Information on Pre-med/Chances/Honors or Gemstone

Colleges & Universities University of Maryland - College Park
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<p>Hello, I would like to know if anyone has any information or advice on the pre-med program and Honors/Gemstone for me. </p>

<p>Intended Major- Physiology and Neurobiology
Profile: (Note: I don’t want to brag I just want a full view of my profile)
ACT:Composite- 33
Reading-34
Math-34
Science-35
English-28 </p>

<p>Weighted GPA- 3.7 (very difficult grading scale)
Senior year GPA (so far)-4.1 </p>

<p>Courses- Most rigorous course load possible at one of the top three private schools in MD academically.
I took 2-3 more classes than needed every year (including classes before and after school)
Senior Year courses: AP Physics B
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
Advanced Literary Criticism Honors
Latin IV Honors
History of Music/Art
Jazz Ensemble
Jazz Combo
Religion</p>

<p>Past APs/college courses:
AP Chemistry-4
AP Calculus AB-4
Pinkard Scholars program: Theology 101-A- for 3 credits</p>

<p>Honors:

  1. Louis Armstrong Award for top jazz performance of a senior (One per year, I received it as a Junior) This is a Nationally recognized jazz award.
  2. Woody Herman Award for outstanding jazz performance (runner up to Louis Armstrong Award, 9th grade)
  3. Pinkard Scholars Program
    4.Maryland Scholars in the Arts
    5.National Latin Exam, Magna Cum Laude
  4. Third place in school for American Math Competition</p>

<p>Leadership and Community Service:
1.Toured with a group of musicians around inner city Baltimore and Philadelphia performing for underprivileged youths and elderly homes. 12th grade
2.Youngest elected member of church parish council, 11th-12th grade
3.Representative to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for the youth of my parish, 10th-12th grade
4.Jazz ensemble Rhythm Section Leader, 11th-12th grade
5.Led Various retreats ranging from one day to one week long, 9th-12th grade
6.Senior board member of Drama club, 12th grade
7.Head Usher for School plays, 11th-12th grade
8. Founded School prayer group, 11th-12th grade</p>

<p>Extra Curricula:
1.1st Bass guitarist for award-winning/nationally recognized Jazz ensemble and combo, 9th-12th grade
2.Pit Orchestra with professionals in award-winning school musicals (featuring a star of the broadway musical 13) 10th-12th grade
3. Boosters, 12th grade
4.Liturgy Committee, 10th-12th grade
5. Liturgical Band, 11th-12th grade
6. School Play Usher, 10th-12th grade
7. JV Ice Hockey, Cross Country, and Rugby, 9th-11th grade
8. Varsity Policy Debate, 11th grade
9. Physics Club, 12th grade</p>

<p>Employment:
Worked full time as a Mechanical Contractor’s assistant for Southern Mechanical Incorporated from June 2010-August 2010</p>

<p>Ice Rink Guard for Ice World (part-time) from Sept. 2008- Sept. 2009</p>

<p>In addition to these things I enjoy Psychology, Philosophy, Literature, and theoretical sciences. I have performed multiple biological, chemical, and physics based experiments independently. </p>

<p>I am assuming that I will score 5s on all 3 APs this year (my physics teacher and calc teacher have never had a student that got below a 5, and I have a 100% in Biology and am bored with the extent of the AP material) and I will have enough credits to attend undergrad for three years. I am hoping to go into a Masters program for Biochem. </p>

<p>Also, I went and met with a staff member of the college of chemical and life sciences who said that based on my essays in addition to my resume I would be a likely candidate for Banneker Key and Honors or Gemstone.</p>

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<p>Also, My GPA Cumulative using the adjusted scale that UMD uses is 3.88, and my GPA for Senior year so far is 4.3.</p>

3

<p>No offffense… but your grading scale ain’t that hard if all you get on your APs are paltry 4’s…
That being said, honors should be in reach, your ACT looks good.</p>

<p>As for actual info, (protip) click search, click advanced search, make sure you only search the UMCP forum, and you’re good to go! Lots of topics about this.</p>

<p>EDIT: And unless standards dramatically dropped this year,

is just not happening, sorry.</p>

<p>Possible? Sure. Likely? No.</p>

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<p>Actually the grading scale is. I got a C in AP Chemistry (which is an 80) and then got a 4. Likewise I got an 83 (B-) in AP Calculus AB where I got a 4.</p>

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<p>You realize that 4’s suck, right? 4’s are like 60% of questions answered.</p>

