My dad is college crazy.....

Applying to College
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<p>My dad is college crazy and wants me to pick a total of 10 schools to apply to. So far, I have my state college as a safety, and Rice, UChicago, and possibly JHU picked out. I’m looking into med school after college, and am considering majoring in psychology or biochemistry (or biology, if there’s no biochem).
Here are my stats. I’d highly appreciate any suggestions.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9000 (Yes, THAT exact)
No additional credit for AP or Honors classes.
Class Rank: somewhere in the top 8-10%</p>

<p>SAT, the first time:
M: 770
CR: 640
W: 700
Total: 2100</p>

<p>SAT, the second time:
M: 750
CR: 610
W: 750
Total: 2100</p>

<p>Combined: 2160
***I am retaking it again. And studying my butt off. I know the CR score needs to go WAY up. I’m hoping for at least a 700.</p>

<p>PSAT: 205, semifinalist for National Merit</p>

<p>SAT II Bio: 760
In October, I’m taking Math IIC and Chemistry. Projected scores are 740+.</p>

<p>AP Bio: 5
AP Chem: 4
AP Calc AB: 5</p>

<p>By the time I graduate, I will have taken every AP class and test my school has to offer (which, sadly, is only 6), as well as complete 4 college courses that my school is paying for. (2 math classes, 1 physics class, 1 chemistry class.)</p>

<p>My extra-curriculars are my weakest points.</p>

<p>Freshman year: volleyball
Sophomore year: Harmony (this equity thing), Speech, Drama
Junior Year: Harmony, Speech, Drama, Junior Leadership (for which I did crap for)
Senior Year: Harmony, Speech, Drama, maybe Model UN</p>

<p>I’ll have maybe 100 volunteer hours when I need to send in apps at two local hospitals.</p>

<p>Again, thanks for any input.</p>

<p>***Edit: I forgot to mention that I’d like suggestions for schools. Another safety for sure, and reaches and matches.</p>

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<p>Actually, you don’t need to raise your SAT I. It is plenty competitive already. Your stats can, if your interesting, have good essays, and do interviews well, and will get you anywhere. Though higher stats don’t help, if you weren’t gonna get in with a 2160 then you probably won’t get in with a 2300.</p>

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<p>Your stats are fine. The most important things for your application now will be essays and recommendations. Make sure you show the college what is unique about you. Tell them why they should accept you and not some other person.</p>

<p>So far you have good schools listed (especially for a pre-med). Look into the Rice/Baylor program. It gets you into Rice and Baylor College of Medicine, but is very very competitive.</p>

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<p>I am applying the Rice/Baylor program ID.</p>

<p>But are there any other schools I can pick out to satisfy my father?</p>

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<p>Problem with that. You shouldn’t be trying to satisfy your father. I suggest picking 6 schools to apply to more or less, unless your going for lots of financial aid. Two reach, two match, two safety. I’m going to Rice BTW, I think if you get in you will love it there.</p>

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<p>Don’t get fixated on Rice/Baylor. Those decision don’t come out until after you have been admitted to Rice. You have access to the same courses either way.</p>

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<p>205 is semifinalist where you live! what the hell i have to get 222 to be semifinalist here…rarr.</p>

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<p>I live in Iowa. And cut off was 203. -_-;</p>

<p>What do you guys think of the Academic Scholars program for med school at WUSTL? Are there any other programs like that?</p>

<p>See, I’d like to not have to make my father happy, but I’d rather just apply to the schools than make it into a big fight, which is what’ll happen if I don’t pick 6 more schools.</p>

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<p>I think I know what you mean - my mom and dad are, like, obsessed. I even avoid talking to them now cuz all they can talk about is college college college. Sniffle.</p>

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<p>wow, a 203 cutoff in Iowa. i live in louisiana; the cutoff last year was 212. i assumed that had to be the second lowest in the nation (after mississippi); i was very wrong, i suppose.</p>

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<p>Well, keep in mind that most people in Iowa only deal with the ACTs, and the format is a bit different.</p>

<p>However. Any thoughts at all on the WUSTL program? Or any other suggestions for schools?</p>

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<p><em>bump</em></p>

<p>Any more schools? Anyone?</p>

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<p>If you have to get ten, go ahead and add WUSTL. Maybe Emory? Tufts? Maybe add some ivies.</p>

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<p>try HYPS…</p>

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<p>if you need schools to apply to just add ones that use the common app and have easy or no supplements. but i dont see the point in applying to schools you know you dont want to go to. if your safety/state school is higher on your list you are just wasting time and money. tulane is an easy one, no required essays, recs, etc.</p>

<p>that said, my mom wants me to apply to schools i know im not going to. she wants me to apply to a school that is very close and may be very strong, but doesnt offer my major (i want to do engineering). she is also pushing another nearby school that i feel i dont fit in at, and telling me not to apply to a school that is on the other side of the country, but one i really want to go to. </p>

<p>your dad is doing what he thinks is best for you because if you apply to 10 semi reach to reach schools, you probably will get in to one which may be better than your state school. one safety may be ohio state and a few matches/slight reaches could be university of illinois, wisconson, and michigan. if you want to do medschool, washu, case western, and either mississippi or missouri have bs/md programs.</p>

<p>and you got 2110 on your sats both times (yet over 700 in math both times, just kidding) and i doubt retaking will help much if you got the same score both times. its an ok score anyways and you got over 1400/1600 your first time, but under your second time (which may hurt, i dont know). just dont take your sats more than 3 times or you look ocd and/or like a perfectionist</p>

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<p>hey, whats harmony. sounds “cool”</p>

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<p>if u take the SAT the 3rd time and the CR actually does go up … maybe the colleges will still be cynical about it … they see that you didnt do well in CR in ur 2nd try … so even if u do improve they might assume that u joined a prep class or something…
personally i hate the SAT … its no use …</p>

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<p>What I would do:</p>

<p>Your state school
Rice
UChicago
Hopkins
Washu
Emory
Tufts
Duke
(some ivies for fun)</p>

<p>So what else are you looking for in a school though? size? location? diversity? cost? greek life? social scene? academics? etc.</p>

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<p>Can we trade fathers? Seriously. Mine’s telling me that there’s no point in applying beyond one school.</p>

<p>Depending on what you’re looking for, I’d suggest Case Western. They have a preprofessional scholars program where they’ll give you admission to their medical school as well as admission into their undergrad. I believe Tufts might have one of those, too. It’s a good school, though Cleveland’s not for everyone…and it has a lot of merit aid, which is always a plus. Otherwise, I’m not sure what to tell you. Drexel has a combined degree program as well.</p>

<p>…also, if you’re very serious about medicine, you can apply to NEOUCOM and finish college/med school in 6-7 years.</p>

<p>Otherwise, if you’re truly not interested in other colleges, I’d go with what venkater said.</p>

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<p>Thanks, everyone. This has really been a lot of help.</p>

<p>I’m mainly looking for location. It doesn’t matter too much what size the school itself is, but I’d like to have it in a larger city. i.e. Houston, Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore (somewhat).</p>

<p>Ayrrie, when I was in 6th grade, my father made me memorize the USN top 10 list of the “best” universities in the United States. In SIXTH GRADE. Of a list that CHANGES ANNUALLY. <em>sigh</em>
Good luck in your college app process as well.</p>