A tough decision

Applying to College
1

<p>Just a little background: I’m a senior in high school with a 4.25 GPA, 1910 (1300) SAT’s, and an avg. amount of extracurriculars (also went to the Harvard Secondary School Program). I live in NJ and my dad went to TCNJ so he’s always telling me good things about it but obviously he’s going to be biased. I want to go to a good medical and become a doctor so really if TCNJ can get me there as easily as any other than thats fine.</p>

<p>The thing is i almost feel like I’m setting with TCNJ. I also plan on applying to Villanova and that would be good but the tuition is twice as expensive. Cornell was my reach school but even to just apply i would need to take 2 SAT subject tests and go through all the studying just to be able to apply and the avg. SAT grades and GPA there are higher than mine.</p>

<p>I’ll number my questions so it’s easier</p>

<li><p>Considering my SAT’s should i take them again? i’ve already taken them twice, and i think i would do better on the ACT but theres all the studying i’d have to do again lol</p></li>
<li><p>Would TCNJ be a good school for what i want to do? or should i set my standards higher? Like i said if it can get me into just as good of a school then i’m OK with it and i like the campus and all, it’s a little too close to home though. I was also considering Bucknell and Lehigh after my guidance counselor recommended them but i haven’t researched them</p></li>
<li><p>Should i take the SAT 2’s and try for Cornell? I’m really not sure what to do with this one. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks a lot for the help,
David</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>I think you should take the ACT. But, I'm a little worried that someone who aspires to med school would avoid an important test because it requires studying. That's not a good sign.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm in no way an expert on this. But, if you were my kid and definitely knew you wanted to go to med school, I'd encourage you to attend an excellent in-state school for undergrad. Then med school would be where you focus on setting your sights high. In this economy loans will be hard to come by...whether for 'nova or med school. Financial considerations are important here.</p></li>
<li><p>I believe in applying. You never know what might happen. But, if you get accepted, you'll have to consider money. How would you/your family afford a Cornell undergrad + med school?</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>hey David! Welcome to the website!</p>

<ol>
<li>First of all, 1910 is a good score and you should be happy with it. With that being said, if you want a good chance at Cornell, i would strongly advice you to take it again and try for over 2000 and preferably over 2100. I am not familiar with TCNJ and what their avg. SAT scores are but i think you are most likely in range. It is important to tell you that i know a lot of people that get around 2000 on the SAT and do much better on the ACT. So, it may be worth studying for you so i say give it a shot. Again, it depends on where you want to go. For most schools, a 1900 is fine... however, i can't say the same for Cornell.</li>
</ol>

<p>2.Again, i am not familiar with TCNJ... however, i can tell you that getting into a good med school is excessively hard, even from a prestigious undergrad school. Acceptance rates hover around 5-10%. If you look at acceptance rates to med school, the national average is about 45 %. This means that 55% of the people that apply, do not get into any med school whatsoever. Sorry if i am scaring you... but it is better for you to know now rather than later. With all this being said, if you do well at any university including TCNJ, you will have a shot at med school. Don't get too picky with med schools because the overwhelming majority of the people are just happy to get in anywhere. As for Bucknell and Lehigh, they are both very good universities but you may need to raise your SATs to 2000. </p>

<p>3.If your dream school is Cornell, go for it. Remember, most of the stuff in SAT Subject tests are things you should have learned already in school...you should not have to learn everything over again. If you are set on Cornell, work hard and give it a shot. Remember, learning more is never a bad thing.</p>

<p>Good luck with everything... if you need more help, don't hesitate to PM me.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
1. I think you should take the ACT. But, I'm a little worried that someone who aspires to med school would avoid an important test because it requires studying. That's not a good sign.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I'm in no way an expert on this. But, if you were my kid and definitely knew you wanted to go to med school, I'd encourage you to attend an excellent in-state school for undergrad. Then med school would be where you focus on setting your sights high. In this economy loans will be hard to come by...whether for 'nova or med school. Financial considerations are important here.</p></li>
<li><p>I believe in applying. You never know what might happen. But, if you get accepted, you'll have to consider money. How would you/your family afford a Cornell undergrad + med school?

[/quote]
</p></li>
<li><p>well i was partly kidding about the studying thing, i just hate having to do it again because i spent so much time for the SAT's back in May. Also if i am going to apply to cornell i think i'd just take the 2 SAT subject tests. well actually i guess i'd still have to get a higher ACT or SAT score most likely.</p></li>
<li><p>An excellent in-state school like where? Villanova (close but not in-state)
is good but i'm already going to be taking a loan out for med school</p></li>
<li><p>Yea i do want to see if i get in but i know it's a long shot. My parents said if i somehow got in they would want to find a way to make it work though (money wise)</p></li>
</ol>

5

<p>
[quote]
hey David! Welcome to the website!</p>

<ol>
<li>First of all, 1910 is a good score and you should be happy with it. With that being said, if you want a good chance at Cornell, i would strongly advice you to take it again and try for over 2000 and preferably over 2100. I am not familiar with TCNJ and what their avg. SAT scores are but i think you are most likely in range. It is important to tell you that i know a lot of people that get around 2000 on the SAT and do much better on the ACT. So, it may be worth studying for you so i say give it a shot. Again, it depends on where you want to go. For most schools, a 1900 is fine... however, i can't say the same for Cornell.

