8 APS (passed all tests so far)
All honors when possible
Hardest classes: AP chem/bio
awards:
Distinguished honor roll (all 4 years)
AP scholar with Distinction
NHS + MHS
extracurriculars:
-volunteered internationally at lower privileged school to help students and raise funds ($500+) (11th and 12th grade, 30 hours each summer)
100+ volunteer hours at 2 hospitals + had a leadership position (PAL)
field hockey 4 years (varsity 2 years), captain senior year
treasurer for Spanish honor society
FBLA state qualifier 2 years (couldn’t go due to scheduling conflict)
leadership/event coordinator for club that brings awareness to special needs students
internship for local nonprofit + middle school teacher (12th grade)
shadowed teacher + assisted her in duties (40+ hours, 2 years)
tutor at math center + have leadership position here (all 4 years)
(Always worked 2 jobs over the summers)
I know my stats aren’t the best, but I’m hoping my essays carry.
ESSAYS: wrote about how volunteering at a rural hopsital and hearing about my own families struggles in healthcare motivated me to major in public health
Schools
Upenn ED (rejected)
RD: Columbia, Emory, Cornell, Umich, Georgetown, Northwestern, Northeastern, Johns Hopkins
*1 target school which I already got into
Congratulations on your strong GPA and very good ECs. My kid also has an interest in public health so I enjoy reading about students with similar interests.
It is fantastic you have an acceptance in hand. I hope it is a school you’d be excited to attend on the chance you aren’t accepted to any of these high reach schools you’ve listed. They are reaches for everyone; the acceptance rates are so low it is near impossible to chance them.
You didn’t mention budget, but if you are full pay that will be a help at the need-aware schools.
Some of these schools require test scores now, unless I’m mistaken (just going from memory). So test optional is not possible and as you know, your score is below the 25th percentile of these highly selective schools. I agree you should apply TO where possible.
You mentioned you “passed” your APs. Does this mean you have a mix with a lot of 3s and 4s? If so, you may not want to report those, when not required.
Since Georgetown is notorious for requiring official reporting of all scores, and scores seem to be the weak point in your application, I’m curious why that’s on your list.
Bottom line, these are extremely high reaches. If you are fine having only one option in the spring, go for it. You don’t have any chance if you don’t apply. If, however, you’d feel better having a few options to choose from, I’d consider adding a couple more targets to your list.
Sorry - but I don’t think you’ll get into any. Perhaps you’ll get into Northeastern for an alternate campus.
Your weighted to unweighted GPA are very close to one another - is that because you got Bs in APs or what is the scale you used?
Your issue is your SAT. It’s not bad but not to these school’s level or close - but these schools have kids submitting them. They may be optional but Northwestern, for example, had 79% submit and you have to assume many that didn’t are athletes, etc.
Not sure of your career goals - but Public Health - you can do well from any school.
It’s great you have a school to attend and hopefully you love it and it’s affordable.
But I think you’ve gone too reachy on your list - which is ok - because you had at least one that works for you and you can only go to one.
If you are fine with your Target admissions then you can just take a shot at your Reaches and see what happens.
As an aside, I have heard before from people in the field that it might be a better idea to do something like a Bio major before a MPH, rather than a PH undergrad. I’ve also heard you might want to look for colleges with a good MPH program where an accelerated MPH is an option.
Perhaps your Target is already one of those. But I believe some of the less reachy universities with programs like this which are great for both Bio stuff and graduate PH include Minnesota and Pitt.
If you would be delighted to attend your target school then you are in good shape. Most of the schools on your list must be considered reaches for any unhooked applicant with Northeastern possibly being more of a high match.
