Demographics
- US Citizen
- TN Resident
- Public School
- Not First Gen
Intended Major(s): Biology/Health Science
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
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3.8 UW
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4.3 W
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ACT 25, retaking soon
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English: AP Lang
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Math: Alg 2 Honors, AP Stats next yr
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Science: Dual Enrollment Anatomy, Chem Honors
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History and social studies: APUSH
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Hospital Intern (senior year)
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dual enrollment sports medical terminology (senior year)
Awards
National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, CCMA Certification by graduation
Extracurriculars
Varsity Cheerleader, HOSA Member, Youth Ministry Volunteer, Volunteer at Local Clinic, Medical Camp @ Vandy this summer, CPR & Stop the Bleed Certified, Honors Academy, Member of Youth Stu-Co @ Clinic, Black Student Association, Content Creator, Debutante
Can you do Spelman Full Pay?
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Do you have more science, like bio and chem? How about foreign language - per the CDS, they require 3 years.
47% took a test and 25 is smack at the median.
So statistically you are good but with only a quarter getting in, it’s too hard to say. And curious about the language.
Best of luck.
Have you taken precalc? If not, I would prioritize that over AP stats next year. Can you take both precalc and AP stats next year?
Also, have you taken a foreign language? How many years/to what level?
Don’t drop core courses to do the hospital internship. If you are targeting selective schools like Spelman, make sure you take a full set of core courses in 12th grade…that’s at least four core courses, ideally five.
Lastly did you run the Spelman net price calculator and the results are affordable? Net Price Calculator | Spelman College | Atlanta, GA
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I’m taking dual enrollment chem next year & I did 2 years of Spanish bc that’s what my state requires for graduation.
Also I’m hoping to get my test score up to around a 30!
I’ll be taking 8 classes next year so I won’t have to drop anything to intern
Also I haven’t taken precalc, I was considering it but I don’t want it to impact my GPA
Not having precalc will be a disadvantage in admissions in terms of rigor, at Spelman and some other schools.
If you aren’t ready to take calculus when you get to Spelman (required for the bio major), you will spend a precious elective on pre-calc. It would be best to not have your first exposure to precalc be in college.
And based on your answers above, it sounds like you haven’t taken a bio class yet in HS? Is that correct? (anatomy doesn’t substitute for bio)
What other colleges are on your list? Have you identified a highly likely/safety school that will be affordable?
I would encourage you to sit down with your HS counselor, tell her the colleges you are interested in attending, and plan out your senior year course schedule. The courses that are required for HS graduation aren’t necessarily enough to be competitive at a school like Spelman. So, talk to your HS counselor.
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@futureee1 - a few things:
- I can’t find what Spelman wants for HS preparation but per the CDS, they require 4 yars of English, 3 years of math, 3 of science (2 labs), 3 foreign language and two history plus two more social sciences.
So if that’s what they require, you’re not going to get in based on math and language.
You may be taking 8 classes - but they need to be the right classes. Taking Spanish to equal the state requirement doesn’t, apparently, equal Spelman’s.
And you’re unlikely to improve your ACT much without progressing in math.
Your GPA is not an issue - if you get a B or C in math, oh well but you need the next class and likely will need a class in college too.
So I’m not sure you’re going down the right path here.
I’m visiting there next week so hopefully I can get further clarification
I looked at the CDS from 24-25 and it says 2 years of language are required
Nope, what I posted is 24/25.
C. First-time, First-year, Freshman Admission | Spelman College | Atlanta, GA
But since you’re going, ask - but don’t conflate # of classes with rigor. Their stats aren’t grade but their admission rate is low.
They note rigor is of most importance - so yes, talk to them - but not loving your chances if you don’t pivot in math and language.
Have a great visit and yes, ask a lot of questions.
Your stats look solid for Spelman. A 3.8 UW and 4.3 W with that course load shows you can handle rigorous work, and if you can bump your ACT up from 25 to around 27-28 on the retake, you’d be in really good shape.
Spelman’s middle 50% ACT range is typically 22-28, so you’re already within range at 25. But getting closer to 28 would put you in the upper half of admitted students and could also help with merit scholarships, which is worth thinking about.
Your extracurriculars have a clear healthcare theme, which is going to read well for a Biology/Health Science major. The hospital internship senior year, CCMA certification, dual enrollment in anatomy and sports medical terminology, volunteering at the local clinic. All of that tells a cohesive story. The medical camp at Vanderbilt this summer is a nice addition too.
A couple things I’d suggest:
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For your ACT retake, focus heavily on the sections where you lost the most points. If it was math, Khan Academy’s free ACT prep is solid. If it was science, practice reading data tables quickly since that section is more about interpretation speed than actual science knowledge.
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Consider having your recommendation letters come from teachers or mentors who can speak to your interest in healthcare. An AP Bio or Chem teacher, or whoever supervises your clinic volunteering, would be ideal.
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In your essays, lean into why Spelman specifically. Talk about their STEM programs, the sense of community, the Morehouse/Spelman connections. Be specific about what drew you to the school beyond the name.
Honor societies (NHS, NTHS) are nice but pretty common. What sets you apart is the hands-on clinical experience. A lot of applicants want to go pre-med but haven’t actually been in a healthcare environment yet. You have, and that matters.
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