Serena2020
Serena2020,
Harvard
B.A., Molecular Biology
Premed on track to graduate a year early. But I love my school! National merit scholar, into surgery, arts & community…
Features Included
11
Essays
14
Schools
11
Scores
10
Advice
7
ECs
0
Sports

Background

Hometown West Bloomfield, Michigan
GenderFemale
EthnicityBlack / African American
AdmissionEarly Action
Class of2019
First Gen College StudentNo
English First Language Yes
Other Language(s) Spoken Spanish

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
  • University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
  • Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)
  • Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
  • University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
  • University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
  • Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo, MI)
  • Rice University (Houston, TX)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • Pomona College (Claremont, CA)
  • Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

Applied for a B.A. in Molecular Biology

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

School Specific Advice

My favorite course thus far, and why
261 Words
So far, my favorite course is organic chemistry. It really is not as nerdy as it sounds. At Harvard, organic chemistry is replete with examples from biology and biochemistry, which makes it fun because those are topics that interest me. Also my professor and teaching assistant were excellent, caring, and very accessible. I should note that at the beginning of my first terms, my academic advisors where very cautious and tried to dissuade me from taking three science...
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The academic rigor of a typical course load or in my major
531 Words
My concentration (major) is Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) at Harvard College and I am on the premed advising track. One of the key factors in selecting colleges for me was getting a full year of Advanced Standing (1yr-AS) through my AP courses. I want to talk here a little bit about how that has worked out so far (in the middle of the first semester of my second year). Within the first month of matriculation, I contacted my target major (MCB) and the Advanced Standing Office and submitted my tentative course plan for my three years at Harvard. There...
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Research, job or internship opportunities available to students at my school
433 Words
I just graduated, so I thought I would comment on my experience in this area at my school. During the first semester, I purposely minimized extracurricular activities, just to make sure that I successfully acclimatized academically. I passively sampled some clubs but did not do much more. Near the end of my first semester, one of professors asked me to join his group as an undergraduate research assistant. Since I had was more interested in an other science area, I interviewed with other groups. but it soon became apparent that because of my shortened, three-year tenure. It would be best...
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More Essays

These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.

