So, my DS will be a senior next year, and we began looking last year. I’m wanting to make sure we don’t miss someplace with his intended major that we can research and visit. I’m not really looking for chances, just to make sure our list is fairly complete. We are in NC. He attends a public high school that opened when he was a freshman, and has taken the most rigorous course load he could with what was available. He doesn’t have a current ACT/SAT yet , but here are some stats I can share (not listing EC’s/honors at this time):
PreACT (sophomore): 32 (28 M, 30 S, 34 E, 34 R)
PSAT: 1470 (740 EBRW, 730 M)
He wants to major in Neuroscience (research - he’s aiming for a PhD, not med school) with a possible double major or a minor in Music Performance (percussion).
His current list of possibilities, with some thoughts if we have them, but in no particular order:
Wake Forest
ECU (Actually the only state school with a neuroscience major right now. It is an interdisciplinary major)
UNC - Chapel Hill (They are supposed to have the neuro major by 2019. It will also be interdisciplinary.)
High Point University (They are working hard to recruit.)
Washington and Lee
Duke
Elon (Only a neuro minor, but he loved the school when we toured.)
Davidson (Only a neuro minor, but it’s Davidson.)
Are there any other schools in VA/NC/SC and possibly TN (we know Vanderbilt) that we may have missed? Lots of places have the minor, or they have biochemistry, but he really wants the neuro major.
At this point, we aren’t ruling anything out. There will most likely be no need based aid. Honestly, Duke is probably going to move off the list because of price. The others are ok, though.
if he’s into liberal arts colleges, rhodes has a neuroscience major and a biochemistry & molecular biology major, though they’re interdisciplinary, so i’m not sure if that matters to him. i also recommend the university of richmond; however, the school has a biochemistry & molecular biology major, but neuroscience is a concentration.
Definitely take a look at Furman, which is quite strong in the sciences and offers a neuroscience major. Wofford is worth a look too. I second the recommendation of Rhodes if Memphis isn’t too far away.
Further south there’s the New College of Florida, which guarantees a merit scholarship of $15K per year ($17.5K if he’s a National Merit Finalist), which knocks tuition + room/board down to about $25K per year.
In addition to (or instead of) ECU, some of the other UNCs may be worth a look - UNCA, App, UNCW in particular. A biology or psych major with a neuroscience emphasis should be perfectly fine preparation for a PhD in neuroscience.
I’ve never been impressed by the academics at High Point, but it’s probably a good bet for lots of merit aid.
Thank you! That’s exactly what I’m looking for! More to compare. @warblersrule, he hasn’t ruled out any of the other UNC’s yet. UNCW is still on our radar. He’s visiting High Point in March. We’ll see then what he thinks. It’s after the Davidson visit, so hopefully he can see the academic difference.
If, he’s looking for the arts/music critical mass found in medium-sized universities welded to a small-college, youmight have to look a little further north. Oberlin, St. Olaf’s and Connecticut’s Wesleyan all can give excellent accountings of their unique music scenes (Oberlin has its own conservatory) and impeccable research opportunities through popular science departments.
Check out Case Western Reserve University. They are strong in the sciences and also have a collaboration with the Cleveland institute of music. Not in your targeted area, but everything else fits the bill.
Agree with Case Western and Rhodes. My niece has applied to both along with Georgetown for neuroscience. They have researched quite a bit and she is a very strong candidate…just received a great merit package from Case. Good luck in your journey and enjoy the ride! Before you blink it will be this time next year and he will be anxiously waiting to hear from colleges!!
Try Belmont University, Furman University, George Mason University, Maryville College (TN), and (if you are willing to consider Georgia) Mercer University
I imagine UVA has what he needs and is overall outstanding: Quality, Prestige, Beauty, Spirit, etc. Would make for an interesting essay: being the first class of a new school sounds like being a pioneer. Could turn that in to several clever essays (Setting the tone of the school - like Jefferson).