Chance Me: TN resident, 3.91 UW, 36 ACT, 13 APs, 5-7 DEs, T20s/Ivies

Chance Me / Match Me
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Guidelines

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Demographics

  • US domestic: TN
  • Large(over 2000, around 650 graduating) public high school
    Legacy: Cornell

Cost Constraints / Budget
None(mid-high income family, expecting to pay if attending T20 college)

Intended Major(s)
Biochemistry
Bioengineering

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.91

  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.51

  • Class Rank: Not provided(although likely top 10-1%)

  • ACT/SAT Scores: 36 ACT(36 all but 35 in science, no writing section)

List your HS coursework
13 APs, 5-7 DEs(by end of senior year)
(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: AP Seminar, AP Research, DE Comp 1, DE American Lit, AP Lit(currently taking)
  • Math: DE Applied Calc, Calc 1, Calc 2, Calc 3(currently taking), Differential Equations/Linear Algebra(undecided, 2nd semester)
  • Science: AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics 1(currently taking), APES(currently taking)
  • History and social studies:AP World, APUSH, AP Macroecon(currently taking), AP Gov(currently taking)
  • Language other than English: AP Spanish Lang(currently taking)
  • Visual or performing arts: AP Art History(currently taking)
  • Other academic courses: PLTW courses(Principles of Biomed and HBS)

Awards

  • Science Olympiad (Medals, 1st to 6th place, went to Nationals, 10-12 grade)
  • NMSF
  • AP Scholar with Distinction
  • Nashville Rock And Roll St. Jude Half-Marathon Finisher
  • JHU GHLC participant

Extracurriculars
Research Intern: VUMC(Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center)

  • Co-authorship in multiple papers(publication date TBD)
  • Executed first breast-tissue-based PWAS; found six new proteins associated with breast cancer

Co-founder/Treasurer:Science Nonprofit
-Organized fiscal responsibility for club

  • Ran fundraisers($10000+)
  • Invited 8 student researchers to present findings
  • Assisted in student research

Co-Captain: Science Olympiad

  • Medaled: Invitation/Region/State Level, top 20 nationally
  • Developed tryout system
  • Developed local Middle School team
  • Fundraised $8000+

Captain: Science Bowl

  • Led team to Top 16th/3rd/2nd at state competition in consecutive years
  • Recruited 25+ people
  • Led practices 2x a week

Co-Founder: Artistic Community Service club

  • Led service projects at 4 middle schools+ 2 senior centers(200+ students, 50+ seniors)
  • Planned fundraisers for local charities, raised $1300+

President/Co-Founder: Scientific Breakthrough club

  • Led 50+ person meetings
  • Presented to local biotech companies
  • Spread influence to 4 other schools in district

KDF(Kawasaki Disease Foundation) Youth Intern

  • Raising awareness through social media
  • Helping with promotion of major KD events
  • Fundraising for KD research

Founder: Friends of Médecins Sans Frontiéres club

  • Supplies drive for School Nurse saving over 700$ in budget
  • Partnering with Vanderbilt Chapter
  • Raising money(ongoing) for MSF nonprofit
    Communications Coordinator: SNHS
  • Coordinated communications with whole chapter(70+ members)
  • Worked with local professionals in STEM for presentations
    Co-Captain: Badminton Club
  • Set up team
  • Led unofficial regional tournaments
  • Placed 5th(singles), 1st(duos) at tournaments(50+ competitors) at district competitions
    Essays/LORs/Other
    Personal Statement: 8/10, could be better but interesting hook

LORs:

  • AP Chem teacher: 9/10, really likes me, known since freshman year + sponsors many of my clubs
  • AP Macroecon Teacher: 6-7/10, Likes me, but doesn’t know me as well(Although I had her freshman and now senior year)
  • Research Advisor: 8-9/10, worked closely with her, knows my high work ethic
  • Extenuating Circumstances: Relatively poor grades due to ADHD diagnosis/ huge issues with medication; Had Kawasaki disease

Schools
REA: Princeton University
EA: Georgia Tech, UTK, Bama, UT Martin
RD: Brown University, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, JHU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Stanford, UChicago, UPenn, Vanderbilt, Yale

Already submitted REA/EA/Northeastern(email fee waiver)

Chance Me! I know I probably won’t get in anywhere(hence the display name)

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Forgot to add Valedictorian(school does it weird, anyone who has summa cum laude+ 36 ACT composite+ 20 certified volunteering hours is a “valedictorian”)

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Why do you call yourself Rejected Everywhere?

You won’t get rejected everywhere - because Bama and UT Martin are gimmes - and you’ll go to Bama (assuming NMF) for free - 5 years tuition, 4 years housing + money. You might look at Tulsa as an excellent small school that gives a full ride.

You can obviously get in anywhere - but no one can surely say - but I’m guessing you would. Would it be worth it spending nearly $400K vs. Bama or Tulsa- not in any world I live in but you might feel otherwise. For instate, you might look at TN Tech too - as opposed to UTM.

Best of luck.

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Thanks for the rapid response! The display name is a bit ironic, I know ill get in somewhere but probably not my dream schools.
I was thinking of going to Bama, graduating in 2-3 years with the dual degree program, and maybe working on PhD and med school. However, I do want to go to these schools and my parents want me to go by any means necessary regardless of cost.

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Congrats on your accomplishments. You are a viable candidate for any university and have a shot at every school you are applying to. However, as you likely know all of the schools other than your safetys and Northeastern must be considered reaches for any unhooked applicant. There are more well qualified applicants than spots available. You may want to add a few schools that have somewhat higher acceptance rates.

