Thanks for the reply @spinCaster15 ! If it’s any indication, we’ve only met during the AMCs and AIME (and MATHCOUNTS too, but that was a long time ago). Unfortunately, this was my first year qualifying for an olympiad (physics), so I was unable to medal due to its cancellation.
A continuation to my reply. Is it okay if I did not take any APs freshman or sophomore year? I did not take any freshman year since my school did not offer it in NY. I did not take any sophomore year since I moved I was not recommenced to take any since I just moved and it may be too much for me as a transfer student coming to a new school. Will this lower my chances to get into a school and if it does, what can I do to make up for it?
Hi, I am a high school sophomore and I want to pursue medicine at UCLA. Do you have any tips on how I can boost my resume to further increase my chances?
@Pmajko I don’t believe that colleges differentiate between “hard APs” and “easy APs”. All AP tests are supposed to be similarly difficult. I dont think you should change APES to AP Bio just because one is harder or easier than the other. If you are interested in studying medicine, then make sure you do take AP Bio, because this is coursework in your major. On the other hand, if you are applying to a non-medicine, non-environment field, take whichever you find interesting. No college will look down upon someone taking APES because it isn’t AP Bio. It is fine that you did not take any freshman or sophomore year. Just challenge yourself these last two years!!
The pure number of extracurriculars you have isn’t a good measure of anything. Someone with one EC they are passionate about is more impressive than someone with 3 ECs they did superficially. Of course, many things can be packaged to look like they were done passionately, but my point is this - stick with swimming, and even if COVID ruins a lot, you can make 1 or 2 or 3 opportunities for youself that can make a big difference. Take an online course related to what you want to study, or find a group of people online with similar interests and do some proect together over the intenet, or even create a blog about the topic you want to study and post regularly. There is still so much you can do - even if you end up with 3 or 4 things to write about, if you do them in depth and that shows through, and if they are related to your major, you are in good shape
@eguo2468 Medicine-related extracurriculars are somewhat tough to come by because of COVID, but I can offer a few suggestions.
1 - this is easiest one to do - take online courses about biology, medicine, neuroscience (whatever field of medicine you have an interest in). If you can do two, or three, great. But even doing one shows a lot of initiative and passion on your part that will reflect well on you in your application.
2 - a bit harder to do - run some sort of community initiative to help families of COVID patients or families of doctors/nurses that are treating COVID patients. Maybe even something as simple as sending each family like that a e-card to show them that the community supports them.
3 - Write a blog about how the country can prevent such an outbreak in the future, or at least how we can minimize it. Do your research, become well-versed in the subject, and make a blog about it. Ideally try to use your creativity to see if you can’t make some new and unique suggestions. Even if nothing tangible happens as a result of the blog, you have again taken the initiative to go do your research and try to spread your voice out there.
I can try to come up with more if any of those sound possible, PM me!!
Hi! I’m a rising freshman at UNC Chapel Hill. UPenn is my dream school and I plan on applying for a transfer. What can I do in my freshman year to make my application stronger? Should I give the SAT again? I got a 1450
Hey @spinCaster15 ! Congratulations on Penn!
I have one quick question – do you have any tips on being more productive and managing time effectively?
I will be taking both APES and AP Bio in my high school career. I was wondering if I should change APES for AP bio junior year since it would look better on college apps that I took AP Bio Junior year. I also am considering this since I am taking 2 of the “easier” AP classes junior year (APES and AP Psych) which may look bad since it may look like I’m not challenging myself. But on the contrary, I am thinking of taking AP Bio senior year since I want to go in the Biology/ medical field in college and if I take AP Bio senior year, I would remember it instead of taking it Junior year and forgetting about it. What should I do?
What compelled you to commit to UPenn, if we are going in terms of prestige, Princeton is seemingly the best, and I heard unless you’re a wharton kid, they don’t really care about you…
Hi, thank you for answering peoples questions, and I hope you’re doing well during this ineffable time! I have a few questions. I attend a UC (it’s not a top UC, and it’s commonly referred to as a UC for rejects) and I’m very grateful to be attending! However I’ve been shocked by the lack of diversity, the dangerous area, and they do not offer programs and the liberty of exploring your interests as much as I had hoped. I’ve been talking to upperclassmen at the UC, and their experiences haven’t been the best either, but I’m hoping to have a better experience during my time here. While I’m trying to make the best of my time here, there are numerous reasons for not wanting to continue my education at this school, and I’d like to find a school that I fit in at better. There is a lot that Brown offers that has always appealed to me in terms of academics, and I love the environment, which is why I’m hoping to transfer!
I’m wondering if you have any advice for transferring to Brown, such as what you think stood out in your application and what you tried to convey in your essays. I know this may be very different than your own experience as a first year applicant, but what they look for in applicants is generally the same. Is there something that Brown values that you noticed besides intellectual curiosity, and were you able to convey parts of your personality or were you quite formal in writing your essays? How did you research what is needed in order to impress and appeal to Brown, and do you think it’s silly of me to want to transfer? I appreciate any advice you can throw my way, and forgive me for any typos and for being scatterbrained right now! Finally, is it possible to PM you in regards to any further q’s or to read your essays? Thank you so much!
Thanks for your help! I didn’t study for my first SAT because I was counting on taking it a bunch of times, as my guidance counselor told me that the first SAT is like another PSAT. I ended up getting a 1050, and might be able to retake it once this fall before I apply. Do you think that I should submit my score or no? Thank you!
Congratulations! So inspiring!
is it okay if i got your email?
@lilacfox Hi! Sorry for the delayed response. Please do PM me - would be happy to help in any way. I can share my essays and tell you about anything that I have learned about Brown!
@msjessieblue It depends on which schools you want to apply to!! For many schools, that is a great score. On the other hand, if you are looking to apply to what are generally considered to be pretty selective schools, I would suggest you try to retake! Search up the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores for the schools you want to apply to, and see how your scores compare. Ideally, you want to be 75th percentile or above
@choosy2020 Thank you!! Hope you are doing well
@et4567 PM me first!
Congratulations!
Hi, congratulations!!!
How much time did you dedicate to studying for the ACT/SAT? Do you think they were really important in terms of your college application? Thanks!!
@spinCaster15 I was wondering if you could PM me. I am planning on applying to all of the ivy leagues minus Dartmouth, and Northwestern. I am starting all of my supplement essays now and I could use a little help with essay topic help/brainstorming with my ideas if you dont mind