I am a high school seniors, and as application deadlines are getting closer, I am becoming more stressed. Most of my friends what have already been accepted to colleges and I still do not have a finalized list of where I am applying to.
I am really conflicted. I got a 34 on my ACT and have a 3.85 GPA, so my family thinks I need to go to an amazing, impressive school like Notre Dame or Johns Hopkins, but I don’t know if those are the right fit for me.
I participated in a program called PSEO so I will actually have a 60 college credits and an associates degree from a community college by the time I graduate high school. Unfortunately those selective private schools will not accept my credits. I guess what I am wondering is if it is worth going to a school like Notre Dame that would not accept my credit or going to a less prestigious school (such as Creighton or University of Minesota) that would.
More about me: I’m looking to study pre-med, live in MN and would like to stay in the Midwest, and am very much an overthinker when it comes to these things.
Please if anyone has any advice or suggestions for schools, let me know!
Have you visited any colleges? If so, do the larger or smaller schools appeal to you more? With a good GPA and excellent ACT, you have many options excellent options, especially in the Midwest.
Apply to a range of schools and see where you get accepted. You may decide you want a school that accepts your credits or you might decide that you want the best school you can get into. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. If you haven’t already, try to visit and see what appeals to you in terms of locale and size.
I have visited Creighton, UW Madison, Miami University in Ohio, and Northwestern. Initially, Northwestern was my dream school, but after visiting it, the atmosphere just didn’t really feel right. It was just a bit snobby and unwelcoming in my opinion. I’m worried that most of the more selective schools such as Notre Dame will feel the same.
I liked Madison, but it is really big for me. I also liked Creighton, but it was a bit small. Miami was probably the best in size for me (16,000 undergrad).
I would first apply to all of the school you are even considering. That way you at least have the options. You can alway wait and decide where you go later. However, I would personally take the 60 credits and role with them.
Use the SuperMatch tool here to find some reach, match and safety schools. The most selective schools, like other schools, all have very different vibes. So even if NW didn’t click for you, other midwestern selective schools like ND or WashU might be great fits.
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I’m looking to study pre-med, live in MN a
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first, tell your family that the last thing you should be doing is going to a school where being weeded out as a premed is likely.
Go where you can afford…and where you will be the top of your class and NOT get weeded out.
How much will your parents pay? Will they also help pay for med school?
I will be paying mostly for my own college, so I am kind of banking on scholarships.
Then “your family” can mostly take a hike, as it is your money that is on the line. You aren’t going to get merit scholarships to schools like Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins. Are you eligible for need based aid, or not? Have you run the net price calculators on the schools you are interested in? That will probably help you narrow down your list right there.
Is University of MN on your list? If you have a 3.85 with PSEO at UMN, then it seems like you would be in very good shape to finish your undergrad degree there. They will take your credits, you would have in-state costs, and could finish up faster (less cost). Med school is very expensive, so you need to keep your costs down as an undergrad.
If you are NMF, then you should look at U of Alabama as well.
Look to where the public schools will accept your stats.
You also will get free housing along with full tuition at UAHuntsville due to your ACT 34 and your GPA.
U of Alabama will give you full tuition; if in engineering, also extra scholarship automatic - if applying by the deadline.
Both schools (UAH, UA) probably will accept many of your dual enrollment towards a degree (can find that out by looking at the school web sites). You can use the time on campus taking higher level classes and getting into programs that make you attractive for med school application.
Although you said you want to stay in a particular region, you need to look at what your goals are and what your finances are.
You want to be towards the top of your class in UG, and also incur as less debt as possible. UAH may be a campus fit for you based on the smaller size than a school like UA. IMHO you will get more personalized attention via the various programs and advising at UA than a school like U-WI; I am very familiar with both.
Apply to these financial safety schools so you have a choice when it comes to what you can afford with the best opportunities for you.