Hello all,
I am a rising senior hoping to major in environmental science and minor in neuroscience with the end goal of getting into med school after my undergraduate degree.
I was hoping for some recommendations as to what colleges a) would give me at least full tuition and b) offer plenty of opportunities for research/internships/unusual extracurriculars
My gpa is a 4.0 unweighted (4.6w) and I have a 35 ACT. I live in NC and I am also Hispanic. My extracurriculars involve a handful of leadership positions at my school, three years of XC, and 100+ hours of volunteer work at various environmental science related nonprofits in my hometown. I know that based off of my stats I’m guaranteed at least full tuition at Utah State so that’s why I was wondering about colleges where I would be competitive for merit scholarships of equal or greater value (full tuition/full ride) that also offer high placement into med schools.
I know that med schools look mostly at gpa and mcat so I’m hoping to avoid schools with grade deflation. My parents are upper middle class so I’m not eligible for financial aid at most schools, meaning the ivies and other T20 schools that don’t offer merit aid are out of the picture for me.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
It’s not a guarantee, but try Pittsburgh. Your stats will be competitive and they give merit to OOS, plus they are very good for pre-med. They have both Environmental Science and Neuro.
Have others you like too, of course, just in case you don’t get a high enough award, but it’s worth a shot IMO.
Are you a National Hispanic Recognition Program winner? If yes, you would likely get a full tuition at Fordham. However, the remaining costs are still around $20k/year.
Pitt has the Cathedral of Learning but you would not get close to full tuition. your best bets are UAH, Alabama, and Arizona. You can use the scholarship estimator at MS State, Bradley (private), and Arizona State.
You’d also do well at South Carolina, Miami of Ohio, and Florid State (you’d get an OOS waiver).
You should also try schools like Vandy, WUSTL, Emory, USC, Miami (FL), SMU, Washington & Lee, Rice, and others that offer full tuition scholarships - but stay away from schools that only offer need based aid - unless you have need and you can determine in on the Net Price Calculators.
Good luck to you.
Unless they’ve changed in the past year or two, Pitt has some full tuition scholarships that are competitive. I think the OP could be competitive.
Will you be nominated by your school for Parks and Morehead Cain?
UMD has the Banneker Key scholarship which can be a full or half ride.
They also have neuroscience and environment science.
@Eeyore123 Yes I filled out the application for National Hispanic Recognition Program
@tsbna44 Thank you! I’ll take a look at those schools
@Tigerwife92 I don’t really know but I’m planning on self nominating myself for at least the Morehead Cain
@MarylandJOE Thanks! I’ll take a look at UMD
There are lots of schools with competitive full tuition scholarships that you’d have a chance at, but perhaps you are asking about schools with automatic full tuition awards based on stats. As others have said, these would include Alabama, Alabama-Huntsville, Arizona, ASU. If you think you will be National Merit or National Hispanic Scholar, that would get you full tuition at Texas A&M, Fordham, a full ride at UT-Dallas. There are others you can research. FSU would be at least under $20,000 a year for you.
My S22 has the same stats as you and wants to study neuroscience. He’ll be NMF but is not Hispanic. He is also looking for full tuition scholarships. He’s applying to 2-3 safeties where he’d like to go and knows he can afford (including Texas A&M and FSU), then a number of schools that have competitive full tuition scholarships (Vandy, WashU, UVA, Villanova, Miami (FL), Emory, USC).
I am sure you’ll have some great options your family can afford. Good luck!
You are correct - it says on the Cathedral of Learning (which is diversity) $5K up to full tuition. It doesn’t state in or out of state.
i was watching Pitt on the CC because my daughter applied and got in but no merit. I noticed some got merit with a 28 ACT even though they advise a 33 ACT is typically needed. Then I noticed it was the Cathedral of Learning which is diversity.
The most I saw anyone post was $15 or $20K so i just assumed.
The OP might call and ask if full tuition would be available for OOS or just in state students before applying.
Pitt is an easy admit but a great school overall, especially in the sciences.
Alabama has the Randall Research Scholars Program which may interest you
I’ve never been on the Pitt thread on CC since Pitt ended up as my guy’s second choice at the end (U Rochester beat them out), but from school, I know they have some full tuition scholarships and I know some from OOS can get them - or could. I haven’t kept up on it the past two years due to Covid and not going to school.
They’re definitely competitive since Pitt is a terrific school, esp for pre-med/neuro, etc. (not as sure where they are with Enviro Science). There are so many hospitals within walking distance. It’s common for students apply to Pitt as a safety (rolling admissions) only to have it jump to being their #1 once they visit and see all it has to offer compared to their other choices. Finances are a biggie as to whether some can go or not, but I see it as worth a shot for the OP.
Other schools that I know from kids at school that tend to be good with Enviro Science (Juniata, Eckerd are typical recommendations) either don’t offer full tuition or don’t even have neuro as a specialty. That’s where other CC posters come in. 
How much can your parents contribute annually for your undergrad degree? This will help in terms of giving suggestions to meet that price point.
I hope you are looking at NC State and UNC-CH….which as instate are a bargain if your parents can pay that price.