!</p>

3

<p>how about WashU in St. Louis?</p>

4

<p>Washington Univ in Seattle is a bit too far away. I want to stay on the East Coast (although I'm sure their program is great). WashU St. Louis is in one of the most dangerous cities in the country...and a bit too far again. Besides, Wash U is one of those schools that likes to reject people RD. Anyway, keep the posts coming. Chances at the schools I posted would also help. Thx.</p>

5

<p>ok, thought it might be, but you never know lol. i can't really think of any others besides the ones you're considering. what about u-chicago? not really east-coast, but closer than seattle!</p>

6

<p>I was actually thinking about U Chicago, but, I always feel their strength lies more in humanities-type majors. A good idea though, since their policy is EA non-binding. I may consider it...thx/bump</p>

7

<p>The area in which Wash U is located is not dangerous at all. In fact, it's actually one of the nicest areas in all of the midwest. The 'most dangerous city' rankings are skewed against St. Louis because the city does not include the affluent suburbs. WashU is much safer than you make it out to be.</p>

8

<p>big bump...</p>

9

<p>Get out and visit some schools. You are worrying about a 3.84 GPA at a school with A's at 95% - Why? Your test scores are nearly perfect. No school is going to turn you down because of your numbers; they may not get you in but they won't keep you out.</p>

<p>What they are looking for is whether you would be a happy and active participant in college life. If you can convince the schools of that, you have a good shot at all of the schools mentioned. </p>

<p>BTW, saying something like, "WashU St. Louis is in one of the most dangerous cities in the country...," reminds me of how many people in the midwest think of New Jersey. Now you know how uninformed it sounds. If you want to stay on the east coast, that's fine, but why dismiss an area that you clearly have never visited?</p>

10

<p>How much (if any) of an issue is money? Will your folks be able to help with medical school, or will you be heavily in debt when you receive your bachelors? Should you be looking at schools that offer substantial merit aid?</p>

11

<p>clearly you have never been to University City (the part of STL where wash u is located) because it is one of the nicest places in the city. Those rankings are also inaccurate because they only count the inner city of STL (which is very, very small compared to similar cities). Some other cities include the suburbs, which are generally very safe in St. Louis. Walking around U-City is certainly as safe as many other college cities. I would avoid steering people away from schools with absurd "facts."</p>