[/quote]
</li>
</ol>

<p>Yea i think i could do better on the ACT's because i've heard it's more straight forward and better for those who aren't necessarily great test takers. I really don't feel like taking all the tests again, especially 3 (since i'd need 2 subject tests), but I know this is the type of thing where i should just do it because in the long run its better. As far as TCNJ i think i can definitely get in. </p>

<p>
[quote]
2.Again, i am not familiar with TCNJ... however, i can tell you that getting into a good med school is excessively hard, even from a prestigious undergrad school. Acceptance rates hover around 5-10%. If you look at acceptance rates to med school, the national average is about 45 %. This means that 55% of the people that apply, do not get into any med school whatsoever. Sorry if i am scaring you... but it is better for you to know now rather than later. With all this being said, if you do well at any university including TCNJ, you will have a shot at med school. Don't get too picky with med schools because the overwhelming majority of the people are just happy to get in anywhere. As for Bucknell and Lehigh, they are both very good universities but you may need to raise your SATs to 2000.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>wow i didn't know that. I mean i knew med school itself was hard but from some sticky's i've read on here i thought as long as you had high grades you could get into a medical school. I know i can get the grades though. My dads doctor seemed to think i could definitely get where i wanted from TCNJ but i think i will take the SAT's again and look into Bucknell and Lehigh. The problem is I think i'm almost too late now and i have to study again because i don't remember it all. I don't see how i'm going to raise it that much though only because i've already done a lot of practice for it. I'll try though. Would you suggest the ACT and the 2 SAT subject tests? or the SAT again with the 2 subject tests?

[quote]

3.If your dream school is Cornell, go for it. Remember, most of the stuff in SAT Subject tests are things you should have learned already in school...you should not have to learn everything over again. If you are set on Cornell, work hard and give it a shot. Remember, learning more is never a bad thing.

[/quote]

well it's not so much a dream school for me, but it is an ivy and that would be cool to go to. I'd feel like i achieved a lot more for sure.</p>

6

<p>TCNJ is a great school, my son was accepted there last year but went to Lafayette instead. It is a great choice, especially if you are looking toward Medical School. I work with many doctors, and they definitely say an in state school is the way to go, save money for med school.</p>

<p>Definitely take SAT II's. You probably need them for Lehigh, Bucknell and Cornell. My own mistake: getting accepted to Cornell (a long time ago) and thinking my parents couldn't afford to send me, I went to state univerisity in NY. Good Luck with your decision.......and remember, if you are not doing ED, you have several months to figure it out.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
TCNJ is a great school, my son was accepted there last year but went to Lafayette instead. It is a great choice, especially if you are looking toward Medical School. I work with many doctors, and they definitely say an in state school is the way to go, save money for med school.</p>

<p>Definitely take SAT II's. You probably need them for Lehigh, Bucknell and Cornell. My own mistake: getting accepted to Cornell (a long time ago) and thinking my parents couldn't afford to send me, I went to state univerisity in NY. Good Luck with your decision.......and remember, if you are not doing ED, you have several months to figure it out.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>So if you think i should go to TCNJ if planning on going to med school why would you suggest i take the SAT II's? Are you saying i should go to Cornell anyway if i could get it?</p>

<p>I almost just want to apply ED to TCNJ so i don't have to wait until april</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Like i said if it can get me into just as good of a school then i'm OK with it and i like the campus and all, it's a little too close to home though.

[/quote]
You share what is a common misconception, that your school will "get you in". What will get you in is what you do in college. Do you get good grades, especially in the classes med schools look carefully at? Did you get a good MCAT? Did you get to know a few profs so you get personal and strong recommendations? Did you take part in research? Did you volunteer in a medical setting?</p>

<p>You should read thru the very informative link at Amherst</a> College Premedical Guide Amherst is a top LAC, and the guide begins by saying
[quote]
Amherst College has no magic touch that automatically elevates a student's chances of entering medical school simply by virtue of the student's coming to Amherst; no college or university has that kind of magic touch. What does elevate a student's chances is to go to an institution (1) that energizes and challenges that particular student academically, while providing good teaching and academic support so the student can meet the challenge satisfactorily; and (2) that provides opportunities for accomplishment and leadership in extracurricular areas. Of course the student must take advantage of these educational and extracurricular opportunities - in the end it's the student's accomplishments that count, not the name of the institution.

[/quote]
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