1590 test score what would be good reach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If into wilderness EMT, Dartmouth all the way!!!

Dartmouth offers a 3-week Wilderness EMT (W-EMT) program every Fall break that a lot of premeds do, and it's facilitated through EMS. Additionally, every year there's Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses in the spring usually. People have worked in wilderness first responder capacities as well, helping people who got hurt on the trails nearby.

Almost no other university offers these certifications; you typically have to travel to take the courses and get them. Also, if you're a skier - ski patrol is the best extracurricular.

Honestly though, your kid will need “something special” to stand out and not be another boring science/pre med kid.

Like working at a plant nursery, local farm or health food store? Or beekeeping and producing medicinal honey? Or foraging for medicinal mushrooms?

Dartmouth didn’t release much info about its ED acceptances but they did release this “ Ninety-eight percent were ranked in the top 10% of their senior class, and a record-setting 22% are projected to graduate as either valedictorian or salutatorian.”

Yeah but most schools don’t rank. Two kids from our school got in ED. Neither received cum laude after junior year and so neither in top 10%. But they don’t count because school doesn’t rank.

exactly. the fine print for all these schools - is that those stats only apply for the kids that submitted ranking. Most private schools dont. And for some schools, private schools can make up 35-40% of the incoming class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to find out if your private school will disclose the 20% ranking or not. Most do not.

Then you need to ask your college counselor if kid does certain things from a story, EC, impact perspective, then what are some good options for ED - reach for him.

It’s surprising you don’t have access to any of your schools data. How are you supposed to tell if you’re competitive or not for school? Maybe you haven’t gotten access yet and it’s coming?

Not op. At our private, can tell if top 10 percent because first half of cum laude society announced in fall, and can tell top 5-10 kids (kids, not percent) by awards received at end of junior year. However, school does not technically release rank.

I think top schools can determine where in class kids fall beyond this because they receive some many apps from our private year after year. So school not releasing rank doesn’t necessarily mean colleges can’t figure out.

Cum Laude a joke at DD’s private. Kids only there for 2 years and not even IB, which top students do. At my high school was different. It depends.

The charter says it can’t be more than 20 percent of class. I guess it’s not necessarily top 20 percent of class every where, but our schools (son and daughter attend different single sex school) is quite clear that it’s based on weighted gpa, and it’s been that way since the 1980’s. Since these kids will mainly attend T20, the colleges know.

To me, what makes the Dartmouth numbers impressive is more than 20 percent number one or two in their class. We had one admit this cycle ED and he was in top 10 percent of class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If into wilderness EMT, Dartmouth all the way!!!

Dartmouth offers a 3-week Wilderness EMT (W-EMT) program every Fall break that a lot of premeds do, and it's facilitated through EMS. Additionally, every year there's Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses in the spring usually. People have worked in wilderness first responder capacities as well, helping people who got hurt on the trails nearby.

Almost no other university offers these certifications; you typically have to travel to take the courses and get them. Also, if you're a skier - ski patrol is the best extracurricular.

Honestly though, your kid will need “something special” to stand out and not be another boring science/pre med kid.

Like working at a plant nursery, local farm or health food store? Or beekeeping and producing medicinal honey? Or foraging for medicinal mushrooms?

Dartmouth didn’t release much info about its ED acceptances but they did release this “ Ninety-eight percent were ranked in the top 10% of their senior class, and a record-setting 22% are projected to graduate as either valedictorian or salutatorian.”

Yeah but most schools don’t rank. Two kids from our school got in ED. Neither received cum laude after junior year and so neither in top 10%. But they don’t count because school doesn’t rank.

exactly. the fine print for all these schools - is that those stats only apply for the kids that submitted ranking. Most private schools dont. And for some schools, private schools can make up 35-40% of the incoming class.

You must have only read the first part of my post. Private schools have ways of telegraphing whose at the top of the class.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak to the rest of Dartmouth odds but they are one of the only top schools aside from MIT that is test required this cycle which would play to OP's kid's strength....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to the rest of Dartmouth odds but they are one of the only top schools aside from MIT that is test required this cycle which would play to OP's kid's strength....

True

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to the rest of Dartmouth odds but they are one of the only top schools aside from MIT that is test required this cycle which would play to OP's kid's strength....

Old and inaccurate info, even for this cycle, For next cycle, five of the Ivies, Hopkins, Cal Tech and Stanford are also test required. But that doesn’t change the fact that schools still care more about weighted gpa and position within the class than test score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:private no ranking no weight, highest rigor math/stem. UW gpa guessing in the top 20%, but definitely not tippy top if not weighted.
What would be good reach schools? DC does not like large universities in general, a medium/small size university or a LAC would work. Undecided major potentially premed. Unhooked full pay.

ED outside of the top ten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to the rest of Dartmouth odds but they are one of the only top schools aside from MIT that is test required this cycle which would play to OP's kid's strength....

True

What? It’s false. There are a lot more test required schools than Dartmouth and MIT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:private no ranking no weight, highest rigor math/stem. UW gpa guessing in the top 20%, but definitely not tippy top if not weighted.
What would be good reach schools? DC does not like large universities in general, a medium/small size university or a LAC would work. Undecided major potentially premed. Unhooked full pay.

ED outside of the top ten.

Dartmouth; Brown; Cornell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:private no ranking no weight, highest rigor math/stem. UW gpa guessing in the top 20%, but definitely not tippy top if not weighted.
What would be good reach schools? DC does not like large universities in general, a medium/small size university or a LAC would work. Undecided major potentially premed. Unhooked full pay.

