niteangel1004

Hi everyone! I'm a senior in HS and trying to apply to some east coast LACs but
I really would like to major in biochemistry at Wellesley

Here are my stats. I would like to know my chances of getting in.

GPA Grade 9-11: 3.2, 3.2, 4.0 (w) 3.5 overall

Percentile: HS doesn't rank, but I'm at the top 50% because of my grade 9 and 10 GPA.

HS is highly competitive. Top 10 HS in state and 8 people who applied to Princeton were accepted last year.

SAT I: 2240 reading: 750 math: 750 writing: 740

SAT II: US History: 740 Physics: 720
I plan on taking the Math II SAT II in November.

Current courses for senior year:
AP Statistics
Honors English
AP Physics B
Calculus
AP European History

More than 75% of my classes were honors or AP.

APs:
AP Statistics
AP Physics B
AP European History
AP US History (5)

Extracurriculars/Clubs:
Fencing team for 1 year
French honor society for 2 years
Library volunteer for 3 years
HS wind symphony for 3 years
HS pit orchestra for 1 year
Local and state symphony orchestras (total of 4 including regions and area band) for 4 years
Internship at biochem lab last summer and was listed as equally contributing second author on a published paper

I play the Bb clarinet primarily but I also learned violin and played in the HS orchestra for 1 year.

Awards:
NMSQT Runner-up (PSAT/national merit competition)

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Additional Info: I'm asian and live in NJ.

I'm getting letters of recommendation from my science research teacher, my english teacher, my guidance counselor, and my mentor during my summer internship.

I'm also entering various science competitions through out the year like Siemens, Intel, ISEF, etc.

My weakness is obviously my GPA but my GPA for junior year was a 4.0 so there was a upward trend.

Does anyone recommend taking the AP Calc AB test? I'm thinking about self-studying for it.

Also, my mentor from my summer internship offered me another summer to work in his lab. Could I possibly get credit from Wellesley and would it be worth it? I'm thinking no, but what are your opinions?

Thanks in advance!

welles10

Your GPA is obviously your weakness, as you have good SAT scores and your ECs are pretty strong. The published paper and research is a definite plus!! I would definitely continue working in the lab for another summer -- even if Wellesley does not give you credit (which unless you're getting some type of college credit from it already, they probably won't give you anything). That's a great experience which can help you get more involved in labs in college.

I would recommend taking AP Calc BC. Most people come in with at least basic calculus, and you'll need that equivalent for most/all science courses.

You probably have a decent shot, but I can't really say. The GPA is pretty low in general, though an upward trend definitely helps. Is there a reason for your freshman/sophomore year grades? Perhaps something you could explain in an essay?

niteangel1004

Thanks for your input welles10. Yea, my GPA is depressing. There's really no good reason for it. I just overloaded on challenging classes freshman and sophmore year and never studied. I was immature and it didn't hit me until junior year how to study for my classes. That and I was addicted to video games. I don't know how to explain that to admissions, but I'm applying anyways.

I'm still rethinking the lab internship though, since the lab is a four hour commute. But then again, I really enjoyed it last summer and I have nothing better to do. Who knows?

huh8888

for an asian, you need to do better.

niteangel1004

IMO I did pretty good (besides GPA). Also, my bad, 8 people from HS were accepted to Cornell this year, not Princeton (but several went there too).

hoppipolla

even despite the gpa, i'd say you have pretty good chances. it wouldn't hurt if you could do an interview of course, but i think as of right now, if your essays & recs are pretty good, i'd say you have a good chance of getting into wellesley. good luck!