Chance me for Dream School [Brown] and T20s! [4.0 GPA, 1560 SAT; biochemistry or neuroscience]

[bigelom3]

Was the Silver Award completed in middle school?

I only ask because middle school achievements are usually not included in college apps and the Silver Award is supposed to be completed as a Cadette (6th-8th grade).

[coolguy40]

Here’s my advice, first off, Of all the “premed” hopefuls coming out of high school, very few actually decide to go to medical school. College is a maturation process where students learn where their real passions are. I would suggest going in with an open mind.

Second, You have some great accomplishments. If I were you, I’d go for a scholarship. You seriously can’t go wrong. If you choose medical school, you’re going in with no debt. If you decide against medical school, you have no debt. Also, graduating in an honors program is actually a tangible accomplishment you can put on a resume. No debt is better than debt any day of the week!

Regarding “dream” schools…there’s no such thing, only fantasies. Chances are, that school is going to be a lousy expensive fit. It’s important to keep an open mind with the application process and choose a school that truly benefits you. A scholarship is a true tangible benefit. An honors program is a true tangible benefit.

[DadOfJerseyGirl]

@coolguy40

If I were you, I’d go for a scholarship.

@coolguy40

If you choose medical school, you’re going in with no debt.

@coolguy40

No debt is better than debt any day of the week

You may have missed this from OP:

@yevy0807

no financial constraints

[NiceUnparticularMan]

Although I could never sell my S24 on this concept, I note certain named scholarship programs can offer more than money, including a nice resume line and sometimes things like special research programs and such. In that sense there is not always a hard line between scholarship programs and honors programs.

[tigerish_mom]

Have you visited Brown? I would log an official visit. I know that Ivies claim that they don’t track, but when my son visited they made a point of checking him in.

Start thinking about your essays and get professional editing.

Otherwise, if the finances make sense apply ED to increase your chances.

Congrats on all of your accomplishments!

[coolguy40]

@DadOfJerseyGirl

@yevy0807

no financial constraints

I see that quite a bit on the “Chance Me” threads, but when the acceptances and financial aid packages start coming in, budget constraints begin appearing. It’s exceedingly rare to find “no budget constraints” on a “help me choose” thread.

[DadOfJerseyGirl]

And many times, “no financial constraints” does mean exactly that. Perhaps OP can re-check with her parents and confirm back to us so this thread doesn’t go off track.

[Catcherinthetoast]

@coolguy40

Chances are, that school is going to be a lousy expensive fit.

I literally know hundreds of recent Brown graduates and haven’t heard one suggest it was a “lousy expensive fit”. The vast majority are doing extremely well career wise and had great and rewarding college experiences. Those that had financial need took advantage of Brown’s generosity.

Have you ever spent time at Brown? What are you basing your “chances are” statement upon?

OP you are a strong candidate. I would seek the advice of your parents, GCs and people who have first hand experience with the schools you are considering.

@yevy0807

I have a couple mentors at brown and through that I have gotten a feel of the campus. love the campus, rated to be happy campus (in comparison to other ivies), love the fact it encourages interdisciplinary work (writing and neuroscience), love location (close to NYC and Boston for networking, also in providence so a lot of cool things to do).

It would appear you know more about Brown than many of those informing you about Brown.

[blossom]

I think that we need to take posters at their word re: finances. Plenty of time down the road for kids and parents to realize they can’t afford what they thought they could. And none of us know the OP’s situation- an inheritance from a grandparent earmarked for college (and only college), a structured settlement due to an accident (terrible thing, but if the family has decided that the money is going to be used for college, who are we to argue?), or just plain thrift.

I know we’ve got the amen crowd here which believes that only a moron pays full freight. But if you’d all like to be helpful, suggest some “Brown like” schools instead of assuming that these full payers are too dumb to do basic arithmetic.

OK? When and if the OP pivots to ask “what affordable options would I have with a $60K per year budget, I don’t qualify for need based aid” you can all post about how ridiculous it is to be full pay and how we should all be saving our money to buy condos and weddings and pay tuition for our unborn grandchildren.

Until then- try to be helpful?

OP- the kids I know who have loved Brown have also found things to love about Brandeis, Rochester, Case, Wesleyan, Michigan, Pomona, Northwestern, Skidmore, Vassar, Conn College, University of Vermont. Some have already been mentioned; some you know about; a few might be worth exploring.

Good luck-- any college would be lucky to have you!

[cy7878]

So Brown has the PLME program which you might as well try for. In your case, if you have worked with people at Brown and can name drop a few as well as getting rec letters, you may have a better chance than most people.

IMO: reaches are reach because the percentage of people getting accepted is so low. You can’t just say you want to go and expect to actually get in. This is for any school with sub-10% acceptance rate. But if you see the accepted posts, the same kids get into many of the same schools. The quality of applicants matter.

Reading your original post, I would personally suggest rearranging your ECs. EMT and writing a children’s book caught my eye, whereas the non-profits made them roll. I think non-profits are overly done and very cliche, no matter how genuine your organization is.

Your research experience will also help. But it’s best coming from your mentors in ways of rec letters and not you writing them yourself on an application. You can submit your published article to show what you have done and let the AO decide on the merit themselves.

For sure you are a strong candidate and will do well. Just none of us here can tell you where you will end up, but I would be curious to know next year of all the places you will get accepted.

[sdad2024]

BS MD is option and needs apply to 15 schools if serious
If money is not an issue, as med schools are expensive , there is a very good chances of getting into prestigious schools

Apart from T20 schools, UNC/UMICH/UVA and Emory are pretty good schools and you have a very impressive track

UOFSC will give you top scholar if not BSMD

[twogirls]

I would be careful when saying that somebody has a very good chance of acceptance to schools with single digit acceptance rates. It might happen, but it might not. Students get shut out of these schools all the time.

I consider UNC,UVA, Michigan and Emory to be outstanding schools, but I would focus on safeties and targets. UVA and UNC will be reaches if this student is OOS. Emory is a good addition, but it is not a safety.

OP- take a look at the University of Rochester.

[blossom]

@sdad2024

If money is not an issue, as med schools are expensive , there is a very good chances of getting into prestigious schools

I don’t know how to unpack this statement. Except that stellar applicants get rejected from “prestigious schools” every year. That’s why everyone needs a safety/sure bet school that they can see themselves attending and thriving at. Everyone.