Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I'm looking for college with time running out. I'm looking for a good biomedical or premed program with research oppertunities. - Oh yeah, and I'm one of THOSE kids. Here's my stats.

GPA: 2.5 on a "real" scale, 3.2 according to my school.

Rank: about 300 out of 900+

Class levels: all AP or honors, many with college credit at local community college.

Classes this year: College Composition, AP Chemistry, Biotechnology II, U.S. History, Calculus, Band, Chorus.

Extra Curricular activities: Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Men's Choir, Jazz Choir, president of music honor society.

Held a job for a couple years where I am called "McGyver" for being able to find a solution to any problem. Work cash office, floor, register, stockroom, and everything else.

SAT Scores: 630 Math, 710 Verbal, 660 Math Level II, 660 Molecular Biology, 670 Writing.

Grade Trends: Used to get all As and Bs in 9th grade, but in Jr and Sr year, fluxuate wildly from As to Fs and everything inbetween.

Sports: Not on any teams, but hold a high-jump record and tied for 3rd in the school's fitness competition.

Hobbies: Many instruments both writing for and playing, MIDI, 3d graphics, 2d graphics, programming, Biomedical research, Hacking (I don't mention that to colleges, but it involves a lot of useful skills), Keeping up to date on latest technology and research, Computer repair.


So there you have it, a real renascence man with lousy grades. (Why? Disorganization and late work, of course.)

I've got big dreams of being Doctor Me, the great big researcher. Who can help me find a school bad enough to let me in, but good enough to get me into medical school? Anyone to be realistic, yet optimistic and kind for me?

P.S. I hope you all feel better about yourselves now. :-)

By Imsargon (Imsargon) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 08:22 am: Edit

I'm currently in New Hampshire, but I wouldn't mind moving to another state, or even another country like Canada or something if it's a better option.

By Mstee (Mstee) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 10:52 am: Edit

Oldest son that had crappy grades (similar to yours) was admitted to Pacific Lutheran and University of Puget Sound. Both are good schools and I'm sure they both send kids to medical school every year. There are a ton of schools you could apply to. Loren Pope's book has some good suggestions. But you will have to focus and get better grades in college if you want medical school.

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 11:35 am: Edit

your situation is quite common. i agree with mstee, read loren pope's book (colleges that change lives or looking beyond the ivy league).
your gpa and rank is definitely considered low. and although your sats are not "superimpressive", they do not correlate with your gpa or rank. but i think your grade trend will hurt you the most. going down is not good. i'm going to stop writing nonsense now, and give you my suggestions:
reach:
wake forest u
lehigh u
yeshiva (if you're jewish?)
match:
u of washighton
syracuse u
purdue u
u of georgia
safety:
indiana u- bloomington
u of vermont
u of new hampshire
u of s carolina- columbia
u of oregon
applying to 5-8 schools is enough. good luck.

By Imsargon (Imsargon) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 09:26 pm: Edit

Many thanks.

I've heard good things about nearly all the colleges Chrisy mentions. I was considering applying to Syracuse, as Counsler-O-Matic also placed it in Good Match for me, but I did not think I had a chance, and now the deadline has passed. Do others agree I have a chance at Perdue or U of Washington?

I have visited U of New Hampshire, and was generally pleased with it. Although it's in the middle of nowhere, they welcome our Biotechnology class to go there to use their equipment for our more advanced genetics work.

My biggest fear, I think, is ending up at a school that is not as well equipped, technogically, as my high school- a brand new, free public school with laptops for everybody, projectors and smartboards in every room, and everything you need to splice jellyfish genes to make glowing carrots. It'd would be like taking a step backwards which is definately not what I need right now.

Is anyone familiar with Canadian schools?

Thanks you all so much and any and all advice on anything is very much welcomed.

By Boxmaker1917 (Boxmaker1917) on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 12:43 am: Edit

My situation will probably end up similar to those described. I am in a IB full diploma program. I had a 3.8 unweighted GPA in 9th and 10th grade which has gone down this year to a 3.2 unweighted GPA. Most nights I have 4-6 hours of homework but 8-10 hours once or twice a week. I don't think I can work much harder to bring up my GPA and none of my teachers have specific suggestions about how to improve.

No SATs yet but my PSAT translated into a 1290. I probably will do a little better but not a lot better.

I am in a non-NCAA sport that I love and spend 15-18 hours a week at practice. Also volunteer at our Sunday School and help emotionally disabled children participate in classes (3.5 hours each week).

I want to be an MD although my worst grades are IB Chem and IB Bio. I'm looking for a LAC that is strong in foreign languages and has a good pre-med program. (Perhaps a double major?)

Every school I want to go to is a "reach." I can't claim to be the brightest or the best -- but I'm among the hardest working people around. Are there any top-flight LAC's that would see the value of what people like me bring?

By Imsargon (Imsargon) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 12:05 pm: Edit

It's Jan 19th, I've applied to Boston University (I know I won't get in), and I've started my application to University of New Hampshire. Any Suggestions? Besides "Hurry up!"?