So, my junior DD has a bunch of match and safety schools on her list, but is lacking in a couple reaches other than Duke, which is really not reasonable for her. Looking for some suggestions of a more realistic reach. She is above 25% stat in all her targets right now. I’d like to find something where more of the students fit her profile.
GPA: 4.2 unweighted with 5 APs as of now
SAT: 1380 ACT: 30
National Hispanic Scholar
ECs: 4-year varsity swimmer, likely captain; 4 years marching band and electric rock orchestra; 2 years leadership camp; 2 years part-time job; going to volunteer at camp for disabled this summer
Major: Marine Bio/Enviro Science/Zoology. You get the idea
Likes: at least 2,500 students, not against a large state U. Wants to be close to outdoor activities and a city or cute college town very accessible. Likes a true, contained campus.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
Oh, forgot to add would like to stay in eastern half of U.S. but might consider the perfect school in the West.
How do you get 4.2 unweighted GPA? Is it calculated with +/- where A+ = 4.3 or some such (and she has a lot of A+ grades)?
Look at Fordham - Rose Hill Campus - NHRP may get you Full Tuition scholarship but I don’t believe it’s guaranteed. Maybe you have it as a match.
BU has a NHRP scholarship as well (20K a year I believe) though the campus may not be to her liking.
Northeastern is similar to BU but a more cohesive campus and a 30K award for NHRP.
Smith (2600 students) - they have a fly in program for diversity (Women of Distinction) and merit possibilities up to 25/30K.
Oops! GPA is 4.2 weighted not unweighted! Thanks @ucbalumnus!
Emory, Wake Forest (Winston-Salem isn’t quite a “cute college town,” but downtown nightlife is growing rapidly, though requires a car or Uber to get to from Wake, and not far from the mountains), UVA and/or UNC (state schools but not all that large)
@bluedevil was thinking about Emory. Would love UNC but would her stats be competitive for OOS? I think admit rate is super low for OOS.
How is it weighted, and what is the unweighted GPA?
Weighted GPAs convey little information outside of the high school, since weighting methods vary. A 4.2 weighted GPA can be from an unweighted GPA as high as 4.0 to as low as in the 2.something range for the most exaggerated weightings.
Try Wesleyan and choose the test-optional route.
Since your daughter is interested in marine biology and wants east coast, the post above about University of Miami is probably the most helpful. Duke and Miami have the best programs and Miami provides a great deal of merit scholarships. Your daughter would probably get in anyway, but her URM status would make it much more definite. Miami is an excellent school in its own right even if she were to change majors. It’s also a nice sized school (about 11,000 undergrads) with a beautiful campus.
A great safety for her would be Eckerd College, it has the largest number of NOAA Hollings Scholars in the country. Great merit and financial aid. Located on Boca Ciega Bay with dedicated boats for research into the bay. Relationship with University of Havana, marine science students from Eckerd study there on faculty led trips. Students actively participate in their professor/mentor’s research. They begin their marine science classes as freshman, some universities require the first 2 yrs. spent in required courses prior to marine science courses. No competition with graduate students for research projects. Students can become TA’s, publish and present at world wide conferences. Numerous marine science and environmental science study abroad opportunities. Freshman research grant offered.
Other institutions noted for marine science:
University of Miami
Duke
University of Maine
University of New Hampshire
University of New England
University of Hawaii
Hawaii Pacific University
College of Charleston
University of Tampa
UNC- Wilmington
University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and UCLA
Thank you @ECmotherx2! Eckerd has been on her list from the start.
University of Rhode Island is known for its marine bio.
Be aware that there is a school of thought that says that marine bio is a specialty that will require graduate work and that graduate work does not require undergraduate specialization.
Therefore, choosing a school that one would not otherwise choose based on a specialty can backfire if you change majors.
Augmenting the curriculum of a school you like with a marine bio study abroad experience can increase the number of options and you will have no regrets if you decide to change majors.
Here are some programs:
https://web.uri.edu/marbio/study-abroad-opportunity/
@Mastadon yes I have heard this and have tried to steer DD to general biology at some schools I think would be good fit for her but she has heart set on marine focus for undergrad. Partly why I am asking for some suggestions so I can find some schools with good rep overall.
@incadinca : can you calculate her unweighted GPA?
Are you in CA and in that case what’s her ucgpa?
Marine biology involves the study of aquatic environments, including the great lakes (not just the oceans), is that something she’s interested in? There’s a good dose of chemistry invoceebso that biochemistry with an applied concentration may also apply - perhaps something involving aquifers, water resources.
See McGill’s McDonald’s campus majors for a straight stats reach.
UMaine, URochester and BU all have a good marine biology department.
@MYOS1634, I believe it is a 3.7 unweighted. We are in Ohio. McGill is interesting idea that I’ve glanced at but will have her look into it deeper.
@NEPatsGirl, UMaine probably too cold for her and URochester and BU will be too expensive unless they give something for Hispanic Scholar as we will probably only qualify for merit aid. Thanks for suggestions though!
McGill is “straight costs”.
Run the NPC on all colleges mentioned in this thread just in case.
Start with Ohio colleges.