Am I being unreasonable with my colleges

College Search & Lists
1

Half Indian half Filipino, born in US
Yearly income around 200k
4.0 weighted GPA
Class ranking top 20 percent (around 40th in a class of 408 kids or so)
2120 SAT first time so I’m retaking in October

EC:
National honor society
National math honor society VP
National English honor society
National social studies honor society
Key club treasurer
Natural helpers member
Varsity track, football, and volleyball
50+ hours in Kiwanis events (charity, garage sales, etc.)

Rigorous class load

AP/honors courses:

9th grade:
English, geometry, global history, living environment (all honors)

10th grade:
AP psych, AP World History, chemistry honors, algebra 2 trig honors, English honors

11th grade:
AP US history, AP environmental science, AP English language and composition, College Spanish

Planning on taking AP calc AB, AP chem, AP Gov and Eco, and AP lit next year

All my regents scores are sadly around 88 lol idk why but I always underestimate the exams and then just suck…

I know my ECs are probably very weak, I’m planning on doing habitats for humanity, volunteer work at a hospital, and other things this summer. I’d also like to get a job

Reach schools:

Cornell, Sophie Davis, and Johns Hopkins

Target schools:

Macaulay honors college, NYU, Boston college

Safety schools:

Stony brook, Geneseo, and Binghamton

Do you guys think I’m being unreasonable with my college choices?

2

I’d say Bing is more safety…plus you can apply one app to 4 suny’s, so why noy pick another matc?

3

@HRSMom yep, I agree I actually did that by mistake. Thanks!

4

Unweighted GPA?

Have you talked to your parents about cost constraints?

Intended or possible major(s)?

5

You should mention your unweighted cumulative GPA.

6

@ucbalumnus @StanfordSwag it’s probably about a 3.8

Idk bio, Chem, it’s all interchangeable at the moment but I’m pretty sure I’d like to go into the medical field

7

How is your math score? Your estimated class rank does not match up. :wink:

8

@billcsho just a rough estimate :stuck_out_tongue: top 15 percent more like it? :slight_smile:

9

40/408 is like top 9%. Your list looks fine except for maybe Boston College? For my school a lot of people with top stats get rejected so maybe that’s just my school.

Also for NYU, understand the amount you’re paying for that school. Even though your family income is 200k, NYU can charge up to 75k per year which is a pain. Keep that in mind when applying.

10

@rdeng2614 I was giving a rough estimate, I’ll be anywhere from 40-55. Just didn’t want to be too optimistic :stuck_out_tongue:

Yeah, it’s very competitive. And yeah, it’s so expensive :confused: do you guys have any college recommendations? I haven’t done as much college research as I’ve wanted to so I’m still an amateur with this stuff

11

Just a word to the wise if you are seriously pre-med: Medical schools are not sensitive to prestige as other grad schools are. They care about your grades and MCAT score. A grade of B in O-Chem at Johns Hopkins is NOT going to be considered equal to an A at Binghamton. You need As. So you want to attend a school where your reasonably confident that you will be at the top of the class (and rest assured, you will work hard for that in any decent school if you are pre-med.) Johns Hopkins and Cornell are notoriously pre-med pressure cookers. If you like that kind of challenge - and want lots of research opportunities that come with being near an academic medical center - then go for it. But you can get there just as well with your target and safety schools.

I would also suggest you consider a few LACs. They are especially good for pre-meds for a number of reasons. Small class sizes and strong cultures tend to reduce the pre-med problem of ‘sharp-elbows.’ You know your faculty personally so those letters of rec are easier to get. What you lose in research opportunities, you can make up for with other kinds of medical volunteerism in most parts of the country and there are lots of summer research opportunities as well. If you want to be in the city, there are urban LACs (like Barnard if you are female in NY, Vassar, Macalester, Rhodes, Reed, etc…) If you are will to go to less urban places, there are many more. There is also merit money available at some of the mid-western LACs.

12

"A grade of B in O-Chem at Johns Hopkins is NOT going to be considered equal to an A at Binghamton. You need As. " Such a sad commentary on where education is these days. Go to a school where you’ll tower over peers so you look good instead of going to a school that will stretch you beyond what you knew you were capable of. And those making that choice are our future physicians and lawyers. Ugh! Double ugh. I’m not disagreeing that is true. this is a commentary on a situation that does appear to be true but is pathetic. And yeah, make that a C at Johns Hopkin =A at Binghamton but not for the purposes of professional school. At Binghamton students get 4 credits for 3 class hours and well, you can read it yourself. Hope it is ok to post here but this is quite accurate. http://chronicle.com/article/How-I-Aced-College-and-Why-I/63791/

13

If you are in-state for the SUNYs, then look carefully at CALS and HUMEC at Cornell. Lots of students get into med school from both of them, and in the past admission was easier for in-state students there than in CAS.

But truly, until your parents have given you a dollar figure for what they are ready, willing, and able to pay for your undergrad education, this whole discussion is moot. You need to know that so you can head toward the merit money (check the threads pinned at the top of the Financial Aid Forum for ideas) if you find out that you need to. Likewise, you should find out if they will help you pay for med school if you find a cheap option for your undergrad degree. That might be the best long-term use of whatever college funds they have available for you.

14

My DD went to Binghamton…went in with a little over a year of credits from IB degree…she graduated in 2.5 years so indeed Binghamton is a bargain!

15

“I’m pretty sure I’d like to go into the medical field”

Any particular professions in terms of what this may (tentatively) include?

16

@reppincollege1 I would add Rutgers to the list because of the medical programs and recent integration with Robert Wood Johnson. Rutgers could be either a reach or target.

Likewise, Rowan as a safety because Rowan has two medical schools. Maybe remove Geneseo.

You need a few more reach schools University of Rochester is an idea.

Another target might be University of Vermont which has excellent health programs.

17

“My DD went to Binghamton…went in with a little over a year of credits from IB degree…she graduated in 2.5 years so indeed Binghamton is a bargain!”

Sure is! almost like getting a degree without even having to go! Cool!
Gosh darn I sure hope she didn’t have to do anything iike…you know…learn or anything. Public Ivy. No, High school take two.

18

^ ??? For many schools, you don’t even get ADMITTED TO YOUR MAJOR until the end of your sophomore year. How are the first two years of gen eds and prereqs so necessary? Wow, so much learning that must occur before you’re even in your major!