Aspiring Pre Dental and Business Administration. Middle income. 3.7 GPA UW, 4.3 W. 500 ppl class. Aiming for Northwestern. In state student

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Guidelines

  • Please check back to answer questions.
  • Please do not share identifying information.
  • Please do not include your race.

Demographics

  • US Citizen
  • State/Location of residency: Illinois (Town edited out by moderator for privacy)
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): 500 People
  • Other special factors: *(first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc) : First Generation Middle class.

Cost Constraints / Budget : <25k net.

Intended Major(s). Pre med, Business Administration with minor in Spanish Lang

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: *(calculate it yourself if your high school does not calculate it) : 3.71 gpa
  • Weighted HS GPA: (must specify weighting system; note that weighted GPA from the high school is usually not informative, unless aligned with the recalculation used by a college of interest, such as CA, FL, SC public universities). : weighted in 4.0 scale, 4.3 GPA.
  • College GPA: (for transfer applicants)
  • Class Rank: not specified
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 31, hoping for 33

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: AP Lang, College Comp/College Speech (Senior)
  • Math: * AP Calc AB/BC, AP Stats, College Algebra, Diffrentials
  • Science: *Honors Chem, Honors Bio, Honors Physics, AP Chem
  • History and social studies: AP Human Geo, AP World, APUSH
  • Language other than English: *(including highest level completed) : AP Spanish Language, College Spanish IV
  • Other academic courses: Medical Academy in Harper College, Aerospace Engineering PLTW,

College Coursework (Transfer Applicants)
(Include college courses taken while in high school if not included above.)

  • General education course work:
  • Major preparation course work: Med Academy College, Intro to Business

Awards
National Team Qualifier for Science Olympiad 1x
State Team Qualifier , Science Olympiad 1x
Regionals 3x Science Olympiad
4th Regionals DECA
State Qualified DECA
27/1000 in Stock Market Challenge
AP Scholar with Distinction
National Honors Society
World Language Honor Society
Seal of Biliteracy (Will do senior year, good for Spanish minor)

Extracurriculars
DECA (regionals, state) - just awards
Founder and President of Math Team, reinstated after 9 years of dormancy. Team went to State in UIUC. Placed 1st-2nd place consistently for every competition. Promoted team to nearly 28 people and engaged with social media and announcements prescence. Five teachers appointed as sponsers.
President of Peer Tutoring center. Overseeeing 50 tutors ranging from math, English, Spanish, to Electives. With my course rigor, I easily facilitated conversations that helped the student long term. Continued the further reach and development of the program, connecting with students to comfortably approach. Streamlined mentee-tutor participation and facilitation through a sourced app. Made the center more welcoming to 3x mentee support from previous year.
Science Olympiad (regionals, state, nationals) : created a streamlined communication channel with the team, curated the shirt designs, and organized logistics of the team to succeed collaboratively. Lack of structure from previous year limited growth potential (2x now). Streamlined documentation and communication through required meeting, formal announcements, and documentation of progress. Advertised using different modes like word of mouth, flyers, and PA, increasing participation by 25 percent.
SASA : Leadership board : Led a consistent group of >13 people in the club. Have weekly 1-2 hour meetings on Sunday to plan for meetings in the week. Partner with ASA, anther affinity association for bigger events like in Holiday, Diwali, etc. Upliftss South Asian culture in a predominantly white school. Participated and organized dance competitions, multicultural fairs with the whole school. Plannning to organize >100 people or more event with students from 10 schools.
Medical terminology book called Med Achievers. Will Publish to Amazon Books and Barnes and Noble, 100 pages of full body anatomy.
Youtube Channel. I started it but I talked to 10+ industry professionals ranging from education, business, and dentistry about advice they would give, day to day duties, and a direct viewpoint for the aspiring working class. Promoted by >3M view Instagram Channel.
Interned at dental clinic (summer internships) : Sanitized and strategically managed rooms with wide influx of patients coming in. Learned dental terminology and patient interaction responsibilities. Full closure of clinic duties. Analyzed patient arrivals through greeting, no shows, reinstating insurance plans.
Interned at multinational orthopedic clinic dealing with hundred patients a day. I spoke in Spanish to patients who needed a translator when gathering RX and data about their visit. I oversaw clinical operations from the floor, screens, labs, back rooms, and live surgeries.
Volunteered 100 hour contract + with UIC Medical District through oncology, lung screening, mychart oversight, craneofacial/anathospology (dental school), and many others. Engaged with hundreds of patients, and oversaw the in and outs of each department.
1 week summer camp, association with nursing/pre med/ kinesiology. Camper/Particpant relationship building. Will start in July 27th.

