Demographics:
US Citizen from Pennsylvania, attending a private school, white female, not first-generation, no legacy to anywhere I’m applying, and not a student-athlete.
Major:
Biochemistry or Molecular Biology major (depending on the school) on the pre-med track.
Stats:
4.0 UW/4.14 W GPA (max weighted GPA at my school is less than 4.2, honors and AP classes are given an extra 0.3 on the GPA scale). 1540 SAT (750 Reading, 790 Math)
Coursework
Past coursework:
AP Modern World History - 5
APUSH - 5
AP Psychology - 5
AP Calculus AB - 5
AP Calculus BC - 5 (AB subscore -5)
AP Biology - 5
Various global studies courses specific to my school- global health, world hunger, world religions, etc.
Current Coursework:
AP Spanish Language and Culture
Multivariable Calculus
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics
Anatomy and Physiology
Rhetoric and Persuasion (our school doesn’t offer AP English, just electives)
Awards
National Merit Semifinalist
AP Scholar with Distinction
Cum Laude Society (20% of class inducted)
Other school awards - Biology award, Highest Honor Roll, etc.
Extracurriculars
Medical service trip to Belize, 11th
Medical Careers Club President, 9-12th
Red Cross Club Founder and President (organized school-wide blood drive), 11-12th
Global Studies Program Council Member, 10-12th
Published article in an international peer-reviewed journal (JHU’s PGHR), 9th
Virtual English Tutor (for Spanish-speaking students), 10th
Math and Organizational Skills Tutor, 9th
Molecular Biology of Cancer Workshop over the summer (won award for best presentation/final project) - 11th
Student Government Class Representative, 9th-12th
Took piano lessons for 11 years
Essays/LORs/Other
I expect LORs to be extremely strong, as I am very close with these teachers.
My essays are pretty average. They are well-written, but nothing super crazy or creative.
Cost Constraints / Budget
No cost constraints, not applying for financial aid.
Schools
Likely *
UMD, College Park (EA)
GW (RD)
UMass Amherst (RD)
Ohio State (RD)
Match
William and Mary (RD)
UCSB
UCSD
Case Western (EA) - was just deferred to RD round
Reach
WUSTL (EDI) - was just deferred to RD round
BU (EDII)
Vanderbilt (RD)
Emory (RD)
Georgetown (RD)
Johns Hopkins (RD)
BC (RD)
UNC-Chapel Hill (RD)
Williams (RD)
UCLA
Northeastern (RD)
You are a strong candidate. Congratulations on your achievements!
I think your schools are appropriately categorized. As an unhooked applicant, it’s hard to determine your specific chances beyond that. Lots of luck, and let us know how things turn out.
If you are thinking of medical school down the road, then you might want to consider attending a public university in your state, where you are likely to get into an honors program; or to a private school that will heavily subsidize your education. You will need to save your money to pay for that expensive medical school education. (I know that you wrote “[n]o cost constraints” but a medical school education is going to be expensive; and you don’t want years of medical school debt hanging over your head.)
That definitely makes sense. I was contemplating whether to designate UCSD as a target or reach. Hard to predict at the UC schools without any consideration of SAT scores
Yes, I’ve definitely considered that during the process. To leave options open, I applied and was accepted to the University of Pittsburgh, and also applied to the Fredrick Honors College there.
Also, if you are targeting the UC schools, hoping to be able to transition to a UC medical school, it will not give you any advantage, preference, nor leeway and will not sway the needle because you’ve attended a UC school. (Everyone pays the same rate, so no state “discount”.)
UC medical schools don’t give preferences to UC students. They wipe the slate clean and tend to bring in students with undergrad experiences outside of the area. The administrators want to know what other schools are doing to prepare students for the medical field.
My daughter’s med class was 130, and besides my Davis daughter, there were only 3 other UC students- LA, SB, SC. There were a number of students from their in-state flagships, as well as LAC colleges, California privates, southern schools, NY privates and publics, etc.
I agree with many comments above. You are a very strong candidate, and I think that you have characterized your schools appropriately. I think that you have a chance at any school that you have applied to, but that reaches are after all reaches. My guess is that you are likely to get into a reach or two.
