Need help applying to top colleges (extremely low GPA)

[nysegop]

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My GPA is very low. I am a junior and it is about 3.0. I will likely be able to bring it up to 3.1 to 3.3 by the end of my senior year. This is primarily because of:

1. A hard transition from a low grade private school (we didn't even officially get homework until 7th grade). There were also some social issues as a freshman because of the transition.

2. Complete disregard for academics or my future as an underclassman.


My grades this year have been mostly high Bs and As. I am on the honor roll.

If my SAT score is anything like my PSAT scores, then I am looking at somewhere around 2000 (I got 200 on PSAT without studying).

I will be in 4 AP classes next year.

Is there any hope for getting into a highly regarded school such as Tufts, Bates, or Northeastern?


I am also applying to some state schools so I am not worried about getting into college in general, but I really want to go to Tufts. My father went there.

 

[nysegop]

Oopps... I forgot extracurriculars.

-Volunteering (About 75 hours total)
-Educational enrichment thing at MIT two weekends per year. (taking lectures taught by undergrads and grad students who want to become educators).
-Theatre (I will be the head of one of the technical crews next year.



I have taken 3 colleges classes and done quite well in them. 1 B+ and 2 solid As.

 

[Shinobiz11]

Why do you want to go to a "top college"? Whatever that means...

Sent from my LG-MS770 using SDN Mobile

 

[nysegop]

Why do you want to go to a "top college"? Whatever that means...

Sent from my LG-MS770 using SDN Mobile

I guess my point is I need help getting into colleges that I want to go to (that also happen to be pretty selective).

Bates because my father went there and he liked it. Northeastern because I realllllyyyyy loveee boston and the school seems pretty nice. Tufts because they a good pre med program and my father (who is a bio professor) says that tufts has a good curriculum.

 

[RuralPhysician8]

I am not sure how your school does it, but at my school an "A" in AP is extra points on your GPA, such as a 4.2 instead of just a 4.0. So you may have the ability to bump a 3.0 up to a 3.5. There is nothing wrong with wanting to go to a top tier school, just be aware of financial costs and the average debt of medical students, which was around $100,000-$150,000 (this does not take into account undergraduate education) when I read an article in the newspaper a few weeks ago. If you are fond of a certain curriculum or major, compare the top tier schedule to that of a less competitive state school, you would be surprised at how many are nearly synonymous. Also look at what kind of extracurricular programs each school offers. For example, one of my state schools is very likely one of the most uncompetitive institutions in my region, but it has great pre-med opportunities and a focused curriculum; in contrast, another near by institution carries a bit more prestige and has a slightly more intense curriculum, but is mainly a research powerhouse and does not seem to offer as much clinical opportunities as the former school. I am currently trying to decide between these two institutions, so I understand how much of a headache choosing a school can be . I would focus on getting more community service hours as your grades appear to be showing a great upward trend; however, I may be a bit biased seeing as how community service has been a large part of my time in my high school experience. Also, if you are absolutely certain about pre-med, it would not hurt to shadow a physician for a few hours or another medical related activity to show the school your dedication and interest.

 

[nysegop]

I am not sure how your school does it, but at my school an "A" in AP is extra points on your GPA, such as a 4.2 instead of just a 4.0. So you may have the ability to bump a 3.0 up to a 3.5. There is nothing wrong with wanting to go to a top tier school, just be aware of financial costs and the average debt of medical students, which was around $100,000-$150,000 (this does not take into account undergraduate education) when I read an article in the newspaper a few weeks ago. If you are fond of a certain curriculum or major, compare the top tier schedule to that of a less competitive state school, you would be surprised at how many are nearly synonymous. Also look at what kind of extracurricular programs each school offers. For example, one of my state schools is very likely one of the most uncompetitive institutions in my region, but it has great pre-med opportunities and a focused curriculum; in contrast, another near by institution carries a bit more prestige and has a slightly more intense curriculum, but is mainly a research powerhouse and does not seem to offer as much clinical opportunities as the former school. I am currently trying to decide between these two institutions, so I understand how much of a headache choosing a school can be . I would focus on getting more community service hours as your grades appear to be showing a great upward trend; however, I may be a bit biased seeing as how community service has been a large part of my time in my high school experience. Also, if you are absolutely certain about pre-med, it would not hurt to shadow a physician for a few hours or another medical related activity to show the school your dedication and interest.

Thanks. Yeah. I have absolutely nothing against state schools. I'll probably end up at UVM where my father is a professor (in fact, he's on the pre med committee). State schools are great schools. I would just rather be in Boston at northeastern or somewhere. Maybe I will do the first two years at UVM then transfer to northeastern. Or I could just stay at UVM and go somewhere nice for med school.

 

[RuralPhysician8]

Thanks. Yeah. I have absolutely nothing against state schools. I'll probably end up at UVM where my father is a professor (in fact, he's on the pre med committee). State schools are great schools. I would just rather be in Boston at northeastern or somewhere. Maybe I will do the first two years at UVM then transfer to northeastern. Or I could just stay at UVM and go somewhere nice for med school.

No problem, I am going to construct my first year of college to be mainly an adjustment period. I have already realized it helps to be close to home, so having your father close by will be great. Good luck and make sure you have some fun senior year.

 

[Shinobiz11]

All I meant by my comment is you don't need to go to a "top college" to get into med school. Find a place you like, and a place that you can have the opportunities to excel as a premed. UVM isn't a bad school, but if you want to go to Boston, do more research. Best of luck!

 

[nysegop]

All I meant by my comment is you don't need to go to a "top college" to get into med school. Find a place you like, and a place that you can have the opportunities to excel as a premed. UVM isn't a bad school, but if you want to go to Boston, do more research. Best of luck!

