<p>Hey guys I was just wondering if I should even apply after seeing how smart all of the other applicants are. Pretty intimidating lol Possible applying RD
Stats:
White male from small high school in rural Alabama. Guidance Counselor can’t ever recall sending a student to a top 20 school. (Public High School)
ACT:34 E, 31M, 34R, 34S, (33 Composite)
GPA 4.0/100.53
Class Rank 1/51
ECs: Varsity baseball
Varsity basketball
Varsity football
Class President 9-11
Beta Club VP 11 Pres 12
School String Band
Attended Rural Health Scholars of Alabama program summer 2007
Youth Leadership
Member of church youth group (Music director and bible study coordinator)
Volunteer Work:
200 hours of volunteer at local Methodist Parish
various other small efforts that I don’t feel like listing
Essays: I have written my personal statement about my desire to attend medical school and then come back to small town to practice rural medicine.
Other: I know I don’t have amazing research efforts or anything like many applicants simply because there is none of that even remotely close to where I live. I am just wondering if you guys think that if I let my real voice come through in the essays that I can compete with other students who have had a few more advantages.
Oh and also I have help a part-time job at kmart pharmacy since 10th grade working 20-30 hours per week. I am also 1st gen college student of that helps. Thanks in advance to everyone who responds!</p>
<p>You should definitely apply. 1st gen and rural lifestyle will help you. It’s hard to evaluate your chances, but if you don’t apply you will have no chance for sure…</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you are serious about medical school, which will require major $$$, you might want to consider undergrad options with merit aid potential instead of Stanford and the like.</p>
<p>Hmm… Good point nngmm. That is something to think about.</p>
<p>I have considered that option as well, and I have a full ride from UAB, which does a decent job of preparing students for medical school. I just really like what I have seen and heard about Stanford, and I will probably apply or I will always hate myself for not trying. I just wanted to see if it would be worth it because nobody I talk to is familiar with Stanford because nobody from my area has ever went there. 
I dunno if that’s good or bad. Guess I will find out.</p>
<p>You should definitely apply! Just about all of Stanford admits get full rides from their local colleges but choose to come here instead. I think you got a great shot too, coming from an underrepresented state.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the encouragement googol! I guess I will go ahead and fill out the application and hope for the best/expect the worst.</p>
<p>yeah, good luck!</p>
<p>no sat IIs?</p>
<p>Think of it this way, if you don’t apply, you have a 0% chance of getting in. If you want to go, then apply.</p>
<p>Yep very good point. And yes no sat IIs. Will that hurt? The sat is just not common where I live, and I would have to drive over 2 hours to take them. Plus my high school curriculum has been very limited. My school seems to be more concerned with actually getting students to graduate, so I do not think I have been prepared enough to take them and that they will just hurt my chances.</p>
<p>well, Stanford recommend that you have SAT IIs but they don’t require them. I would explain your circumstances in teh additional info section in the common app.</p>
<p>^ if you plan to explain the lack of SAT IIs, just say that they are not offered in your area. Not being willing to drive 2 hrs is a pretty good reason. I would not mention the “I wouldn’t be prepared” part…</p>
<p>Well unfortunately I can’t edit my common app because I have already sent it to a couple other colleges. Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>you can edit your common app by creating different versions, jus go to application versions or something like that on the left hand menu</p>
<p>WashU, Michigan, Northwestern, are other good schools that I think would be good for you to consider, especially since you are 1st gen college.</p>
<p>That’s awesome because I have already applied to WashU and Northwestern. I guess great minds think alike!</p>
<p>kcooper: You can edit the common app after you have submitted to one school. It is done making alternate versions - you can have upto 10 alternates. First time you create the alternate it is not straight forward step - bit clumsy as they introduced it later in the common app cycle this year.
But once you create one alterrnate, you can login to your old account and create upto 10 alternates and send each to diff. schools.
Only thing is make sure you move the college in My colleges to right version before submit. Also, some things are not copied over (such as essays uploaded) So double check before submits.
Read below link for details:
<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/AlternateVersionTechnologyFAQ.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/AlternateVersionTechnologyFAQ.pdf</a></p>