Chance me for Bing, Lehigh CAS, Case Western PPSP + more [NY, 95% GPA, 1490 SAT, <$90k, biology]

[hopefulpenguin]

DISCLAIMER: I received very generous merit aid from a school I would seriously consider (SUNY New Paltz) so I have something to fall back on. I also applied to 4 other SUNY schools (+bing), Providence College, and Marist: all I have a good shot at and would seriously consider as well.

Demographics

• US Citizen
• NY, upper-middle class zip code, suburban
• Private Christian School, mid, 1130 average SAT, 400~ graduates
• Mom is an accountant, Dad is a laborer.

Cost Constraints / Budget

• Family income is 250-350k~
• Budget is 90k>
• Filled out FAFSA but I doubt we will get much

Intended Major(s)

• Biology
• Health, Medicine, Society and all its variants (when offered)
• Minor: Entrepreneurship (for Lehigh)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

• Unweighted HS GPA: 95%
• Weighted HS GPA: 97%
• Class Rank: n/a
• ACT/SAT Scores: 1490 (780 E, 710 M)

List your HS coursework

• All honors & AP, most rigorous the school offers with the exception of math (AP Calc AB not BC) and taking honors physics instead of AP physics due to a mishap.

• English: Honors 9, Honors 10, AP Lang (5), AP Lit

• Math: Geometry Honors, AlgII/Trig Honors, DE Precalc, AP Calc AB

• Science: Living Environment Honors, Chemistry Honors, Physics Honors, AP Bio

• History and social studies: Honors Global, AP World (5), AP US (4), AP Gov

• Language other than English: Honors Spanish 9, Honors Spanish 10, Advanced Spanish (counts as honors)

• Visual or performing arts: Symphonic Band, Clarinet

• Other academic courses: Introduction to Biomedical Sciences, Human Body Systems, Science Medicine & Society (college course), Philosophy of God

Awards (lacking💀)

• National Hispanic Recognition
• AP Scholar
• NHS
• Principals List

Extracurriculars

• Biomedical Club: Lead Researcher, HOSA cofounder, did a lot of misc stuff involving school events, projects, papers & models etc. all 4 years
• NY Executive Director for a (small) international nonprofit based around STEM education, setting up workshops for lots of people, Harvard 2024 conference invitee/attendee. Anything more would dox me. 2 years (senior and junior)
• Biomedical Student Leader: Taught multiple basic bio classes over the summer to kids, had them do experiments and discussions, unpaid. Only 1 year but took up a lot of time
• Took a science course at a local college, got a 4.0 gpa, took on extra studying & projects on cell bio. Transcript provided.
• 70+ hours shadowing in the ER
• Varsity sport 4 years, multiple championships
• Led multiple retreats including a very significant one but saying what it is would dox
• 250+ community service hours doing ■■■■ like blood drives, fundraising, cleaning, volunteering etc
• School society: leadership team member, gave tours & informational speeches, school representative for that time a pope died
• Miscellaneous employment, includes coaching and babysitting

Essays/LORs/Other

• Biomedical Teacher: 9.5/10, she thinks im great, we have a super good relationship, known her for 4 years. She knows a lot about me and often refers to me as “the unique one” so it probably won’t be generic either.

• Mentor & Teacher: 8/10, he thinks im the best but its an 8/10 because he doesn’t have that much rec letter experience. At least he could spend more time on them

• Counselor 8.5/10, she has a lot of great things to say about me

• common app essay was 7/10: no tropes, perfect grammar, not ai, and genuine but definitely not the most outstanding part of my app and not the greatest thing ive ever wrote.

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

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): SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Buffalo
• Extremely Likely: Providence College (connections), Marist
• Likely: Binghamton, Stony Brook
• Toss-up: Lehigh CAS, Case Western PPSP, Wake Forest
• Lower Probability: Michigan Ann Arbor, UVA, Cornell CALS
• Low Probability: Yale, Brown PLME

I would love more school suggestions too. Ideally strong internship opportunities, fits budget, and in the northeast

[tsbna44]

I think you get into all your toss ups but demonstrate interest as all three are DI schools. They are also need aware so full pay bodes well.

I can’t say you’ll get into all three but I think you will.

I think you have a great list and it’s awesome you like New Paltz. And you have a chance at the others but I think how you set the buckets up is correct.

Ps your awards are more than fine. It’s what you do. Not who gives you a certificate. The person flipping burgers at McDonakds is getting a great resume builder but there is no award for it. Same for a person walking dogs at the shelter.

Best of luck.

[twogirls]

I think it is a nice list. If you are looking for more schools you could take a look at Pitt and UDel.

I see that your major is biology. Are you still considering medical school? You can get internships at all of the schools on your list.

Good luck!

[hopefulpenguin]

Still considering med school and I completely forgot about pitt! Its on my common app

[hopefulpenguin]

Thank you! Ive been on tours, signed up for their emails/webinars, and did some extra stuff for lehigh. Will probably do the same for the rest.

After a certain point things get out of my control, but I think i put up a decent picture.

[tsbna44]

Yes you have and that you listed natl Hispanic recognition will help. They can account for it as it’s an award.

[Bill_Marsh]

Just a note of caution about Binghamton. It has gotten increasingly difficult to get into in recent years. For example my GS was rejected last year despite being in the top 10% of his class, having 1370 on his SAT, and being captain of a sports team. Instead he is attending UMass Honors.

A piece of information about Lehigh. Fraternities and sororities are very central to social life on that campus. Love it or hate it, it’s your choice.

Suggestions? Manhattan University is similar to PC and Marist, and it would probably offer money.