(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)

Essays/LORs/Other
(Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.). Personal growth essay, possible good potential. I am still working on it. I am hoping on an essay 8/10

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

ED Northwestern
EA UChiago
EA UMich
EA UIUC
EA Case Western
EA/RD UIC
EA UW Mad
EA Indiana University
EA/RD UIowa
EA/Rd Marquette
Loyola
U Minessotta

If a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below; also, for colleges that admit by major or division, consider that in chance estimate.

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability):
  • Extremely Likely:
  • Likely:
  • Toss-up:
  • Lower Probability:
  • Low Probability:
2

UIUC and Northwestern are my dream schools. What is like a likelihood that I can get in given their requirements.

3

Have you run NPCs for the schools on your list (especially your ED choice Northwestern)?

3 Likes
4

Yes, but im hoping for scholarships and grants, etc. would ed in northwestern be more expensive than rd

5

Was the NPC within budget?

6

Not really, but we have a financial plan.

7

If the NPC is not within budget, I would not ED. You need affordable options, especially given your dental school aspirations.

Also keep in mind that the student loan program is changing.

5 Likes
8

You need a budget - not I hope for scholarships.

Here is the NU NPC - have your folks fill it out. NU only has need aid - so if you don’t qualify, you’re nearly or at $400K over four years. NU meets 100% of need- doesn’t matter when you apply.

It’s nice to have dream schools - but a dream school is affordable.

You have a fine record - but again, it comes to cost.

I’m not an adcomm - but I’d say no to the first 3. UIUC is a toss up as is Case Western - ED would be wise there.

The rest - UIC yes, Madison - unlikely but not impossible. IU yes but not the B School, Iowa yes, Marquette Yes, Loyola Yes and UMN likely.

Here’s the thing though - without a budget, having a list like this is pointless.

If you can only afford $30K a year as an example, no point in applying to IU and UMN…not sure about the rest. So get a budget.

Have your folks fill this out please and tell us what it says - and ask them - from $0 to $100K a year - what are they willing to spend?

Welcome | Net Price Calculator

1 Like
9

No, the cost of attendance doesn’t change based on ED vs RD. However, as others have said, don’t ED if you can’t comfortably afford the cost.

And, if I recall correctly NU’s merit scholarships all have a need component. Does your family have demonstrated financial need?

Also: if your username is your real name you may want to change it to protect your privacy. Here’s how: https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-username/3603345
10

Being bilingual is quite useful if you make it to medical school, and I expect will also be useful if you make it to dental school.

If either medical school or dental school is a realistic possibility, then you need to budget for a full 8 years of university. You would be way, way better off if you can completely avoid debt for your bachelor’s degree.

One big problem with applying ED is that if you get in, then you need to withdraw your other applications. This means that you do not get to compare offers.

What does the NPC say for Northwestern? I would not apply ED unless the NPC is very optimistic in your case, and puts the likely cost at a level that would not require you to take on any loans nor rely on any additional outside scholarships.

2 Likes
11

If I could ask what I should fix upon, what would be the reason why I couldn’t get into uiuc ea. I am in state too. That is my most desired college behind northwestern.

12

You are you - and I’m not an adcom.

Your ACT is a bit low and Gies is not an easy entry.

If your test comes up (you might try the SAT), in addition to Gies you could get auto entry to IU Kelley.

You’re a great student/candidate - but you’re not a sure bet (in my opinion). My opinion could easily be wrong.

This was last year’s Gies profile - so you’re in range:

Gies College of Business Middle 50%

GPA:* 3.77-4.00

SAT Score (no writing): 1400-1500

ACT Score: 31-34

Submitted Test Scores: 64%

13

Thank you for the response. I was searching around though but I don’t know if I am disillusioned to information given: it said that because of my rigor, “good” activities, and possible essays, I would have a greater chance in northwestern especially Ed.
Also is uiuc a target for me? I am kind of nervous.

