Critical decision to make.. HELP! (Chance?)

FishFood
Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:24:39 +0000

I’m applying ED but I’m extremely confused as to which college and everything else. Yes, it is pretty late, so I was hoping for some advice! I’m mainly interested in biology, chemistry, or anything med-related. I attend an extremely competitive school in California where many of the students get accepted to Ivies and other top schools, and I am involved in all of the top programs at my school (IB and a tech program). I am concerned that my progress in high school shows a negative trend, which I’m sure will hurt me when I apply.

Asian female
1st generation, low-income (~$40k), parents did not get college degrees, divorced
IB diploma candidate
Legacy: older brother (if that counts)
Rank: 2nd decile
Avg. GPA (9-12): 4.36 (weighted); 3.59 (unweighted)
GPA Breakdown: (1st sem, 2nd sem)
o 9th: 4.67, 4.67
o 10th: 4.83, 4.50
o 11th: 3.86, 4.00

ACT: 34 (forgot the specifics… 8 on the essay)
PSAT: 231 (CR - 80; M - 71; W - 80)
SAT: 2280 (CR - 740; M - 750; W - 790)
SAT II:
o Bio E - 800
o Math IIC - 800
o Spanish (w/o listening) - 710
o US History - 700

AP Tests
o Biology – 5
o Computer Science A – 5
o European History – 4
o Computer Science AB – 5
o Calculus BC – 3 (Calculus AB subscore - 4)
o English Language & Composition – 3
o US History – 4
o Statistics – 5
Upcoming Tests: English Lit & Comp, Microecon, Gov, Spanish, Chem

IB Tests
o Math SL – 6
o Physics SL - 5
Upcoming Tests: Philosophy SL, Spanish HL, Chem HL, English HL

Senior Courses
AP English Literature & Composition
AP Economics (2nd sem: AP Government)
AP Spanish 4
AP Chemistry
IB Philosophy
Vocal Ensemble

Leadership & Club Involvement

Origami Club - founder and co-president

Peer Tutoring Club - tutor for biology and Spanish

Programming Club - committee member

assistant vice president of group of traditional Chinese opera singers

sectional leader (soprano 2) for vocal ensemble

Educational Awards

National Honor Society (11th-12th)

Candidate for the California Scholarship Federation (9th-12th)

Semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program (12th)

Semifinalist in the 2008 USA Biology Olympiad (11th)

AP Scholar Award (10th)

AP Scholar with Distinction Award (11th)

Sunrise Rotary “Top 100” (10th) – one of the top 100 students

High Honor Roll (11th)

Principal Honor Roll (9th-10th)

Academic Honors at Entrance (9th)

World Language Award for Spanish 3 (11th)

Certificate of Merit for Spanish I (9th)

Extracurriculars

Certificate of Merit for Level Six (piano; 7th)

Certificate of Merit for Advanced Level (level ten; piano; 9th)

MTAC (Music Teachers’ Association of California) Branch Honors Recital (piano; 9th)

various certificates of recognition for traditional Chinese opera performances (10th-11th)

article on front page of entertainment section of foreign newspaper for traditional Chinese opera performance in China (11th)

Emergency Department volunteer with >140 hours (10th-12th)

I also interned at a music school over the summer.

Problems

I’m not taking a math class this year (but I took 2 last year).

There is a negative trend in my GPA, but that was related to family issues and a divorce. (It’s going back up now.)

I’m only in the top 20% out of ~600 students.

I’m weak in leadership areas.

There isn’t much time left!!

I’m just really confused and extremely stressed out by the problems addressed up above. Help would be greatly appreciated! What are my chances of attending any of the colleges at UPenn? If I want to go on to graduate school for medicine (probably, though unsure at this point), what do you advise that I do? Where should I apply? ><