jsmathwiz

I'm a poor to middle class student from Pennsylvania. I am African American and Puerto Rican.

Questbridge Finalist: ranked MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Yale
Also looking at Rice and Rice/Baylor Medical Scholars program, JHU, Columbia, Harvey Mudd College, Duke, USC, and others

GPA: 3.98 (unwieghted)
4.6707 (weighted)

Rank: 10/613 (top 1.6%)

Junior Coursework:
AP Macroecon (4)
AP Chemistry (5)
AP Stats (5)
AP Calculus AB/BC*
Honors Physics
AP Lit

Senior Coursework:
AP Lang
AP Bio
Elective: Skepticism and Logic
College Class @ Lehigh University (Bioscience in the 21st Century)
American Govt. and Econ
AP Calculus with both extensions*
Honors Discrete Math

*My school offers extensions after 1 semester for AP Calc; however, my schedule could not fit in the extensions.
** I have many AP classes I haven't taken tests for. I could not afford taking many (only 4). This year I am on free lunch, so I can take more for free.
***AP Scholar: APUSH (2) Macro (4) Stats (5) Chem (5)

SAT: 2130 (690 Reading, 740 Math, 700 Writing)
ACT: 32: 34 E, 36 M, 29 R, 28 S (bad timing)
SAT II's: Math 2:760 Chem: 750
took Bio M, Math 2, and Math 1 recently (not sending, but 650, 700, and 770 respectively)
EC's:
-Started a science club at my school (small group of about 5/6) that visits local elementary schools and performs science demos to get kids more interested in science
-JV/Varsity Soccer for 4 yrs
-Scholastic Scrimmage 3 yrs
-Math Team 4 yrs
-German Club 3 yrs
-NHS 2 yrs (Jr. + Sr.)


Volunteer Work
-nursing home 40 hours
-helped repair rec center in Philadelphia for my mom's job
-science club initiatives
-Better Business Bureau organization 30 hours

I am starting to tutor students and adults in science or math. Paid job

I did MITES this summer, and it was amazing!

I want to major in BME or Bioengineering. As a career goal, I want to study cancer because my grandma died of breast cancer at 54. I also am interested in diseases and antibiotic resistances from the lectures in my class at Lehigh.

My recs are really good. My essays highlight my grandmother as influence and motivation to me. My common app essay is about the effects of coming out to my dad. I've had my MIT and Yale interviews, and both interviewers said they were great interviews.

My first choices are MIT and Rice. Columbia is really high on my list. I know I have many reaches, but I was already accepted into Pitt, their honors college, and the guaranteed admission into the Swanson School of Engineering.

Thank you for reading!
If there is anything else you want to know, ask

jsmathwiz

Almost forgot, I am also a National Achievement Semifinalist and am Commended for National Merit.

jsmathwiz

Please someone?

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jsmathwiz

Bump :/

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WhiteCaptain

automatic into all because of your ethnicity.

jsmathwiz

@WhiteCaptain
If I were Caucasian where would I be qualified? I always feel bad when people say that I'd get in because of my ethnicity even if it is true.

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jsmathwiz

Anyone else?

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seabasstiano

You're a pretty solid applicant due to your uniqueness. You have a good shot for all those schools. Regarding if you would be qualified if you were Caucasian, I'd say you would be though your SAT may be a bit low for the likes of MIT. But you have great chances.

Good luck!

Chance Me for Top Schools! Thanks :)

jsmathwiz

I agree with the other people who commented. Narrow down the list. Focus your ECs a little more. On your essays, show your love of whatever you want to do.

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Wordworker

You've done very well so far and should do well with your applications.

Is there some reason you aren't trying Penn? You look competitive.

jsmathwiz

I am, but it's not on the top of my list. It's a little too close to home.

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jsmathwiz

Thank you to the people that gave me an idea on this whole thing. I really appreciate, and I wish you luck in all that you do.

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KBronx17

It's really a damn shame because even if you weren't an underrepresented minority, you'd still be a somewhat realistic candidate for all of these schools, and absolutely get some sweet acceptances.

But you can thank affirmative action, because you're in at all of these schools. Plain and simple. Don't get down on yourself though. You're not some mediocre applicant. You just have an astounding leg up on everyone else.

jsmathwiz

Thank you KBronx17, that made me feel a little better, though I'm not sure why.

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