14

Target - I’ll agree.

Listen, you only need one school to accept you. And it must be affordable. If you’re going for dentistry, you have to budget for many years - and it won’t be cheap (dental school). Where you go won’t matter.

For business, it could impact - but there’s a ton of b schools you can get in with your stats - good ones starting in the mid 20s all in.

Since you need $25K, you might add Alabama (Culverhouse) - you’ll be mid-20s and Mississippi State. UAH and Ole Miss are others…with your current scores, that gives you assured affordability at your budget.

In state, you can see schools like S Illinois…or just North - Central Michigan.

The reality is neither NU or UIUC are assured - so find the assured and affordable - those are more important that the targets/reaches - because you need a home no matter what.

So spend time on those - knowing you’ll try for UIUC and NW.

1 Like
15

When you have a strict budget, you have to build a school list for that budget. Some schools provide need aid. But in general, schools outside your state are there for their students, not other states.

So when I see your list:

I see Northwestern, U Chicago, Case Western, Marquette and Loyola - just getting in is not enough. You need to afford them. Only they can tell you if they will meet your budget. So have your family run their NPC. If they say $60K, why apply?

Michigan is $80K and then more the last two years. Remove it. Replace it with someone like W Virigina or Louisville that can get close. Or maybe a Kansas.

Madison - not going to hit budget nor will Indiana. Not even close. Iowa - I have to check but I don’t thin so. UMN - no way.

You need schools like Kansas, Louisviile, W Virginia, C Michigan, W Michigan, Grand Valley State and more - plus those I mentioend earlier (Bama, UAH, Ole Miss, Miss State, Memphis, etc.).

You need a sure thing - just in case - you know you’re applying to UIUC and NW - so no reason to be nervous although if the NPC says more than $25K, no reason to apply to NW, etc.

You’re very accomplished - but you can’t buy things you can’t afford - but that’s what your list represents.

So you need to shop at the right store which includes many fine schools, btw.

ED Northwestern
EA UChiago
EA UMich
EA UIUC
EA Case Western
EA/RD UIC
EA UW Mad
EA Indiana University
EA/RD UIowa
EA/Rd Marquette
Loyola
U Minessotta

1 Like
16

If your budget is <25k, virtually all of the schools on the list are unaffordable for the exception of UIUC. UIUC is not an easy school to get into, especially for a business or Premed major. I would recommend applying for other in-state schools as a safety. There’s a good possibility of getting some merit aid to make it more affordable. Good luck!

4 Likes
17

Isn’t UIC also an instate public…in addition to UIUC?

NU does give scholarships, but they are highly competitive and should not be counted on.

18

Unfortunately, UCIC will also more then likely not hit budget even for an instate student.

2 Likes
19

What school and major are you going to apply for at UIUC? Aside from DECA, your ECs fit better for your pre-med intention. Fit to major is important in the admissions process at UIUC, including the two why this major essays. Are you thinking you would be in Gies and take pre-med classes? Gies is a small school, so that makes it hard to get into.

Your chances at UIUC are likely better if you choose a school for your first major that’s not in Gies. Then, you might consider DES as your second choice major to maximize your chances of admission to UIUC. DES would give you time to explore what you want to do, while keeping the doors open to all the various schools/majors (except CS in Grainger.)

I don’t know if UIUC will get below $25K for you. Does your family meet the criteria for Illinois Commitment? Illinois Commitment – Office of Student Financial Aid or Illinois Promise? Illinois Promise – Office of Student Financial Aid

Can you live at home and commute to any of the schools on your list?

For UIC, Marquette, and Iowa make the EA deadlines. For Loyola make the priority deadline of Dec 1. I don’t know if any of those schools will get to your price range, but still apply.

20

But this is why schools like CMU (in Michigan) are so important…or others like some in the SE…that will hit.

I agree, they can apply anywhere but they should really, no matter the family need, ensure they apply to at least one (but preferably two or more schools) that will assuredly hit cost because the list they have is going to be unlikely - either from an admission POV (NW, U Chicago, Michigan) and then the ones they get into from an affordability POV.