Hi, this is my first time on this website, so I’m sorry if I’m not doing this correctly. I would love to apply to RSI (it would be a dream to get into), but I’m worried that my ECs/grades are below average (no international competitions or major research projects). If anyone could help me decide if it’s worth it to apply and suggest any other programs, I would greatly appreciate it! For reference, I am looking for medical/scientific research programs and I have a strong interest in neuroscience.
- US Citizen living in the Midwest
- Large public high school (~2900) ranked top 30 in my state
- First-gen to college in the US
- I think I would be considered low-income? Single parent household
- Minority/mixed-race student
- UW GPA: My high school doesn’t provide this, but right now it’s 3.87
- W GPA: 4.3 right now; I had significant family emergencies throughout my first two years of high school that did impact my grades. Some of this also inspired my interest in neuro, lol
- Relevant coursework: I did also take a bunch of honors courses
- AP Bio (skipped honors bio, 4 on AP exam)
- AP Human (5)
- AP Cogo (5)
- Currently taking AP Physics, AP Lang, AP Psychology, and AP Precalc (+this other medical-based class)
- Distinguished Honor Roll at my school
- Clubs:
- Neuroscience club (founder and president, started this in 10th grade, raised membership to around 40 students, prep for Brain Bee competitions, collaboration with local college to provide opportunities such as labs and discussions)
- HOSA (board member, focus on volunteering and medical-based opportunities, has about 60 members)
- Student council
- Model UN
- Student ambassador
- Mu Alpha Theta
- Spanish Honor Society
- National Honor Society
- Advanced choir (audition-based)
- Outside of school:
- Volunteer tutor (expected 40 hours by the application date)
- Volunteering at my church for about 6 years (none of my hours are certified, but I could request them)
- Part of another advanced choir for 6 years
- Programs:
- Summer program at local community college in healthcare (got college credit, 34+ hours of career experience)
- Year-long program for medical exploration (application-based, at a top 10 university; also got accepted to a 6-week internship at the university’s hospital with a stipend)
- Research program (applied through my school but it’s through one of the US national laboratories; we meet weekly starting my junior year, only 8 people from my school got in)
- Other random stuff:
- Certified pharmacy technician
- CPR/AED certification
- STOP THE BLEED certification
- Teen Mental Health First Aid certification
- Approximately 10+ hours of shadowing at hospitals and a pediatrician clinic
- Inspired into neuroscience by grandmother’s neurological condition