Chance Me: BU (ED), Northeastern, Emory, UNC, UVA, UChicago for Human Physiology/Kinesiology [NJ, Rank 4/192, 3.948 UW, Athlete]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics

US domestic or international: US domestic
State/Location of residency: New Jersey
Type of high school: Public high school with limited AP offerings; ranked in bottom 30% of NJ public high schools
Other special factors:

  • Both parents are immigrants

  • Middle-income background (≈ $125k)

  • MLS Next athlete (national-level soccer)

  • Research publications (NCBI)

Cost Constraints / Budget

I have an idea, but I’m not exactly sure yet. This can be sorted once accepted.

Intended Major(s)

Human Physiology (Pre-Med Track)
Also considering: Exercise Science / Kinesiology

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

Unweighted GPA: 3.948 (calculated myself but should be accurate)
Weighted GPA: 107.36 (school-specific scale)
Class Rank: 4 / 192
Test Scores: None submitted (test-optional)

College Credits: 6 (Dual Enrollment Physics and Psychology)

HS coursework

English:
AP English Literature for 12th grade, honors coursework years 9-11

Math:

  • Algebra I Honors
  • Geometry Honors
  • Algebra II Honors
  • Precalculus Honors
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Statistics (4)

Science:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry Honors
  • AP Biology (4)
  • AP Chemistry
  • Dual Enrollment Physics (through HS)

History/Social Studies:

  • World History Honors
  • US History I Honors
  • AP US History (4)
  • Dual Enrollment Psychology (through HS)

Language:

  • Spanish 1-3 from years 9-11

Extra:

  • Marketing
  • Financial Literacy (required)
  • Art 1
  • Intro to Comp Sci

Awards

weakest part. I have terrible awards compared to others…

  • AP Scholar
  • Spanish Honor Society
  • National Honor Society
  • AP with WE Service Recognition
  • Waksman Student Scholar (WSSP Recognition)

Extracurriculars

  • Athletics: Club

    • Soccer, part of starting lineup and key player, PDA
      • Time: Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 (Year), 11 hr/wk, 44 wk/yr.
        • Description: Competed at national level year round; building discipline, teamwork, and leadership. Selected twice for the Arizona and Florida E64 Quarter Finals.

  • Research

    • Rutgers University student researcher, Waksman Student Scholars Program (WSSP)
      • Time: Grade 11 (School), 6 hr/wk, 20 wk/yr.
      • Description: Conducted molecular biology research; cloned and analyzed DNA, contributing to Rutgers GenBank. Presented findings and research in person at Rutgers.

  • Community Service (Volunteer)

    • Emergency Department Trainer, Valley Health Hospital
      • Time: Grades 11, 12 (Year), 6 hr/wk, 26 wk/yr.
      • Description: Supported patients and staff in emergency department; trained and assisted in training new volunteers in the ED. Gained first hand medical experience.

  • Community Service (Volunteer)

    • Volunteer Coach, SC Vistula Garfield Special Needs Soccer Program
        • Time: Grade 11 (School), 2 hr/wk, 6 wk/yr.
        • Description: Led drills and games for kids with special needs, building confidence, encouraging teamwork, and promoting inclusion.

  • Assistant Coach

    • Legia Warsaw USA Soccer Camp
      • Time: Grade 11 (Break), 32 hr/wk, 1 wk/yr.
      • Description: Assisted coaches in trainings, mentored youth players, set up drills, and strengthened teamwork and skill development.

  • Work (Paid)

    • Assistant Nurse, GANJ - Hackensack Digestive Disease Associates
      • Time: Grade 12 (Break), 49 hr/wk, 4 wk/yr.
      • Description: Worked full time for one month. Filed paperwork for multiple doctors as well as assisted with office tasks. Developed responsibility and teamwork.

  • Internship

    • Shadowing Student, GANJ - Hackensack Digestive Disease Associates
      • Time: Grade 12 (Break), 16 hr/wk, 2 wk/yr.
      • Description: Observed medical specialists. Learned about patient care and treatment approaches and experienced a healthcare environment firsthand.

  • Other Club/Activity

    • Key player, PZPN Gramy Dla Polski
        • Time: Grade 11 (Break), 56 hr/wk, 2 wk/yr.
        • Description: Selected for 2-week prestigious soccer training program in Poland, led by national team coaches. Had most assists of any player from my age group.

  • Other Club/Activity

    • Vice President - Member, STEM Club
      • Time: Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 (School), 4 hr/wk, 25 wk/yr.
        • Description: Elected VP in 11th grade. Regular member for all other years of high school. Engaged in STEM competitions AND organized educational field trips.

