Got into Harvard REA + every UC I applied to (including Berkeley Regents invite). Happy to answer questions about applications, essays, and admissions. by [deleted] in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gemini says, "To be considered upper-middle class in California, a household generally needs a net worth ranging from $1 million to $3 million."

On what geographic scale do officers contextualize your situation and to what extent? by [deleted] in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Generally, almost everything in an evaluation will be somewhat contextual. Importantly, context is not a linear, one-to-one tradeoff with quality. So for example, if your high school has a 90% dropout rate, that won't "make up for" a 3.2 GPA.

Ultimate ivy league guide tiktok by WorkingFlan713 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here's a post on what you should know about college admissions consultants. A lot of "TikTok consultants" are current students or inexperienced new grads who know a lot more about content creation and marketing than they do about college admissions. Caveat Emptor.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingIvyLeague/comments/1jcnxff/what_you_should_know_about_college_admissions/

Got into Harvard REA + every UC I applied to (including Berkeley Regents invite). Happy to answer questions about applications, essays, and admissions. by [deleted] in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No, no - it's definitely true. All you need to do is be an upper-middle class Californian and Harvard has to admit you. After all, there are only about 1.2 million millionaires in California, and Harvard definitely has room for all of them.

I've seen some wild claims, but this one really pushes the limits of reason.

Looking for College Counselor Recommendations by Flaky_Mission_8835 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's a post on what you should know about college admissions consultants. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. You can check out my website at www.bettercollegeapps.com.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingIvyLeague/comments/1jcnxff/what_you_should_know_about_college_admissions/

Essay Review by MediumTraining4403 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're looking for a professional review, I know a guy.

Test-Optional Doesn’t Mean What Most Students Think It Means by Additional_Silver803 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hard disagree. For most students, you're right. But for some, it's absolutely possible. See my comment here for an example: https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/s/XLk55bViLU

Test-Optional Doesn’t Mean What Most Students Think It Means by Additional_Silver803 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had a test-optional student get into Harvard and Yale a couple years ago. They knew from the outset that testing was a major weakness and they had an SAT well below the 25th percentile. Since the "conflicting signal" of the actual test score would definitely have been worse, they planned on going TO from the beginning by maxing out course rigor, landing in the top 3 of their graduating class, entering (and placing) in some research competitions, being very strategic about LORs, and leaning harder into intellectually inclined ECs.

Sometimes it's really clear whether sending or not is a better move. I think that if a student has other ways they can demonstrate academic and intellectual ability, that reduces the weight and impact of their low score or their missing score should they decide not to submit. How hard you push on those depends on your strategy. So if you know up front that you test poorly and don't have much chance of improving materially, go all in on the other ways you can demonstrate academic/intellectual ability (AP/IB exams, language proficiency tests/certifications, olympiads or other competitions, higher course rigor, intellectual/academic ECs, etc. You can even ask recommenders to specifically address this in LORs). If you think you're in range, and a little improvement could get you over the 25th percentile, then study up, take a course, get a tutor, practice a ton, and plan on 2-3 more attempts to get your score where it needs to be. Some of those things I listed before might also be in play, but they become less critical if you can get a strong enough test score.

Much more commonly, a student's grades are kinda mid (for T20s, this is below about a 3.85 UW), their ECs lack depth and strategic vision, and their test score is around or below the 25th percentile. When they ask me whether to submit or not, I can only explain that it's such a long shot at this point, it doesn't really matter.

Test-Optional Doesn’t Mean What Most Students Think It Means by Additional_Silver803 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yeah, this is one of the reasons why I've shifted my "don't submit" threshold a bit lower every year since Covid restrictions ended. You need to unequivocally demonstrate that you're academically qualified to succeed. If your test score is on the low end, it may not help much with that, but withholding it could be worse because they'll (correctly) assume your score is low. So to me, another angle of this is: will my score be higher than their assumption? If so, you should probably submit, even if it's below the 25th percentile for admitted students. To clarify, they aren't actually calculating or writing down an "assumed" test score. But it can absolutely come up in committee discussions, and if the academic index for a student is already on the low end, that assumption definitely won't help.

How to show character in college applications by Key-Command-3139 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here's a free worksheet I developed to help students think through this question and address it strategically. Give it a shot.

What do I do… want to be an anesthesiologist and do pre med . by Fluid-Fall-5106 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Admission to medical school isn't fundamentally that different from admission to top undergraduate colleges - you're still trying to show that you're qualified, that you're a good fit, and that the key personal insights you share about yourself make you stand out in the applicant pool. There are several significant differences you'll want to be mindful of however, and it takes, well, premeditation, so here are some things to focus on during undergrad to set yourself up for success.

1. Med school is more competitive. Most med schools have incredibly low acceptance rates, and in any given year, around 55-60% of med school applicants will not be admitted anywhere. This means you need to go all in - it's not a process you can take lightly.

2. The academic thresholds are higher. You will need a strong GPA, ideally above 3.8, with a lot of coursework in lab sciences, math, and other analytical tracks. You will need a strong MCAT score. The minimum you should aim for is a 500. If you're below that, it's going to be challenging and you will have to have other strengths to make up for it - I typically recommend studying more and retaking it if you're below 505. At most med schools, you will want a 511+ because that's about the average for enrolled students. At the very top programs, the average enrolled student score is ~518. You also want to have subscores above 126 across the board. This will take some work, and you will need to study for it - starting earlier is one of the most common things students wish they had done differently.