I would also be sure that you take care to write meaningful and high quality supplements for all of the schools you plan to apply to – even if it means submitting fewer applications.

I’d also urge you to think about what you want in a college (other than prestige). As two examples: 1) the urban college experience at Penn would be very different from the more rural Dartmouth and 2) the academic experience at Columbia with its large core curriculum would be very different from the open curriculum at Brown.

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All of the colleges I’ve posted here, I have visited and I can see myself at any of these colleges. Could you recommend some good target schools? Also thanks for the pointers of types of curricula, I will do some more research on those tonight.

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Perhaps URochester, Case Western, UMichigan? There are many excellent options.

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You will get accepted at Alabama and likely UTK as well, and UT Martin.

You are a strong student, so you have a chance at all of your other schools…but as you know, it’s a reach heavy list.

So…apply and see. I think you should change your screen name because you definitely have three acceptances…

Here is how. If you can’t change it following these directions, email the admin (email is in the directions).

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Are you thinking of applying to medical school to start after your third year of college and graduation? If so…please think twice about that idea. You would need to apply during your second year of college, with a guarantee that you would have all the required courses for admission completed by graduation, your MCAT taken, volunteering with underprivileged folks, shadowing, working in a hands on medical situation of some sort. I don’t think this is possible in two years (it needs to be done by the time you submit your applications…or close to it. @WayOutWestMom can elaborate.

And applying to medical school to start at age 20 isn’t an asset.

You will get accepted to at least three of these colleges. That’s not a concern at all. And you have a chance at the rest on your list. But there is no predicting those…so…apply and see!

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And lastly, please please give your parents a HUGE hug and thank them for supporting your college choices financially. This is a wonderful gift, and not every family will do this (even if they can).

I will say…if you are planning on medical school, you might want to remember that medical school will likely cost $100,000 a year by the time you get there, if you do. That is funded by loans, loans and more loans…and the bank of mom and dad. So…you might want to save some money on undergrad if that can the be used for professional or grad school.

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No, I meant to work on my applications(ie. take a a gap year or 2 and improve the application, get the shadowing/internship hours, high MCAT, etc). Most people would have to go through the schooling while getting these or take a gap year to do so, therefore I believe graduating early would be an advantage so I can do this(and earn some money for helping with tuition).

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I am applying to MANY third-party scholarships to help offset costs(I guess feeling a bit guilty for the situation, I know I’m very blessed). Thanks for the feedback!

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You don’t have poor grades. I feel if you tried to “explain” your grades in your essay, it may come off negatively in a way you may not want to be seen.

You will get into college. Be sure to breathe a little and not put pressure on yourself.

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I meant individual grades: I got a C and 2 Bs in some classes. The rest of the time in HS, I had straight As.

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Why are the other ones dream collleges and if you’re going pre-med, save the money - because med school is expensive - and it’s likely not going to matter where you go. I’ve recently been involved with the Vandy medical facilities - you know where their residents went - schools like Kanasas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Northern Illinois and yes, prominent schools.

You might look given your pre med, at Bama and its McCullough Medical Scholars.

All you can do is apply and hope - but frankly, assuming your major (engineering), I’m not sure the where will matter, assuming it’s accredited.

Looking at your schools -

Princeton - not accredited in the major (bio engineering
Dartmouth - not accredited in the major (bio engineering)
Harvard Not accredited in the major
Stanford not accredited in the major
Chicago not accredited in the major
Yale not accredited in the major
Bama not accredited in the major - but UAB is (a healthcare mecca)
Martin not accredited in the major

btw - they likely all have related classes - maybe with a major like mechanical which will be accredited.

Check out McCullough Medical at UA - but honestly, if you truly are pre-med, go cheap - you’ll get to the same place.

Good luck

Program Description – McCollough Scholars (ua.edu)

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Don’t try to explain this. Own this

The reality is you have zero idea why you got those grades. You’re trying to correlate but have no idea if true and that is then excuse making.

Good luck.

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You are clearly a strong student, you have great test scores, rigor and EC’s you will inevitably have several schools to choose from by the end of the application cycle. My only recommendation is to have an in-depth conversation about cost vs prestige of undergrad if medical school is in play.

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You are clearly a strong, motivated student and are a viable candidate at many schools, including your reaches. But your reaches are all lottery schools–meaning getting accepted as unhooked candidate is a bit like winning the lottery. The odds are long…

If you are fine with attending UA or your other safety, then you don’t need to add other schools to your list. (But keep in mind, getting rejection after rejection in the spring can be tough on one’s ego/sense of self-worth.)

Medical schools really, truly don’t care where you go for undergrad. Admission is not prestige-driven. A med school application is all about your accomplishments and achievements, not what name is on your diploma.

I would also suggest that you slow down a bit. Don’t rush through undergrad. Undergrad will the last time you will have without significant responsibilities and the last time you’ll have to explore new ideas, meet new people and try out new activities. You know, take the time to stop and smell the roses along the way… Once you begin medical or graduate school, it will be years and years of grind, grind, grind with little time to pursue hobbies or other interests. Why join the rat race before you need to?

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This is it! If you had your heart set on banking, consulting, or other field that gets recruited at Ivy and top schools, I’d say go for it. But, as a practicing physician in a competitive specialty, take the path that you can get merit money. Not having the debt will open opportunity later. GPA, MCAT, research is key and a top 75 school is fine. Don’t rush past undergrad, it can be a very special time.

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I wouldn’t count on this amounting to much. Most of those third party scholarships are a lot of work, not a lot of money, and you only get it for one year. It’s better to figure out what schools you can afford without these and then if you get them it’s gravy.

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