Will I stand a chance?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Well my story is more or less a generic first generation immigrant sob story - well barring some bursts of good luck here and there.</p>

<p>I immigrated to United States close to 3 years ago and adjusted to life fairly easily. Right now I'm enrolled in the IB Program (well technically Pre-IB since I'm only a Sophomore). I was completely clueless about education in the United States. I had no idea what the Math Sequences meant or what the difference between Spanish 1A, Spanish 1B and Spanish 1AB were :o If it weren't for the patient teachers I had during my Middle School years, I wouldn't have even qualified for the Magnet program I now attend. So anyway I hopped along and choose relatively easy courses for Freshman and Sophomore Years (barring the imposed IB Pre-Requisites) and joined some very intellectually stimulating clubs. Along with the Indian ethnicity comes an obligation to become a doctor "* or at least an Engineering*". I hadn't considered any alternative career track, but come Freshman it was clear that I wasn't cut out to be a doctor. It was clear my passion lied in something much different - Business. The same Biology class that reflected that I wasn't interested in Medicine, also provided me with another career choice - Biological manipulation of living organisms. The feeling that the DNA/Genetics unit provided me with was something far different that anything I've experienced.</p>

<p>Now this is where the rant comes in.</p>

<p>The transition from Middle School has been very rocky. My English teacher went berserk after I confessed I did not know what commentary was. After many experiences of that sort, I came out with barely a 3.5 GPA. My parents exactly weren't great help here (both work long hours and lack proficient English skills). There definitely was somewhat of a improvement towards the end but the lacklustre performances early on weighed down my GPA. Now onto my Extra Curricular Activities, I was shocked to find out 2 of the 5 clubs I was involved with Freshman year was dissolved as a result of fading interest. I could probably resurrect them but I lack the experience and time to do so.</p>

<p>The study body of the school is from the more affluent part of America. Every student is involved in Model UN, Mock Trial, Math Team, Science Bowl, Quiz Bowl and the news paper - clubs which have failed to inspire me. They play sports on varsity levels (To this day I can't understand the concept of these "levels") and play instruments. Many have travelled to exotic countries to carry out volunteer work. I failed to capture many internships relating to genetics partially resulting from a lack of citizenship.</p>

<p>Now the question is can I compete with them? To give you an example, most of my peers are at least in Calculus by now while I'm lagging behind in Pre-Calculus.</p>

<p>Now I don't have ambitions of going to Harvard Medical School or anything of the sort. I wish to work in Corporate America, possibly a Biotech company. I want to attend an undergraduate school where I will learn, enjoy all 4 years and build a good contacts list (in other words, have ample opportunities for networking). Rankings don't matter to me, but at the same time I don't want the school name to be a handicap for me in the future. My parents on the other hand want me to go into a "top school" and become a doctor, disregarding everything I yearn for. Financial aid also happens to be another issue, my parents feel any amount of debt is worth it, given I graduate from a top school. I couldn't feel any more different - I can't even dream of graduating with more than $40,000 in debt!</p>

<p>Now is there anything I can do to achieve or come closer to my goals given my background?</p>

<p>Will I stand a chance in 2010?</p>

<p>What do you recommend I do to convince my parents otherwise?</p>

<p>Sanjay</p>

2

<p>Oh my, what a long post this has become :o! I apologize to anyone that has gone through the trouble of reading through all of it.</p>

3

<p>First of all, I need to clarify some of your misconceptions. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Unlike India, medical school, with ver few exceptions, is a post-college education. So you go to college first, and then you apply to medical schools. If you do well in your college and in MCAT (the equivalent of SAT/ACT for college), it matters little the "prestige" of the college that you will be attending. That is, you are given a second chance to prove yourself. </p></li>
<li><p>The "biotechnology" network has nothing to do with college per se. It has more to do with your post-graduate degree school (PhD) as well as your post-doctoral laboratory and school. So, it should not be a factor in your college choice. There are jobs with college degree specification but these are low level jobs at the technician level. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>At your current level of GPA, classes and EC's, it will not be likely that you will be in a position to attend those colleges that are branded as "top schools" by asian immigrants, unless you vault into the top 5% of your class. Unfortunately, these are also the majority of schools that provide nonloan-based financial aid and need-blind in admission.</p>