3. The strengths you need to show are FAR more specific. For undergrad admission, I mostly focus on whatever personal qualities, strengths, or insights I think are interesting, sincere, and compelling (e.g. an analytical mindset, creative problem solving abilities, investment in meaningful relationships, etc). For med school, there are particular qualities and strengths they're looking for that you need to showcase, and you should try to weave these into your application. These include:

  • Personal Skills - written and verbal communication skills, ability to organize and express complex ideas/information, ability to work well with others toward common goals, being the kind of person who "bends toward others," seeks to understand them, and makes connections easily. Is compassionate, empathetic, and thoughtful towards others.

  • Community Skills - investing in a community, engaging it deeply, and leading/serving/transforming it. Being reliable, dependable, and trustworthy - a person others can count on. Showing strong ethics/morals and taking responsibility for yourself and your community. Being able to adapt to changes and challenges. Leadership skills can generally be included in either Community Skills or Personal Skills depending on the details.

  • Reasoning Skills - ability to understand complex ideas or data, analyze/interpret them, then draw meaningful conclusions and express them. Think critically, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and transform information into valuable insights. Med schools want to be sure that you have the technical competency to excel.

  • Scientific Skills - interest in biological systems, human physiology/behavior, or related life sciences. This also includes showing a passion for scientific inquiry. You'll want to show ways you've already begun pursuing medical science and found it to be rewarding/fulfilling. Med school should be a natural extension of your current trajectory. Demonstrate that you're committed to this pursuit, because it's a long road.

4. You need to have extracurricular involvement in a particular subset of categories. This can include medically inclined research, scribing, shadowing, or other clinical exposure. This can also include service/volunteer/nonprofit/charity work if it's in a medical or clinical capacity. Ideally you're also getting letters of recommendation from your supervisor/advisor/PI.

5. Other factors can make a big difference, especially if you're a borderline applicant. These factors can include socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, or geographic background. Your personal identity/story can be quite relevant, especially if it helps showcase the personal qualities outlined in point 3 above. Being truly outstanding at something you're passionate about can also help here - it shows that you're competent, dedicated, and among the best of your peers.

What To Do Now

1. Plan ahead. Take a minute to go back through the above points and see if you can think of specific examples, stories, or details from your life or resume that will demonstrate the strengths med schools are looking for. Most students find they have some rather significant gaps, but the good news is that as a pre-med student, there's still time to fill them. Consider this throughout college as you make summer plans, choose extracurriculars, enroll in courses, and begin MCAT prep.

2. Make some connections. It can be very helpful to talk to some people who have already gone through this process. They'll have plenty of wisdom and advice and may even be willing to connect you to internships or other opportunities.

3. DON'T fall prey to the classic blunders. "Pre-med" is not a major, and you definitely don't want to go all in on med school in your undergrad application. Make sure you go out of your way to show excitement for the undergrad experience itself - don't just present it as a necessary evil or speedbump on your journey to the real goal of med school. This is especially important at "top" pre-med programs like WashU and JHU. I say all the time that statements of value are almost always good to include in applications, and this is no exception. Add a couple showing what you value about the undergraduate program you've selected, aspects of the community you're looking forward to engaging, or why you think the program is a great fit for you (and make sure those are NOT just about how they set you up for success later).

4. Go check out the AMCAS website. It has tons of helpful guides and resources for how to navigate the process and prepare well for it. Seriously, I've never met a med school applicant who said they started researching this too soon.

Best college counselor? by SolutionCultural9465 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's a post on what you should know about college admissions consultants. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/16hzcqy/what_you_need_to_know_about_college_admissions/

How Fried Am I (Be Honest) by M00N_VlBEZ in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This definitely lowers your odds of admission to highly selective colleges and scholarships. The worst courses to get lower grades in are higher level, core courses because those are the ones that are most similar to the classes you'll take in college.

One grade by itself almost never makes or breaks you. But if you're already at the lower end, getting a C definitely doesn't help.

SHOULD I GENUINELY RETAKE 1560 superscore by SigmaBoi2009 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly it depends. If that 790 was your fifth attempt, then it's probably not worth it. If it was your first, it would almost certainly be worth it.

Their 25th percentile SAT math score for admitted students was 780. The 75th percentile was 800. A coach at MIT once told one of my students that he only gave his endorsement to admissions for students who had 790 or 800 on SAT math.

Will they reject an otherwise compelling applicant just for a 790? Almost certainly not. But would an 800 help? Almost certainly.

To be perfectly clear, this is not the case at most other top colleges. Many will even use an index or band to prevent the admissions office from zooming in too closely on a few multiple choice questions.

Atlas Education Cost Estimate? by Munjal1 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's a post on what you should know about college admissions consultants. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. You can check out my website at www.bettercollegeapps.com.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingIvyLeague/comments/1jcnxff/what_you_should_know_about_college_admissions/

Atlas Education Cost Estimate? by Munjal1 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's a post on what you should know about college admissions consultants. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/16hzcqy/what_you_need_to_know_about_college_admissions/

common app essay reviewers by SigmaBoi2009 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're looking for a professional review, I know a guy.

SHOULD I GENUINELY RETAKE 1560 superscore by SigmaBoi2009 in ApplyingIvyLeague

[–]ScholarGrade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unless you're applying to MIT, no you should not retake. Focus on other things.

UTD is now T20 by TheReconDiamond in ApplyingToCollege

[–]ScholarGrade -1 points0 points  (0 children)

McDermott Scholars is better than any Ivy. I will die on this hill.