<p>1570 on SAT (best Critical reading and Math combined)
2230 highest one-sitting SAT score
~3.0 GPA so basically B average (avg. includes freshman-junior grades)
have taken a total of 6 honors classes (year long, 2 freshman year, 4 sophomore year)
have taken 3 AP classes( year long, all in junior year)
SAT Physics: 720
SAT Chem: 710
SAT MatchIIC: 770
SAT Bio-M: 750
SAT World History: 760
ethnicity: white/indian
family income: 100k+
Additionally, I go to a competitive North Eastern Prep school.</p>
<p>I'm looking for two main things in a college: </p>
<ol>
<li>Low tuition cost/ financial or merit aid which I have a good chance at getting</li>
<li>A college whose students have a high-rate of acceptance at Medical schools.</li>
</ol>
<p>I want to go to medical school, which is the reason for #2. So, a school that has a good science program would be a big plus. </p>
<p>Also, I've got one more question. Next year (senior year) I'm taking some very hard courses and I'm wondering if it's worth it? If I really push myself and get a high GPA fall term will it make a huge difference in where I get in?</p>
<p>Lastly, I just want to clarify that I'm not interested in applying to any Ivy Leagues since I doubt I'll get in. Rather I'm looking for some sureshot places where I'm almost defnitely going to get in, or perhaps slight reaches. If you could reccomend a college I'd be really grateful!</p>
<p>I think RPI would be a good fit for you. It is located in "troy"let, NY, however, it has a good biology program, and it gives TONS of merit aid. You could probably get a full ride there.</p>
<p>Thanks NuclearPakistan1. I checked out RPI’s web site and it looks like a great school, but they didn’t exactly give details on the merit aid they offer–the required GPA, SAT’s etc., I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about the details of their merit aid if you happen to know. Thanks again!</p>
<p>If you’re interested in staying in the Northeast I’d suggest a SUNY (Geneseo and Binghamton in particular), maybe Syracuse if you can get aid out of them- they offered me a scholarship as a transfer student and I’m upper-middle class (on paper at least). You also may want to look into Fordham or even NYU, although NYU is known for crappy aid. Your SATs are very strong, so I can see you getting into plenty of schools. Make sure your extra activities and essays are also strong. This is a good resource also:</p>
<p>Hey,
Sorry, your bumping it made me want to answer you, even though this probably isn’t a university that will interest you much (being from the northeast). It’s the school I know best, though, so I’ll give it a shot.</p>
<p>You might have a shot at the Honors College, but they recommend a 3.5 GPA or above. If you’ve taken ACT and/or SAT writing, there’s no essay to write, so you’ve got nothing to lose by applying. Just check a box on the online application and they’ll consider you for Honors.</p>
<p>As for med school acceptance rate, I’m not sure what a “high rate” is, but according to this ([College</a> of Basic Sciences Homepage](<a href=“http://science.lsu.edu/premedicalpredent.cfm]College”>http://science.lsu.edu/premedicalpredent.cfm)), the acceptance rates to med/dental school are between 50% and 67%. I’ve heard nothing but good things about science at LSU. I know it’s one of 21 land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant universities in the U.S., and that’s about where my knowledge of science at LSU ends (sorry; I’m going into French). </p>
<p>A rigorous courseload is a good idea. Although you’ll get in without it, having some tough courses on your transcript can still help once you’re accepted. I was offered a job as a research assistant by a professor this year who specifically told me that he picked me because of all the honors and AP courses I took. It’s worth it, trust me.</p>
<p>So there you go, just something to consider. Good luck!</p>
<p>Check the University of Denver, Muhelnberg, Allegheny, and Wittenberg–all give very good merit money and might be happy to accept someone with your scores. All have good med school placements too, at least anecdotally from friends whose children attended these schools</p>
<p>@Coquelicot
I checked out LSU and I actually do like it a lot, in fact I’m pretty sure I’ll apply there. The Golden Oaks award almost sounds too good to be true. It being a Southern University doesn’t bother me at all either and anywase I hate the cold weather in New England.</p>
<p>"It being a Southern University doesn’t bother me at all either and anywase I hate the cold weather in New England. "</p>
<p>Haha, that’s one reason I’m staying in the South for college. I can’t handle snow and cold weather, so the mild winters in Baton Rouge are perfect for me. </p>
<p>I’m glad you’re considering it! I think LSU would be happy to have you. Let me know if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Well, I am not very fond of RPI. The many reasons include that the teachers are not paid to teach, the social life is blatantly prosaic, and Troy itself is crime ridden and is the second worst part of Albany besides Downtown Albany. People might try and tell you that Downtown Troy is improving and getting “pretty” and “beautiful” but not while you go to RPI. Within the next 30 years, I see Troy improving a little, but not in the next 10 years at all. I live very close to RPI, and I am not even applying there because of how terrible of an overall undergraduate experience it is. I have many friends that go there, and they tell me about how everyone gets 40s and 50s on tests with content the TA’s don’t teach you. ( Professors are NOT paid to teach, rather research in hopes of getting published.)</p>
<p>But don’t let my personal convictions let you sway your opinion any direction. They call Troy the “Troylet” for a reason lol. They have to give a lot of merit aid for this reason, and this reason only. If you want a school that gives TONS of aid, I am SURE YOU WILL LOVE Northeastern, they are up and coming and have a good future. Also try some LAC’s like Union.</p>