<p>if i get accepted to these great schools, i am not sure which i would choose. I am planning on becoming a pre-med/pre-optometry major. UMBC seems they focus on the sciences more than college park which they are known for their engernering program. I might want to do pre-optometry but College park doesn't have that as a major by itself but colleges told me that i should just major in biology and could focus on opthalmology in med school. UMBC offers pre-optometry as a major by itself and has a really good campus. I know you are probably wondering why i shouldn't just go to UMBC but college park has it's advantages as well. It is close to home, i know most would hate it but i am not ready to move away and live in dorms (out of my comfort zone), low tution, great great great(did i mention great) campus and it seems it has a good science program. The problem is that the competition is extremely tough with med school and i don't want to go to college park and be a number and not get good enough grades for med school even though UMBC is a tiny bit better but it still doesnt comfort me. Which should I go to but first here are my stats: am a african american male, first generation and income a little over 50,000. who lives in Maryland. i want to go to University of Maryland-College Park(Priority admission, 1st choice-really want to go), Towson University(third choice-honors program) and University of Maryland-Balitmore County(2nd choice). I have a gpa of about 3.50 and a sat score of 1330 out of 2400, (1020-critical reading and math). I just took the ACT(should do better. I have taken all honor classes and i am currently taking A.P Biology, A.P Calculus, and A.P English/Lit. My extracirruclars include Vice President of Interact/Rotary club, Science Fair Club, National Honor Society, Computer Video Club, participant in chemathon held in University of Maryland-CP. I have volunteered at the Public and school library. I am currently volunteering at the Washington Hopspital Center in D.C. I will have a great essay, and great reccommendations, just want to know if i have a good chance. i know my sat scores are low but i am sure my ACT score will be higher and instead of putting African American on the application(i heard that they have so many African Americans applying), i put Eritrean American, so i could be different, will it help?Also during a college fair, i met with an admissions counsler, he reccomends people before they sent to the admissions board, said he'll put a high reccomendation for me, hopefull that will help. I am pretty sure i can get in at UMBC and Towson(hopefully honors program) but i really want to get into College Park. Thanks to who ever replied.</p>