I understand that most students who start off as premed students end up doing something else. However, it looks like you are serious about premed (for example you already have some medical experience) and you should plan finances to keep medical school open as an option. You might want to figure that medical school will cost $100,000 per year by the time that you get there. If you can get an MD with no debt that is great, otherwise you need to minimize the debt as much as you reasonably can. Thus you should definitely plan on avoiding debt for your bachelor’s if it is possible and it would be even better if you can save some $$ in a college fund (or your parent’s bank account) that you could use for medical school.
I think that you are doing very well. You might very well get into BU in the ED2 round which might make the rest of this moot.
When you start university, expect your premed classes to be significantly more challenging than anything that you have seen up to now. Classes will be full of strong students and exams will be challenging. I think that you can do it, but be ready to work hard.
I think you’ve got a decent chance at BU in EDII; and if that happens, the rest are moot!
Personally, I wouldn’t see the point of paying more than twice as much for a UC over Pitt (especially with Honors) for premed. There’s no reason to believe that the quality of preparation for med school would be any different. Pre-med competition and med school admissions are rough for UC students. If you were gunning for a more distinctive program at a particular UC, I would understand; but there’s nothing more sparkly about Orgo at a UC vs Pitt; and Honors at Pitt could confer benefits that don’t exist at the UC’s. And Pitt has a great reputation for all things med-oriented.
Good luck! You’ve got a great option already nailed down with Pitt, so you’re in great shape no matter what. My gut says BU will come through but my gut has been wrong before so we’ll see!
As others have stated medical is very expensive and with living expenses and increased costs it could be a $500,000 all in expense by the time you get there. You stated there is no cost constraints, but are your parents willing/able to put out 800-900K after tax dollars for both undergraduate and medical school? If so great but I would make sure the money for medical school is there as well before you commit to 300-400K for your undergraduate degree.
I did not apply for Pitt’s Med GAP, it’s super super selective, and I don’t have the type of comprehensive clinical experience they are looking for.
Yes, I’ve heard absolutely amazing things about Penn State’s honors college, and some of my classmates applied there as well! Unfortunately I think the deadline already passed
As to UCLA, UCSB, UCSD: they all operate on a 10 week quarter academic term as opposed to a longer semester term. Your hs record (e.g. academics, ECs, etc.) is very, very impressive. As I understand it, med schools tend to look at what have you done recently meaning (in college) so besides getting top grades (not necessarily straight As), you’re going to have to find time in a quarter system for academics, and more current relevant ECs. What about other nonacademic interests, social life? Also keep in mind that if you plan to graduate in spring after senior year, then start med school in fall, you would have to submit a competitive application (e.g. grades, ECs, MCAT, etc.) in summer after third year. MCAT prep alone could require a couple of months of dedicated time. Although some students do it, a quarter system can make it that much harder.
Also UCSD only guarantees on campus housing for first two years, meaning you’ll have to move off campus and may need a car. I agree with others above: current UC annual COA is 70k+ for OOS. COA does not include things like travel back and forth to PA. By the time you finish a UC coupled with the total COA for med schools which could be approaching 500K, the total costs to earn an MD begin to approach 900k to one millionish.
And there’ll be nothing at a UC you can’t get at Pitt/Fredericks, at half the cost - except, okay, weather. But with a minuscule fraction of the savings you can go spend Spring Break in CA all you want (and really enjoy it) plus go anywhere on the planet in the Winter or Summer.
Thank you all you much for the input, it’s been super helpful! Especially all of the information about the UC schools I’m from the east coast so I don’t honestly know a whole lot about those schools out west.
As for my reaches, where would you guess I have the best chance? Anything I could do to increase my chances at any of these schools?
You should apply to schools because they’re right for you. Not because they’re big names.
If your rigor is top level at your school, you got a great profile. Of course, having essays yiu think are ‘outstanding’ would be better so if you haven’t submitted to all, you might. Want to submit through the review offered by CC. Thers no last second magic bullet though. You’ve presented the best you hopefully.
You want to go to the school where you’d be happiest so you can excel ahead of med school. The school name or pedigree matters little. You appear too focused on it.
So find that school. Your list is so varied by size - I feel like you chose names without knowing what’s right for you.
I’m from the east coast so I don’t honestly know a whole lot about those schools out west.