Thanks. I absolutely love my safety school believe it or not. I just think being in Boston would be a good experience for me. Anyway, thanks. 😀

 

[Arijos0222]

Thanks. I absolutely love my safety school believe it or not. I just think being in Boston would be a good experience for me. Anyway, thanks. 😀

Your father is a professor at UVM (University of Vermont)? I'm applying there.

I've only been there during the summer, however...

Is it really cold and frigid during the winter?

 

[nysegop]

Your father is a professor at UVM (University of Vermont)? I'm applying there.

I've only been there during the summer, however...

Is it really cold and frigid during the winter?

Yeah. Haha It gets really cold. But only for a little while. A few weeks ago it was ~negative 10 fahrenheit. That being said, it gets really nice, warm, and beautiful in the spring and summer. Fall is also nice with all of the trees changing colour. UVM is truly a great school. The medical school, the hospital, and the undergraduate school are all on the same campus. This will make it nice for shadowing doctors and visiting the medical school. The premed committee seems pretty good. They look at more than just GPA when giving recommendations. The campus is pretty safe. There was a stabbing a couple of months ago but that is very rare. It was the first notable on campus crime since 2004 when the Red Sox won the world series (there was a huge party that turned into a riot)


Housing is good. Roommates are matched by interests. The honors college has the best dorm, but the other ones are still pretty good. On campus housing is compulsory freshman year, but when you are older you can get a nice apartment in Burlington if you wish.


One thing UVM prides itself in is its study abroad program. You can study pretty much any topic in a variety of countries either over the summer or during the fall or spring semester. You can also do a semester at a different university.

There are solid extracurriculars. NCAA division 1 in 9 men's teams and 11 women's teams. There are also lower division sports and club sports. In addition, there are many other clubs to join. To list just some of them:

-Theatre
-Pre-med Club 😀
-Pre-vet Club (I know there are some prevets on SDN)
-College democrats/college republicans
-Academic Clubs (Biochem club,
-Lot's of community service clubs to chip away at those volunteer hours.
-See full list here.

 

[Arijos0222]

Yeah. Haha It gets really cold. But only for a little while. A few weeks ago it was ~negative 10 fahrenheit. That being said, it gets really nice, warm, and beautiful in the spring and summer. Fall is also nice with all of the trees changing colour. UVM is truly a great school. The medical school, the hospital, and the undergraduate school are all on the same campus. This will make it nice for shadowing doctors and visiting the medical school. The premed committee seems pretty good. They look at more than just GPA when giving recommendations. The campus is pretty safe. There was a stabbing a couple of months ago but that is very rare. It was the first notable on campus crime since 2004 when the Red Sox won the world series (there was a huge party that turned into a riot)


Housing is good. Roommates are matched by interests. The honors college has the best dorm, but the other ones are still pretty good. On campus housing is compulsory freshman year, but when you are older you can get a nice apartment in Burlington if you wish.


One thing UVM prides itself in is its study abroad program. You can study pretty much any topic in a variety of countries either over the summer or during the fall or spring semester. You can also do a semester at a different university.

There are solid extracurriculars. NCAA division 1 in 9 men's teams and 11 women's teams. There are also lower division sports and club sports. In addition, there are many other clubs to join. To list just some of them:

-Theatre
-Pre-med Club 😀
-Pre-vet Club (I know there are some prevets on SDN)
-College democrats/college republicans
-Academic Clubs (Biochem club,
-Lot's of community service clubs to chip away at those volunteer hours.
-See full list here.

ahhh sweetttt 😎

What is there to do over there in Vermont? i've only visited the campus and I never really explored Burlington.

 

[nysegop]

ahhh sweetttt 😎

What is there to do over there in Vermont? i've only visited the campus and I never really explored Burlington.

Skiing and Snowboarding are super popular. We have all of the standard sports as well. There is Lake Champlain which is great for swimming and boating. There are many great restaurants, pubs, and bars. There are many mountains if you like hiking. Of course UVM has the typical college scene (parties, fraternities, the usual).

 

[futuresurgeon00]

Skiing and Snowboarding are super popular. We have all of the standard sports as well. There is Lake Champlain which is great for swimming and boating. There are many great restaurants, pubs, and bars. There are many mountains if you like hiking. Of course UVM has the typical college scene (parties, fraternities, the usual).

I really want to go there now.....it sounds nice 🙂.....but, I am being made to do my undergrad in Canada 🙁

 

[Arijos0222]

I really want to go there now.....it sounds nice 🙂.....but, I am being made to do my undergrad in Canada 🙁

Do it in the states. New experiences are awesome. And Burlington, Vermont is only a few miles from the border of Canada

And you would want to go there being Canadian and fairly use to inclement weather.

I'm trying to get on that UCLA/Berkeley flow 😉

 

[futuresurgeon00]

Do it in the states. New experiences are awesome. And Burlington, Vermont is only a few miles from the border of Canada

And you would want to go there being Canadian and fairly use to inclement weather.

I'm trying to get on that UCLA/Berkeley flow 😉

I'm probably going to do post grad in the states....for undergrad, it actually doesn't make sense...b/c first I have to write my SAT's and Canadians do it on their own - and it's a lot harder b/c our guidance councilors and even the SAT Canadian side workers don't have all the info necessary....plus, if we ask US students it is based on their experience, and they learn stuff differently. Also, the price inflation for out of state (and i qualify as an international student) is actually a lot......In addition, US universities and med schools have a acceptance list:
1) US Citizens living in the country
2) US Citizens out of country
3) Green card holders living in country
4) Green card holders out of country
5) Others....

That is just a rough overview but that's basically how the list is....

UC LA/Berkley was one of my top choices....I go to California every summer and stay with friends...and I work there in the hospitals.....I wanted to end up in the US, but from the point of view of a Canadian, Canada does seem awesomer 🙂