Chances for Brown University class of 2014

one_proud_Korean · 05-05-2009, 08:31 PM

Hello everyone

, I live in Hamilton, Canada (pretty small city), and I am interested in applying to Brown's PLME program,,,

I know my stats are wayyyy too low, but I'll post them anyway and please chance me and if you don't think I have a chance, please post why. Thank you.

SAT: 2080
Critical Reading: 590 (will bump it up to a 700)
Math: 790 (to 800)
Writing: 700 (to 750)

Subject tests: Math IIC-800
Physics- 750

AP Calculus AB - 5

IB French SL- 5
IB Geography SL- 7
IB Math SL - 7
IB Biology HL- 6
IB Chemistry HL- 7
IB English HL - 6

Top 10% of graduating class

Sports:
Houseleague Basketball team since grade 9 (4 years)
School basketball team in grade 9
Was involved in Church basketball competitions

Music:
Have been in Orchestra since grade 9 (4 years)
got into Chamber Orchestra (Grade 11)
Invited to Nationals Orchestra Competition (Canada)
Head of Church Orchestra

Others:
Volunteered at Hospital, serving patients after surgeries, for 200 hours
Went on mission to Tijuana,Mexico over summer to help needies
Went on mission to Mattagami,Ontario native village to help needies
Accepted to staff at children's summer camp (1 month)
Math Club 1 year
AMC-12 score: 86

Awards:
School French Award (Top Mark award)
5 Math contest certificates
Science contest national top 15% contest

PLEASE CHANCE ME!!! or post some advices!!! ^-^;;

really appreciate it

amplifiar842 · 05-05-2009, 09:02 PM

Copy and pasted from a previous chance post:
Sorry! You can't predict chances for Brown! Or really for anywhere. I had a cousin get into Princeton but not Clemson Honors :P

Whatever people have to say here is either going to make you nervous or build up your hopes.

All you can do is your best.

Naomi2491 · 05-06-2009, 08:23 PM

Actually, looking closer, if you bring up your 590 to a 730+, your chance would go up, but try to improve your class percentiles, a top 10% won't look ther most attractive to brown. Your extracuririculars are very good as you have a great variety in sports, music, sciences, etc. There are kids who have 2300s and are ranked 1% that get waitlisted (I've personally met this year at orientation). brown is an ivy league, and one of the most selective (more so than cornell, upenn, dartmouth), so they place a heavy emphasis on academics. Brown is an amazing school though. is it your top choice? and besides, plme is overrated anyways. i didn't apply.
good luck.

one_proud_Korean · 05-07-2009, 12:37 AM

Naomi i really appreciate youe advice and encouragement. Brown IS my first choice, but I'm worried that my stats aren't that great lol

chsowlflax17 · 05-19-2009, 04:14 AM

You're stressing too much about college. My stats're lower than yours (though, admittedly, I didn't apply to PLME). I got in. I don't understand how you've already got your IB diploma, unless you were taking a year off between getting your diploma and applying for school. And it'd have to be two years, wouldn't it? I definitely don't have my scores form this year back. So, if you're the genius kid who took their IB tests during Sophomore year, you've got a helluva chance. If you've taken two years off of school, it depends on what for. For a mission trip, I'd say you're in even better position than most people. If you just decided to skip out on college for a coupla years, I'd say you're in worse shape.

If those are projected IB scores: don't. Those are really good scores, and I'd hate for you to be disappointed with lower scores than that. However, if those ARE projected, then don't worry about them at all. Brown won't see mine until this summer, so they don't matter, other than that you're taking those classes.

Lastly, this has helped me out a lot in my admissions process: don't stress over things more than you'd stress over an everyday test. Put your heart and soul into your essays, get them corrected three, five times by friends, family and TEACHERS. But other than showcasing who you ARE, don't stress. Even if you don't get into Brown, you'll find a fit. So long as you apply to it.

one_proud_Korean · 05-19-2009, 07:04 AM

Flax17, you've by far given me the best answer and i really appreciate that. Thanks a lot

dreamsofivy · 05-19-2009, 07:27 PM

Hey, I'm probably going to apply to PLME as well. Honestly, I don't think your chances for PLME are too great (mine aren't either lol). Definitely apply, you never know, but PLME is more selective than even Harvard. I think the best way to get into PLME is by showing a strong aptitude for science while still being very involved in humanities and social sciences. Right now, you look like you're stronger in the math and sciences, but you are no slacker in the humanities either. Your SAT math and writing are great, but if you don't get that reading up your chances for PLME are minimal, and slight for Brown. I do not want to discourage you, because you DO have a chance, the CR just needs to go up. Your ECs are good, but you don't seem to have a real hook. Another thing I need to ask is, based on your name and your CR score, is english your second language? If so, more slack will be given. Just take the Korean SAT II and get a top score, which I'm sure you can do no problem. In the end, you have a real shot, just stay focused with your ECs and maintain your grades (even tho I don't know your GPA).

