saidawg

Hi guys! I'm an international junior in college right now and have just decided that I want to pursue Genetic Counseling in the future so I was wondering if you could look at my stats and give me some advice about areas that I could improve/ should be worried about lol. I'm getting a B.S in Biotechnology at Penn State. I have a 3.2 cgpa right now but am very sure that I'm going to graduate with at least a 3.4 (is a 3.4/3.45 any good, honestly?), and my major gpa is going to be around 3.6/3.7, if that matters. I've gotten As/Bs in all the courses that most programs require (chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, biochemistry, genetics, statistics) but need to take another Psych class since I have a C+ in the only one I took freshman year. I basically started college with a 2.8 gpa, but show gradual improvement in my transcript over the years (3.0 in sophomore year, going to end junior year with 3.3, will hopefully graduate with 3.4). Things that I've done/ have signed up to do soon: - Learning assistant for an organic chemistry class - hold weekly workshops and office hours to help students with homework + help students with questions during class as well ( have done 6 months) - Active member of Science Lionpride Ambassadors club - I basically represent the college of science at alumni events and orientation events for new students, give special science tours to prospective science students and raise money for THON (largest student run philanthropy in the world. (will have done 2 years) - On site coordinator for Student Red Cross club - I mentor and supervise student volunteers during blood drives and engage with blood donors ( will have done 60 hours over 2 years) - Bio behavioral health research - I'm working at a lab that is studying the effects of nicotine on learning an memory. Right now I'm being trained in lab techniques, will start assisting the grad students next semester (will have done 2 years) - Best buddies - I've applied to this organization to be paired with a student with a disability and help him/her with homework and just college life in general (will do for 1.5 years) - Centre helps - I've applied to volunteer at this crisis hotline for people struggling with alcohol, drugs and emotional support (will do for 1.5 years) - Geisinger - I'm going to shadow a genetic counselor at a Geisinger Hospital next summer for a month-ish Apart from all that, I'm planning on taking the GRE as soon as I graduate (Spring '19), and apply to programs at the end of 2019. i'm looking into UMich (#1 choice), Thomas Jefferson, Sarah Lawrence, UPitt, Indiana, Brandeis, UBoston, Emory and John Hopkins. I'm thinking about getting letters of recommendation from the professor that i was a learning assistant for for 6 months, the professor whose lab I work in and the genetic counselor that I'm going to shadow. (I can send in the letters on my own when I'm applying to programs, right?) SOOOOOOOOOOO, what do you guys think?????!!!!! Any advice/ opinion would be greatly appreciated! <3