ED outside of the top ten.

I think it’s ED out of the T20. GPA without any really strong extracurriculars isn’t going to get it done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:once you get to a baseline, the GPA and scores don't matter.

the story is more important for reaches - what makes your kid compelling, different, memorable.

If pre-med, I'd highly suggest not to state of major pref in bio or a science - especially if Indian or asian.

What ECs? What activities? What awards? Hobbies? All more important once you reach the baseline.

OP. ECs are routine, nothing really stands out. Mostly school-related: sports, clubs, summer camps. DC wants to take time to figure out the major, but refuse to consider computer science or engineering. Not obsessed with prestige/ivy.

that's great. if a junior, i assume, what is the kid doing this summer? how is the kid in humanities classes? has kid connected with any teachers for LOR? if so, what subject? what are favorite classes? any academic outside of school hobbies?

OP here. Yes, junior. Went to a selective stem camp last summer. But our school counselor said that summer camps are not that helpful in college process though it's great for personal growth. She suggested making an impact. We have no clue how to do that. Probably will spend the junior summer volunteering or an internship.

Balanced stem/humanities classes, worst grades in humanities are B+. Recommendation would be from math and science teachers. Favorites are biology/chemistry. Founded a school club related to environmental science.

No, no academic outside, meaning no math/science competition.

Every ivy/T15 wants this. If he does not know how, he is not the right type for these schools.
Did they make an impact on their community in or outside of school, and how, is a common interview evaluation question at multiple ivy/elites, and a common essay question. They want students to care deeply about things to the point of being motivated to make a difference to improve an aspect of it, and then be able to explain why they cared and what they did.
By junior year interests should already be well developed: he needs to pick one he truly cares about and figure out a way to make a difference. If he does not really care his essays will fall flat and he will not be authentic in interviews.
1590 means nothing without top grades in the hardest classes and impactful ECs. IF he is at a private that sends 25% to ivy/T15 then he is set and does not need to worry as much. However, the counselor mentioning make an impact implies it is needed from his high school given the peers he is up against.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From a med Anthro perspective, talking about measles in refugee and immigrant populations is very of the moment.

If into enviro science though, I’d go the community gardens, medicinal plants and natural wilderness medicine route. Great easy & natural way to combine the two disparate interests into a compelling and memorable story.
Make sure kid took Enviro Sci and see if kid can take Anthro next year or this summer? Think Brown & Penn offer it.

OP here. "combine the two disparate interests into a compelling and memorable story". I didn't get it. How would you combine them easily? Could you elaborate a little bit more?

Enviro science and medicine intersect in a lot of ways. You would create a story/narrative/admissions hook/whatever you want to call it based around the intersection of the two as part of the kid's story (assuming this is his interest bc he co-founded the enviro club??)

How? Our environment directly impacts our health, and understanding these connections can help show a holistic approach to healthcare.

How to combine these 2 interests in a college application:

ACTIVITIES
- Study medicinal plants: Document local plants with medicinal properties, research their traditional uses, and connect this to modern pharmacology. This combines botany (environmental science) with medical applications.
- Community garden health initiatives: Help establish or work with gardens that grow nutritious food for underserved communities, connecting environmental sustainability with nutritional health and food-as-medicine concepts.
- Wilderness medicine: Take wilderness first aid courses and volunteer with outdoor organizations. This combines environmental knowledge with practical medical skills.
- Environmental health research: Study how environmental factors (air/water quality, climate change) affect human health in your community. Collect data, interview residents, and propose solutions.
- Conservation medicine: Focus on the intersection of ecosystem health and human health - for example, how habitat destruction leads to disease emergence.
[NOTE: google these for summer programs and other local ideas - in my community there's a BUNCH of stuff to volunteer for like this. Also EMTs and outdoor wilderness medicine courses this summer]

TRANSCRIPT
Taking Environmental Science is excellent groundwork
An Anthropology course (especially medical anthropology) would strengthen this narrative - I think Brown and Penn both offer summer anthropology programs for high schoolers.

ESSAYS
Might cover an EC experience or something learned in the class?

HOW OR WHY DOES THIS WORK?
It may not, but if its authentic (and your kid wants to do it and has passion for it) it can show the AdCom that the your kid doesn't just want to be a doctor, but someone who understands health through multiple lenses. This is a kid who can think critically about emerging challenges at the intersection of environment and medicine. Certain colleges (looking at you Northwestern and Brown) love kids who combine two totally different fields together.

Is your kid a current sophomore or junior? If junior he might not have much time this summer with essays and applications? No test prep tho so that’s good!!

I’d do some of this EC stuff listed as it’s realistic, grounded and relatively normal, plus add a job in a plant nursery or farm/community garden as mentioned. Do a 1-2 week summer course on wilderness first aid programs/ certification. Add in an PT internship with a medicinal mushroom/supplement company or someway to incorporate that herbalist learning /intellectual curiosity.

There’s an old post on here about common app activities list that show how a kid combined their interest in environmental science and art on their activities. This kind of reminds me of the same thing. Think it was published by Crimson?

[Anonymous]

Go for Northwestern , Rice, Vanderbilt.

[Anonymous]

There’s some really detailed and fantastic advice here that people would ordinarily pay real money for. Reminds me of some of the junior year 1-1 planning from counselors.

Hope OP realizes this is not the norm around here!! Pay it forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go for Northwestern , Rice, Vanderbilt.

Northwestern isn’t happening with those grades unless URM or recruited athlete