zekiye027 · 06-05-2009, 01:34 PM

yeah the PLME program accepts 3% of applicants. it's virtually impossible to get into but i doubt anyone feels like they're going to make it in to the program let alone Brown.

one_sad_korean · 06-05-2009, 02:16 PM

Even if you get rejected from PLME, do they still consider you for the regular programs at Brown?

zekiye027 · 06-07-2009, 08:10 PM

yes. they have a section on the supplement that asks if you still want to be considered for brown if you aren't accepted into the PLME program. you can still study premed too, you're just not guaranteed the grad there

MSQ3881 · 06-23-2009, 07:00 PM

Your stats are not way too low!!! The Ivies are all free for alls in admissions so it works both ways. I was deeply underqualified in everything (and my mid year report definately didn't help) and I got in while friends of mine who were crazy qualified didn't get in. It all depends on what they're looking for. PLME is tougher as there are less spots, but I spoke with a lot of people who got in and they said they never thought they would get in so you don't know. The key to getting into Brown is an AMAZING essay. Write a quirky, good, deep essay and they forget about some bad academics. But I looked at your stats and they are in no way bad!!!! Good luck!

PS. Try not to "plan" your SAT scores because it makes you more nervous. If you retake it and say "I need a 700 on..." your are going to overanalyze those sections and it may hurt you. I know that happened to me, where I got a 500 on Reading and retook it and said I need a 650 and ended up with a 480 in the end. Just do your best and see what happens

one_sad_korean · 06-23-2009, 07:15 PM

MSQ3881,
you are amazing, although I have some doubt that you got into Brown. No offence, but 500 reading is pretty bad (Even compared to what I got).

But congratz anyway

literak · 08-03-2009, 01:28 PM

Critical reading is pretty hard for international students. I have no clue where one proud korea lives, if in english speaking part of Canada, that's bad, if in french speaking, sounds better. I'm myself from Poland and scored 550 on CR and still hoping to get into ivy league

anything can happen lol

chsowlflax17 · 08-04-2009, 01:15 AM

Oh, just an update: I got my IB scores in. So, a (probably) low-end-qualified admitee got: 7,6,5,5,5,5, +3 EC points. Total: 36. Whereas YOU, if you did in fact/are in fact gonna get those scores, = 38 + whatever EC you get (i suspect +3, but maybe you slacked on the EE or something, so maybe +2). Which means 40 points. In my school, out of about 20 IB Diploma candidates, I think the highest score was about 38. Which tells me.... You're pretty strong academically, ought to be able to write decently, and there's little way you get a 40 on your IB scores without having passions/being pretty cool.

Sorry, just me ranting to someone who had to or will have to go through some of my IB pain. But again, no complacency allowed in college admissions: you can be a perfect scores, AMC-champion genius, but if someone else fits them better, you won't get in. And you can be like me and manage to get in without really understanding why, when other amazing people don't. But you try, you do your best, you do/don't get into your top choice/second choice/a match, and you find a nice fit.

Oh, just my 2 cents: apply to Brown both PLME and non-PLME. Because really, pretty much everyone going to Brown WILL get into med school (barring something ridiculous), PLME or not, if they're pre-med. And if you like Brown enough to apply to PLME, you ought to like it enough to want to spend 4 years there as an undergrad even if you hafta go somewhere else for med. And PLME seems much more a crapshoot than regular admissions.

Nigiri · 08-04-2009, 09:34 AM

Can I add something to this thread, even though I know nothing specifically about Brown admissions?

My son is applying to Brown. We visited He has a low GPA for the Ivies but his SATs are up there with yours. He is an interesting, intelligent person. A musician that is intellectually motivated. He would love to get in, but sees it as unlikely. He has other options that are more likely for him (Wesleyan, William and Mary).

What he has found helpful from these "chance threads" is simply focusing on those things you can do something about. His GPA is basically done, so he is focusing on raising the standardized tests and writing an application that communicates the depth of his personality; these are the things he has control over. I think the application process is pretty thorough, and if the adcom thinks he is not a good fit, then he isn't. There are so many quality places that would love to have someone like you and my son.