you know the deal...chances! thanks! =]

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>hey guys, yes, here we go another chances thread, but id really appreciate your input! =]</p>

<p>Most current [junior] stats:</p>

<p>Attend public school in southern/central PA; rarely sends any students to top schools
Multicultural American citizen [Chinese] and I speak Chinese, parents have no college ed. mom-finished high school, dad-didnt finish grade school
-Take most rigorous curriculum at school
-Unweighted GPA: 4.0
-Weighted GPA: 4.25
-Rank: 2/291. would be 1st in class w/o a special exception made for 1st student. rank will hopefully rise at end of jr. yr.</p>

<p>PSAT scores: 68 reading 62 math 69 writing; 199 total. i know the math is low and it also dropped from last years sophomore psats, but im hoping that studying from books will boost my score.</p>

<p>AP courses [not permitted until jr. yr.]
[11th grade AP's]: Lit., US Hist., Stat.
[12th grade AP's]: Comp., Calc., Econ.</p>

<p>-take independent honors scienctific research course conducting advanced, college level science projects
-awards received at county science fair [competition before Internationals]
-3rd place auxiliary award from Medical Assn. of my county for project on cancer [9th grade]
-2nd place award in category [Microbio] for proj. on bioactive compound production. [10th]
-Highest 'Superior' Award at H.S. level of science competition. [9th & 10th and hopefully again this year]
-conducting current project on ALS
-taught students proper sterile technique and cell culturing</p>

<p>EC's:
-LEO Club [Volunteering club at school 9th, 10th, 11th, and next year]
-Elected LEO Club Brd. of Directors for jr. yr.
-yearbook since 10th. Section editor of yearbook [11th-?]
-newspaper since 10th. Section editor of newspaper [11th-?]
-Jr. Class Vice President, heading committees, fundraisers, prom, school functions, etc.
-Student Council [11th and hopefully next year]
-Science Fair [9th, 10th, 11th, and definitely 12th]
-Varsity Swimming [9th]
-Spanish NHS [10th, 11th, 12th] **got in early in 10th instead of 11th b/c I independently studied Spanish 2 over summer.
-Independently took Spanish 2, Health, and Physical Education
-Qualified for Spanish 5 [AP level] study at our school [only 6/291 qualified]
-NHS [11th and 12th]
-attended summer nanotechnology seminar at state college [10th grade]
-participated in local university's science lectureship and competition [11th grade]
-participated in local university's leadership conference [11th]
-participated in local college's International Culture Day/Spanish Competition [nominated in both 10th and 11th grade]
-prom committee
-on charity committe for gifted program [11th]
-attended seminar watching live knee replacement surgery [11th]</p>

<p>PLANS
-signing up to volunteer at hospital this summer and job shadow
-plan to secure a job</p>

<p>MAJOR: biology [w/ intention of going on to med school]</p>

<p>i know some of this is fluff stuff, but im putting it there for its 2 cents worth</p>

<p>chances please for Johns Hopkins? oh yes, i know UPenn is a reach w/ the scores and ecs i have now, but is there even a slight chance w/ an awesome essay?</p>

<p>Thanks again for your time! =]</p>

2

<p>anybody? id really like your input. =]</p>

3

<p>Get your SAT up to 2100+ and I'd say JHU is a match.</p>

4

<p>JHU: In, but only with SATs of at least 2100. You'll probably improve, even without studying, simply because the PSATs are harshly curved.</p>

<p>UPenn: Maybe. You've got a better shot than most, but it's not a given.</p>

<p>You should also consider some dual degree (i.e. BA/BS AND MD) programs. Vanderbilt, Wash U, etc. offer them.</p>

5

<p>Jhu- slight reach
upenn- reach
What you can do to improve ur chances
Get 4/5 on the APs and 2200+ on the SAT</p>

6

<p>yea, hopefully the scores will go up. i just looked at my psat and realized that there were times where i circled the right answer but bubbled in wrong or made dumb math mistakes on easy questions! also, what NewEngSocSciMan said about the psats, how is the test curved and why?</p>

<p>also, if somehow i dont get a 2200+ or a 4/5 AP, could extremely good recs and essays tip the scale so to speak?</p>

<p>thank you sooo much! =]</p>

7

<p>Essay is one of the most important part of your college app. I know someone who took pre-calc in their senior year, but with a very good essay and decent SAT scores that got into Duke. So yes, a very impressive essay and extremely good recs will significantly increase your chances, but every college has different standards (they are looking for different types of people), so an impressive essay at college A might not be as impressive at college B.</p>

8

<p>thanks! now could someone explain the psat curve/contribute another opinion?</p>

9

<p>um..bumppp. =D</p>