<p>Your best chance is your state flagship university. Do well there so you can move on to a graduate progarm afterward. Do recognize that state universities are where the majority of our kids will matriculate, and these graduates form the backbone of our workforce in all professions: medical doctors, lawyers, engineers etc. </p>

<p>Best of luck and happy journey.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
1. Unlike India, medical school, with ver few exceptions, is a post-college education. So you go to college first, and then you apply to medical schools. If you do well in your college and MCAT (the equivalent of SAT/ACT for college), it matters little the "prestige" of the college that you will be attending. That is, you are given a second chance to prove yourself.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>When I was talking about prestige, I was referring to it being a potential handicap come MS/MBA admissions (not medicine). At this moment, I have no interest in medicine and would prefer to have little to do with being a doctor.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2. The "biotechnology" network has nothing to do with college per se. It has more to do with your post-graduate degree school (PhD) as well as your post-doctoral laboratory and school. So, it should not be a factor in your college choice. There are jobs with college degree specification but these are low level jobs at the technician level.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The networking refers more to the business part than the Biotech part.</p>

<p>
[quote]
At your current level of GPA, classes and EC's, it will be unlikely that you will be in a position to attend those colleges that are branded as "top schools" by asian immigrants, unless you vault into the top 5% of your class. Unfortunately, these are also the majority of schools that provide nonloan-based financial aid and need-blind in admission.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I completely understand that. The vault in class rank is practically impossible. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Best of luck and happy journey.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Thanks :) Sorry for not being clear in the first post.</p>

5

<p>What I said about medical school admission apply to MBA or post-graduate science degrees as well. Unlike other countries, we here in the US take redemption more literally (LOL). Seriously, a graduate of a state university competes on equal footing with others. </p>

<p>The last thing a biotech company needs in the business department is an inexperience graduate of a prestigeous school. These companies, for the most part, are small so that prior experience means a whole lot more. For many, perhaps most, the finance side is run by one or two people. These people are often recruited from larger biotech companies.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
What I said about medical school admission apply to MBA or post-graduate science degrees as well. Unlike other countries, we here in the US take redemption more literally (LOL). Seriously, a graduate of a state university competes on equal footing with others.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Good to know padad, thanks.</p>

7

<p>SGupta: Chill dude.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>No one discusses middle school records on CC. Let that annoyance go.</p></li>
<li><p>A 3.5 is a great GPA for a boy--possibly not HYP level but combined with high SATs, it might be good enough to attract merit money at third tier schools.</p></li>
<li><p>Junior varsity is the same as 'second eleven' cricket. Varsity is the same as 'First eleven' cricket. That's it. No mystery.</p></li>
<li><p>Ask your GC office if you can have access to the scattergrams of your school in order to get an idea of where you'd like to apply. </p></li>
<li><p>If you don't have residency, you may be judged as a international student. That may have significant financial implications. Check out the international student's forum.</p></li>
<li><p>You have a charming style of writing indicating a great sense of humour. Polish your social skills and the networking will happen naturally. Focus on making friends from all corners of your school's social scene. Learn to read American social cues like a master.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>BTW, As a group, Americans probably wouldn't 'state' their desire to network at university even if they had that desire in the back of their minds. After all, you aremore or less staing that you hoep to use your college friends to help you become successful. Manipulating friends for your own advantage is not an acceptable goal in American society. Overstating ambition is considered declasse. </p>

<p>Congratulations on your happy adjustment thus far and your GPA. You are doing very well indeed.</p>

8

<p>I sense a lot of anxiety in your original post. So, my first advice is to relax. It'll be OK.</p>

<p>I'm a business person in the software industry. I have a somewhat unusual educational background for my career, but I can tell you what I should have done, and -- by extension -- what you might want to do. If I had a way-back machine I would have earned a degree in information systems or computer science, and then earned an MBA. (I have an MBA, but have a liberal arts bachelor's degree. After <em>cough</em> years in the industry I still hear, "You mean, you don't have a degree in CS?")</p>

<p>Since you are interested in business in the biotech field (at least right now!), you might want to work towards a bachelor's degree in a science discipline with an eye towards working in a biotech lab for a couple years when you graduate. Then, apply to an MBA program for graduate studies in business. In biotech, like the software business, you will do better with a technical understanding combined with business education. An MBA in marketing with a BS in biology or chemistry and two years of work experience would be a powerful set of credentials.</p>