--Connecting Dots-- . . . I recently helped clean up around Cody High School with my church. I had long looked forward to doing mission work in inner-city Detroit and this was the perfect opportunity. As I picked up litter from highways and around abandoned houses near Cody, I couldn’t help wondering about the kids there. Through some radio podcasts, I learned about the dire academic and graduation outcomes of Codies. Puzzling was one of my early passions! I notice puzzles everywhere,...
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Supplemental Essay Issue of personal significance
513 Words
--Stage Fright, Exit Stage Left-- I glance quickly at the theater students sitting around me, brace myself quietly and raise my hand high to volunteer. My teacher, Mrs. Tini, calls on me, and I stand up. The room is dead silent. To my left, I hear the piano opening to the song “Uggawug” from the play “Peter Pan,” but my face is glued to my music sheet. The pressure from the crowd of eyes surrounding me is stifling. “Uggawug uggawug...
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Supplemental Essay “Why us” school essay
121 Words
Although I couldn’t afford the cost of visiting Yale from Michigan, I really like the charming campus feel from the virtual tour. Yale also has strong graduation rates, even for African-American students, and a high national ranking. Moreover, Yale offers generous financial aid. I am pursuing a career in medicine, and I find Yale’s diverse major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology very attractive. I’m also glad I have scientific research opportunities as an undergraduate. Lastly, it...
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Supplemental Essay “Why us” school essay
334 Words
When considering colleges, I have several factors or ‘desires’ that I’m looking for to gauge if a school is a good fit. I carefully assess the following key aspects holistically: academic quality, advanced standing, campus quality, diversity, extracurricular activities, financial aid, potential majors, and premed preparation. When I looked closely at the University of Chicago, there was much to be excited about. I had a chance to visit in April 2015, and I really liked the bustling campus feel. Through...
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Supplemental Essay “Why us” school essay
314 Words
I first learned about Northwestern University about two years ago as a freshman in high school. I read in the student newspaper that someone who had just graduated from our school was enrolling there as premed student. When I looked further into Northwestern, there was much to be excited about. I had a chance to visit Northwestern in April 2015 with my mom. It was great to be on campus and interact with students and staff. Northwestern has wonderful facilities and...
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Supplemental Essay Diversity statement
513 Words
The issue of diversity is very important to me. I once heard someone say that my high school’s cafeteria looked like a meeting of the United Nations. Indeed, I have friends and classmates that differ in terms of ethnicity, interest, talent, political affiliation, financial situation, cultural traditions and religious beliefs. As a result, I have experienced the personal maturation that results from interacting with people that are different than I am. I will contribute to diversity at the University...
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Supplemental Essay Unique question posed by school
495 Words
My leadership experiences are mostly driven by my passions. I have led as secretary for Spanish Club, on ministry team at my church, as valedictorian at my summer camp at a medical school, as founder and president of Health Science Club, and academically in many of my classes. I founded Health Science Club to motivate and encourage students at our school who share my interest in health professions. Members engage in activities like “Science in the News,” town-hall sessions with...
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Supplemental Essay Scholarship application
659 Words
If you had visited Health Science Club (HSC) last Monday, you would have encountered a thriving, diverse group of about fifty students that are interested in health occupations. HSC is a response to the wide interest in health careers at our school and to the burgeoning health industry in America, particularly in our county. Our club motivates students that pursue health careers by encouraging them to work together. We also create activities and resources that assist these students. Yet, launching...
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Supplemental Essay Unique question posed by school
536 Words
BREAKING NEWS: Presidential Candidate Lies About Favorite Colors April 19, 2044 WASHINGTON, DC: An anonymous tipster just revealed to ThoughtHack that Bennet Smith was less than candid during Monday’s press conference. “My favorite colors are red, white, and blue, the colors of this great nation,” he said during his speech. But data leaked from his personal implant reveals the contrary. “Smith hates the color red,” ThoughtHack reports. His favorite? Green. *** The world is better off without personal computer implants, the technology...
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Supplemental Essay Scholarship application
304 Words
My goal is to use my talents to help others in a meaningful and powerful way. I enjoy tactile experiences, and I relish the time I spend drawing, painting, piano playing and even typing. Moreover, I am fascinated with the human body and how it operates. Consequently, surgery is a natural fit for me. I am most interested in neurology, orthopedics and cardiology. The brain and the heart are two of the most vital organs, and I would like to...
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Supplemental Essay Other
74 Words
Here's the Common-App prompt I answered with my main essay (for other essays, I put the prompts below them): Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. ('Connecting Dots' essay)
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General Admissions Advice

What I’d change about my application process
56 Words
I would definitely start earlier with writing my essays. I intended to start writing my essays over...
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List of schools I interviewed with and my interview experience
148 Words
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Kentucky's National Merit Program, and Oakland University's Honors College (the latter was really an info session meant to gauge the applicant's interest). I looked up techniques for preparing for college interviews online. I also looked at what to...
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Recommended summer activities during high school and college
96 Words
Enjoy yourself during the summer by exploring your various interests! And if you're on a budget, it doesn't have to cost much. During my summers, I went to...
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How I chose schools to apply to
143 Words
I had three main criteria of where to apply. First, I wanted to attend a school that would give me credit for most of my AP courses and convert them to advanced standing to graduate a year early (note that I also...
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My advice about getting recommenders
135 Words
Basically, I worked on recommenders in almost every high school class I was in. It's important to build a good rapport with your teachers. Be engaging in the class. Help them out with tutoring or grading. Nominate them for awards....
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Post-college plans
57 Words
I am exploring a career in neurosurgery. I am particularly interested in spinal cord injury and spine...
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Whether I used a private admissions counselor, and advice I received
176 Words
I did not use a private admissions counselor. I received a lot of advice and explanations from my parents. I also worked with the guidance counselors and principal at my public school. I also did several science, STEM, and medical camps starting in middle school and got a lot of advice and...
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High School Performance

Weighted GPA
4.33
(equivalent to 4.00 unweighted)
Rank
Top 10%
 
High School TypePublic
Academic Performance in High School Steady
Explanation of Low Grades

Test Scores

Highest SAT
1560
on 1600 scale
Highest SAT
2300
 
SAT Score Details
 
Original SAT Score2300
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep
PSAT Scores
Other Standardized Tests

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details9 classes and scores

Sports

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesScience Club/Team, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Hospital Volunteer, Community Cleanup / Service, Other Religious Affiliation, Black Student Union
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

How Spent Summers
Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received

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