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<p>When I went to Maryland the head of life sciences said that my strongest points were my resume and my essays, and that based on my essays I am likely to get it. I don’t expect to get it, but that’s what I was told. Also I know that 4’s are 60% right, but they don’t suck and I didn’t do much for AP Calc since I knew I was taking it again this year. My academic profile is top 5-10% in addition to my extensive leadership and musical talent resume. Whether you think 4’s suck or not doesn’t matter, they consider it highly.</p>

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<p>Alright… if you’re so set on believing you’ll get X, Y, and Z, why ask what you’ll get if you don’t care about any responses that you don’t agree with?</p>

<p>EDIT: Btw top 5-10% is only enough for Honors college. You need top 5-10% of honors college to get the BK.</p>

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<p>Well, I’m not set on getting X, Y, and Z. I have no idea. Also the question was more for information on the pre-med program, and chances for Honors or Gemstone. I agree with you that Honors is more likely/in reach, I don’t agree with the arbitrary things you added about grading scale and AP scores so I explained it further. I don’t care if you think I won’t even get in, but I only refuted your claims about my personal profile.</p>

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<p>It’s not arbitrary…
Here’s what I’m saying.</p>

<p>Take a look at these number from College Board.</p>

<p>21.2% of test takers did better than you on AP Calculus. <a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;

<p>17.7% of test takers did better than you on AP Chemistry.
<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;

<p>Your scores are standardized, unlike GPA. You claimed GPA was deflated. I showed that based on your scores, this is unlikely the case. Your academics are what people call somewhat above-average, but not even top 10% let alone 5%.</p>

<p>That being said, that doesn’t factor in your other impressive accomplishments (such as music!)</p>

<p>Does that make sense? Do you understand that you didn’t refute anything…</p>

<p>EDIT: Your posting of your profile implied chancing. You even thought so highly of it that it could be mistaken as “bragging.” And you know that. If all you needed was info, your profile was unnecessary. That being said, so many threads on the topic exist on this forum already (because it is a popular topic… unlike say Golf Turf Science xD). You can easily search (again, use advanced search, it will give you better results.)</p>

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<p>I understand what you’re saying but it is irrelevent to my question. Additionally, I was a much worse student last year than I am this year (my increased gpa proves that). I’m not denying that people have done better on the AP, but my gpa is deflated because a C at my school (counting as a 2.0) is an 80%. C indicates average. Considering that I did better than 82.3% of all the AP Chemistry students, my grade should not be average. I also explained how in classes this year such as AP Biology I have a 100%, and all grades are based on AP problems. I understand that you are probably a very out of the ordinary student and it is hard to see that my academics are extremely high. My ACT scores are all 99 percentile (save for english). Regardless of whether you believe I sufficiently refuted you or not, your comments towards my gpa and ap scores were not related to my questions and thus arbitrary. You’re simply looking at numbers and not including the totality of my resume. You probably didn’t consider the extent of my extra curricula and leadership involvement and how it takes four hours a night of my time thus hindering my ability to perform at maximum capacity in AP classes. Just by throwing out numbers about AP scores says nothing of what my intelligence or understanding of those classes may be, especially considering that I still study the Chemistry I learned last year to further my knowledge because I know that I did not do as well as I can. The claim of top 10-5% of academics wasn’t relative to honors students or AP students, but to the total applicant pool. Finally, things that make me interesting as a candidate (i.e. essay, extra curricula, independent research) is what differentiates me from similar “above-average” students. I’m not going to say I’m the strongest academically because I see 15-20 other stronger students academically from my school alone applying, but I know none of those people have the strength in the other factors than grades and test scores.</p>

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<p>Also, If Maryland is just a number crunching school than you’re very right. Everything I’ve heard about the admissions process says the opposite though. The only reason I think I’m a stronger candidate than my numbers suggest is because I believe they will look at the broad spectrum of my profile. If I’m wrong then I’m satisfied with whatever they give me, I know I’ll be fine for the long run!</p>

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<p>Sigh… just don’t get your hopes over inflated. That’s all I ask.</p>

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<p>Don’t worry, I’m happy enough with getting in, i just wanted some opinions about the honors/gemstone programs (because obviously it’d be nice to be in either).</p>

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<p>Yeah, they don’t look at AP scores for your application.</p>

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<p>^I know, just using that as a basis for talking about grade-flation.</p>

<p>Again, he’s in and probably honors, just BK seems pushing it is all.</p>

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<p>yeah, i’d be more than shocked haha</p>

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<p>LOL. Only on College Confidential do 4’s on AP suck. You guys are too much.</p>