<p>I'm a junior and I got a relatively high score on the PSAT, so NMSC sent me a letter offering me "the opportunity to be referred to two colleges or universities of my choice" by the College Plans Reporting Service. My first choice is Stanford, but I'm having trouble picking between Brown and Columbia for number two. I'm planning to major in Biology or Biomed and then go to Med school, and I've heard that for Med, Brown is a good choice, but I also like Columbia's core curriculum. Help, please!</p>
<p>Didn't you check the box allowing them to "publish" your scores so that other colleges could see them?</p>
<p>...Hm, I'd go with Columbia over Brown, but that's just me. If you honestly can't decide, try thinking about other things about the colleges (like location?).</p>
<p>That referral thing is only of value if you're giving your name to a school that offers National Merit Scholarships.</p>
<p>Brown and Columbia don't. The Ivy League, as a matter of policy, offers only need-based financial aid, not merit money. </p>
<p>If you have a safety school in mind that offers merit scholarships, you might want to list that instead.</p>
<p>So I should list colleges that'll give me scholarships? This won't help with the college application process at all? ):</p>
<p>How about the UCs, NYU, JHU?</p>