<p>You mention that you moved to the US in middle school. If you want to go into the business side of your industry, I would also suggest that you work hard on picking up as much American English as you can. I work with a few very smart Indians in my company and they are -- to speak frankly -- held back because a lot of Americans have trouble understanding their accents. The more you sound like a native-born American the easier your path will be. I know that actors go to speech coaches to learn different accents -- perhaps your parents might send you to one to help you learn an American accent? Of course, this might not be an issue for you...</p>

<p>Good luck! It's always nice to hear from a high school student that doesn't want to be either a doctor or investment banker.</p>

9

<p>WashDad, the speech coach is something to keep in mind. Generally speaking, most claim my accent is very subtle and hard to detect unless paying close attention. I've also been told the intensity fluctuates from time to time. Although I struggled initially, socialising is become easier. However, I've been facing a great amount of difficulty in forensics. I'll definitely consider seeing a speech coach.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Good luck! It's always nice to hear from a high school student that doesn't want to be either a doctor or investment banker.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't understand the fascination with such a seasonal career like Investment Banking or one in the medical field.</p>

<p>Thanks for the tips cheers, something to keep in mind.</p>

10

<p>Sanjay:</p>

<p>Relax. You are a sophomore. A 3.5 GPA in freshman year is very good. Colleges tend to discount freshman year grades because they realize the transition from 8th to 9th grade can be rocky. They like to see an upward trend, so what you do from here on out will count more.</p>

<p>As for ECs, do what you care about and invest your energies in those activities. It could be working for pocket money, it could be community service, journalism, whatever. Don't do things to please adcoms, to look good on your resume.</p>

<p>Don't plan you long term career now. Most students arrive in college undecided as to what to study let alone what they want to pursue as a career. My favorite story is still that of the man who thought he'd be an English major, took an astronomy class and ended up working on the Manhattan Project. He founded one of the first companies in the nuclear energy industry.</p>

11

<p>Maybe I missed it, but what grade are you in now?</p>

<p>Cross posted with marite. I agree with everything she said--you have lots of time. It's a good time to start thinking about college, but not worrying. Just do your schoolwork and do SOMETHING productive with your free time. You sound like a person who makes good choices, so you should do fine.</p>

<p>Your parents may lighten up on med school and "top colleges" before you even get there. I wouldn't worry about that right now either.</p>

12

<br>


<br>

<p>It's stated in terms of --- Which fraternity should I try to join?</p>

13

<p>The only thing I would add is that "networking" with local businesses via internships is something American students do discuss. Keep in mind as you make your list that accessibility to a large city (not neccessarily on a large campus) is a plus in that as an undergrad it can provide you with hands-on work experience. If biotech is the field you are still interested in when you get to applying, look for schools, publics and privates, where you have access to cities with biotech firms. Like Washdad said, al lot of those firms recruit grads w/ BAs who work with them for a time and often are sent to grad school on the firm's dime</p>

14

<p>SGupta-</p>

<p>You show a great deal of maturity in the questions you ask. Please don't worry too much about how a particular EC will "look" later on when you apply to college. Do make a point of DOING something that you care about. This is good for your soul! And, coincidentally, when the time comes to write your application essays, you will have something real, unique, and passionate to say. That is what will matter. </p>

<p>Courses and being "behind:" do I understand that you are a sophomore? If you are in precalc now, you will have ample opportunity to complete calculus before you graduate. You will be fine. Do your best, that's all.</p>

<p>Overseas travel: college admission offices have seen it all; they know that life does not offer equal opportunity to all applicants. If someone has volunteered overseas, that's great, but it also says that the parents had the means to pay for the trip and that the student did not need to be working to earn money at the time. An applicant who has sincerely volunteered closer to home or who held down a job is also demonstrating desirable traits. Again: don't worry about this.</p>

<p>If you have only a slight accent, I wouldn't worry about that, either! You moved to this country while your brain and speech centers were still pliable (not correct technically, I know, but you get my point), so I'm sure you will be fine. Another thing to not worry about.</p>

<p>So: you are smart to look ahead. It sounds like you are in good shape, really, because the rest of the world is not like your high school. You have a nice writing style which, if you cultivate it, will serve you well. Now, relax about the future and focus on your present.</p>

<p>all the best,
~mafool</p>

15

<p>Thanks for the encouragement everyone (Yes I am a Sophomore) :)</p>