  • Other Club/Activity

    • Designer, Scarlet Quill (Newspaper Club)
      • Time: Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 (Year), 3 hr/wk, 20 wk/yr.
        • Description: Designed layouts and visuals for the school newspaper; improved readability and format.

Essays:
Strong. Personal statement centers on family background, soccer, and the shift in worldview from my time in Poland near the Ukrainian border. Had multiple teachers and other readers tell me it’s a strong essay.

Letters of Recommendation:

  • APUSH Teacher: One of my closest teachers. Expect a deeply personal, character-driven letter highlighting academic excellence (high class grade + strong AP exam score), responsibility, and integrity.

  • Honors Chem / AP Chem Teacher: Long-term relationship (three years). Will address my academic rigor, scientific ability, growth, and your work in the Rutgers WSSP research program.

  • Counselor Letter: Likely supportive, emphasizing leadership, perseverance, socioeconomic context, and contribution to the school community. Not that close with her, but it should do.

Schools

Early Decision

  • Boston University – Sargent College (Human Physiology)

Early Action

  • Northeastern
  • Rutgers NB
  • UVA
  • UMass Amherst

Regular Decision

  • Wesleyan
  • UConn
  • Emory (second choice. maybe EDII if I won’t get BU)
  • Fordham
  • Kean (safety)
  • UChicago
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • Wake Forest

Accepted

  • University of Pittsburgh (major + Guaranteed Admission Program in Sports Science; awaiting Honors College decision)

thanks to anyone who responds! much appreciated :folded_hands:

2

If Pitt is affordable, you can add that to your safety schools as you have already been accepted.

My opinion only. UNC CH is a high reach as they very much limit their OOS student enrollment. I think Chicago is a reach also. UVA also.

Good luck with your current applications. Just wait and see.

Did you have no arts courses at all in high school?

3

Is Pitt affordable? If it is, you have a great safety!

It’s possible that you will be accepted to BU. You will know soon enough. Did you use the NPC prior to ED’ing? It’s a very costly school.

UVA, UNC and Chicago are all reaches.

Good luck!

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What if, after you are admitted to colleges, all of the colleges are too expensive?

Or if you are admitted to BU through ED but then it is too expensive? Then you will have wasted your ED.

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Pitt is a bit pricey coming from oos. for arts i only took art 1 which was the graduation requirement.

thanks for everything!

6

they have a policy where any family who has income from 110-150k pays no more than $15k a year for tuition. I used an NPC for all other colleges, and they came out to be decently affordable. Some other colleges on that list are tuition-free as well (for my income range)

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yeah I used the NPC and they have a new policy where I won’t pay more than $15k (for my income) which is great.

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8

Are UConn and UMass affordable?

Are Kean and Rutgers affordable?

While I think you have a chance at the schools that provide adequate FA, there is no sure way to tell. You will know soon enough!

9

yeah theyre around pitt cost. plus minus a little bit. kean i technically have direct admissions and a full ride and since rutgers is a state school its gonna come out to be a lot cheaper (since in state prices obviously). atm i guess only time can tell :person_shrugging:

10

I think you have a good chance at BU, good luck! If you don’t get in, then ED2 to Emory is a great plan. A lot of your other schools are reaches because they either love ED (Chicago, Wesleyan) or are really hard for OOS (particularly UNC, but UVA also.) If you are happy with Pitt as your safety, then you don’t need to add any more safties.

11

Rutgers is about $35,000 in state.

12

gotchu. tysm!

13

would you consider NYU? if you run the NPC and it is affordable and fits your major, they have one of the better rates of acceptance for selective schools who allow test-optional applications. Also, you mention you are “national level” soccer - does that mean you are a recruitable athlete? I’m no expert on the ins-and-outs of athletics as a hook, but i would have thought you would have already received your invites from the coaches for schools that want you on their team.

14

My 24 year old was a 3.95, 34 act, 9 AP, exercise science major, didn’t want Rutgers (dad and sister were graduates), chose UDel, she got nice merit but they do like a test score. Loved it, beautiful campus, nice honors college, nice college town, ended up at BU for her DPT with merit, graduated in May, had plenty of job offers. Donut hole family income, no FA. It was never on my radar.

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so the thing is I am recruitable and I do have offers, but I simply don’t want to play anymore. its more of a high achieving ec than anything atp. and for NYU, its a bit expensive for me :confused:

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16

oh wow thats great to hear! hopefully i end up doing half as well as she did lol

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